The purpose (aims) of the association Salli is defined in the rules of Salli.

The most important base for the practical activities and statements of Salli are the fundamental human rights and labour rights which all people are entitled to.

The problem with rights is that in practical situations different people's rights and interests are often in conflict with other people's rights and interests.

In Salli we have had a lot of discussion for example about Salli's policy on migration and on sex workers crossing borders. We have come to the conclusion that creating confrontation among sex workers or excluding some groups of sex workers does not help to solve problems. For solving problems we need to empower all sex workers and to defend everyone's fundamental human rights.

Defending only those rights which benefit yourself and using the rights in a way that seriously violates other people's safety or fundamental human rights is not a proper way to use human rights.

Because of this Salli is not just an interest organisation of sex workers. Salli is also a human rights organisation specialized in human rights problems in sex industry.

The earlier statements produced by Salli are available only in Finnish. But Salli has also participated in the European sex workers' process to formulate our common policy and statements about issues around sex work.

The European Conference on Sex Work, Human Rights, Labour and Migration (Brussels, 15-17 Oct 2005) was participated by sex workers from all over the Europe including several sex workers from Finland. The conference produced following documents:

• The Declaration of the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe. (pdf)

• Sex Workers in Europe Manifesto. (pdf)

• Recommendations of the European Conference on Sex Work, Human Rights, Labour and Migration; Brussels 2005. (pdf)

These documents are in line with the policy of Salli. But in some issues these documents go further and deeper in analyzing the problems and they also cover more issues.

Because of this we needed to discuss and decide about Salli's policy on issues that we had left open earlier. On the 23 November 2005 Salli's meeting of members decided that Salli endorses the Sex Workers in Europe Manifesto.

According to the decision the Sex Workers in Europe Manifesto is also a statement of Salli.