1. Trained and committed staff members who are willing to be “on call” 24 hours a day and to respond immediately when a crisis happens"

2. Effective communication mechanisms (i.e. crisis phones)

3. Availability of information about crisis response to community members

4. Experienced and committed lawyers who are willing to provide assistance 24 hours a day networking, alliance-building, and sensitisation work with local stakeholders (especially the HRG) through regular meetings and education as appropriate. This includes community-level legal Literacy sessions.

5. Close alliances with other civil society organisations, activists and local media contacts who can advocate on behalf of the community when necessary

6. Reflections on crisis management cases to improve and build internal capacities

Physical violence:

Being subjected to physical force which can potentially cause death, injury or harm. It includes, but is not limited to: having an object thrown at one, being slapped, pushed, shoved, hit with the fist or with something else that could hurt, being kicked, dragged, beaten up, choked, deliberately burnt, threatened with a weapon or having a weapon used against one (e.g. gun, knife or other weapon). These acts are operationally defined and validated in WHO survey methods on violence against women. Other acts that could be included in a definition of physical violence are: biting, shaking, poking, hair-pulling and physically restraining a person

Sexual violence:

Rape, gang rape (i.e. by more than one person), sexual harassment, being physically forced or psychologically intimidated to engage in sex or subjected to sex acts against one’s will (e.g. undesired touching, oral, anal or vaginal penetration with penis or with an object) or that one finds degrading or humiliating.

Emotional or psychological violence:

Includes, but is not limited to, being insulted (e.g. called derogatory names) or made to feel bad about oneself; being humiliated or belittled in front of other people; being threatened with loss of custody of one’s children; being confined or isolated from family or friends; being threatened with harm to oneself or someone one cares about; repeated shouting, inducing fear through intimidating words or gestures; controlling behaviour; and the destruction of possessions.

Workplace violence:

This may include violence from managers, support staff, clients or co-workers in establishments where sex work takes place (e.g. brothels, bars, hotels).

Violence from intimate partners and family members:

Stigmatization of sex work may lead partners or family members to think it acceptable to use violence to “punish” a woman who has sex with other men. It may be difficult for sex workers to leave an abusive relationship, particularly when perpetrators threaten them, or have control due to ownership of a home, or the power to harm or refuse access to their children.

Violence by perpetrators at large or in public spaces:

In most contexts, the antagonistic relationship with police creates a climate of impunity for crimes against sex workers that may lead them to be the targets of violence or of other crimes that may turn violent, such as theft. Some perpetrators specifically target sex workers to “punish” them in the name of upholding social morals, or to scapegoat them for societal problems, including HIV. Sex workers may also face violence from individuals in a position of power, e.g. nongovernmental organization (NGO) employers, health-care providers, bankers or landlords

1. Having money extorted

2. Being denied or refused food or other basic necessities

3. Being refused or cheated of salary, payment or money that is due to the person

4. Being forced to consume drugs or alcohol

5. Being arbitrarily stopped, subjected to invasive body searches or detained by police

6. Being arbitrarily detained or incarcerated in police stations, detention centers and rehabilitation centers without due process

7. Being arrested or threatened with arrest for carrying condoms

8. Being refused or denied health-care services

9. Being subjected to coercive health procedures such as forced STI and HIV testing, sterilization, abortions

10. Being publicly shamed or degraded (e.g. stripped, chained, spat upon, put behind bars)

11. Being deprived of sleep by force.

1. Training and sensitizing sex workers in human rights and laws

2. Documenting violence faced by sex workers and defending their human rights

3. Responding to a crisis or violence reported by sex workers, including facilitating legal support in case of arrest and harassment, providing counselling, referrals and psychological support

4. Working with managers of sex work establishments, police, and others to promote safety of sex workers