On the 9th and 10th of April 2016 an anti sex work conference called the “World’s Oldest Oppression” is being held in Melbourne, Australia. Hosted by RMIT University, and billed as a “2 Day Anti Sex Trade Conference” for a “World Free of Sex Trade Abuse”.
The conference brings together anti sex work figures such as Julie Bindel, Rachel Moran, Dr Caroline Norma, Melinda Tankard Reist and others.
Despite the fact that sex workers, sex worker’s representative organisations around the world, human rights organisations and allies all call for the full decriminalisation of sex work for sex workers’ health and safety – anti sex work groups (such as those represented at this conference) continue to call for the criminalisation of our work, and attempt to silence our voices.
Join sex workers in protesting!
**Thinking of joining the online campaign? Do you have an anonymous Twitter/Facebook/Email account? Please consider your safety/anonymity in your protest activities**
Write to RMIT:
You can write to RMIT to express concerns about the Conference to the University Chancellor, Ziggy Switkowski at:
Email –
& Email to as well
Take action online:
RMIT is on both Twitter and FaceBook
- Take action on Twitter using the hashtags #RMIT2016 and #sexwork
Include the Twitter handle @RMIT to Tweet directly at RMIT - Take action on RMIT’s FaceBook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/RMITuniversity/
Promote the online protest!
- Talk to other people you know that support sex worker rights and encourage them to participate
- Spread the word on social media – Twitter, Facebook, everywhere – let people know to join the online protest
- Post the ‘Join In Online Protest’ flyer in your workplace
Will there be action/protest happening in Melbourne during the conference?
This is yet to be decided – watch the social media spaces of Vixen Collective to be kept up to date:
Twitter: @VixenCollective
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/32794381768/
Looking for info when arguing with anti’s or debunking their arguments? Check out ‘A Pocket Guide to Dealing With Anti’s Online’
To download the ‘Join In Online Protest’ flyer, click here > WOO_GeneralFlyer