Humphrey M. Ndondo [MPH] Lived experiences of violence faced by key populations and opportunities to close the gaps Humphrey M. Ndondo [MPH] Violence Prevention Meeting Johannesburg, South Africa 02 October 2017

“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”

Vision of the Sexual Rights Centre We dream in COLOUR of a society in which: The lines between sex, gender and crime have been redrawn to recognize and respect the reality of human diversity. All people can claim their rights with dignity, work to realize their potential, and live full, happy lives.

Background Violence against Key Populations is a rights issue The right to live free from violence is a basic and fundamental human right However KPs continue to face disproportionate levels of violence globally from state & non-state actors; Physical and sexual abuse from LEA, intimate partners Unlawful arrest and detention Discrimination in accessing services Lack of legislative protection and impunity of LEA Forced cultural and religious practices

Human rights Violations against Key Populations The criminalisation of sex work and same sex sexual relations and substance use Human rights violations against KPs 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 violence Lived experiences documented from the work of the Sexual Rights Centre Extracts from the Lancet Journal 2014, Special Series on HIV and sex work- Human rights violations against sex workers: burden and effect on HIV

“The police force us to pay money to them every day “The police force us to pay money to them every day.” “If you have no money, they hold you in the police station for two days and force you to clean the station. Some policemen will only let you go if you have sex with them.”– Female sex worker, Russia “And he pulled out a police badge and said ‘C’mon, you want me to take you in or screw you?’ I was scared, and allowed him to screw me.”– Female sex worker, Serbia “I was raped by the police and the prison officers, they cut my hair and beat me up badly.”– Transgender sex worker, Mexico City

“Police came and asked for my bag “Police came and asked for my bag. When I refused, they beat me, took my condoms and burnt them and said I`m a bitch”- Sex worker, Zambia In the lockups police officers forcefully have sexual intercourse with me… we request them to use condoms but they disagree to use condom. Twice I was locked in police station, there 12 police officers beat me. They dragged me to the toilet and forcefully had sexual intercourse with me without using condom. When I requested them to use condom they threw[away] the condom that I had in my pocket.”– Transgender sex worker, Nepal

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- FSW, Zimbabwe In September 2015, a sex worker who had been missing for almost two weeks was found dead in a state of decomposition near a cemetery. To date, no one has been arrested in connection with the case- FSW, Zimbabwe.

“Another officer asked how a prostitute like me could be raped as I was used to all sizes. He told me in fact that man really spared me. He could have tested my ass too. He ended asking me if my ass is already opened. Never will I again go to report a case. I’d rather die.”– Female sex worker, Mombasa, Kenya “I cannot go and tell a health worker that I have a genital problem when she doesn’t know about my work. I expect to be abused and I have fear.” – Female sex, Uganda

“A young woman aged 22 years was found murdered a week ago “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”- Zimbabwe May her soul rest in power! .

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- Zimbabwe 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.

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

“When sex work is directly and indirectly criminalized the Human Rights and Safety of people who choose to engage in sex work is inevitably compromised” “This becomes painfully clear when you work as a paralegal officer for SWs in a country like Zimbabwe. I seek justice for the SWs I know, who have been murdered in client`s homes and cars; lacking safe or legal spaces to work. I seek justice for my fellow SWs, who are routinely denied health care services and police protection”

In August this year, a judge at the High Court dismissed a case for the Sexual Rights Centre to march in a bid to raise awareness on violence against sex workers. In his judgement the judge cited that sex work (prostitution is immoral) therefore sex workers cannot be allowed to parade the streets.

Closing the gap Decriminalize and de-stigmatize KPs Address violence in the framework of the SDGs- leaving no one behind! Decriminalize and de-stigmatize KPs Target and tailor violence prevention initiatives Empower communities Scale up and fund community based initiatives Duty bearers to promote, protect and fulfil human rights

Thank You!