The South African government today introduced a bill to decriminalize prostitution in the country, a move championed by South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola to reduce “human rights violations” of sex workers and improve their access to Health services.
“Criminalizing sex work has not stopped the sale or purchase of sex. In any case, it has meant higher levels of violence against sex workers,” Lamola said at a news conference in Pretoria on Friday.
The purchase of sexual services will no longer be treated as a crime under the new laws, which are intended to minimize human rights violations against sex workers.
“Furthermore, criminalization has affected women above all. Sex workers are the ones who have to deal with law enforcement, but not the male clients,” she added.
Lamola hopes this move will provide “greater protection for sex workers, better working conditions, and less discrimination and stigma.”
In addition, the Government seeks, after decriminalizing prostitution, to start regulating it “at a later stage”.
The South African Cabinet already approved the proposal on November 30, according to Lamola.
This Friday, the country’s authorities shared the bill online for citizens to send their comments, which must arrive before January 31, 2023.
The spokesman for the South African Council of Churches for the metropolitan municipality of Tshwane (which includes Pretoria, the country’s capital), Joseph Chabangu, regretted that the government did not consult with religious authorities to prepare the bill.
According to Chabangu, if the country’s women “could get a proper job or if our government could offer jobs to our people,” they would never choose to work as prostitutes.
“Christians have no voice in our country,” he said.
street violence
Violence is a recurring problem in South Africa, which is still trying to overcome the economic crisis left by the coronavirus pandemic in a country that already suffered from deep problems of inequality, poverty and unemployment.
The South African Police registered more than 6,420 murders and 9,510 rapes in three months, from April 1 to June 30, according to the Ministry of Security.
While 3,780 rapes occurred in the homes of the rapists or victims, around 1,540 occurred in public places such as streets, parks, beaches, and public transportation. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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