Rights Not Rescue is the revenue-generating to sister-entity to SWAP Hamilton, a charity and drop-in space for sex workers, run by Executive Director Jelena Vermilion.

Purchasing from Rights Not Rescue supports SWAP Hamilton’s Drop-In Space and PRogramming

The Sex Workers’ Action Program of Hamilton is a non-partisan group consisting of concerned individuals —including those with lived experience— agencies, and groups committed to assisting and supporting those working in the sex trade industry.

SWAP Hamilton will be a community where sex workers will have a voice, be recognized as valuable members of society, and will have access to community resources that respectfully provide safety, support and choices that foster well-being.

People involved in sex work experience the damaging impact of discrimination, societal stigma, violence, crime, and poverty. SWAP Hamilton recognizes the importance of the community working together to support sex workers. The main focus of SWAP Hamilton will be to provide outreach support to street-involved workers, those entering or leaving the industry, and including victims of trafficking.

We focus our efforts towards harm reduction and to provide compassionate care. This includes but is not limited to providing supplies for safer sex, Naloxone/Narcan kits for those who may use opioids, direction towards local mental health, housing, childcare, clothing, and food resources, curated occupational health and safety protocols, personal advocacy, interactive workshops, and public awareness campaigns.

By extension, Rights Not Rescue aims to further SWAP Hamilton’s goals by combating stigma against selling or trading sexual services through the transformative power of art and pro-sex worker messages.

Rights Not Rescue is a sex-worker centric art distro and purveyor of apparel, merchandise, and embroidered patches.

Many of the illustrations have been commissioned by RagingFembot [Illustrated]