In 2010 the Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP) in partnership with the Desiree Alliance was one of five groups offered technical support from the global group the Sexual Rights Initiative to develop a "shadow report" on the human rights abuses experienced by sex workers. We were inspired to take this step by other organizations, such as Labrys in Kyrgyzstan, that had used the Universal Periodic Review process to bring international attention--and successfully pressure for change-- regarding issues about gender identity and sexuality that are often sidelined within countries/states.

BPPP and Desiree Alliance worked for several months to collect information about the human rights concerns of sex workers, people in the sex trade and communities affected by anti-prostitution policies. We drew on materials already developed in the NGO sector such as fact sheets and reports but a great deal of the material that was included in our report came from discussions with communities of sex workers and representatives of sex workers organizations. Organizations that provided us with information included BAYSWAN, Different Avenues, HIPS, SWOP USA, SWOP Chapters, St James Infirmary, Madre Tierra and many others. The report sent to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2010 was the first compendium of information about the overall state of sex workers' rights in the United States ever produced.