AMPLIFY SPOTLIGHT: JANINE N’JIE DAVID
There are more sex workers in the United States than female cashiers. While hard to estimate, we believe 1 million sex workers in contrast with 720k cashiers. In the United States, the majority of individuals who find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system due to the criminalization of sex work are black and brown, low-income women. Around the world, sex workers are mothers, students, neighbors, colleagues, and friends, yet are often not thought of as so.
With decades of rigorous research around the world to support the decriminalization of sex work; a network of global, national, and local allies and advocates; and the infrastructure to translate and amplify the positive outcomes such a policy change would make– not just to sex workers themselves, but the wider community– the time to pass new policy is now. Furthermore, with the harmful “End Demand” model– recently rebranded as the “Equality” model– gaining support from some feminist groups and policymakers, taking action now is more critical than ever.
While there is much appetite for decriminalizing sex work across the country– 52% of American voters strongly or somewhat support the decriminalization of sex work– we still criminalize sex work here in the United States. From Rhode Island to Indonesia, research shows that decriminalizing sex work decreases incidents of abuse and rape, decreases STI (sexually transmitted infection) rates, and decreases sex trafficking.
Utilizing global and national evidence on the positive outcomes associated with the decriminalization of sex work, my intention is to transform research into action through the Global Lab for Research in Action at UCLA, which I co-founded with development economist, Dr. Manisha Shah. We study critical issues impacting hard-to-reach populations around the world, then translate and amplify findings in order to deepen public understanding, inspire compassion and political will, and advance evidence-based solutions.
For nearly two decades, Dr. Shah has used data to tell the stories of populations who have long been overlooked—like sex workers, of whom she’s one of the leading global researchers. As we launched the Global Lab, it was clear that sex work was going to be an important pillar of our work. Not only are sex markets an understudied and stigmatized area, but public understanding is limited. Sex work is a human rights issue, a labor rights issue, a public health issue, and a criminal justice issue.
And for all these reasons, the Global Lab for Research in Action is leading a national awareness campaign to educate the public on what prevents sex workers from being safe at work, and promote solutions for advancing #SaferSexWork. With sex worker organizations, ally organizations, researchers, influencers, and advocates we’ll amplify the research and data on sex work, while sharing stories and perspectives from sex workers themselves. Together, our goal is to expand access to safety for sex workers in the United States– and in the process make our communities safer too.
Janine N'jie David is a 2022 AMPLIFY Fellow.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
With more than a decade of experience as a nonprofit leader, Janine N'jie David (she/her) specializes in cross-sector partnerships with a special interest in creating equality for women and girls globally.
Janine co-founded the Global Lab for Research in Action at UCLA, a research institute that studies issues like gender-based violence and sexual health, then translates and amplifies findings to improve programs, inform policy, and shift the public conversation. Their data leads the way to bold new solutions: Decriminalize sex work. Engage boys alongside girls to advance gender justice. Reframe stories about women’s work and worth.
Prior to her work at UCLA, Janine held senior leadership positions at Spark, a national youth mentoring organization, and Plan UK, a global children’s rights organization. Her work took her to Zambia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and India. Janine holds a Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, is a member of its MPP Alumni Council, and serves as a Luskin Alumni Career Leader, where she supports current students prepare for the job market. Janine is also a member of the Los Angeles Women’s Collective, a political action committee that empowers women in Los Angeles to influence political and legislative progress. Janine spends her time between the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley and Los Angeles and is a proud mother to an energetic toddler girl!
The Pacific Council on International Policy launched AMPLIFY in February 2022 as a leadership development program that provides learning and networking opportunities to early to mid-career professionals who have traditionally been underrepresented in foreign affairs. Through AMPLIFY, the Pacific Council aims to cultivate local-to-global leaders, strengthen diversity in foreign policy, and be an accelerator for local-to-global initiatives from the western United States.
UPDATED: AUGUST 2022