Showing a clean set of heels for sex workers

WOMEN and men will next week walk in heels from the Johannesburg CBD to Hillbrow is solidarity with sex workers set on decriminalising the trade.

Activist, academic and artist Nomsa Mazwai is the founder of a non-profit organisation (NPO) called #FunkItImWalking, whose aim is to make the streets safer for women to walk at any time of the day and under any circumstances.

The organisation has joined forces for the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) and national movement of sex workers Sisonke in bringing the plight of sex workers to the forefront in a bid to decriminalise sex work.

“Injury to one is injury to all. If sex workers are not safe, none of us are safe,” Mazwai said.

She added that the organisation knew it could support the issue as it enabled a situation where women were safe to walk.

“Sex workers are especially vulnerable because when they are victims of illegal acts of violence, they cannot seek assistance or protection from law enforcement,” Mazwai said.

The aim of the heels walk is to highlight the challenges faced by sex workers; to improve their quality of life; to ensure a safe working environment; and to address the risk of human trafficking and the need for sex workers to have access to the justice system to address violence and abuse from clients, the police, intimate partners and brothel owners.

“#FunkItImWalking is taking back the power of the streets for women. It is demanding safety for sex workers and any woman who is walking to work, the store or exercising in a country where femicide is one of the biggest concerns and women are not safe,” the organisation said.

Sweat advocacy manager Dudu Dlamini added that it was 2021 and sex work was still criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act that was drafted during the apartheid era

“Sex workers autonomously choose to do this work; they are providers – mothers, fathers, caregivers, taxpayers and should be treated as such.

“Sex work must be recognised as work. Sex workers’ rights should be part of labour rights, join the walk to make the government take note and change the Sexual Offences Act,” she said.

Dlamini added that the rights of sex workers should be part of labour rights.

“Sex worker rights should be part of labour rights.

“The extent of structural, sexual and physical violence that sex workers face links to sex workers’ rights not being recognised as part of labour rights,” Dlamini said.

#FunkItImWalking has called on activists and supporters to join the walk on Thursday, May 27 as women and men walk in heels from the Johannesburg CBD to Hillbrow in solidarity with sex workers in decriminalising sex work.

They added that advocates, activists, political figures, celebrities, the general public and sex workers would be taking part.

Those interested in participating in the walk are required to register on the NPO’s website to receive the meeting point to ensure Covid-19 compliance.