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Uganda: Sex Workers Need Help, Not Denial
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The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
EDITORIAL
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Kampala
The Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has outlawed the planned regional sex workers' workshop organised by a local women's organisation, Akina Mama wa Africa.
In a press statement, Buturo described the planned meeting as conspiracy to "commit a criminal offence." Buturo's concerns seem to be both legal and moral.
Legally, he bans the conference because prostitution is illegal in Uganda. A self-confessed religious and moral watchman, Buturo also sees the meeting as promoting immorality.
But he misses the point.
Prostitution is booming because there is a market for it. As a result of this market, sex workers are some of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to HIV/AIDS.
Government should have allowed the workshop so as to tap into the voices of sex workers themselves with a view to obtain ideas not only on how to reduce HIV prevalence but also minimise prostitution.
When Akina Mama wa Africa called this conference, their aim was not to promote prostitution but to try to get to the core of an age-old practice that is not about to go away.
The conference was conceived to be a formal interaction among sex workers, development workers and women's rights groups "in order to help them understand and protect their health, human and sexual rights".
Sex workers are part of our society, just like all the other social misfits. We cannot simply wish them away by banning a meeting that aims to help them, as Buturo appears to be doing.
Besides, most prostitutes do not necessarily enjoy what they do. They are vulnerable, disadvantaged women who clearly need help.
In some countries, including Uganda, interventions such as those championed by Akina Mama wa Africa, have rescued some girls from this dangerous 'trade'.
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In Senegal, sex workers' groups were mobilised and taught about safe sex. These groups try to ensure that their members, as well as customers, are protected. In fact, the women known to be infected with HIV are withdrawn from the 'trade'.
This is not a perfect solution, but it helps save some lives and makes prostitution safer.
Otherwise hiding heads in the sand and pretending that this is a holy country where such things are alien is self-defeating.
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