Walvis sex trade exposed
Peer pressure to have niceties, such as cellphones, jewellery, nice clothes, iPads, laptops, Brazilian hair, expensive shoes, handbags, as well as the need to finance drug and alcohol habits, are among the factors that is fuelling the roaring sex trade in Walvis Bay.
It is estimated that 530 sex workers of all ages are active at the harbour town. This is according to a report titled ‘Health Vulnerabilities (HIV and Aids) of Mobile Populations and Affected Communities in Selected Ports of Southern Africa – Walvis Bay, Namibia’.
The report highlights child prostitution, and a perceived high number of young boys aged between 14 and 15 having sex with older men in exchange for money, clothes, alcoholic beverages and the like.
It says that this is a very serious concern, while forced sex work taking place among girls and boys younger than 18, also needs special attention. Young sex workers from both genders are normally aged between 14 and 15 years, the report said. According to a transgender sex worker, who started doing sex work at the age of 12, he was abused by his mother and sisters, because he was “different from other boys”.
“My family did not have money and I started selling my body to pay for school fees and to feed myself,” he said in the report.
The demand for sex work in the port town is apparently less than the available supply, which leads to physical and verbal confrontations between sex workers, with the report saying that there are insufficient clients for the number of sex workers available.
The average price for different services ranges from N$250 to N$1 000, and sex workers earn between N$3 000 and N$7 000 per month.
The common age of sexual debut is 18, although some had their first sexual intercourse experience as early as 12.
Randolph Mouton presented the findings of the study last Friday in Walvis Bay, which was prepared for the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) by Sustainable Development Africa.
The study was conducted to inform policies, strategies and programmes towards effectively and efficiently responding to the health needs of vulnerable population groups in Walvis Bay.
It provides detailed empirical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of health vulnerabilities pertaining to HIV/Aids among seagoing personnel, truck drivers, sex workers and other sedentary populations around ports. Indications are that the adult HIV prevalence rate stood at 18.2% and was very high among productive age cohorts.
This poses serious risks for sex workers, as well as mobile, and to a lesser extent, sedentary populations and migrants.
Sex workers doing business in the harbour town are mostly from the Erongo Region.
Some are from South Africa and Zimbabwe. A small number of sex workers move regularly between Swakopmund, Windhoek and Walvis Bay, and include men who have sex with men. Sex work takes place seven days a week, starts at around 22:00 and lasts until the early hours of the morning. Workers at formal establishments, such as hotels, clubs and bars normally inform sex workers when ships dock, because sex workers attract seafarers, who in turn spend money.
Poverty is regarded as the main contributing factor to sex work. Other causes include low levels of education, gender inequality, gender-based violence and abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, greed and more opportunities for men to have sex with men.
In response to a question on why they engage in sex work, some sex workers said they were forced by circumstances.
“Some parents are forcing girls to engage in sex for money, to help to support the family,” one prostitute said.
Others became involved in the sex trade, because they needed money to acquire basic items, such as food, school fees and clothes. Peer pressure to have niceties, such as cellphones, jewellery, nice clothes, iPads, laptops, Brazilian hair, expensive shoes, handbags as well as financing drug and alcohol habits also played a contributing role. “My father, who was the breadwinner of the family passed away. We are many children and my mother could not take care of us. I started doing sex work to help out with the household needs, and with my income I pay the school fees of my siblings, buy food and clothes,” replied a female sex worker.
The study found that most sex workers use drugs and alcohol. This contributes to risky sexual behaviour, because their judgement is impaired.
Indications are that key challenges with health provision relates to the operating hours of health facilities, waiting times, attitudes of health personnel, and communication with foreign doctors. Confidentiality and privacy also pose serious challenges, with health workers openly discussing patients.
Truck drivers are especially at risk of HIV infection, due to their mobility. The number of visiting truck drivers is estimated at approximately
2 500 per month, and many of those who overnight are likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour.
According to the report, efforts should be made to inform and educate foreign truck drivers and seafarers. Trucking and fishing companies should play a more active role, while local NGOs have to ensure their services are accessed by these groups of foreign workers. “It would be advantageous to openly debate the illegality of sex work and the issue of men having sex with men, with the aim to find solutions within religious and political environs. Furthermore, the promotion of more consistent condom use should focus on both client and sex worker,” the report stated.
More campaigns about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, and the implementation of poverty alleviation strategies, are also needed. Migrants and sedentary groups should also be encouraged to undertake HIV tests.
OTIS FINCK
It is estimated that 530 sex workers of all ages are active at the harbour town. This is according to a report titled ‘Health Vulnerabilities (HIV and Aids) of Mobile Populations and Affected Communities in Selected Ports of Southern Africa – Walvis Bay, Namibia’.
The report highlights child prostitution, and a perceived high number of young boys aged between 14 and 15 having sex with older men in exchange for money, clothes, alcoholic beverages and the like.
It says that this is a very serious concern, while forced sex work taking place among girls and boys younger than 18, also needs special attention. Young sex workers from both genders are normally aged between 14 and 15 years, the report said. According to a transgender sex worker, who started doing sex work at the age of 12, he was abused by his mother and sisters, because he was “different from other boys”.
“My family did not have money and I started selling my body to pay for school fees and to feed myself,” he said in the report.
The demand for sex work in the port town is apparently less than the available supply, which leads to physical and verbal confrontations between sex workers, with the report saying that there are insufficient clients for the number of sex workers available.
The average price for different services ranges from N$250 to N$1 000, and sex workers earn between N$3 000 and N$7 000 per month.
The common age of sexual debut is 18, although some had their first sexual intercourse experience as early as 12.
Randolph Mouton presented the findings of the study last Friday in Walvis Bay, which was prepared for the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) by Sustainable Development Africa.
The study was conducted to inform policies, strategies and programmes towards effectively and efficiently responding to the health needs of vulnerable population groups in Walvis Bay.
It provides detailed empirical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of health vulnerabilities pertaining to HIV/Aids among seagoing personnel, truck drivers, sex workers and other sedentary populations around ports. Indications are that the adult HIV prevalence rate stood at 18.2% and was very high among productive age cohorts.
This poses serious risks for sex workers, as well as mobile, and to a lesser extent, sedentary populations and migrants.
Sex workers doing business in the harbour town are mostly from the Erongo Region.
Some are from South Africa and Zimbabwe. A small number of sex workers move regularly between Swakopmund, Windhoek and Walvis Bay, and include men who have sex with men. Sex work takes place seven days a week, starts at around 22:00 and lasts until the early hours of the morning. Workers at formal establishments, such as hotels, clubs and bars normally inform sex workers when ships dock, because sex workers attract seafarers, who in turn spend money.
Poverty is regarded as the main contributing factor to sex work. Other causes include low levels of education, gender inequality, gender-based violence and abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, greed and more opportunities for men to have sex with men.
In response to a question on why they engage in sex work, some sex workers said they were forced by circumstances.
“Some parents are forcing girls to engage in sex for money, to help to support the family,” one prostitute said.
Others became involved in the sex trade, because they needed money to acquire basic items, such as food, school fees and clothes. Peer pressure to have niceties, such as cellphones, jewellery, nice clothes, iPads, laptops, Brazilian hair, expensive shoes, handbags as well as financing drug and alcohol habits also played a contributing role. “My father, who was the breadwinner of the family passed away. We are many children and my mother could not take care of us. I started doing sex work to help out with the household needs, and with my income I pay the school fees of my siblings, buy food and clothes,” replied a female sex worker.
The study found that most sex workers use drugs and alcohol. This contributes to risky sexual behaviour, because their judgement is impaired.
Indications are that key challenges with health provision relates to the operating hours of health facilities, waiting times, attitudes of health personnel, and communication with foreign doctors. Confidentiality and privacy also pose serious challenges, with health workers openly discussing patients.
Truck drivers are especially at risk of HIV infection, due to their mobility. The number of visiting truck drivers is estimated at approximately
2 500 per month, and many of those who overnight are likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour.
According to the report, efforts should be made to inform and educate foreign truck drivers and seafarers. Trucking and fishing companies should play a more active role, while local NGOs have to ensure their services are accessed by these groups of foreign workers. “It would be advantageous to openly debate the illegality of sex work and the issue of men having sex with men, with the aim to find solutions within religious and political environs. Furthermore, the promotion of more consistent condom use should focus on both client and sex worker,” the report stated.
More campaigns about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, and the implementation of poverty alleviation strategies, are also needed. Migrants and sedentary groups should also be encouraged to undertake HIV tests.
OTIS FINCK
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