What we do
We offer language- and culturally specific, and non-stigmatizing services that address im/migrant sex workers’ needs in areas of social, health, legal, immigration, and criminal justice.
Services
Outreach
Our outreach teams provide in-person support to women working in massage businesses and other indoor locations from Richmond to Abbotsford.
We address health, social, legal, immigration, criminal justice, and work-related issues – think of our work as a mix between a union and a social service agency.
Netreach
Abuser Alert
Programs
Community Peer Program
Our Community Peer Program provides opportunities for social connection and learning.
Activities include English and yoga classes, legal information sessions, and social gatherings, among various other events and activities.
The Canadian Women’s Foundation is funding this project.
Projects
Addressing media representations of im/migrant sex workers
This 2022-24 project directly engages with the media to shift their representation of im/migrant sex workers. The project is in consultation with the women we serve and aims to reduce the stigma that misrepresentation causes. The project challenges irresponsible media coverage and encourages evidence-based reporting on the realities of im/migrant sex work, while taking into consideration the harms that come from conflating it with human trafficking. The intended outcome is the adoption of responsible, accurate, and ethical journalism in regard to coverage of both sex work and trafficking.
Women and Gender Equality Canada is funding this project.
Increasing access to community services for im/migrant sex workers in Western Canada
SWAN is engaged in a knowledge exchange with the Yukon Status of Women Council and Peers Victoria to increase accessibility to community supports for im/migrant sex workers outside of Greater Vancouver.
In 2023, SWAN will work with organizations in Alberta to reduce barriers to service.
Women and Gender Equality Canada is funding this project.
Community consultation to inform law reform
SWAN is conducting a broad community consultation to elicit im/migrant sex workers’ perspectives about law reform, in particular, immigration law reform.
Given the inaccessibility of legal processes for the majority of women we serve, the community consultation gives women an opportunity to engage with the law, justice, and the law reform process.
The Law Foundation of British Columbia is funding this project.
Campaigns
Current Campaigns
Call Script: #StopTheRaids Richmond
Use SWAN's template letter to put more pressure on City Hall"Hi my name is _________ [For Richmond residents: I live in the ____ community in Richmond] and I’m asking the City to stop the raids at massage parlours because they endangering women engaged in sex work. ...
You Choose: Seek Justice as a Migrant Sex Worker
SWAN launches ‘You Choose: Seek Justice as a Migrant Sex Worker’ for Victims & Survivors of Crime Week 2022 SWAN has created an interactive campaign called ‘‘You Choose: Seek Justice as a Migrant Sex Worker. This campaign allows you to experience
Historic Campaign
Harms of Anti-Trafficking
‘Anti-Trafficking: Harming While Trying to Help’ More and more people are learning about human trafficking and feel compelled to do something about it. Unfortunately, this desire to take action is not always expressed in productive ways. Some campaigns are…
See a complete list of all of our previous campaigns here.