VisionVision• Embrace Dignity envisages a South Africa Embrace Dignity envisages a South Africa

without prostitutionwithout prostitution

• Masiphakameni envisages a South Africa Masiphakameni envisages a South Africa where women can sustain themselves where women can sustain themselves financially without prostitutionfinancially without prostitution

• Seek a South Africa that embraces the dignity Seek a South Africa that embraces the dignity of all people and opposes their sexual and of all people and opposes their sexual and commercial exploitationcommercial exploitation

•We would like to see the transformation of gender relations, so that men and women are truly equal and can enter into free and mutually fulfilling sexual relationships, free of exploitation

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Values/RationaleValues/Rationale

1.1. The right to human dignity enshrined in our The right to human dignity enshrined in our constitution - no one is born to be constitution - no one is born to be prostituted. We all have inherent dignity. We prostituted. We all have inherent dignity. We recognize and object to the unique harms recognize and object to the unique harms that fall upon those who are prostituted.that fall upon those who are prostituted.

2.2. Prostitution is a product of a lack of choice, Prostitution is a product of a lack of choice, rather than a free choice by a consenting rather than a free choice by a consenting adult. The money involved coerces the sex, adult. The money involved coerces the sex, rather than guaranteeing its consent. Those rather than guaranteeing its consent. Those involved are not helpless victims, but rather involved are not helpless victims, but rather people for whom other choices are people for whom other choices are precluded, options are restricted, and/or precluded, options are restricted, and/or possibilities are denied. possibilities are denied. 33

Values/RationaleValues/Rationale3.3. Prostituted people are forced to bear Prostituted people are forced to bear the the burden of stigma that actually belongs burden of stigma that actually belongs to to their exploiters. their exploiters. We work towards a We work towards a society society without prostitution by without prostitution by addressing the addressing the demand and third party demand and third party economic incentive economic incentive (profiteering from (profiteering from prostituting and exploiting prostituting and exploiting another) another)

4.4. Our policies and practices are Our policies and practices are informed by informed by the voices of women in the voices of women in prostitution and those prostitution and those exiting or who exiting or who have exited prostitution.have exited prostitution.44

PremisePremise

•Prostitution is a deeply rooted form of Prostitution is a deeply rooted form of sexual exploitation that feeds off poverty, sexual exploitation that feeds off poverty, inequality and entrenched social constructs inequality and entrenched social constructs

•Regard it as violence against women and a Regard it as violence against women and a violation of basic human rights (treats violation of basic human rights (treats women as sexual objects and perpetuates women as sexual objects and perpetuates sex inequality) sex inequality)

•Viewing this extreme and damaging form Viewing this extreme and damaging form of exploitation as work legitimises and of exploitation as work legitimises and disguises its inherent harmdisguises its inherent harm55

Sex Inequality & HarmsSex Inequality & Harms• Serious financial need is most common reason for Serious financial need is most common reason for

entering, but almost none escape poverty in this way entering, but almost none escape poverty in this way

• Most prostituted people are of socially Most prostituted people are of socially disadvantaged groupsdisadvantaged groups

• Those who buy sex are always in the position of Those who buy sex are always in the position of power and choice – sex industry only exists because power and choice – sex industry only exists because there is demand there is demand

• Prostituted women’s level of post-traumatic stress Prostituted women’s level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is equivalent to that of combat disorder (PTSD) is equivalent to that of combat veterans and victims of torture or rape; once in the veterans and victims of torture or rape; once in the industry, they often resort to alcohol and/or drug industry, they often resort to alcohol and/or drug abuse to endure the lifestyleabuse to endure the lifestyle66

Social HarmsSocial Harms• Prostitution also has a deeply negative impact on the rest Prostitution also has a deeply negative impact on the rest

of society – if women can be bought and sold then it gives of society – if women can be bought and sold then it gives the message that all women are potentially for salethe message that all women are potentially for sale

• Particularly worrying in a country like SA, which is plagued Particularly worrying in a country like SA, which is plagued by some of the highest rates of violence and violence by some of the highest rates of violence and violence against women worldwideagainst women worldwide

• Further worsened by deeply patriarchal society, in which Further worsened by deeply patriarchal society, in which masculinity often entails conquering or controlling womenmasculinity often entails conquering or controlling women

• Men are victims – if prostitution is accepted as an Men are victims – if prostitution is accepted as an empowering, valid trade, the message is clear: people can empowering, valid trade, the message is clear: people can and should be bought for sex and in fact, for any purposes and should be bought for sex and in fact, for any purposes chosen by the buyer chosen by the buyer

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Trafficking LinkTrafficking Link• When prostitution is legalised, trafficking When prostitution is legalised, trafficking

skyrocketsskyrockets

• It makes sense to traffic women and children to It makes sense to traffic women and children to where commercial sex trade is legal because where commercial sex trade is legal because once you get them there the risks to traders are once you get them there the risks to traders are minimalminimal

• Illegal prostitution explodes under legalisation, Illegal prostitution explodes under legalisation, particularly as they can offer services where the particularly as they can offer services where the use of condoms is not mandatory use of condoms is not mandatory

• Raises the price of condom-less sex, while Raises the price of condom-less sex, while simultaneously increasing the risk for women simultaneously increasing the risk for women involved.involved. 88

Goals and objectivesGoals and objectivesOur goal is the end of prostitution and Our goal is the end of prostitution and human sex trafficking in South Africa. To human sex trafficking in South Africa. To achieve the goal, we seek the following: achieve the goal, we seek the following:

1.1.The enactment of a law that criminalises The enactment of a law that criminalises the purchase of sex and “pimping” and the purchase of sex and “pimping” and de-criminalizes the sale of sex; de-criminalizes the sale of sex;

2.2.Provision of essential services required Provision of essential services required for women who wish to exit prostitution; for women who wish to exit prostitution;

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Goals and objectivesGoals and objectives

3.3. Education of providers of relevant Education of providers of relevant public sector services (particularly public sector services (particularly

law law enforcement) to recognize and enforcement) to recognize and respect respect the rights and needs of the rights and needs of those in those in prostitution; and prostitution; and

4.4. Viable strategies to enable Sisters Viable strategies to enable Sisters to to support themselves without support themselves without prostitution.prostitution.

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Mission- MasiphakameniMission- Masiphakameni

Masiphakameni is a support and self-Masiphakameni is a support and self-development network of women who have development network of women who have expressed an interest in exiting expressed an interest in exiting prostitution through:prostitution through:

•Structuring a set of realistic alternative Structuring a set of realistic alternative goals;goals;

•Breaking the isolation of women in Breaking the isolation of women in prostitution;prostitution;

•Offering opportunities for alternative Offering opportunities for alternative pathspaths

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Masiphakameni & Sisters Masiphakameni & Sisters for Sistersfor Sisters

Sister for Sister (S4S) Leadership Sister for Sister (S4S) Leadership Programme:Programme:

Pilot group (with connections to a Pilot group (with connections to a larger network) in intensive training larger network) in intensive training until October 2013 until October 2013

•Mobilise “Sister Circles” for support;Mobilise “Sister Circles” for support;

•Show the validity of concept, and Show the validity of concept, and create a replicable, scalable model for create a replicable, scalable model for similar initiativessimilar initiatives 1212

SALRC – 4 OptionsSALRC – 4 OptionsThe The South African Law Reform Commission South African Law Reform Commission Discussion Paper 0001/2009 Project 107 Sexual Discussion Paper 0001/2009 Project 107 Sexual Offences Adult ProstitutionOffences Adult Prostitution presents four legal presents four legal options for policy makers to consider that would options for policy makers to consider that would “deter and reduce” prostitution, taking into “deter and reduce” prostitution, taking into account the context of deep poverty, account the context of deep poverty, unemployment, sexual inequality and gender unemployment, sexual inequality and gender based violence in South Africa. based violence in South Africa.

•Total CriminalisationTotal Criminalisation

•Non CriminalisationNon Criminalisation

•RegulationRegulation

•Partial CriminalisationPartial Criminalisation1313

Advocacy and Law Advocacy and Law Reform Reform

•Legal Task Team established to Legal Task Team established to develop model law (based on develop model law (based on Swedish concept)Swedish concept)

•Launch and popularize model lawLaunch and popularize model law

•Lobby Cabinet and Parliament for its Lobby Cabinet and Parliament for its introductionintroduction

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rESEARCH AREASrESEARCH AREAS•Information about prostituted Information about prostituted

populationpopulation•ExtentExtent•Nature – indoor/outdoorNature – indoor/outdoor•Profile Profile •Entry/exit (age, issues, support needed)Entry/exit (age, issues, support needed)•Level of interest in alternativesLevel of interest in alternatives

•Lack of society interest/awareness – Lack of society interest/awareness – how does this issue affect people? how does this issue affect people?

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rESEARCH AREASrESEARCH AREAS•Lack of information about consumers Lack of information about consumers

(“johns”), facilitators (“pimps”) and (“johns”), facilitators (“pimps”) and the industry more broadly?the industry more broadly?

•How does it intersect with How does it intersect with patriarchy/men’s opinion of women? patriarchy/men’s opinion of women?

•Transactional sex – sugar daddies, Transactional sex – sugar daddies, intersections with prostitution intersections with prostitution

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