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South African NGO calls for decriminalisation of prostitution

Written by Administrator
Saturday, 09 January 2010 00:00

Sex workers' advocates have called for the decriminalisation of prostitution in South Africa as a preventive measure to contain the spread of HIV during this year's World Cup.

Up to 500,000 people are expected to visit the country during the football tournament, which begins in June.

The director of the Cape Town-based Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce, Eric Harper, told news network CNN that a rise in demand for prostitution during the World Cup could be a "recipe for disaster", as researchers have estimated that almost half of female sex workers in Johannesburg alone have HIV. Decriminalisation could improve public authorities' access to sex workers and prevent the spread of HIV, Harper said.

South Africa is the country with the largest number of HIV positive people in the world, around 5.7 million according to the United Nations.

This news story was originally featured on the Panos London website.