In South Africa’s cities, sex workers and activists bravely stand up against harsh laws that criminalize their work, demanding safety, respect, and legal rights. Despite growing arrests and slow government action, they keep fighting through protests, art, and court battles to end violence and stigma. Their voices bring real stories and hope to a struggle rooted in history, pushing for a future where sex work is treated with dignity, not punishment.
The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce hosted the firstever summit for the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa, bringing together sex workers and state authorities to discuss the highly charged topic. The aim is to readvance the bill for the decriminalisation of sex work to Parliament by March 2024, eliminating criminal charges against sex workers, legalising the purchase and sale of sex, and revoking all laws that criminalise sex work. The summit’s focal point was campaigns advocating for the rights of sex workers, including those addressing HIV prevention services and dismantling structural barriers.
