Kolkata group to hold mass awareness programmes on International Sex Workers' Rights Day
India Today
A Kolkata-based group will hold mass awareness programmes on International Sex Workers' Rights Day, i.e., March 3.
The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, also known as the "Unstoppable Women's Synthesis Committee," or simply Durbar, will raise public awareness about sex workers' rights on March 3, which is recognised as International Sex Workers' Rights Day.
"We have two different programmes. One will be based in Sonagachi, where many speakers will come to speak about sex workers' rights. Another is a virtual one in which multiple guests from various embassies will participate and speak about the rights of sex workers," Bharati Dey, a member of the Durbar, said.
The origins of this day can be traced back to 2001, when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a festival, despite prohibitionist groups' efforts to prevent it from happening by pressuring the government to revoke their permit.
The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a Kolkata-based organisation with over 50,000 sex workers and members of their communities, organised the event.
Since then, sex worker organisations around the world have designated March 3 as International Sex Workers' Rights Day.
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