Legalising or not legalising sex workers

There have been debates in different forums on whether sex work should be legalised or not. The debates notwithstanding, sex work remains illegal according to Rwanda laws. Sex workers however, remain amidst communities both in rural and urban areas of the country, hence exposing the futility of the law against the work. Rwanda women have come a long way in fighting for their rights, and getting due recognition as equals to their male counterparts in different sectors. It is against this background that female sex workers want freedom to carry out their work. The women have said that absence of a protecting law, make them constantly hounded by the police and abused by clients. Jeanine Mukagasana, a representative of an association of sex workers in Mukarange sector of Kayonza district, says that their rights should be protected by law. “We just don’t understand why we can’t be left free and protected. We are constantly harassed by security officers and local leaders, which is why some of us are ever aggressive,” she said. Rosarie Dusengimana a sex worker in Kirehe district notes that even though the law is against them, they enjoy society protection. “Our clients come from the society and we relate well...so whether the law is against us or not it makes little difference. I for instance do the work from my house... what I do is to consult my clients on phone or just move around the town decently dressed and land on a customer.” According to Dieudonne Ruturwa a Social Mobilisation Advisor, UNAIDS says that sensitizing sex workers against HIV/AIDS, is troublesome because it’s not easy to identify sex workers, in the community. “Our campaign against HIV/AIDS should reach every individual, particularly the most vulnerable like sex workers. “I am not advocating for sex work, but telling the reality of the matter. Our law criminalises sex workers and this is wrong because it keeps them away from us. We need to map and organise our sex workers, to halve the infection,” says Ruturwa There is another group comprising of male sex workers that remain silent in the country. This is part of the HIV hotspots identified by recent research study carried out by Dr. Desire Gapira Kamanzi. Male sex workers may be facing double effect, because not only is the law against them, but also the Rwandan society doesn’t accommodate them. “There is a very absurd misconception that sex workers are only females, alas; my findings showed that hundreds of males are silently active. So, how do we control the morbidity and mortality of this group? I am of the view that we change,” says Dr. Kamanzi So, owing to the fact that we have to leave no stone unturned, to check HIV/AIDS, a degree of sex workers’ tolerance should be allowed. Of course, the interrelationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty cannot be overemphasized either. Poverty is a factor which leads to behaviours that expose socially and economically excluded groups to the risk of HIV infection, and which then reduces the capacity of such households to cope with the effects of HIV/AIDS. These relationships are crucial for ensuring that HIV and AIDS are integrated in poverty eradication plans. We talk about ‘some degree of tolerance, because full legalisation would lead to more exploitation of women as they will be seen as commodities that can be bought. This is the general perception of the society. Societal values are also not our allies, when we request for legalisation of sex work. They say that it would be setting a very dangerous precedent to the young generation. The problem however, is that there is no middle ground when it comes to laws; it is either legal or illegal. We are thus left to think that we shall have to swallow the bitter pill and legalise sex work. Subsequently, we should go for right choice as circumstances dictate-legalising or not legalising sex workers. mugitoni@gmail.com