Human dignity and access to rights and public policies for sex workers in Brazil

Challenges between marginalization and citizenship

Abstract

This article analyzes the complex situation of sex workers in Brazil from a human rights perspective, focusing on the challenges faced in accessing fundamental rights and effective public policies. Based on the premise of human dignity as a central value in the Brazilian legal system, it investigates how historical and social marginalization, combined with an ambiguous legal framework – which does not criminalize the activity itself but punishes its exploitation and hinders the recognition of labor rights – perpetuates a cycle of vulnerability, violence, and exclusion. The recognition of the occupation by the Brazilian Classification of Occupations (CBO) and the debate surrounding Bill No. 4.211/2012 (Gabriela Leite Law) are discussed, contrasting them with the reality of stigma and barriers in accessing essential health, security, and social assistance services. Through bibliographic and documentary research, analyzing legislation, doctrine, and academic articles, the work explores the intersectionalities that aggravate vulnerability and points to the need for inclusive public policies and strategies that promote full citizenship, overcoming the dichotomy between marginalization and recognition. It concludes on the urgency of a thorough social and legal debate that, guided by human rights, advances the guarantee of dignity and rights for sex workers in Brazil.