South Africa on Friday said it would decriminalise S€x work, hoping to tackle high levels of crime against women in a country with one of the world’s highest HIV caseloads.
The sale and purchase of S€xual services will no longer be treated as a crime under proposed legislation put forward by the justice ministry.
According to advocacy groups there are over 150,000 S€x workers in the country.
“It is hoped that decriminalisation will minimise human rights violations against S€x workers,” Justice Minister Ronald Lamola told a press briefing.
“It would also mean better access to health care and … afford better protection for S€x workers, better working conditions and less discrimination and stigma.”
