Did you know that today, June 2, is International Sex Workers’ Day
Many women were forced into prostitution by different circumstance and only found sex work as an option for survival.
The day intends to celebrate and acknowledge the struggles of sex workers globally. Every year the world celebrates International Sex Workers’ Day.
The event was first celebrated in 1976.
One of the province’s former sex workers, Hilda Nompi Tlou Maseko, founder of Impumelelo Yetfu Foundation and a provincial activist of Kwanele Survivor Movement, said “I don’t celebrate the day. There is nothing to celebrate, it is not work, but an option for survival,” she said.
READ: Girl escapes from human trafficker after being raped and forced into prostitution
“Research shows that 89 per cent of women and girls in prostitution were forced by either childhood abuse or some became the breadwinner at a very young age and needed to make an income to take care of their families. Some are just school drop outs and some are qualified graduates with no jobs,” she said.
READ : A voice for younger victims of sexual violence
Maseko revealed that some were sexually abused from a young age and grew up with hatred for men yet in need of money. “Some turned into prostitution because they felt unworthy, unloved either because they were sexually molested or used as sex toys by their own partners.”
