An underworld of sex and violence
A study looking into violence in sex work shows that a staggering 87% of sex workers have been raped while 81% have suffered violence at the hands of the police and 75% have had sex with police officers.
Sex workers in Namibia continue to battle a volley of abuse and violence with nearly 100% of those interviewed in a recent study reporting incidents of rape, beatings, theft or discrimination by clients, law enforcement, community members and healthcare workers.
Of 217 sex workers interviewed in 2015 for the 'Hands Off!' programme that examined violence against sex workers in the southern African region, and the implications for their health and well-being, 94% reported some type of violence over a period of one year.
A fact sheet of the results, presented on Friday by the Rights Not Rescue Trust Namibia, showed that clients topped the list of abusers, with nearly 87% of the respondents having experienced violent acts by clients.
The study found a strong correlation between HIV infections and violence, stating that “violence is one of the most important factors affecting the vulnerability of sex workers to HIV/Aids”.
Further, that a reduction of 25% of HIV infections could be achieved among sex workers if physical and sexual violence was reduced.
Rivelino Reinecke, the programme manager at Rights Not Rescue Trust, who presented the study's results on the eve of International Sex Workers Rights Day last Friday, said many Namibians “think they have a right to abuse sex workers because of the illegality of their work”.
Illegality, prejudice basis for abuse
Physical and sexual violence had reportedly been experienced by 93% of the respondents, and 97% reportedly faced discrimination, stigmatisation, and prejudice.
Of those reporting violence, 83% said they were beaten, 87% had been raped, 78% had their earnings stolen and 60% reported that condoms were stolen.
Eighty-one percent of the sex workers accused the police of violent acts against them.
Fourteen percent reported they had experienced stigmatisation or another form of violence by health workers and 42% reported abuse by members of the community in numerous settings.
Reinecke explained that often community members, mostly men, patrolled sex worker hotspots “pretending to be clients” and then assaulted sex workers in the belief that they are “teaching them a lesson”.
Linda Bauman, executive director OutRight Namibia and a LGBTI activist in Namibia, said: “It is evident that over the years sex workers in Namibia have experienced a number of structural challenges that impacts on their realities.”
Prejudice, violence, abuse
Under the banner 'Leaving no one behind', Namibian sex workers on Friday commemorated the international day for sex worker rights in Windhoek, reiterating their demand for decriminalisation of sex work in Namibia.
Mama Africa, the executive director of Rights Not Rescue, called on Namibia to decriminalise sex work and implement policies and strategies to strengthen protections and reduce human rights violations against sex workers.
“As sex workers, we have been violated, oppressed, mistreated, discriminated, stigmatised. But stronger we stand and today we say, we are here to stay,” Mama Africa told those gathered at the event.
The 'Hands Off!' study found that sex workers in Namibia, often reported complex relationships with law enforcement officials.
To prevent arrests, nearly 75% of sex workers claimed they had sex with police officers and 76% claimed they paid bribes to the police.
Sixty-five percent of sex workers reported being arrested on average two times in the past year.
“Sometimes you have police friends. You meet in a club and he likes you or he can be a client. When you're in trouble you can call for assistance,” one study participant claimed.
These, and other factors, contributed to 48% of the 217 sex workers reporting that they never used condoms, 51% reported they “sometimes” used condoms and only 1% always used condoms.
Reinecke described the results on condom use “heart-breaking.”
Of those interviewed, 56% said they were HIV negative, 19% that they were HIV positive and 14% claimed they had never been tested.
Eleven percent did not want to disclose their status.
Discrimination by healthcare workers was also reported as rife.
Ninety percent of sex workers reported that they were “yelled at and stigmatised by a health worker in the past twelve months” and that fear of the stigma they face at health facilities stopped them from seeking medical care.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Of 217 sex workers interviewed in 2015 for the 'Hands Off!' programme that examined violence against sex workers in the southern African region, and the implications for their health and well-being, 94% reported some type of violence over a period of one year.
A fact sheet of the results, presented on Friday by the Rights Not Rescue Trust Namibia, showed that clients topped the list of abusers, with nearly 87% of the respondents having experienced violent acts by clients.
The study found a strong correlation between HIV infections and violence, stating that “violence is one of the most important factors affecting the vulnerability of sex workers to HIV/Aids”.
Further, that a reduction of 25% of HIV infections could be achieved among sex workers if physical and sexual violence was reduced.
Rivelino Reinecke, the programme manager at Rights Not Rescue Trust, who presented the study's results on the eve of International Sex Workers Rights Day last Friday, said many Namibians “think they have a right to abuse sex workers because of the illegality of their work”.
Illegality, prejudice basis for abuse
Physical and sexual violence had reportedly been experienced by 93% of the respondents, and 97% reportedly faced discrimination, stigmatisation, and prejudice.
Of those reporting violence, 83% said they were beaten, 87% had been raped, 78% had their earnings stolen and 60% reported that condoms were stolen.
Eighty-one percent of the sex workers accused the police of violent acts against them.
Fourteen percent reported they had experienced stigmatisation or another form of violence by health workers and 42% reported abuse by members of the community in numerous settings.
Reinecke explained that often community members, mostly men, patrolled sex worker hotspots “pretending to be clients” and then assaulted sex workers in the belief that they are “teaching them a lesson”.
Linda Bauman, executive director OutRight Namibia and a LGBTI activist in Namibia, said: “It is evident that over the years sex workers in Namibia have experienced a number of structural challenges that impacts on their realities.”
Prejudice, violence, abuse
Under the banner 'Leaving no one behind', Namibian sex workers on Friday commemorated the international day for sex worker rights in Windhoek, reiterating their demand for decriminalisation of sex work in Namibia.
Mama Africa, the executive director of Rights Not Rescue, called on Namibia to decriminalise sex work and implement policies and strategies to strengthen protections and reduce human rights violations against sex workers.
“As sex workers, we have been violated, oppressed, mistreated, discriminated, stigmatised. But stronger we stand and today we say, we are here to stay,” Mama Africa told those gathered at the event.
The 'Hands Off!' study found that sex workers in Namibia, often reported complex relationships with law enforcement officials.
To prevent arrests, nearly 75% of sex workers claimed they had sex with police officers and 76% claimed they paid bribes to the police.
Sixty-five percent of sex workers reported being arrested on average two times in the past year.
“Sometimes you have police friends. You meet in a club and he likes you or he can be a client. When you're in trouble you can call for assistance,” one study participant claimed.
These, and other factors, contributed to 48% of the 217 sex workers reporting that they never used condoms, 51% reported they “sometimes” used condoms and only 1% always used condoms.
Reinecke described the results on condom use “heart-breaking.”
Of those interviewed, 56% said they were HIV negative, 19% that they were HIV positive and 14% claimed they had never been tested.
Eleven percent did not want to disclose their status.
Discrimination by healthcare workers was also reported as rife.
Ninety percent of sex workers reported that they were “yelled at and stigmatised by a health worker in the past twelve months” and that fear of the stigma they face at health facilities stopped them from seeking medical care.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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