More than 200 people, including sex workers, gathered to oppose violence against sex workers at the State Library on December 17.
They also commemorated sex workers who have lost their lives due to violence. The vigil was called for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
The vigil was organised by Justice for Our Sisters, a group formed by Asian migrant sex workers. It is campaigning for justice for murdered sex workers Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon since the perpetrator has not been charged with murder.
Yuko, a 62-year old sex worker who was murdered in Footscray on December 5, was also mourned.
Vigil MC Daimen said this year “as one of the most horrific” for sex workers.
Speakers from the Vixen Collective and SWorker action collective NSW spoke about the need to fight for sex workers’ fundamental rights.
Justice Scouts from Justice for Our Sisters said the murder of Yuqi and Hyun show there is injustice and discrimination that “Asian migrant sex workers face every day”.
“These women need to be treated with respect, dignity and equality”, they said, adding that the “downgrade of the murder charge to manslaughter is a painful reflection of how our society and legal system continue to devalue the lives of sex workers”.
Mage from the Brothel Collective spoke about the need for a worker-led response to addressing the violence.
She called on brothel owners and managements to “stop allowing banned clients back into the premises, give sex workers access and control over workplace conditions, our services” along with “equal pay and workplace conditions for all workers regardless of ethnicity”.
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Jane Doe, another speaker, said: “People who commit violence against sex workers do so … because they feel confident that there will be no consequences for their actions.”
Jiya, from the Vixen Collective, said government agencies and the law enforcement and legal systems continue to fail sex workers. This disproportionally impacts street-based sex workers and she called for an end to police harassment and the full decriminalisation of sex work.
Ishtar, a colleague of Yuko, said she will be remembered as “a loving and caring person who loved life”.
Daimen from the Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group spoke about its campaign to demand freedom for trans women and sex workers who are being held in detention.
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