Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network

It has been funded and supported by George Soros’s Foundation to Promote Open Society and Open Society Institute, among other organizations. ²

Background

The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network is an advocacy group for the rights of “female, male and transgender sex workers.” Based in Budapest, Hungary, it represents a network of prostitution and pornographic-performer advocates throughout Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. ¹

SWAN was founded in 2006. It was officially registered as the “SWAN Foundation” in 2012. ¹

The group claims to be led by sex workers and to be governed by a “democratically elected Management Committee.” According to a 2006 memo, SWAN was launched and was technically coordinated by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). ^{1 3}

Advocacy

The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network aims to decriminalize so-called sex work, to ensure that prostitutes and pornographic performers are free from “violence, stigma and discrimination,” and to “empower” sex workers to engage in civic and political efforts that affect their work and health. ¹

SWAN argues that sex work must be recognized as legitimate employment, which it defines as “an unforced sale of sexual services between consenting male, female, and trans adults.” It also argues that society must recognize the “intersectionality” of sex workers and “other population groups” including “migrants, people who use drugs, people living with HIV, LGBTQ people and others.” ¹

To these ends, SWAN supports “sex worker-led initiatives” as well as “allies” that reportedly “address the needs” of sex workers. It also aims to influence human rights organizations, including the United Nations, by petitioning them with recommendations for policies recognizing the right to sell sexual services. ^{1 4}

SWAN has been invited to advise on “community mobilisation” efforts established by non-governmental organizations, including the EECA Cities initiative program led by the Alliance for Public Health (Ukraine), AFEW International (Netherlands), Contact Netz/Licit, and Stop TB Partnership, with technical guidance from UNAIDS EECA and with funding from the Global Fund for Women. ⁵

Support

On its website, the Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network reports receiving financial support or technical assistance from the Open Society Foundations, the Red Umbrella Fund, the Robert Carr Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund. ²

In 2006, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, which founded and at that time was “technically coordinating” SWAN Foundation, launched SWAN News as a media outlet to represent the group. ³

Funding

In 2013, the Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network received $185,000 from George Soros’s Open Society Institute. ⁶

In 2016, the SWAN received $370,000 from the Open Society Institute. ⁷

In 2021, the SWAN received $220,000 for “general operating support” from Soros’s Foundation to Promote Open Society. ⁸

Leadership

As of 2026, the Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network was led by executive director Trajche Janushev. Janushev is an activist who has worked with other advocacy organizations, including Red Edition and the Red Umbrella Fund. ^{9 10}