Backed by NGOs, Malawi Sex Workers to Fight Against Harassment

Backed by local and international non-government organizations, around 20,000 sex workers in Malawi, where prostitution is decriminalized, will be fighting against harassment and demand improvement in their access to health care. The country's sex workers are often arrested by police and charged with minor offences such as being found idle and disorderly conduct which carry fines.

"Time has come for you to discuss your issues, how the police and courts treat you and how you can access sexual and reproductive health services without any hassles," News24 quoted human rights lawyer Chrispin Sibande, as saying, while he spoke with 50 of his prostitute clients at the launch.

According to the report, Mary Kumbweza Banda, who chairs the National Aids Commission, said empowering sex workers could spell "high condom use, increased HIV testing, screening for diseases and increased access to anti-retroviral therapy".

The report quoted her, as saying that 'more access to the services will in the long run contribute to reduction of new infections.'

According to the paper, Aids-ravaged Malawi has over one million of its 14 million citizens infected by HIV.

Source-ANI