ALMOST two thousand sex workers in Richards Bay, Empangeni and surrounding areas, have over the past year, been pulled under the LifeLine Zululand umbrella through the Commercial Sex Worker’s (CSW) Project for vulnerable women in high risk situations.
Since April 2014, the project has reached 1812 sex workers, 639 of them attended workshops and 27 000 condoms were distributed to individuals, pubs, bars and social clubs.
At the Creative Space Workshops, trained coordinators, liaison officers and peer educators provide information on HIV /Aids, the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition and cancer awareness and engaged women in dialogue to ultimately effect positive living and behaviour change.
Sex workers can voice their challenges and fears such as human rights violations, physical, emotional and psychological abuse, sexual assault and rape in absolute confidentiality at a private, secure venue.
Access to health care services, voluntary HIV testing, condom provision and condom distribution are available, as well as crucial education about human rights.
Last week, LifeLine sent four delegates to attend a human trafficking workshop presented by Warrant Officer Abby Dyanand of the Hawks.
Officer Dyanand said the majority of traffic victims do not realise they have in fact been trafficked and are petrified to come forward for fear of arrest, prosecution, deportation and further harm, known as secondary victimisation.
Drug addiction, violence and trauma keep victims in a state of shock, where their will have been eroded completely and they are kept at the mercy of their slave masters.
Officer Dyanand also underlined the vulnerability of harbours.
‘Syndicates target certain areas for a reason – they study the culture, policing, infrastructure, borders, society response and community awareness, poking for holes in the defence systems.
‘Just like legitimate businesses, syndicates are always looking for new markets.
‘Harbours makes it easy to convey drugs and women.
‘Any harbour is an economic hub.
‘The Durban harbour created jobs and wealth but also a fair amount of problems.
‘There must be a balance between what the harbour does for the economy and how it is managed.’
LifeLine Zululand is a recipient of the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce’s (SWEAT) Red Umbrella Project funded by the Global Fund.
The organisation is also coordinating efforts with SAPS, Department of Health, uMhlathuze Municipality and uThungulu District Municipality.
