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The South African Law Commission Discussion Paper on Adult Sex Work published

For many years, there has been a lot of debate about sex work in South Africa. The South African Law Reform Commission’s Discussion Paper on dult Sex work looks at the need for changes in the laws on sex work in outh Africa.

The South African Law Commission is a government body working with parts of the law that there are problems with. The Commission first looks closely at laws that need to be changed, then writes an Issue Paper explaining how things are at the moment and problems with the laws.

Notices

SWEAT will soon be launching a website for the Counter Trafficking Coalition.

What is human trafficking?

It is when you are deceived into leaving their homes and being moved to a different town, city, province or country. It is when you are sold or put into forced labour – for example domestic labour, providing sex against your will, that is forced sex work. It can also include forced organ removal and adoption.

REPORT CASES TO THE 24 HOUR TRAFFICKING HELPLINE

0800 555 999

Welcome

SWEAT is a non-profit organisation situated in Cape Town, South Africa. We work with sex workers around health and human rights. We also lobby and advocate for the decriminalisation of adult sex work in South Africa.

This is an educational site about sex worker rights and issues. The site contains adult information and it is not intended for children or persons who are underage.

What We Do

SWEAT is involved in direct outreach work with sex workers around health and safety as well as public awareness and advocacy work.

Read more about our advocacy work or our programmes.

SWEATscene is a newsletter produced every 2 months for sex workers. It is distributed on the streets and in local agencies. Through the newsletter SWEAT is able to share news and promote health and safety in the workplace.

View our latest SWEATscene pdf version (March 2009).

View the SWEATscene archives.

sisonke logo

Sisonke's aim is to unite sex workers, to improve our living and working conditions and to fight for equal access to rights.

DRAFT SUBMISSION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION

Saturday, 08 April 2006
Project 107 Sexual Offences Adult Prostitution Discussion Paper 0001/2009 To endorse this paper, please contact: Eric Harper, Director (Dianne Massawe and Vivienne Mentor-Lalu) [Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce] Tel: [021] 448 7875 Fax [021] 448 7857 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it For the PDF version, please click on this link: DRAFT SUBMISSION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION (PDF)
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 June 2009 )
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Decriminalisation in wake of 30 June Law Reform Commission deadline

Monday, 01 June 2009
“Decriminalisation closest to developmental model” SWEAT (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce) is launching a series of activities during June month in the run up to their submission to the SA Law Reform Commission discussion paper on adult prostitution released earlier this month.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 June 2009 )
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Denial of the rights of sex workers is the real crime! SWEAT calls on Mr Mpshe to debate the rights

Friday, 29 May 2009
SWEAT (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce) is dismayed at the views expressed by the acting National Prosecution Authority head, Mr Mokotedi Mpshe, that legalising sex work for the 2010 World Cup would be bad for the country's morals. This view is short sighted, as it fails to take note of the realities on the ground, and the respect for human rights enshrined in our constitution. It is also unfortunate, coming from Mpshe at a time when the Law Reform Commission has just released the second discussion paper on adult prostitution after years of waiting for its release.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 June 2009 )
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Open letter

Thursday, 21 May 2009

"For much of our history the vast majority of South Africans suffered extreme injustice, deprivation and systematic human rights abuses. We need to continue to guard against the ways in which the abuses of the past live on. Sex workers have for too long become targets of hate crime.."

Decriminalisation of sex work respects human rights

19 May 2009

"We would like to applaud Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s commitment to deal with the sex work industry “objectively and with an open mind” (The Times, 15 May 2009). It is vital to note however that decriminalisation of sex work is not the same as regulating the industry..."

SWEAT welcomes belated release of discussion paper on adult prostitution

11 May 2009

“Decriminalisation the only option protecting sex worker rights”. SWEAT (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce) welcomed the belated discussion paper on adult prostitution released by the South African Law Reform Commission and still insists that decriminalisation is the only effective means to regulate the sex industry.

Cape High Court interdicts the police and city police to stop harassing sex workers
- 20 April 2009

Sex workers demand human rights ahead of International Sex Workers Day and groundbreaking court application
-02 March, 2009

Sex Worker approaches Constitutional Court

-21 August 2008

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 June 2009 )

Publications

Sunday, 02 April 2006

SWEAT's annual reports, fact sheets and research reports are available online.

Read SWEAT's publications.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 )