For the dignity, safety, and independence of Nairobi’s sex workers
Over the last ten years, SWOP Ambassadors, a grassroots feminist organisation by and for sex workers, has worked to address violence against women sex workers in Nairobi and its environs, while tackling the root causes of their vulnerability.
What we do
We respond quickly and effectively to violence because we believe sex workers deserve to live free from fear and harm.
Advocacy & Litigation: Campaigning for laws and policies that protect sex workers, holding duty bearers accountable to ensure violence prevention laws are fully implemented, while pushing for reforms, litigating, and collecting evidence to support the decriminalisation of sex work and the recognition of sex work as work deserving of legal protection.
Emergency Response: A 24/7 hotline for immediate rescue, injury care, and legal and healthcare support.
Access to Justice: Helping survivors report and document cases, navigate courts, and pursue justice, with support from community paralegals, advocates, and police allies.
Trauma Support & Referrals: Connecting survivors to counselling, safe shelters, and essential healthcare through a robust referral network to support their recovery and well-being.
Violence Prevention: Educating sex workers on safety measures and client negotiation, broadcasting precautionary messages via WhatsApp, encouraging the reporting of violence to deter perpetrators, and partnering with local authorities, venues, and transport providers to create safer workplaces. We also ensure sex workers' inclusion in the Nyumba Kumi initiative to strengthen community support and cohesion.
Alternative Dispute Resolution: Engaging in mediation to address conflicts, de-escalate tensions, and build trust and harmony within communities.
We believe health is a right, not a privilege. We ensure sex workers have access to tailored healthcare services.
Sexual and Holistic Health: Providing prevention tools, treatment, and adherence support for HIV and STIs, along with condoms, lubricants, family planning services, referrals for safe abortion, cancer screening, and primary healthcare services through trusted healthcare partnerships.
Mental Health Support: Trauma counselling and emotional resilience programs to address the mental and emotional toll of sex work.
Research: Driving research to assess the scale of violence, sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities, and other critical issues faced by sex workers, to inform, evaluate, and improve community-based interventions.
We support sex workers to achieve financial independence, ensuring access to critical resources for economic stability.
Skills Building & Financial Mentorship: Workshops on financial literacy, saving, and guidance for business ventures.
Community Savings Models: Peer-to-peer table banking, merry-go-rounds, and credit to manage income fluctuations, ensuring financial stability to navigate emergencies like periods of insecurity, natural disasters, and pandemics.
Social Protection: Helping sex workers access national health insurance, social security, and funds for women and youth, while advocating for stronger social protections for migrant sex workers and other vulnerable sex workers.