March ahead of Aids Conference calls for decriminalisation of sex work

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Hundreds of people have gathered for the march to Gugu Dlamini Park, ahead of the opening of the Aids Conference, later today in Durban.

The South African National Aids Council Civil Society Forum is calling for accessible health services and decriminalisation of sex work.

Over the next four days, scientists, NGOs and policymakers will be meeting at South Africa’s Aids Conference to re-ignite a multi-stakeholder approach against HIV in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, civil society also want government to fast track accessibility of health services.  The aim of the march, which draw a significant number of young people, is to ensure voices from civil society is taken seriously.

“We are here in support of those who have HIV/AIDS. We came to let them know that HIV doesn’t define who they are. They should not shy away; they should come out and speak up. We also encourage the youth to use prep and condoms so that they can always be safe. It is better to be safe than being sorry. I am advocating for youth to be able to access services in the clinics like your contraceptive service not only to access them but also when they and ask for those services at the clinics they must be given information.”

Jenny Mcloughlin of TB HIV Care, an organisation working with people living with HIV, has shared some of the challenges they encounter when assisting patients.

“There is poverty on the ground, often in homes that have a lot of poverty. Young people start sex at a young age. What we need to support them with multisectoral approach that we can move into a household, profile their household and then we can provide family, community support so they actually can get support, so they do not start sex at an early age. The next one is access to services. Young people don’t have the time or accessible to a local clinic. We really need to bring mobile services to bring sexual reproductive health to adolescent youth.”

The South African National Aids Council Civil Society Forum’s march to Gugu Dlamini Park in Durban, concluded with chairperson Steve Letsike delivering the memorandum.

“Minister the implementation of the national sex workers strategic plan to address gender-based violence and femicide, HIV, TB and STI to advance the decriminalisation of sex work further affirms the honourable President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment during the conference for gender violence, decriminalise sex work now.”

Minister of Health, Doctor Joe Phaahla in accepting the memorandum, has promised to share it with Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Mashatile did not attend the opening of the Aids conference due to other urgent work commitments.

Minister Phaahla addresses attendees: