CGE joins fight for sex work law reform

AT THE Annual general meeting held on September 13-14 by the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) joined a coalition of sexworkers, activists, advocates and human rights defenders who advocate for law reform for the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa, on its launch on the August 26, 2015.

The commission’s basis for joining the coalition is premised in our 2013 Position Paper on the Decriminalisation of Sex Work in South Africa, our starting point being the distinction of sex work from prostitution.

Our view is that the current legal regime harms the interests of sexworkers by denying them their human and constitutional rights to protection as well as preventing access to legal assistance and enjoyment of their labour rights.

As the commission, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the decriminalisation of sex work, despite the South African Law Reform Commission’s report on Project 107 – Adult Prostitution, that was unpacked by minister Michael Masutha on May 26 this year.

We believe that it is within our mandate to engage the ministry and lobby through platforms such as Asijiki to end the harassment and abuse of sexworkers and to ensure that their sexual health care rights are upheld. Javu Baloyi The Commission for Gender Equality