Criminalisation has hurt sex workers and perpetuated the AIDS pandemic- UNAIDS

UNAIDS Country Director Eva Kiwango has responded to the South African Cabinet’s decision to suggest a Bill that will annul the criminalization of sex work.

KFN reports that the South African Cabinet’s initiative to terminate criminalization and shield sex workers from mistreatment and exploitation is commended by UNAIDS.

Eva Kiwango, UNAIDS Country Director in South Africa was cited saying: “The evidence is unequivocal: Criminalization has been shown to escalate the risks encountered by South Africa’s sex workers, negatively impacting their health and safety, and obstructing South Africa’s HIV response.

UNAIDS endorses South Africa’s Cabinet’s initiative to revoke criminalization and to defend sex workers from mistreatment and exploitation.

Criminalization has hindered South African sex workers’ access to crucial health-care services, including successful HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services.

To eliminate AIDS, we must abolish the damaging punitive laws that are sustaining the pandemic. To preserve lives, decriminalize.”

Access to vital health care services, such as successful HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services, has been obstructed in South Africa due to the criminalization of sex workers.