By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Department of Social Development advocates for the decriminalisation of sex work as its criminalisation poses countless challenges against interventions that can be designed for sex workers.
The criminalisation of the trade is associated with the on-going human rights violations and inadequate access to social justice which covers the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.
The criminalisation further compromises sex workers’ access to sexual and reproductive health services, which can be realised through cooperation from various social partners including sex workers, government, law makers, civil society, developmental partners, and the public.
With the issue of decriminalisation of sex work gaining momentum in South Africa, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu
and the Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board, Ms Asanda Luwaca, will host a breakfast meeting with rehabilitated sex workers from Johannesburg shelter, on Thursday, 15 December, at the Houghton hotel, Gauteng Province.
According to the spokesperson for social development ,Lumka Oliphant said the breakfast seeks to appreciate the role of shelters which play an important role of providing shelter and support to victims of gender-based violence.
“Shelters, assist with addressing the magnitude and high prevalence of GBVF; serve as places of safety for victims of gender-based violence.
“The Department of Social Development is responsible for 349 shelters across the country, which include White Doors and Khuseleka Care Centers,” Oliphant said.
Oliphant said in the current financial year, an amount of 178 million Rand has been allocated for the provision of support services in these shelters.
“The department is responsible for the implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender Based Violence and Femicide which focuses on the provision and strengthening of an integrated community and institutional Response, Care, Support and Healing to GBVF survivors and their families,” added Oliphant.
The breakfast meeting will take place from 09h00 – 13h00 at Houghton Hotel, Lloys Ellis Avenue.
