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Consultation on HIV, Sex Work and the 2010 Soccer World Cup: Human Rights, Public Health, Soccer and Beyond

Resource Description: 

SWEAT (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force) and SANAC (South African National AIDS Council) hosted a Consultation on Sex Work and the 2010 Soccer World Cup during 26 – 27 November 2009. Fifty delegates representing sex worker organisations, human rights advocates, public health researchers, government and the media attended. The Consultation noted the increased anxiety about sex work, HIV and the increase in international tourists to South Africa during the 2010 World Cup period and discussed the dangers that are attached to the conflation of sex work and trafficking, and other common misconceptions. The theme for the consultation was "Human Rights, Public Health, Soccer and Beyond’. International guest speakers from New Zealand, Ghana and Germany provided expert input on prudent strategies on sex work, the law and big sporting events. Sex worker delegates drew attention to the on-going abuse of human rights in the context of sex work.

Over the two days of discussion, the Consultation forged a number of strategies that could address the fears surrounding the World Cup period and have a long-term impact on sex worker rights in South Africa. A steering committee was formed to take the work of the Consultation forward.

Consultation Strategies on the 2010 Soccer World Cup and Sex Work

Focus on Human Rights training and Public Health messaging in the context of sex work

  • Target audience for education initiatives will be sex workers, clients, non-paying partners and the general public (local and international)
  • Resources required for this campaign are:
    • Female and male condoms
    • Condoms packaging with soccer logo
    • Lubricant
  • Forge partnerships with the media to disseminate the messages;
  • The location of messages will be mainly bars and pubs where soccer will be watched;
  • Development of coasters in the bars with message that says: "Don't leave this bar without picking up a condom";
  • Human Rights materials  on sex work will relay the following key messages:
    • Sex workers have the right to work for the period of the World Cup.
    • Sex workers have the right to personal safety and not to be harassed by police.
    • Sex workers have the right to have access to free, quality and respectful health care. This includes foreign migrant sex workers
  • Lead: SWEAT & Sisonke 

Lobby government for a moratorium on sex worker harassment

  • Put pressure on government to release a directive prohibiting police harassment of sex workers and “loitering” arrests during the World Cup period
  • Run workshops with the police to sensitise police to sex worker issues
  • Lead agency: Women’s Legal Centre
     
    Draft Code of Conduct/letter to FIFA and SANAC
  • Draft a letter in which the problems and concerns anticipated with sex work and the World Cup are set out;
  • Draw on experiences from other countries  such as Ghana and Germany;
  • Provide recommendations to FIFA on how the issue can be approached in a Rights-based framework.
    Lead: SANAC Working Group on Sex Work
     
    Continue the pressure on South African sex work law reform
  • Human rights advocates must be ready for the release of the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) draft report in March 2010
  • Arrange a SWEAT/SALRC workshop for February 2010 in which the law reform process can be discussed in detail.
  • Lead: Tim Barnett, World AIDS Campaign
     

Forge relationships with Members of Parliament (MPs) and Labour organisations:

  • Specific messages need to be developed for MPs on sex work and the law
  • Collaboration with unions such COSATU and POPCRU should be strengthened.
  • Lead: Tim Barnett, World AIDS Campaign & SWEAT
     
    Conduct further Research:
  • Research on sex work is scarce and the coordination of existing projects is essential
  • South Africa requires mapping of sex work “hot spots” - lobby the Department of Health to make good on its promises to conduct research into these issues.
  • Lead: SANAC e-Reference Group on Sex Work
     

Monitor sex worker abuse and recourse:

  • A standard information sheet to document the abuse of sex workers needs to be developed and captured information should be logged into a central information system.
  • Complaints to the police and the Independent Complaints Directorate should be tracked.
  • Lead: SWEAT, together with Women’s Legal Centre and Tswaranang Legal Advocacy Centre 
     

Create a Sex worker Hotline:

  • A hotline that will assist sex workers in accessing 24-hour counselling, advice and information must be created.
  • Training of existing LifeLine and other helpline counsellors to give sex work-specific advice, should be considered.
  • Utilise SMS technology and other information technology to connect sex workers.
  • Lead: Sisonke, SWEAT & Women’sNet
     

Build and support a nation-wide sex worker movement and ensure that sex worker voices are heard

  • Sex workers need to speak out about their experiences and engage the media.
  • Media training for sex workers is vital, while journalists need to be trained in the ethics of reporting on sex work.
  • Lead agencies: POWA, Genderlinks, Women'sNet and Building Women's Leadership
Resource file: 
application/pdf iconConsult_Meet_Report_2009.pdf