A story of change: What works in reducing violence against sex workers

Last updated on: 27 February 2024

The Hands Off model comprises three key interventions to reduce violence and HIV as a result of violence amongst sex workers by addressing the structural determinants of violence. An independent study shows that where the model has been implemented, it has worked.

Hands Off! came in as one of our biggest sex worker projects. Before that, we had programmes with sex workers, but they were mostly around mobilising communities and movement building. Hands Off! allowed us to speak to the needs of the communities and respond. It came in as a programme that was responding to the community’s needs.

16 Days of Activism 2021

This year, during the 16 Days of Activism, we call out to once and for all decriminalise sex work. For 16 days, we will share impactful stories and successful approaches. Join us to #DecrimSexWork now! Dive into our 16 Days of Activism stories here!

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Related project

project

Hands Off – Reducing violence against sex workers

The Hands Off programme works to reduce violence against sex workers at community, national and regional level.

Communities

Sex workers

Related resources

Factsheet

Hands Off II factsheet on link between sex work, HIV and violence

The Aidsfonds Hands Off 2 programme has launched a fact sheet detailing the link between Sex Work, HIV and violence.

Manual

Hands Off organisational capacity assessment guide

The organisational capacity assessment guide presents a set of participatory exercises that can be used in an interactive three-day workshop to self-assess an organisations’ capacity.The exercises help members of (civil society) organisations to dynamically assess and reflect on strengths and areas for improvement when implementing their organisations’ vision and strategy. The outcomes of the self-assessment build onorganisational gains from the past and help organisations in the design of an organisational capacity development strategy.

Report

Main findings end evaluation Hands Off 1 (2015-2019)

In 2019 the first phase of the Hands Off programme (2015-2019) was evaluated by Impact Consulting. The largely qualitative study found that the Hands Off programme has been successful in reducing both individual and structural violence in all five programme countries, to varying degrees. This has had a significant impact on the lives of the sex workers whom it has reached.

Factsheet

Sex work & violence in Southern Africa Factsheet

This fact sheet presents the main findings of a study in Southern Africa examining violence against sex workers. It is part of a participatory regional study in the Southern African region under the Hands Off programme. The research was designed and conducted by sex workers and partners in the Hands Off consortium.

Factsheet

Sex work and violence in Botswana Factsheet

This factsheet presents the main findings of a study in Botswana examining violence against sex workers. It is part of a participatory regional study in the Southern African region under the Hands Off programme. The research was designed and conducted by sex workers and partners in the Hands Off consortium.

Factsheet

Sex work and violence in Mozambique Factsheet

This fact sheet presents the main findings of a study in Mozambique examining violence against sex workers. It is part of a participatory regional study in the Southern African region under the Hands Off programme. The research was designed and conducted by sex workers and partners in the Hands Off consortium. The results provide insight into the levels of violence experienced by sex workers; the type of perpetrators; underlying factors and variables that increase risk of violence. Regionally the quantitative part entailed 1895 surveys conducted by 37 sex workers who were trained to interview their peers. For the quantitative part of the study researchers conducted 79 semi-structured in-depth interviews and 43 focus groups discussions with 218 sex workers.