International Sex Workers Rights Day
Mardi, our coordinator writes about her experience in India where she met the founders of International Sex Workers’ Rights day. The Durbar Mahila Samawaya Committee (DMSC) founded the day in 2021. “When I visited DMSC in Kolkata, India, I was awestruck and inspired...
SWAI Research Engagement Policy
SWAI is frequently contacted by academics, organisations, and individual researchers within and outside of Ireland to support their research by identifying participants, promoting research, facilitating peer interviews, and participating in advisory panels. We...
Board announcement!
We are so pleased to announce the new SWAI board! The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland welcome Leea Berry, Leah Butler and Lianne O’Hara to our board of directors. Leea Berry is a Domina and activist taking the role of Treasurer of the Board. Her experiences of...
Board member call out: We need you!
The Organisation: Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) advocates for the human rights and safety of sex workers on the island of Ireland. SWAI is dedicated to decriminalisation, destigmatisation, and community development through outreach, changes in policy and...
Press release: Ireland is failing trafficking victims by persisting with a failed law
Linda Kavanagh, communications manager for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “The Trafficking in Persons Report released yesterday highlights that there has been no successful labour trafficking prosecutions in Ireland in the past year. Two prosecutions in...
State pushing people into sex work then ensuring they are not safe
Today is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers and we want to highlight how, through government policies, the state pushes people into sex work.Years of austerity, the housing crisis, lack of supports for people using drugs, Direct Provision, limits to...
Candlelight Vigil: End Violence Against Sex Workers
The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) invites all sex workers, supporters and allies to join us at a candlelit vigil to mark International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers #IDEVASW. The review of the laws governing sex...
3rd Annual Laura Lee Sex Worker Human Rights Public Lecture
The third annual Laura Lee Sex Worker Human Rights Public Lecture will take place online on the 26th of November from 2:30 - 4pm, with a keynote address from Wendy Lyon, solicitor. The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion with Adeline Berry and Trish...
We are looking for a Coordinator!
We are looking for a Coordinator! Updated: 2nd December SWAI has an exciting new opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced person to join our team. The role of Coordinator is to promote the health, safety, participation and dignity of all female, male, cis and...
Candlelit vigil to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers 17th Dec 6:30pm
Details are as follows: Event: Candlelit vigil to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers Date: Thursday 17th December Location: Gates of Leinster House Time: 6:30pm Hosted by: Sex Workers Alliance Ireland The Sex Worker Alliance Ireland...
Blood donation and sex work in Ireland
by Adeline Berry The world appears to be in turmoil and many of us are looking for ways to be part of the progress in making things better. In that spirit I recently emailed the blood donation service in Ireland to ask about their restrictions on donating. I must...
International Workers Day – Sex Work is Work
Has your income dried up because of the pandemic? Do you put in more hours online for less money than you would have before Covid-19? As a freelance worker do you find it hard to prove where your money came from to apply for emergency welfare? Well, then your...
Harm reduction, sex work and Covid-19
For sex workers As sex workers ourselves, we know that when everyone is being told to isolate our work gets hit. If you can take some time off to stop working and social distance now is a good time. We also know that some people will need to work to survive. This...
SWAI Hardship Fund
On Saturday 21st March the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland launched our crowdfund to ensure that some of society's most vulnerable people can survive. All non-essential workplaces have closed and people are being advised to stay indoors and to ‘social distance’ from...
Covid-19, sex workers and the state’s response
Earlier this week we sent the following email to the caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and caretaker Minister for Health Simon Harris as well as other state departments. Sex workers who are experiencing financial difficulties, much like other precarious workers during...
Press release: Sentence of rapist shows all-too-rare justice for sex workers possible
We want to work with Gardaí so that crimes like these can come to justice On Monday Nolan Keown was sentenced to 14 years in prison after attacking, sexually assaulting and robbing two sex workers in 2016 and 2018. Kate McGrew, director of SWAI and current sex worker...
Press release: New liaison officers and dedicated email address show the PSNI are taking sex workers safety seriously
Kate McGrew, current sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland said “Yesterday, Thursday 5 March, a private meeting was held between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), The Rainbow Project,...
Press statement: Public’s support of sex workers is not reflected in Ireland’s laws and policies
Today SWAI marks it’s 10 year anniversary and reflects over the work we have done and the work we need to do. Kate McGrew, current sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “Since its inception in 2009 SWAI have sought to bring an...
Press release: Attacks, robberies, rapes and assaults on workers in 2019 all caused by sex working laws
Today is International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers. Safety and a life free from violence is everyone’s right. But sex workers are put in danger because of our laws and the stigma surrounding sex work. Catriona, current sex worker and chairperson of...
Press release: Condoms are used as evidence of sex work
With HIV diagnoses on the rise in Ireland as well as demands from clients empowered by a law that was supposed to help sex workers, workers now fear carrying condoms. Kate McGrew, current sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) said “Today...