Ms. Amaka Enemo, National Coordinator, National Se.x Workers Association, has appealed to the federal government to decriminalize se.x work in Nigeria for effective control of HIV and other se.xually transmitted infections.
Enemo made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the inauguration of the new report on `Understanding the high risk of urban se.xual networks in Nigeria.’
The national coordinator said that everybody is at risk of whatever he does, adding that se.x workers faced a lot of violence, especially from their clients, thugs and law enforcement agents.
She said that most of the times, police and other law enforcement agents exploit se.x workers when they raid their brothels or streets where se.x workers conduct their business.
“When they are arrested, some of the law enforcement agents demand and conduct unprotected se.xual acts with the se.x workers who do not have money.
“This exposes the se.x workers to the risk of contracting HIV and other se.xually transmitted infections,’’ she said.
According to Enemo decriminalising se.x work will reduce the risk and the violence se.x workers face in Nigeria.
She added that government would also benefit from the se.x workers because they would pay tax.
The National Coordinator said that in Amsterdam where se.x work is legalised, se.x workers pay 160 Euros to enable them to stay in a `window for eight hours.’
She explained that window is a place where a se.x worker stays to wait for her clients.
Enemo said the report highlighted areas and populations who are at risk of contracting HIV infections who were yet to receive any intervention.
She said the report also highlighted places in Abuja where se.x workers do not know about condom, lubricants and other services.
She urged the public not to criminalise se.x work; she urged them to protect sex workers in order for the society to free of se.xually transmitted infections.
“If a se.x worker is infected with HIV and sleeps with a man and transmit the disease to him, the man will eventually transmit the infection to either his wife or girl friend and others.
“The best thing to do is to support them, decriminalise their work so that they can do their work in a humane environment,’’ Enemo added.
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