Sex Workers’ Rights Still Under Construction

NAMIBIA IS independent for 29 years, with apartheid laws still being practised in the country. The Namibian-inherited colonial legislation to date affects true independence for all. Opposition parties recently launched their manifestos, and not one explicitly speaks about redefining true independence by revoking colonial laws and introducing Namibian informed and centred legal frameworks.

Namibia signed and continues to sign regional and international treaties and conventions that by default of article 144 of the Namibian Constitution are part of the national legal framework, but violate this with the existence and practice of these colonial laws.

The lawmakers have failed us, because if we are still governed by laws that were set to oppress us, it’s clear that the lawmakers are in power not for the benefit and progress of the Namibian people.

To our surprise, the countries which have established these laws have eliminated them from their legal frameworks, more especially around the human rights protection of sex workers and LGBTIQA+ communities, which are mostly affected by these colonial laws in all aspects of life.

The Immoral Practices Act 1980 and the subsequent sodomy law which affects and hinders the lifestyles of these communities need to be eliminated.

The Rights not Rescue Trust as a sex workers-led organisation has met with lawmakers through the standing committee on gender; the Law Reform and Development Commission; and the Office of the Ombudsman. But to date, the realisation of human rights and the protection thereof for sex workers and LGBTIQA+ people are still under consideration.

Thus far, it’s only Swapo MPs who have fearlessly spoken about sex workers’ rights, and that is concerning that opposition parties do not speak out about the affected communities.

This problem exists because political parties do not hold consultative processes with the Namibian people to identify the needs of the different communities and draft their manifestos around that aspect.

Nikodemus Kamangoti (Mama Africa)

Executive director of Rights not Rescue Trust of Namibia,

Windhoek

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