Botswana and other countries in the region have been urged to decriminalize sex work “To meet their human rights commitments and improve the lives of sex workers.”
This is according to the 2022 Report on Human Rights Violations against Sex Workers by AidsFonds.
Other countries are Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The report indicates that Botswana and its neighbours should address structural violence against sex workers by decriminalising sex work.
South Africa may be a step closer to legalising sex work with a draft Bill on decriminalising prostitution having been approved by Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola and expected to be tabled before the legislature.
The report suggests that full decriminalization will increase; access to justice and ability to refer police in case of violence, access to safe work locations, economic security and social protection. It will also increase ability to practice safer sex and to access health services by sex workers.
The report indicates that if violence against sex workers is addressed, new HIV infections can be reduced by 25%.
In Botswana, the report says, religious groups have openly stated not accepting a constitution recognising sex workers.
The report found that all of the 2,009 sex workers interviewed had experienced human rights violations between December 2021 and November 2022. The sex workers interviewed were from Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“A total of 2009 human rights violations were captured in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe between December 2021 and November 2022,” reads the report in part. Peers are often the first contacted when sex workers experience violence. That is why sex workers are trained to become first responders. These first responders document the case of human rights violations using confidential and secured tools online. Capturing evidence of human rights abuses is essential to protect the huma rights of sex workers. It provides insight into the practice of rights protection and also informs policy change.
Females and trans-gender sex workers appeared to be the most vulnerable to violence. Findings showed a notable increase in violence against sex workers under the age of 25, including those under 18. “An equally unsettling development this year is the increase in violations reported by male and transgender sex workers,” the report read.
The report states further that a quarter of the sex workers had reported physical violence. There were also reports of stigmatisation for being a sex worker, sexual violence and “financial violations”. It found only 40% of all violations against sex workers are reported to law enforcement.
The report says in Southern Africa more people turn into sex work to provide for income as cost-of-living rises. Data suggests that increased competition among sex workers for clientele has led to rising levels of peer violence.
