2. SCOPE
OF THE
1. June 2017 – October 2019 with SANGRAM as Lead Partner
2. Consortium Members
a) 14 collectives/ state networks/ federations (supported by 8 NGOs)
a) Uttara Karnataka Mahila Okkutta (5 partners) through Sangama
b) Karnataka Sex Workers Union, through Sangama
c) Vadamalar Federation (Tamil Nadu – 9 partners), through SIAAP
d) Me and My World Network (Andhra – 8 partners), through WINS
e) Me and My World Network (Telengana – 7 partners), through WINS
f) Kerala Network of Sex Workers (8 partners) through Sangram
a) Ganika (Nagpur), through Sangram
b) MJSS (Parbhani), through Adhar Sanstha
c) Samvedna (Bhuj), through KMVS
d) Stree Sanghatan (Chota Udepur), through Vikalp
e) Hardasi Sangh, Amalner through Adhar Bahuudeshiya
f) VAMP Sangli through Sangram
g) Saheli Sangh, Pune (direct funding)
h) Jwala Shakti Samuh through Srijan Foundation
b) Reaches approximately 50,000 sex workers directly/ indirectly
c) 8 states of India
d) 11 partners funded through sub grants, 3 partners administered by Sangram
CONSORTIUM
GRANT
New partner
New partner
New partner
New partner

3. Background
A. Invisibilisation of Distress migration within India and across the region
• Continued emphasis conflating migration/ trafficking/forced sex work thus
focus on stopping migration rather than creating safer channels of migration
and viable solutions to trafficking
B. Changing forms of labour and exploitative practices by State and non
State actors
• related to working hours/ delayed payments/ low wages /criminalization of
work
C. Prioritisation of criminalisation over welfare
• Denial of recognition of rights as workers rather as victims in need of rescue
for rehabilitation and repatriation.
D. Discourse on nationalism and shrinking space and voices for
populations on the margins
• Suppression of dissent, freedom of speech, expression in the garb of
clamping down on trafficking (pornography, adult content)
India and the Region reeling under global &
regional shifts in policy frameworks

4. •Expansion from 42 to 61
districts; 8 states.
•Over 1,50,000 members
• Only network to have
female, trans and male sex
workers
• Representation on NNSW
board of these categories
of sex workers
•National Presence –
Coordinators in capital
•Registration process of the
network completed to
75%.
•New 11 member board
taken charge (2 May 2019)

5. STRATEGIES

6. Leadership Strengthening, Internal
Discourse around rights
Articulation of Rights in a
collective manner
Other
movement
engagement
APPROACH
Develop
Community
led
initiatives
Let the
Group
reach
readiness
Establish
and
strengthen
collective
response

7. Emphasis on regular
meetings at the State and
Collective level
Building second line
leadership
NNSW board meetings,
AGM
Training on laws, policies,
research, dispute redress,
Setting up dispute redress
mechanisms
Increased membership
– Collectives, State
networks, National
Network
Increased self
esteem, understanding
of sex work as work
Demand for
decriminalization
emerging from the
ground
Emergence of the sex
worker rights
movement in India, S
Asia
Emergence of sex workers
as Para Legal Volunteers
District legal services
authorities – intervening in
legal cases
Sex workers
intervening
with police/
courts to
release
women from
police
custody,
rescue homes

8. Community led research
“Raided” – impact of anti
trafficking strategies on
sex workers (4 states –
collectives – tracking sex
workers who have been
raided)
63 news articles at the
national level since March
2018
Rescue home study (Andhra
Pradesh) – next generation
of community research
Helped to shape
the discourse on
criminalisation of
sex work;
Shifted the
public perception
on trafficking
Strengthened
community
voice against
raid and
rescue model
and its
effects on all
communities

9. Coalition for an
Inclusive approach on
the Trafficking Bill
formed in India –
comprising garment
workers unions, trade
unions, internet
freedom, surrogacy
activists, women’s
health, child rights
groups, LGBTQUI
groups
200 stakeholders
across 8 states sign
Coalition Statement
Interactions, awareness
building around the Trafficking
Bill 2018 with different groups
(lawyers, activists, trade
unions, child rights activists,
health professionals, bonded
labor activists, university
professors,)
8 national meetings –
Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore,
Ranchi, Mumbai, Delhi,
Lucknow, Chennai
Training workshops for sex
workers on laws (difference
between sex work and
trafficking) and draft bill
Bill translated in 7 languages
for sex workers
Recommendations collated
from sex workers and
presented to different
stakeholders
Breaking silence/
widening
discourse
Shift in
perception around
trafficking bill –
groups whose
rights would be
impacted began to
speak out
Transgender
people
Surrogacy
activists
Freedom of
Expression
Trade Union/
Labor groups
Bonded labor
activists
4000 sex workers
across India sign
demand for
reconsidering
trafficking bill,
decriminalizing work
Signed by stakeholders
across India
Sex workers make
submissions to
Members of Parliament
Media writes about
demands of sex
workers (72)
Minister forced on
defensive – states in
Parliament that Bill not
for consenting sex
workers
Bill lapses in Upper
House