Don’t Abandon Africa’s Sex Workers – We Demand Justice, Healthcare, and Funding Now
On International Sex Workers’ Day, we honour the powerful legacy of the 1975 occupation of Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, when over 100 sex workers stood together to demand safety, dignity, and an end to criminalisation.
Today, that same courage burns in the hearts of African sex workers. But across the continent, sex worker-led organisations are being pushed into crisis by abrupt and devastating cuts to global health funding, including PEPFAR and USAID.
From Nigeria to Uganda to Kenya, the crisis is real:
“Accessing ARVs has become nearly impossible,” says Amaka Enemo, National Coordinator of the Nigerian Sex Workers Association.
Organizations that once delivered essential HIV treatment through community partnerships are now unable to function. Thousands have lost access to life-saving care, while many peer educators and outreach workers have been abruptly laid off—left without income, support, or security.
“634 ART clients are at risk of treatment interruptions. Our drop-in centres have closed, and there’s a national condom shortage,” reports Sanyu Hajjara Batte, Executive Director, Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre.
Sex workers face increasing vulnerability to HIV and violence. Staff now work without pay. Services have been cut to just three days a week, if at all.
“Without PEPFAR funding, our clinics will shut down. We’ll lose HIV testing, PrEP, and ART services,” warns Lulu Mohammed, Executive Director of Mwamko Mpya CBO.
This is not just a local crisis—it’s a continental emergency.
Sex worker-led organisations in Africa have long been underfunded, under-resourced, and undermined by criminalisation. Now, as global funding priorities shift, these vital services are being cut off without warning, leaving communities to face:
- Disrupted access to ARVs, PrEP, HIV testing
- Mass unemployment among program staff and peer leaders
- Increased exposure to violence, stigma, and untreated illness
- Loss of income, savings schemes, and support systems
This is not just about healthcare. This is about justice.
As we mark June 2, ASWA demands:
✅ Emergency funding to sustain HIV prevention and treatment in sex worker communities
✅ Protection for sex worker-led clinics and drop-in centres
✅ A seat at the table for sex workers in global health and donor decisions
✅ Decriminalisation and labour protections to ensure long-term sustainability
To the global community:
The silence around these cuts is unacceptable. If we allow these losses to continue, decades of progress in fighting HIV/AIDS will be reversed.
We are calling on:
- International donors to release emergency support and honour previous commitments
- Governments to step up and protect vulnerable communities
- Civil society and allies to amplify our voices and mobilise pressure
On June 2, we commemorate. But we also call for action.
Stand with sex workers across Africa. Demand justice. Demand healthcare. Demand funding.
