ASWA joins the Sex workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to call for a fair trial of the migrant Chinese sex workers and also local DRC sex workers who were arrested, tried and sentenced without a lawyer to defend them on November 19, 2021, at the High Court of Gombe.
The leaders of sex workers-led organizations HODSAS, UMANDE and ACODHU-TS expressed their disappointments for the unfair trial, protested against these arbitrary arrests, and called for legal aid to assist repeal the case.
ASWA continues to speak out about violence against sex workers, including violence from police, institutions, clients, and intimate partners while challenging the stereotype that sex work is inherently gender-based violence.
Additionally, we oppose human rights abuses, including coercive programming, mandatory testing or registration, raids and forced rehabilitation.
Sex workers’ rights should not be abused and there should be a surety of a fair trial of any sex workers arrested. Legal aid should also be provided to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of sex workers in Africa.
Please find the videos of the court proceedings here:
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