Equal Rights, Human Rights

Last updated on: 27 February 2024

Protecting the rights of sex workers: Evidence on human rights violations
This is the second year that the Hands Off programme presents data on human rights violations perpetrated against sex workers in the past twelve months. A total of 2009 human rights violations were captured in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe between December 2021 and November 2022.

Sex workers are human: they are mothers, sisters and professionals we don’t even think about. Whenever sex workers are raped, whenever sex workers are beaten, we need justice for that, regardless of what policies say.

– Leeroy, Zimbabwe

Share this page

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Mail Copy link

Related 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

All Human, All Equal

Capturing evidence on human rights abuses is essential to protect the human rights of sex workers. It provides insight if rights are protected in practice and can inform policy change and reduce stigma and discrimination.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sex work and violence in Namibia Factsheet

This fact sheet presents the main findings of a study in Namibia 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.