International Sex Workers Day is observed on 2 June to spread awareness about the rights of sex workers so that they too can live a life of respect.
On 2 June 1975, approximately 100 sex workers gathered at Sant-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express anger about their exploitative living conditions and work culture.
The Church was brutally raided by the police forces on 10 June. This action became a national movement.
The day is now celebrated in Europe and worldwide. The day aims to ensure they have the same rights as all other human beings do.
It is expected that it will help them to tackle problems of them being exploited, abused, or trafficked.
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) report stated that there are around 6,37,500 sex workers in India and over 5 lakh customers visit red-light areas on a daily basis.
Women and men are forced into sex work, most of the time, because it is their only way of earning a living.
Measures have been taken to give them equal rights as everyone else and decriminalizing the work they do would not only help destigmatize them but also protect them.
