Sex workers in South Africa demand decriminalization
2023-12-16
elrond
A spirited group took to the streets, passionately exercising their right to demonstrate through a vibrant display of songs and placards. With chants like ‘My mother was a kitchen girl and my father was a garden boy that is why I’m a sex worker’ and signs proclaiming ‘Sex work is work’, ‘Stop violence against sex workers’, and ‘We are equal’, .....
Landmark UN Report Calls for Sex Work Decriminalization
2023-11-29
elrond
The journey toward achieving sex worker rights has been marked by perseverance, with a rising chorus of voices advocating an end to stigma, abuse, and the criminalization of sex work. In a momentous move, the United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women and girls released a groundbreaking report in October, urging the global decriminalization of voluntary adult sex work.
This .....
Poppy Mailola Says Sex Work is a Legitimate Work
2023-08-15
elrond
Mailola (2023) discussed the criminalization of sex work under the Sexual Offences Act of 1957 as a key issue that affects the rights and safety of sex workers. She argued that sex work should be recognized as legitimate work and that sex workers should be empowered and protected. She also commemorated women’s month and reflected on the progress and challenges of gender equality in South Af .....
Full decriminalisation of sex trade postponed
2023-07-18
elrond
Lobby groups that support the full decriminalisation of sex trade in South Africa have warned that a temporary halt in pushing through the proposed legislation will have dire consequences for those working in the sector.
Regulation of the sex trade appears to be the government’s final hurdle towards decriminalisation, with the justice department not yet having started a consultation pr .....
South African Sexworkers
2023-06-13
elrond
South Africa is a country in which sex work is legal, and Durban is one of its largest cities. The sex industry in Durban is vibrant and diverse, employing a wide range of people from all walks of life. The industry is largely driven by the demand for sex work, with many sex workers citing the need to support themselves and their families as the primary motivation for their work.
The sex ind .....
How sex work changed after two decades of decriminalisation in New Zealand
2023-03-09
elrond
Imagine you’re a sex worker and your job is illegal. How safe would you feel? Not very, right? Well, that’s the reality for many sex workers in South Africa, where buying or selling sex can land you in jail. And it’s not just the law that’s against them. They also face violence from clients and even police officers. In fact, seven out of 10 female sex workers said they had .....
Sex work in South Africa: Why both buying and selling should be legal
2023-03-04
elrond
You know how it’s against the law to buy or sell sex in South Africa? Well, that might change soon if a new bill to make sex work legal gets passed. Some researchers and activists named Marlise Richter and Monique Huysamen explain what’s in the new law, why it’s good and what still needs to be fixed.
What does the new law say?
If the new law called the Criminal Law (Se .....
Criminalisation has hurt sex workers and perpetuated the AIDS pandemic.
2022-12-06
elrond
Responding to the decision of South Africa's Cabinet to propose a Bill that will repeal criminalisation of sex work, UNAIDS Country Director Eva Kiwango said:
"The evidence is clear: Criminalisation has been proven to have increased the risks faced by South Africa's sex workers, hurt their health and safety, and obstructed South Africa's HIV response.
UNAIDS welcomes So .....
Sex work may soon be decriminalised in South Africa
2022-12-05
elrond
Cabinet has approved the publishing for public comment of a bill aimed at the decriminalisation of the sale and purchase of adult sexual services. The bill repeals the Sexual Offences Act and Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. .....
Cabinet approves bill aimed at legalising sex work in SA
2022-12-03
elrond
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said on Wednesday that cabinet has approved the publishing of Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Bill of 2022 for public comment.
The bill includes decriminalising the sale and purchase of adult sexual services.
Briefing the media on this week’s cabinet meeting, Gungubele said the bill is meant to .....