Sexualidades Positivas

Contact email
Who do you work with?

 Our mission is to promote sexual health, rights, and knowledge through inclusive, anti-stigma, and harm-reduction approaches. We work across a wide spectrum of sex-related issues, including sex work, STI prevention, consent, pleasure, identity, and sexual education. Our target populations include sex workers, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, educators, and the general public, with a strong focus on empowerment, advocacy, and intersectional justice.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

Sexualidades Positivas is a grassroots NGO in Portugal founded by a collective of sex activists, with initial funding entirely community-based. Today, it is led by three core members who are all SW. We have many members who who are SW and w are currently working to fund a project connecting clients with disabilities and SW

Which of NSWP priority areas does your organisation work on?
Oppose the criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work and support its recognition as work
Critique the trafficking paradigm that conflates representations of sex work, migration, and mobility
Advocate for universal access to health services, including primary health care, HIV and sexual and reproductive health services
Speak out about violence against sex workers, including violence from police, institutions, clients, and intimate partners, while challenging the myth that sex work is inherently gender-based violence
Oppose human rights abuses, including coercive programming, mandatory testing, raids and forced rehabilitation
Challenge stigma and discrimination against sex workers, their families and partners, and others involved in sex work
Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers as sex workers
What are the two main challenges that the sex workers you work with face

The two main challenges sex workers we work with face are lack of job security and pervasive social stigma. Without legal recognition or labor protections, sex workers are exposed to unsafe working conditions, income instability, and exploitation. Social stigma further isolates them, limiting access to healthcare, housing, and other essential services. This marginalization is deepened by the absence of state support, including the exclusion from public policies and protection mechanisms. As a result, sex workers often rely solely on peer networks and grassroots initiatives for advocacy, safety, and survival.

Describe other areas of your work

We develop community-led initiatives in sexual health, education, and rights, including peer-based workshops, public campaigns, and advocacy. Our work includes engaging monthly groups in conversations around consent and masculinity, promoting inclusive sexual education, and creating safe spaces for dialogue across diverse communities impacted by stigma and discrimination.

Region
Country
Portugal