Sex work is the provision of sexual services for money or goods. Sex workers are women, men and transgendered people who receive money or goods in exchange for sexual services, and who consciously define those activities as income-generating.1 However, globally and
on the African continent, sex work is not regarded as work, but rather as a crime. As such, sex work is criminalised in most African countries and those in the profession do not enjoy access to human, civil, labour rights and social protections that all workers are entitled to.
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 23 “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”2 However, sex workers are framed as criminals, victims, vectors of disease, or sinners. This policy brief shows how criminalisation has made sex workers a target of stigma and discrimination, from law enforcers, clients, the larger community, and health service providers.
Sex work is the provision of sexual services for money or goods. Sex workers are women, men and transgendered people who receive money or goods in exchange for sexual services, and who consciously define those activities as income-generating.1 However, globally and on the African continent, sex work is not regarded as work, but rather as a crime. As such, sex work is criminalised in most African countries and those in the profession do not enjoy access to human, civil, labour rights and social protections that all workers are entitled to.
READ MOREAccording to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 23 “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”2 However, sex workers are framed as criminals, victims, vectors of disease, or sinners. This policy brief shows how criminalisation has made sex workers a target of stigma and discrimination, from law enforcers, clients, the larger community, and health service providers.
COLLAPSE
