Vunderkind
Social Member
As the world celebrates the 14th International Sex Workers’ Rights Day, the Nigerian ‘arm’ of sex workers have expressed solidarity with their counterparts in other countries to demand for the legalization of their ‘merchandise’ as a proper job.
P.M. news reports the Nigerian sex workers feel that the time has come for the “Nigerian government to grant them their due recognition and further recognise that as human beings trying to keep body and soul going, the ‘profession’ should be considered legitimate enough to put a stop to its discrimination and stigmatisation.”
It might be worth every bit of irony to note that most of the sex workers didn’t realize yesterday was the day set aside for them until they were informed by newsmen. They have however capitalized on it to ask that they be granted the freedom to legally practice their trade.
See, many people, including you, do not see us as human beings. In your mind, we are a condemned set of Nigerians who sell their bodies so cheaply, but that thought is not right,”says Jane, a woman who ‘operates’ at a brother close to the Agege railway line.
Jane’s colleague, a 27-year old lady, said if their rights were recognized legally, they would be able to pay taxes and become viewed as decent, respectable in the society.
“In some countries abroad, sex workers pay taxes. There is no discrimination, they can sue and even have streets, mainly in red light districts allocated to them to carry out their trades.
“But here in Nigeria, we are faced with rejection from the society, serious harassment by the police, and victimisation by our customers.
“You can imagine a customer who rushes into this place in a desperate bid to ease himself, jumps at one of us after a bargain and rides like a horse only to renege on the agreement on how much he should pay. If we have our rights, we could call for his arrest without shame or molestation from security agents and other Nigerians,” she observed.
Another sex worker who spoke with P.M. NEWS said prostitutes had various reasons for ‘enrolling’ in the business. For example in her case, she traveled out of Nigeria to hustle in Spain. But I was deported even before reaching the place.
“It was a tough experience and I started sleeping with men as we moved from one country to another just to get money to survive. I stayed two months in Morocco gathering money, but just days to my entering Spain, I was caught with other 80 women and men and sent back to Nigeria.
“I am from Agbor in Delta State and couldn’t go back to my place because of the shame. So I took up residency in this place servicing men daily and making money. I’m even more comfortable here now and I make good money, about N12,000 every week,”the woman – called Judith – said.
The International Sex Workers’ Rights Day is marked on 3 March every year to call the world’s attention to the plight of sex workers and demand for their rights.
With the red umbrella as its symbol, the day came into existence in 2001 with a protest of over 25,000 sex workers organised by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee in India.
In South Africa, Sisonke, the only movement of sex workers in the country is commemorating the day with a march across streets to call for an end to injustices against sex workers and demand the recognition of prostitution as a legitimate job.