Service Workers in Group Foundation (SWING) was founded in September 2004 with financial support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to address sexual health and HIV prevention among male, female and transgender sex workers in Bangkok and Pattaya. These are among the most marginal populations in Thai society and across the Asia-Pacific region.

SWING is a community-based organization driven by the perspectives, needs and aspirations of the sex worker community. SWING operates nationally with

offices currently in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Represents, mobilizes and empowers communities of sex workers across

SWING works to protect and advocate for the human rights of sex workers by upholding their voices, empowerment and meaningful participation at national level. SWING plays a pivotal role in ensuring human rights and improving the quality of lives of sex workers by means of evidence-based advocacy, networking, capacity building, technical support, research and policy development working with sex worker-led organizations, networks, groups and partner organizations across the Mekong Sub-Region and parts of South-Asia.

Serving the sex worker community

SWING has a comparative advantage in delivering a broad range of services for sex workers and their families. Being embedded in the community enables us to meet the priorities of the populations we serve. These are changing as a result of emerging diseases such as COVID-19 and its impacts on sex work as well as other emerging issues including gender-based violence.

SWING staff are mostly former sex workers, with roots in the community, local knowledge, connections and trust. Their life experience is an invaluable resource that is harnessed in developing appropriate capacity building programs and strengthening human rights.

SWING provides comprehensive HIV services in its 3 community-led HIV clinics in Bangkok (Silom and Sapankwai) and Pattaya for male, female and transgender sex workers.

Each year, SWINGs services benefit 20,000 30,000 sex workers.

Protecting human rights



SWING plays a pivotal role in ensuring human rights and improving the quality of lives of sex workers. SWINGs efforts in advocacy are to promote understanding of diversity and equality. We are working towards recognition of sex work as work with rights. SWING has continued to campaign for marital rights for LGBTQI communities including same sex marriage.

SWING provides legal services covering a broad range of issues encountered by sex workers. SWING has established a collaboration with the Royal Police Cadet Academy which involves an internship program to develop a better understanding of sex workers, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination towards them.

Promoting empowerment

SWING s current strategic focus is to promote the empowerment of sex workers and to help provide them with access to health and HIV services, non-formal education, legal counselling, and psychosocial support. In Thailand, sex workers face stigma and discrimination, limiting their rights, including rights to health, education, and employment. Poverty is a strong driver of vulnerability and risk.

SWING helps to improve the life chances of its community. For example, SWING provides support for those who wish to improve their education and training through the organizations education program which is accredited in the education system. Support for employment is provided through training courses, small grants and linkages with employers.