More than 200 people, including sex workers, gathered to oppose violence against sex workers at the State Library in Naarm/Melbourne on December 17.
They also commemorated sex workers who had lost their lives due to violence. The vigil was called for the聽.听
The vigil was organised by聽, a group聽formed by Asian migrant sex workers. It is campaigning for justice for murdered sex workers Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon, since the perpetrator has not been聽.
Yuko, a聽聽murdered in Footscray on December 5, was also mourned.
Vigil MC Daimen said this year was 鈥渙ne of the most horrific鈥 for sex workers.
Speakers from the Vixen Collective and SWorker action collective NSW spoke about the need to fight for sex workers鈥 fundamental rights.
Justice Scouts, from Justice for Our Sisters, said the murders of Yuqi and Hyun show there is injustice and discrimination that 鈥淎sian migrant sex workers face every day鈥.
鈥淭hese women need to be treated with respect, dignity and equality鈥, they said, adding that the 鈥渄owngrade of the murder charge to manslaughter is a painful reflection of how our society and legal system continue to devalue the lives of sex workers鈥.
Mage, from the Brothel Collective, spoke about the need for a worker-led response to addressing the violence.
She called on brothel owners and managements to 鈥渟top allowing banned clients back into the premises, give sex workers access and control over workplace conditions, our services鈥, along with 鈥渆qual pay and workplace conditions for all workers regardless of ethnicity鈥.
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Jane Doe, another speaker, said: 鈥淧eople who commit violence against sex workers do so 鈥 because they feel confident that there will be no consequences for their actions.鈥
Jiya, from the Vixen Collective, said government agencies and the law enforcement and legal systems continue to fail sex workers. This disproportionally impacts street-based sex workers and she called for an end to police harassment and the full decriminalisation of sex work.
Ishtar, a colleague of Yuko, said she will be remembered as 鈥渁 loving and caring person who loved life鈥.
Daimen, from the Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group, spoke about its campaign to demand freedom for trans women and sex workers who are being held in detention.
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