Zambia govt urges respect for rights of sex workers

The Zambian government says there is need for everyone to respect the rights of sex workers because those engaged in the practice were also human beings that deserved some dignity.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo made the call on Monday when he opened a meeting on the rights of sex workers in the country.

He noted that although all forms of prostitution and sex work were illegal in the country and attracted prison sentences, those engaged in the practice still needed to be treated in a respectable and humane way.

He cited instances such as sex workers being turned away from health facilities when in need of health or held in police custody for long hours without charge and some of the way that sex workers in the country were denied their rights.

He said there is need for the government and other stakeholders to come up with policies that would ensure the rights of sex workers and other groups of people that broke the law for various reasons.

In her contribution, the chairperson of Tasintha, a non-governmental organization that rehabilitates sex workers, Veronica Mulenga said there was also need for an end to stigma and discrimination against former sex workers that had reformed and were trying to be re-integrated into society.

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SOURCE : http://en.starafrica.com/news/zambia-govt-urges-respect-for-rights-of-sex-workers.html