The National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW) is a national network of sex worker- led organisations and allies committed to promoting the Rights of Sex Workers in India. NNSW consists of 12 CBOs/ State Networks/ State Federations/ Collectives and 8 NGOs across seven state. With a strength 50,000 members, it is the only national network that brings together female, transgender and male sex workers with NGOs and sex work(er) rights activists.
Our Beginnings
NNSW was born out of the first National Conference of Sex Workers in India, in November 1997, attended by over 4000 sex workers from all over the country. They decided to unite and broaden their base to facilitate organising sex workers by building a strong nation-wide network of sex workers.
In 1998, the member organisations began to operate as four regional centres; East, West, North and South regions of the country to organise and facilitate the activities of NNSW. Since then, NNSW has been working on the rights of sex workers at the national and international level.
Our Vision
NNSW envisions a world wherein sex work is recognised as work; a world that is just and has no laws that criminalise sex work; where adult men, women and transgender people in sex work have the right to earn and live providing sexual services without fear, abuse, stigma and discrimination.
Our Objectives
- To advocate at the local, regional, national and international levels for policies and actions in favour of sex worker's rights
- To facilitate opportunities for voices of sex workers to be heard in relevant forums
- To establish mechanisms to help members fight violence and oppression on sex workers
- To address myths, misconceptions, stigma and discrimination that marginalises sex workers and creates conditions for violence against them, that is legitimized by the family, medical establishment, religion, educational system, media, law and sections of civil society
- To challenge the hegemony of mainstream attitudes towards sex work that are embodied in social practices, laws and public opinion so that all persons in sex work become free to practice different relational forms outside conventional heterosexual marriage and family.
