Sex workers march ahead of World Cup, demanding safety
Hundreds gathered Saturday calling for decriminalization and better protection as international tournament draws near.
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Hundreds of people marched through Vancouver on Saturday in solidarity with sex workers, demanding the city prioritize their safety and rights as the World Cup approaches.
The march was driven by concerns that increased police presence and enforcement ahead of the tournament will push workers further underground and away from support services. Angela Wu, executive director of SWAN Vancouver, which supports migrant sex workers, said the community is seeing more violence than ever.
"What that means is that they're really reluctant to go to the police when they need help, and unfortunately, predators know that, so we're seeing more people being emboldened to target sex workers," Wu explained.
The organization itself has been forced to temporarily shut down its office due to funding shortfalls. Other advocates noted that heightened police presence Downtown is displacing street-based sex workers from safe spaces, intensifying trauma during an already vulnerable season.
Police launched a human trafficking awareness campaign and app ahead of the tournament, but advocates argue these measures have been counterproductive, stigmatizing sex workers rather than protecting them. The march signals growing friction between law enforcement's World Cup security approach and the city's most vulnerable residents.