USA (Washington Insider Magazine)— In observance of International Sex Workers Day, celebrated annually on June 2, the United Women Movement (MODEMU) convened a national meeting under the theme “+Love -Violence =Life.” MODEMU, an organization dedicated to defending the rights of female sex workers (FSW), HIV-positive individuals, drug users, and victims of gender violence, affirmed their commitment to advocating for these communities.
Advocacy for Rights and Opportunities
According to Ciudadoriental, Jacqueline Montero, founder and president of MODEMU, highlighted the capability of sex workers to excel beyond their profession. “We are women, mothers, sisters, and daughters capable of raising men and women of values,” Montero stated. She asserted that sex workers deserve the same rights and opportunities as the rest of the population. “We have decided to be part of every decision-making process, representing women and our population because there are more of us,” Montero emphasized.
Campaign Against Violence
Fátima Peña, treasurer of MODEMU, explained this year’s theme, “+Love -Violence =Life,” underscoring the organization’s decades-long work on issues affecting sex workers, including gender violence and human trafficking. Peña expressed concern over the rising femicide rates, noting that many sex workers are victims who often go unrecognized in official statistics. She referenced a recent murder of a sex worker in Higuey, La Altagracia province, calling for justice and continued support from allied institutions to eradicate violence against women and sex workers.
Expert Insights and Support
During the meeting, clinical psychologist María Esther Carbuccia from the Comprehensive Orientation Center (COIN) delivered a talk on “Prevention of Violence.” Additionally, psychologist and sexologist Rosa Maura Rodríguez Lauzarique, a mental health advisor and professor at the Ibero-American University (UNIBE), spoke on “Managing Emotions in a Grieving Process.”
Origin of International Sex Workers Day
International Sex Workers Day commemorates the protest of June 2, 1975, when over 150 sex workers occupied the Church of Saint-Nizier in Lyon, France, to highlight the abuses and reprisals they faced from the police, including violence, fines, and imprisonment. This day aims to eradicate discrimination against sex workers and improve their living and working conditions.
History of MODEMU
Founded in November 1997, MODEMU was established to protect the health and defend the rights of sex workers in the Dominican Republic. It is the first organization in the country that brings together women who work in the sex industry to improve their quality of life while stressing women’s rights. Through its several educational and empowerment programs, which include workshops, support groups, and entrepreneurship efforts, MODEMU, which has over 9,000 members, has reached over 20,000 women.
