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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
Ever since Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi sparked an outcry by saying prostitution should be legalised for the 2010 World Cup, it has been a burning issue. Johannesburg has now hosted the first conference led by African sex workers, which addressed the denial of human rights and violence and discrimination against prostitutes. Project 2010 spoke to Vivienne Lalu, Advocacy Programme Co-Cordinator for the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce about these and other issues….  How successful was the conference? The fact that it brought together sex workers and organisations from across the continent made it a success. Issues of human rights for sex workers were also addressed. It looked at the conditions in the industry and the enormous challenges that we face. In that sense, the conference fulfilled its objectives. Was the 2010 sex industry addressed? Yes it was, although it wasn't the focal point. However, I must emphasis that 2010 sex tourism is an issue that does comer up regularly and it will continue to be an issue. And what are your views on 2010 and the sex industry? These are issues that we have been dealing with for years - in the 12 or 13 years of our existence. It is only a major issue now because of the World Cup. We have been asking for the laws around sex work to be changed - we have wanted it to be decriminalised. We have been asking the various organs of government to prioritise the matter. For us, this bigger than 2010. We need law reform. It's a much broader issue than people coming to South Africa to watch football for a month. What lessons can we take from the 2006 World Cup in Germany? The circumstances were very different. I think it is clear that the issue of trafficking of women was exaggerated - there were reports that there would be 40 000 sex workers but that did not materialise. What else needs to be done? It is critical that sex workers are consulted - for us, this issue seems to come from the position of what is good for the government….what is good for the visitors, but nobody seems to worry about what is good for the sex workers. We align ourselves with the World Class City For All campaign - their slogan is 'For the inclusion of the urban poor in the 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations'. It has been important to support that campaign so that sex workers and people in informal economy don't get excluded from benefiting from this world-class event. more interviews... |
