Call to offer alternatives to prostitution

File Photo: Sigit Pamungkas

File Photo: Sigit Pamungkas

Published May 18, 2015

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Durban - In an initiative aimed at getting Pietermaritzburg’s prostitutes off the streets and into the classroom, Business Fighting Crime (BFC) recently invited SWEAT (Sex workers Education and Training) to give a workshop in the provincial capital on the life and circumstances of the sex worker.

According to BFC chairman Koos Vorster, the workshop, sponsored by the Global Fund, was well attended by a wide variety of stakeholders, including law enforcement and local municipalities, and provided the group with real insights into the life of the sex worker.

“The aim was to develop a multi-faceted team of stakeholders who will develop appropriate responses to the concerns of both the public and the sex worker,” Vorster said.

The “final action plan” will be tabled and developed on May 20 at the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business offices at the Royal Show Grounds.

Vorster revealed that the current draft includes, but is not limited to, the need for the decriminalisation of sex work, the need for better safety and health services to be made available to sex workers, and the need to the reduce antisocial behaviours of sex workers.

“We recognise that while not all sex workers are unhappy or wish to change their careers, there is a need to provide alternative opportunities to them in terms of education and skills development,” said Vorster.

Business Fighting Crime have approached SWEAT for further training, which will include peer educator training of sex workers and police and health worker sensitisation.

“It is hoped that the next meeting will include stakeholders who are willing to take on the tasks required to develop a holistic and practical response to the many concerns related to sex work, which should include counsellors, life skills developers, health practitioners and a wide range of post-school opportunity providers,” Vorster said.

He confirmed that the initiative had the support of the local municipalities and urged sex workers to attend the next meeting. “This programme will not be successful without the input of the sex workers, and it is hoped that they may send along a few representatives to the meeting as a first engagement,” he said.

Police crack down on prostitutes in the CBD with regular raids; however, these raids have done little to keep the women off the streets.

Police confirmed that prostitution had contributed to significant increases in other contact crimes like rapes, assaults and robberies.

According to social worker, Pam Zondi, prostitution would remain a social ill because of the low fines imposed on offenders, which did little to deter women from returning to the trade.

Zondi commended the initiative by BFC, and said she hoped sex workers would engage with all stakeholders in addressing the dangers they face on a daily basis.

“This is an epidemic that needs to be addressed by the government. Poverty and lack of education play crucial roles in where these women are today,” Zondi said.

Daily News

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