I love decriminalisation, and here’s why.

In Singapore, certain aspects of sex work remain in the grey area, leaving those in the industry vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. In this blog post, we will delve into the specifics of legalising and decriminalising sex work in Singapore. We will also discuss what both can mean for the rights of sex workers. Under […]

International Women’s Day Special: Why Sex Workers Rights Are Women’s Rights

Singapore has committed itself to ensuring women’s rights and advancing gender equality in society. Home Affairs and Law Minister Mr K Shanmugam has even called gender inequality a ‘deep violation of fundamental values’ and has since put effort into eradicating it.

Since most sex workers in Singapore are women, both cis and trans, protecting their rights is an integral part of advancing gender equality. Sex workers continue to be discriminated against on multiple levels and subjected to violations of their rights. Women enter the sex industry for a variety of reasons. But regardless of what these reasons are, they still deserve the same protections that are afforded to those working outside the sex industry. Sex workers face the same forms of misogyny, toxic masculinity and stigma faced by non-sex worker women but at a more specific – and sometimes heightened – level. This is why sex workers rights need to be part of the effort to advance women’s rights.

Sex Work & Mental Health

A large body of public health research reports links between doing sex work and a history of trauma/abuse. It also reports a greater propensity for poor mental health due to experiences of sexual coercion, abuse by clients, discrimination, and drug use. Drawing such causal links without delving into the context of the situation implies that […]

Statement on OnlyFans and Titus Low

We note the recent case of OnlyFans content creator, Titus Low, being charged for “transmitting obscene materials by electronic means”, and for failing to comply with a police order not to access his OnlyFans account. OnlyFans is an online subscriber-only platform where distribution of content is not in wide circulation – content on OnlyFans is […]

The relationship between Sex Work and Human Trafficking

Modern discourses surrounding sex work and its morality, exploitation and regulation are still viewed in black and white terms and simplistic assumptions. Historically, international conventions have conflated sex work and trafficking into the sex industry, viewing the industry as inherently exploitative when shaping law, policies and practice. In Singapore, the association of criminality, guilt and […]

No Human Being Is Illegal

Sex workers are routinely situated within contexts of petty crimes, manipulation and sexual deviances. Against the backdrop of Covid-19, criminal constructions of migrant sex and entertainment workers have skyrocketed. Containment narratives associating illegality, nationality and immigration controls further construct migrants as a disorderly population, a “problem” to be tackled once they are caught. Language is […]

In Defense of Orchard Towers

Ever since the gruesome and cruel murder of Mr Satheesh Noel Gobidass at Orchard Towers on 2nd July 2019, a barrage of articles attempting to shed light on the reality of the building has flooded media channels.  It is understandable that many people are curious as to how such a sensational murder could have taken […]

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Vanessa Ho

Executive Director | [email protected]

Executive Director
[email protected]

Vanessa has been full-time with Project X since 2011, and as a result, has had many opportunities to meet and connect with sex workers in Singapore and around the world. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown from a small group of volunteers to one where there are three paid staff and a team of over 60 volunteers. Correspondingly, she has increased the annual operating budget of the organization five times, and is now recognized as the leading organization that empowers and assists women in the sex industry.

Vanessa has written and spoken extensively about sex work, human trafficking, rape culture, and LGBTQ rights in Singapore. She believes that if people can speak about sex, gender and sexuality in open and in non-judgmental ways, society will become a safer place for everyone.

Vanessa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Warwick, and a Masters Degree in Gender, Society and Representation from University College London.