An “alarming” rise in violence is being reported in Brussels’ Northern Quarter, impacting not only sex workers, but the entire community.
Renowned for their work with sex workers, Utsopi has seen an escalating trend of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.
“Sex workers are being robbed, stabbed, and even shot at,” Nadia says, coordinator and field worker at Utsopi.
The growing sense of insecurity is affecting everyone in the sex worker community, including NGOs and support groups.
Espace P, another long-standing organisation supporting sex workers in the Northern Quarter, has had to close its doors.
Utsopi reveals that the whole community network (including children’s services, homelessness associations, addiction centres, and socio-cultural organisations) is witnessing an “escalation of violence” impacting the quarter.
The association is advocating for stronger legislative protection for sex workers in Belgium, and for local decision makers to implement concrete measures to combat the increasing levels of violence affecting the Northern Quarter.
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