Sex Workers March – 3 March 2011
The organised a series of marches to commemorate International Sex Workers Day on 3 March. Participants were asked to bring their own red umbrella, and wear a mask to cover their faces ‘in solidarity with sex workers who cannot show their faces for fear of being arrested, harassed and stigmatized.’
In 2009 sex workers from Southern, Western and Eastern Africa came together to form a sex worker led African Sex Worker Alliance (ASWA), whose mandate is to lead the fight for sex workers’ rights in Africa. To date the alliance is made up of 7 African countries; Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SEX WORKER RIGHTS DAY
On the 3rd of March ASWA will take to the streets and hold events in commemoration of the International Sex Worker Rights Day. The day’s history goes back to 2001 when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a sex worker festival. The organizers, the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, is a Calcutta based group that has over 50,000 sex worker members and members of their communities.
WHY WE ARE MARCHING
“We call for access to health services and the ending of sex workers’ human rights violations. We call for an investigation in all the murders committed against sex workers and the bring to trial of those who abuse our rights and put barriers in our ways to gain access to health care and send our children to school.
“We are humans; sex work is just one dimension of our lives, not all of who we are. We are your brothers, sisters, daughters, neighbours.
“When we dare to be powerful, to go onto the streets and make our voices heard, we know there are those who will try to shame and ridicule us, with the hope that we will be isolated and silenced. But this won’t be the case!”, says ASWA Regional Coordinator, Kyomya Macklean.
KENYA SEX WORKERS ALLIANCE
ASWA Kenya
Route: From the Coast Provincial General hospital to the Tononoka social hall
Starting time: 9am
Contact persons: Phelister Wamboi [email][email protected] (+254 720 333 141), John Mathenge [email][email protected] (+254 725 608 724)
WANT TO JOIN?
Join us at the march closest to you – bring your own red umbrella, and wear a mask to cover your face in solidarity with sex workers who cannot show their faces for fear of being arrested, harassed and stigmatized. Feel free to bring your own banners and signs to show your support.
OUR PARTNERS
Africa Sex workers Alliance
Bar Hostess Empowerment and suupport Programme
Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya
Survivors-BUSIA
Kash-KISUMU
SWOP Clinic
UHAI
Gay Kenya
Ishtar MSM
HOYMAS
FAHAMU
PEMA-Kenya
CREAW
KHRC
Stefi Productions
SOLWODI
OSIEA
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