This presentation discusses the transformation of sex work in the post-socialist context from the from the perspective of civil society initiatives. Problematising the temporality of post-socialism, I will explore the transformations of sex work and the different ways in which the neoliberal order and late modernity have affected both the vulnerabilities and strengths of workers through the lens of the struggle for sex workers' rights. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with sex worker support and advocacy groups support and advocacy groups and NGOs, this article explores how these actors have framed sex work. I will trace the transformations of framing of sex work across the economic and social changes that occurred as a result of the dismantling of state socialism and the introduction of the neoliberal economic order, as well as shifting geographical and political boundaries of Poland's position as a 'second world' country, a new EU member state and, more recently, democratic backsliding.

This presentation is based on three case studies of civil society actors, an anti-trafficking foundation, a harm reduction NGO and a sex workers' rights collective. I will introduce the concept of regimes of recognition to explore how these actors have framed sex work and how these frames correspond to historical processes of transformation and post-transformation. I will show how the specific timeframes created particular framings of sex work and how they constructed sex workers as particular subjects - victims, marginalised communities, perverts, workers or digital entrepreneurs.