Legislators
demand greater attention for Human Rights of Sex Workers
3 Mar. 2010
To mark the 10th anniversary of
the International Sex Workers’ Rights Day and to increase attention
of the state government towards human rights issues of sex workers, a group of
legislators met 60 members of Chaitanya Mahila Mandali- a
community based organisation of sex workers in Hyderabad. The meeting was
convened by Andhra Pradesh Legislators Forum on AIDS (APLFA) in collaboration
with SWECHA
- a sex workers’ forum - and Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society
(APSACS).
After the event, Convener of APLFA, Dr. S.
Sailaja Nath presented a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr. K. Rosaiah.
The memorandum demanded socio-economic welfare, prevention of
violence, and legal support system for sex workers.
Andhra Pradesh has
an estimated number of 103,472 female sex workers (*1), whose active engagement
is central to a successful AIDS response. The APSACS has 31 targeted
interventions to reach 75% of sex workers with HIV prevention, treatment and
care services.
“This interface is first of its kind in the
state, where a large number of political leaders from different political
parties have come together for a face-to-face discussion with sex workers” – said Ms. K.
Jayamma, President of Chaitanya Mahila Mandali.
The sex workers shared their life stories
and experiences of stigma, harassment and violence. During this
interactive session the legislators were not only sensitised about the issues
of sex worker communities, but also assessed the efforts of state government in
addressing issues of trafficking and welfare of sex workers.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Sailjanath,
committed that APLFA will be actively involved in brining all departments
concerned on a single platform. He stressed on the need to address key issues
affecting sex worker communities for promoting and protecting human rights. As
a first step, APLFA sent letters of request to Ministers of Rural
Development, Home, Civil Supplies, Higher Education, Secondary Education,
Social Welfare, Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Housing, and Law and
Courts.
UNAIDS provides
technical support to APLFA, which is a driving force for mobilising political
action on HIV in Andhra Pradesh.
(*1) Information
obtained from APSACS
