Gov�t Urged To Decriminalise Commercial Sex
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday May 22, 2017 15:22
Speaking at a “Sex Workers and Sexual Minorities in Botswana” workshop that was hosted at the University’s library auditorium on Friday, the students’ representative Maatla Sekao, argued that commercial sex work and sexual minorities must be aligned with the country’s constitution. She said those minority groups deserve to be treated with respect and dignity like any other people.
“We chose the theme, ‘Decriminalisation: The First Step Towards Appreciating the Existence of Sex Workers and Sexual Minorities’ because as social workers ,our mandate is to take care and protect our fellow human beings irrespective of their sexuality, choices, social background or status.
This group of people we have gathered here today on their behalf are our fellow human beings.
We should not have those laws that criminalise them,” she said. Sekao further explained that if the Government legalise sex work, it will help protect sex workers and sexual minorities from violence, assault, rape and other forms of discrimination. She argued that when legalised, the sex workers will be able to work in conducive and protected placed such as brothels where brothel owners will always ensure their safety, unlike currently where they can be eligible to rape, kidnapping, and assault.
She added that they will also be able to access medical services just like other people, which will help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
“Why should it be that these people’s dignity are dragged beneath their belts? Although such a progressive step is not a piece of cake for the Government to consider, I urge it to try its best to ensure that these people are given their dignity back, and are cared for.
Some countries have decriminalised sex work such as in New Zealand, New South Wales State of Australia, to mention but a few,” she said. Sekao explained that by decriminalising sex work, those countries were able to ensure that sex workers and sex minorities were protected. She added that in Africa, South Africa was working on decriminalising sex work.
She stated that South Africans have been debating about decriminalising sex work or not for years. It they end up deciding to decriminalize sex work they will be the first country in Africa to do that.
“Those sex workers are mothers, aunts, sisters and some breadwinners for their families. Shouldn’t they provide for their families? Is it okay to be beaten, violated and abused when you are trying to decriminalise their work? Can’t we provide safety and monitor them so that they can lead good lives?” she asked.
For her part, Amantle Mashomba, a member of SISONKE, an organisation that advocates for the rights of sex workers, said they call for decriminalising sex work for a variety of reasons.
She said decriminalisation would enable sex workers access to fundamental rights of equality, self esteem, privacy and free employment meaning that sex workers will be protected by the some laws as other workers.
“There are three types of sex workers. There are pay as you go sex workers who are normally found in the streets, prepaid sex workers who are multiple concurrent ones who have different boyfriends who pay for their different needs and contract ones who get in marriage knowing that they will benefit from it, “she said.
Mashomba also explained that sex work is not a crime, but a crime was when people were caught in the act.
She further pointed out that sex workers face a lot of abuse from the police who rape and steal from them. She further explained that because they know their hot spots and hostels where they normally go to they go and take their money more especially from the foreign sex workers. She further explained that they had already made arrangements with medical service providers to regularly test and treat sex workers.
Mashomba added that SISONKE also enrolled some sex workers into courses adding that some of them had already opened their own businesses. “We want them to enjoy all human rights that everyone is enjoying.
After all, we are all human beings,” she ended.