MUSICIAN and activist Nomsa Mazwai has joined the fight against the decriminalisation of sex work.
The talented media personality will be participating in walks across various parts of Joburg to highlight how valuable safety is for women and the community at large.
In bringing the plight of sex workers to the forefront in a bid to decriminalise sex work, Nomsa has partnered up with organisations such as SWEAT and Sisonke.
According to Nomsa the walk, which is called #FunkItImWalking, will highlight challenges faced by sex workers to improve their quality of life, to ensure a safe working environment, address the risks of human trafficking, and the need for sex workers to have access to the justice system to address violence and abuse from clients, the police, intimate partners as well as brothel owners.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Nomsa said: “The walk aims to make it safe for a woman to walk at any time of day in any condition. Injury to one is injury to all. If sex workers are not safe, none of us are safe.
“Sex workers are especially vulnerable because when they’re victims of illegal acts of violence, they can’t seek assistance or protection from law enforcement.
“As #FunkItImWalking, we knew this is a call we could support, as it enables a situation where women are safe to walk.”
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While SWEAT advocacy manager Dudu Dlamini said: “It’s 2021 and sex work is still criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act that was drafted during the apartheid era. “Sex workers autonomously choose to do this work. They are providers – mothers, fathers, caregivers, taxpayers and should be treated as such.”
“Sex work must be recognised as work! Sex workers’ rights should be part of labour rights. Join the walk to make government take note and change the Sexual Offences Act.”
The much-anticipated walk will take place on Thursday, 27 May and hundreds of women and men will walk from the Joburg CBD to Hillbrow in solidarity with sex workers in the fight for decriminalising sex work.
