Sex workers in Thailand
In December 2024, New Moon was invited to be a part of AWID International Feminist Forum in partnership with the Sex Work Donor Collaborative. At AWID, New Moon Co-Director Melodie Garcia helped lead conversations around global sex workers’ rights and met with international peers from global feminist movements.
Key takeaways:
The global movement to decriminalize and destigmatize sex work is gaining strength and momentum.
At the same time, the anti-rights movement is expanding worldwide, is gaining influence.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to unite and continue advocating for our communities.
New Moon is filling a critical gap in the US by fostering a network of sex worker-led organizations and projects.
New Moon Co-Director Melodie Garcia leading a discussion on global sex worker rights funding at AWID with the SWDC.
After the AWID International forum, New Moon headed to Chiang Mai to visit with the Can Do Bar. Melodie hosted interviews with 4 women at the Can Do and gained some insights into the movement for sex worker rights in Thailand.
The Can Do Bar is a sex worker-owned and operated bar and community center managed by the Empower Foundation, who are changing the landscape of sex workers’ rights in Thailand. The bar not only serves as a revenue source for Empower, but also doubles as a community hub for sex workers wanting to study and build community. We paid them a visit and learned the following:
In Thailand, sex work is illegal and sex workers are criminalized. Sex workers often work in night clubs or bars (deemed “entertainment venues”), massage parlours, or as domestic workers.
Empower Foundation advocates for policy change (namely decriminalization fo sex workers) and does bail and arrest relief for sex workers. Empower also holds community events, provides education, and gives out safe sex supplies to workers.
Police and government officials do not listen to sex workers, often convinced they are being trafficked. Detained sex workers are often taken by police to hospitals for bone and teeth analysis to determine their age.
Empower Foundation works with limited funders so that they can maintain their autonomy. This includes refusing HIV funding from larger funders because of stigma and stipulations to funding that are inaccessible to the workers.
Though they qualified for COVID relief funding, the government paid nothing to Can Do Bar. In response, sex workers sent hundreds of shoes to the government in order to gain visibility. “We are human lives, and it is your duty to pay us back,” says one worker named Nam.
The fight for sex workers' rights is more important than ever. As we continue to push for decriminalization and the dismantling of stigma, it's essential that we stand together, both locally and globally. While the challenges we face are significant, the growing strength of our movement gives us hope for a more inclusive and just future. By supporting one another and staying committed to our cause, we can create lasting change that uplifts all members of our community. Let's keep pushing forward, united in the belief that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the right to live free from harm.
