Call made to regulate prostitution
THE KZN Legislature is fast-tracking the process to regulate prostitution so that sex workers are afforded freedom and more rights to security.
Legislature media liaison officer, Wesley Canham, said the resolution followed concerns raised that the
2007 South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) and Project 107 report on sex work did not include a rights-based approach to sex de-criminalisation. It was, therefore, resolved that SALRC engagements should include the voices of sex workers.
The NPO, Sweat (Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce), has demanded a pronouncement by 2024, stating that sex workers 'don't have rights in South Africa'.
A Richards Bay sex worker said opinion was divided on whether the resolution would have the desired effect. Although protection and security would be beneficial, privacy and tax remained a concern.
'The fact is that, even if sex work is regulated, we still won't be treated well or taken seriously by the police,' she said. 'Also, if the industry is regulated, we could see more brothels operating, and competition will be high.
'This could bring up drama as most of us are doing this in secret and our own family does not know. This is not and will never be a respected job, so why expose the people doing it?'
Need for protection
However, Human Rights Watch, the group that researched sex work in Cambodia, China, Tanzania, the United States, and most recently, South Africa, said they support the full de-criminalisation of consensual adult sex work.
'Criminalising adult, voluntary, and consensual sex is incompatible with the human right to personal autonomy and privacy. A government should not be telling consenting adults who they can have sexual relations with and on what terms.
'Criminalisation exposes sex workers to abuse and exploitation by law enforcement officials, such as police officers. Human Rights Watch has documented that, in criminalised environments, police officers harass sex workers, extort bribes, and physically and verbally abuse sex workers, or even rape or coerce sex from them.'
LifeLine previously ran a three-year Commercial Sex Workers programme that focused on providing healthcare education and personal development for sex workers.
A total of 3 940 sex workers from Richards Bay to Empangeni registered for the programme. This equates to around 150 sex workers per suburb - a number which continues to grow.
LifeLine director Michelle Jewlal, who is in support of regulation if protection is offered, said their programme showcased the plight of many sex workers.
'Their ages range from teenagers to elderly - some of whom got into this industry to support their grandchildren,' said Jewlal. 'People think that they cannot be sexually abused because of what they do, but that is untrue. For them, this is simply a line of trade. Men can still force themselves on these women, and this is rape.'
She said some men even hired sex workers simply to physically abuse them.
'In one month of the programme, 20 out of the 39 sex workers screened for HIV tested positive. Despite this, the demand continues to grow.'