Impacts of third-party advertising criminalization & online censorship on sex workers
Sex workers, like all service industries, rely on online ads to expand & communicate with clients. However, data from the AESHA Project finds that third party criminalization and censorship impede access to essential advertising tools. Learn more in this new poster.
Applying an Occupational Health & Safety Lens in the Context of Criminalization
The AESHA Project explored sex workers’ psychosocial wellbeing and access to sexual health services through conducting interviews with sex workers and their third-party supports. Findings showed that sex workers faced limited access to sexual health education, testing and workplace training as well as challenges in implementing best practices for occupational health and safety. Learn more in this poster!
Opposing B.C. Government’s decision to re-criminalize drug-use in public places
The AESHA project opposes the Government of B.C.’s decision to re-criminalize drug-use in public places. This decision is not evidence-based and undermines the human rights of people who use drugs and rely on public spaces. Read the full statement here.
Experiences of Men, Nonbinary & Two-Spirit Sex Workers
Popular discourse and sex work policy often ignore the needs and realities of men, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit (MNB2S) sex workers. The AESHA Project found that MNB2S sex workers face intersecting barriers to reporting violence. Read more about their findings and recommendations.
Barriers to sexual health testing for sex workers
Access to safe, voluntary and sex work-friendly sexual health testing is one of many occupational health and safety priorities for sex workers. In the context of ongoing criminalization and occupational stigma, the AESHA Project explored sex workers’ access to HIV/STI testing. Learn more in this infographic!
Health barriers among im/migrant sex workers
AESHA project data shows that im/migrant sex workers are 2.5 times more likely to experience client condom refusal and twice as likely to have gaps in health care insurance coverage. To find out more about health barriers among im/migrant sex workers in Metro Vancouver, check out the infographic. Available in English and Chinese!
AESHA项目研究结果表明：移民/移居性工作者和非移民性工作者相比，在工作中有2.5倍的可能性被客人拒绝使用安全套，并且有超过2倍的可能性缺少医疗保险。请看下面的资讯图表来了解关于更多大温地区移民/移居性工作者在健康方面面临的障碍。有英文和中文!
Impacts of COVID-19 on sex workers’ financial security
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 200 Vancouver-based sex workers answered survey questions about potential changes faced in working conditions, income, food security, and access to services during the pandemic, as part of the AESHA study. Learn about the findings and recommendations in this infographic!
AESHA Statement of Solidarity
The AESHA Project stands in solidarity with their unhoused neighbours in the Downtown Eastside. AESHA data shows that police-enforced displacement increases rates of gender-based violence & health inequities for those living in the region. Instead, they recommend creating dignified, non-carceral forms of permanent housing for all.
Linking housing precarity & violence among sex workers
Based on data collected from over 900 women sex workers (2010-2019), the AESHA project found that there is a link between housing precarity & violence among women sex workers in Vancouver. Learn more about the findings and recommendations in this infographic.
Criminalization of clients undermines sex workers’ occupational health & safety
Since 2014, sex work in Canada has been regulated under a legal framework known as ‘end-demand criminalization’. A central part of this framework is to criminalize sex workers’ clients. Drawing on 47 in-depth interviews with sex workers and third parties (e.g. managers & phone handlers), here are some key findings by the AESHA Project on the topic of client criminalization.