Humphrey M. Ndondo, Director, SRC Human rights violations against sex workers: Umzimba wami ngowami- Reclaiming Sex Workers Rights in Zimbabwe Humphrey M. Ndondo, Director, SRC

“I stand in solidarity with African Key Populations; Sex Workers, Men who have Sex with Men, Women who have Sex with Women, Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Trans* diverse persons, People who use drugs, People living with HIV and the youth in order to end AIDS”

Project description The Sexual Rights Centre (SRC) in Zimbabwe has been implementing a paralegal programme run for SWs by SWs. The programme emerged from the needs articulated by SWs which included support in dealing with: police abuse, harassment, illegal arrest, detention and corruption.

Objectives To strengthen the capacity and leadership of SWs workers in Zimbabwe. To provide access to legal services for SWs and document human rights violations with a view to: improving legal, medical and psychosocial interventions, informing research initiatives and influencing policy. To organize SWs for a collective policy advocacy platform where they can speak with a unified voice.

Human rights Violations against Sex workers The criminalisation of sex work is a contributing factor to the violation of human rights of sex workers and increases the vulnerability of SWs to HIV and Sexually transmitted infections. Human rights violations against SWs include, but are not limited to The right to personal security, i.e. the right to freedom from violence from both public and private sources. Equality before the law Dignity Health Personal liberty Privacy Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Lived experiences of sex workers In April 2015, a sex worker was brutally murdered by a client that she had taken to her place of residence, her t-shirt was shoved down her throat. The perpetrator is still at large.

Lived experiences of sex workers In September 2015, a sex worker who had been missing for almost two weeks was found dead in a state of decomposition near a cemetary. No one had been arrested in connection with the case.

Lived experiences of sex workers ”A young woman aged 22 years was found murdered a week ago. Her body was dumped at an old graveyard and was found in a state of advanced decomposition. Suspicion was she was killed in a clients car, she had been raped, her body lay naked on the bare ground, her skin tight leggings had been used to strangle her to death. Her underwear was picked up strewn a few meters from her body. There are no leads to the perpetrators of this gruesome murder.” May her soul rest in power! .

Lived experiences of sex workers In March 2015, Police officers in Beit-bridge arrested sex workers for wearing “sexually appetizing” clothing. The language used in the outline of the state’s case was sexist and meant to impair the dignity of the SWs involved. In 2013, a SW was viciously assaulted by a police officer who inserted a truncheon into her anus. She is currently claiming damages from the perpetrator.

Lived experiences of sex workers Police conduct operations where sex workers are arrested without any reasonable suspicion. In May 2015, the Constitutional Court ordered that such arrests infringe on the right of personal liberty of arrested persons in the case of Nyamhanhindi and Others v The state.

Loitering case before the High court The case of Lindiwe Moyo and others was finalised on the 24th of March 2016. The High Court of Zimbabwe ordered that their arrest for a crime of “loitering for the purposes of prostitution” was illegal and ordered the police to refund the money that were paid as fines.

Lessons learnt Many SWs do not enjoy the fundamental right of equal protection of the law. Many HR abuses against sex workers go unreported largely due to the futility of reporting abuses, coupled with fear of violence, self-incrimination and arbitrary detentions. Proactive and rapid response mechanisms by paralegals and lawyers to legal distress calls by SWs is important. Real or perceived status as a sex worker is often used to abrogate the rights of women. Increasing rights literacy among SWs is central to mitigating violence. Sensitisation of the state and non-state actors is of paramount importance in curbing the violations in human rights perpetrated against SWs.

Next steps There is need to scale up the human rights advocacy work for SWs. There is also need to interrogate an African model of decriminalisation in the light of the prevalence of street-based sex work given the state’s propensity to control and policing bodies. The SRC seeks to strengthen and systematize operations in denouncing violence. The SRC sees a need for strong leadership from SWs themselves.

Thank You!