The Sex Workers Rights Coalition is addressing U.S. human rights violations at the United Nations, where the United States is currently under scrutiny from the UN's Universal Periodic Review. A delegation from the coalition will travel to Geneva from June 22-28 to engage with member states willing to publicly support the rights of sex workers and transgender people in the United States.

UN Scrutiny and Coalition Response

The United States is undergoing review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, a process the United Nations Human Rights Council utilizes to assess each member state's human rights record every five years. This review is based on international agreements and conventions. The UPR allows UN member states to gather input from civil society to evaluate how the U.S. has protected the human rights of vulnerable populations.

In response to this scrutiny, the Sex Workers Rights Coalition, composed of community members, leaders, and advocates, has prepared for the UPR by collecting over 200 responses to a comprehensive survey. This survey provided sex workers an opportunity to discuss their experiences with sex migration, healthcare access, criminalization, transgender rights, substance user rights, climate change, and U.S. policy both domestically and internationally concerning sex workers' wellbeing.

The coalition submitted two joint reports to the United Nations review of the United States. One of these reports was developed in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI). These reports highlight issues faced by sex workers, many of whom identify as LGBTQIA+, stemming from the U.S.'s criminalization of sex workers' lives within the country and its promotion of criminalization as policy in places receiving U.S. aid, such as through policies like the Anti-Prostitution Loyalty Oath.

The reports to the UN emphasize that within the U.S., "Being treated 'well' by law enforcement/ICE is not enough. We want an end to the criminalization and policing of our lives. We consider every arrest for sex work a rights violation. In gathering information about activities to change patterns of policing, we heard from our communities that 'we [sex workers] have always questioned police motives.'"

The delegation is calling on the United States government to end the criminalization of sex workers’ lives in all forms, including the elimination of discriminatory registries and surveillance systems.

Desiree Alliance's Contributions and Concerns

Desiree Alliance, a national coalition of current and former sex workers, works with supporting networks to improve understanding of sexual policies and the human, social, and political impacts of criminalization surrounding sex work. Their priorities include building local, regional, and national leadership to advocate for sex workers’ human, health, labor, and civil rights. Desiree Alliance commits to human rights tenets, basing its foundations on equity, equality, empowerment, and agency, to bring these voices into leadership roles within sex worker rights movements and issues unique to sex workers. The organization advocates for the full anti-criminalization of sex work.

Desiree Alliance has submitted input to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This submission was a call for input to the report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls to the Human Rights Council on prostitution and violence against women and girls for the UN Human Rights Council's 56th session in June 2024.

However, Desiree Alliance has announced the cancellation of future conferences until it is safe to hold them. Cris Sardina, Director of Desiree Alliance, stated that due to FOSTA/SESTA enactments, the leadership made the decision that they cannot put attendees and the organization at risk. Desiree Alliance stands in solidarity with trans communities, HIV and AIDS communities, and immigrant and migrant communities.

Ongoing Advocacy and Future Events

The Sex Workers Rights Coalition's delegation will be in Geneva from June 22-28, 2025, to meet with representatives from member states. This initiative aims to secure public support for the rights of sex workers and transgender people in the United States.

Looking ahead, the Sex Worker Rights Working group is supporting "Justice for All Sex Workers CSW70" on March 11, 2026. This in-person session will take place at 2:30 PM on the 11th Floor of the UN Church Center. Erika Smith will moderate the session, featuring speakers Gigi Thomas, Beyonce Karungi, and Monica Jones. The event will be live-streamed on TikTok via @blasianbytch, with BlueSky live tweeting. Attendees will have access to 100 copies of the "Being Heard" magazine. Following the session, participants are invited to "Liberation Looks Like a Dance Floor" at 6 PM.

Key Facts

  • The Sex Workers Rights Coalition is sending a delegation to Geneva from June 22-28, 2025.
  • The United States is under scrutiny by the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
  • The coalition gathered over 200 survey responses from sex workers regarding their experiences.
  • Two joint reports were submitted to the UN, one in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI).
  • Desiree Alliance submitted input to the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls for the Human Rights Council's 56th session in June 2024.
  • Desiree Alliance has canceled future conferences due to FOSTA/SESTA enactments.
  • "Justice for All Sex Workers CSW70" is scheduled for March 11, 2026, at the UN Church Center.