Deputy Minister to facilitate a dialogue with sex workers in East London
On the 30th of November 2022, cabinet approved to publish the Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Bill of 2022 for public comment. The bill repeals the Sexual Offences Act (previously Immorality Act), 1957 (Act 23 of 1957) which would see sex work decriminalised.
As part of building up the momentum for the decriminalization of Sex Work in South Africa, Deputy Minister of Social Development Mme Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will facilitate a sex Workers dialogue to interact directly and hear issues, hardships and experiences of sex Workers in East London and remote areas.
The Department of Social Development has been advocating the need for decriminalisation of sex work-as criminalisation poses countless challenges against interventions designed for sex workers. Criminalisation of the trade is intricately linked to the on-going human rights violations and inadequate access to social, justice and health services. This can be realised through cooperation from various social partners including sex workers, government, civil society and religious groups.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the dialogues scheduled as follows:
Date: Thursday, 08 December 2022
Time: 10:00
Venue: Premier Regent Hotel- East London
Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Makhosazana Mavuso
Cell: 072 732 9381
Email: Makhosazanama@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries may be directed to Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Cell: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
