Every year on December 17, the world marks the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, a day dedicated to remembering the lives lost, honoring survivors, and demanding an end to the systemic violence faced by sex workers globally.
Across Africa, violence against sex workers remains widespread, brutal, and deeply rooted in criminalisation, stigma, and exclusion. New data from the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) Murder Monitoring Tool underscores the urgency of this crisis.
In 2025 alone, ASWA documented cases of violence against sex workers by a strong margin, reflecting an alarming and persistent pattern of harm across the continent. These cases represent only a fraction of the reality, as many incidents go unreported due to fear of arrest, retaliation, or further abuse.
The data reveals that over 80% of reported cases occurred in Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, highlighting regional hotspots where sex workers face extreme risks. The majority of survivors were female sex workers, reflecting the gendered nature of violence and the compounded vulnerability faced by women in criminalized settings.
Physical violence was the most commonly reported form of abuse, including severe assaults and killings. Alarmingly, perpetrators were not limited to clients or intimate partners—law enforcement officers and community members were also identified, pointing to the role of state and societal violence in perpetuating harm. Nearly half of all cases were classified as high urgency, requiring immediate medical, legal, or psychosocial support.
“These are not isolated incidents,” ASWA notes. “They are part of a broader system that punishes, silences, and dehumanizes sex workers.” Criminalisation and stigma continue to block access to justice, healthcare, and protection, leaving survivors with few safe reporting mechanisms and little hope for accountability.
As we commemorate December 17, ASWA calls for urgent, concrete action:
- Decriminalization of sex work to reduce vulnerability and impunity
- Accountability for all perpetrators, including state actors
- Inclusion of sex workers in national gender-based violence and human rights frameworks
- Investment in community-led safety, emergency response, and documentation systems
December 17 is not only a day of mourning—it is a call to action. Ending violence against sex workers requires political will, legal reform, and the recognition that sex workers’ lives matter. Until safety, dignity, and justice are guaranteed for all sex workers, this day remains as urgent as ever.
