A Non Governmental Organization, Greater Women Initiative for Health and Care, has seek the support of the media to help change societal’s perception about commercial sex workers.
In a one day seminar organised for commercial sex workers in Abia State, the group solicited for the support of the media to help correct the misconception the society has about commercial sex workers and also stop promoting stories that malign sex workers.
At the event which took place at the Rapha Hotel Umuahia, the Director of the organization, Josephina Seme, said commercial sex workers are oftentimes stigmatized for simply choosing their choice profession, calling on the media to partner with them by downplaying reports against sex workers, since it promotes stigmatization.
The Director of the organization further pleaded that the media should use words that are appealing and avoid using derogatory words like “prostitute” to describe them.
According to her, the media always backlash sex workers in their reports, forgetting the other parties involved in the story.
She said the essence of the seminar tagged “Sexism Sensitization”,was to address the issues confronting their job and as well,sensitize the sex workers in Abia on the right attitude to put up while on duty.
Josephina Seme
The group which she said started in 2016 by a group of sex workers,was basically formed to address the ill treatment meted on sex workers and also change the misconception about them.
Seme noted that so far, the NGO has gained partnership with International organizations for the purpose of offering free healthcare to the sex workers, training them on skills and also conducting free HIV/Aids test for the workers from time to time, because the sex workers ordinarily may find it difficult to check their status for the fear of being stigmatized.
The Director, Greater Women Initiative, added that the society should help stop the stereotypes against sex workers that are being seen as vectors of diseases.
Meanwhile, the NGO narrated that commercial sex work started as a result of the refusal of parents to send their female children to school and as well fend for them adequately.
She revealed that overtime, the female children started resorting to self so that they can send themselves to school. “This had ripple effect on their psychology and it contributed to the major reason why ladies go into Sex for business”.
She regretted that the stereotypes of sex workers as vectors of diseases, have caused stigma and discrimination due to the myth that sex workers are carriers of diseases.
The NGO boss also added that Law enforcement and policing, has conflated sex work with trafficking, increased sex workers contact with law enforcement, anti- trafficking operations among others.
“Misconception about sex work has made sex workers serve as a tool for politicians, religions leaders, feminists and anti trafficking organization,to advance anti sex work agenda”.
The group, however, noted that sexism results in a number of attitudes and behaviors that contribute to gender inequalities in social structure and interpersonal relationship, therefore, the need to promote the full decriminalization of all aspects of sex work, recognize sex work as a work, engage the media in changing misconception about sex workers through their stories, conduct education, advocacy and awareness raising campaigns, actively challenging misinformation about sex work and sex workers”, she revealed.
