The Alliance takes a holistic approach, offering preventive measures and direct support to those affected by sexual exploitation. The Alliance strives to achieve societal change through education, awareness-raising and public relations in order to combat the system of prostitution
According to local Swiss folklore, the “Porta da Femnas” (Women’s Gate) is a door in the wall that blocked access to the Val Lumnezia in Graubünden. In 1352, while the men kept the enemy troops at bay in other locations, the women intervened. The invaders tried to enter through a back entrance. Throwing stones, the women drove the enemy back.
This story from Graubünden is synonymous with courage. It symbolises strength, empowerment and standing up for what you believe in. This story reminds us that it takes courage to stand your ground and fight for a cause that you know is right and necessary. These courageous Swiss women are our heroes and role models for Porta Alliance, which is why our alliance bears their names.
The Zurich Women’s Centre (Frauenzentrale) is a tax-exempt non-profit organisation and the largest umbrella organisations for women in the canton of Zurich. We support, defend the interests of, and network with women in politics, in the workplace and in society. We offer self-help support through our advisory and further training services – since 1914 – independently of political parties and in a denominationally neutral manner.
PERLA, a non-profit non-governmental organisation based in the canton of Vaud, has been actively engaged in the fight against human trafficking in Switzerland since 2013. To date, PERLA is active in five Swiss cantons: Vaud, Valais, Bern, Fribourg and Geneva. It is particularly active in combating sexual exploitation, visiting between 500 and 700 people in Switzerland every year. PERLA is also active in Burkina Faso in upstream prevention. As a key player in the field, PERLA sets itself apart from its fellow organisations by offering its beneficiaries comprehensive support in their socio-professional reintegration and by working to raise victims’ awareness of their rights.
To achieve this, PERLA focuses on three areas:
End Demand Switzerland (EDS) is a non-profit association under the Swiss Civil Code. The general objective of EDS is to reduce human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Switzerland, to the greatest extent possible. To achieve this goal, EDS promotes strategies that address the causes of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. This includes, in particular, the demand for prostitution. Without this demand, there would be no trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation. EDS draws on the experiences of survivors and those who have a close insight into the situation. For example, the police and street workers who regularly visit brothels and women in street prostitution.
We have assessed the existing policy of regulating the prostitution market to be a failure and we are committed to a progressive prostitution policy based on the following fundamental principles:
We oppose the trivialisation of prostitution as “sex work”. The legitimisation of a patriarchal system characterised by violence, such as prostitution, has repercussions for all women in society and constitutes a breeding ground for gender-based violence against women in all its forms.
Porta Alliance is made up of various NGOs, groups and individuals. Our Alliance is in complete solidarity with women in prostitution. What we reject is the system of prostitution. The Porta Alliance is open to all those who share our values and the principles underpinning our demand for a progressive prostitution policy. We are politically neutral and non-denominational.
DEUTSCHSCHWEIZ:
AM SCHANZENGRABEN 29
CH-8002 ZÜRICH
+41 44 206 30 20
belinda.schweizer@frauenzentrale-zh.ch
Romandie:
AV. LOUIS-RUCHONNET 2
CH-1003 LAUSANNE
+41 77 506 08 39
celiaj@perlaorganisation.com