In 2002 a small network of Dutch sex workers and activists gathered in Amsterdam to organise a conference that would give sex workers an opportunity to respond to the proliferation of repressive new legislation and policies being enacted throughout Europe. In 2003 the group, Sex-work Initiative Group Netherlands (SIGN), approached sex workers and allies across Europe and invited them to join an organising committee which would raise funds and host a European conference on sex workers' rights. The response was enthusiastic. The committee registered a foundation in The Netherlands, the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE).

The main goals of the ICRSE are:

• to bring sex workers and their allies together on an international level
• to further social acceptance of and respect for sex workers
• to guarantee sex workers' civil rights
• to organise the support of sex worker allies

ICRSE works to further these goals by:

• building international networks of sex workers and their allies to improve or abolish oppressive laws
• promoting communication and information-sharing over the Internet and on paper
• organising conferences, study groups and meetings

As well, ICRSE aims to end the sexual stigma faced by women, gays and lesbians and transgendered people, and to promote self-determination for women in general.

You can reach the ICRSE by:

• Website: sexworkeurope.org
• E-mail: info@sexworkeurope.org
• Telephone: +31 20 693 1300
• Address: ICRSE, PO Box 51319
  1007 EH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

• Sex Workers' Rights: Report of the European Conference on Sex Work, Human Rights, Labour and Migration (Brussels 2005) – A. Sorfleet (ed.) Published by the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe.
  Amsterdam, 2007 (13.9Mb PDF:
  SWRights-53lite.pdf)
• Sex Workers Manifesto:
  10 HighLights – Ten sex workers stood up and each read aloud a statement selected from the Manifesto to create this presentation to the European Parliament. pp. 2-3. (352Kb PDF:
  SWRights-Highlights.pdf)
• Sex Workers in Europe Manifesto – Delegates presented the Manifesto to the European Parliament October 17, 2005. pp. 69-76.
  (928Kb PDF: SWRights-Manifesto.pdf)
• Declaration of the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe – This Declaration was endorsed by approximately 200 delegates (sex workers and allies) from 28 countries in Europe. pp. 77-84. This English version was edited for clarity. The unedited version is available in French, German, Spanish, Russian, and English is available at: sexworkeurope.org.
  (576Kb PDF: SWRights-Declaration.pdf)
• More Sex Workers' Rights: Contents – List of articles, available individually here in PDF format…