Sex workers shun public hearing

ONLY one person showed up on Monday to discuss the issue of sex workers at Swakopmund.The National Council’s Standing Committee on Gender, Youth and Information has begun a series of public hearings nationwide to discuss the plight of sex workers, street children and other vulnerable people.

A representative of the Swakopmund Residents Association, Margit D’Avignon, was the only person to appear before the committee on Monday. According to D’Avignon, prostitution should be legalised in order to be controlled.”It is an age-old problem,” she said, “but it can be controlled if it is legalised.”She suggested that regulations be put in place to control the location as well as the health of sex workers.She said as a bed-and-breakfast owner, she was required by the municipality to meet health standards for the protection of her guests.She said similar standards could be implemented for sex workers.D’Avignon also suggested that if sex workers were legalised it would make them eligible to pay income tax, thus helping the economy.Samuel Kaxuxuena, Committee Clerk, said earlier that the Swakopmund Municipality had tried to implement a law to control prostitutes.This was abandoned when the prostitutes claimed it violated their constitutional rights of free movement.Kaxuxuena said the aim of the committee was to allow sex workers to testify without harassment.He said it would also be possible for them to request a private meeting with the committee.The meetings continue at Walvis Bay today and tomorrow.The meetings follow a motion passed in the National Council on October 6, mandating the committee to carry out an in-depth study into sex workers, street children and other vulnerable people.The aim is to get input from non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, the business community and civil society on how to deal with sex workers in the community.According to D’Avignon, prostitution should be legalised in order to be controlled.”It is an age-old problem,” she said, “but it can be controlled if it is legalised.”She suggested that regulations be put in place to control the location as well as the health of sex workers.She said as a bed-and-breakfast owner, she was required by the municipality to meet health standards for the protection of her guests.She said similar standards could be implemented for sex workers.D’Avignon also suggested that if sex workers were legalised it would make them eligible to pay income tax, thus helping the economy.Samuel Kaxuxuena, Committee Clerk, said earlier that the Swakopmund Municipality had tried to implement a law to control prostitutes.This was abandoned when the prostitutes claimed it violated their constitutional rights of free movement.Kaxuxuena said the aim of the committee was to allow sex workers to testify without harassment.He said it would also be possible for them to request a private meeting with the committee.The meetings continue at Walvis Bay today and tomorrow.The meetings follow a motion passed in the National Council on October 6, mandating the committee to carry out an in-depth study into sex workers, street children and other vulnerable people.The aim is to get input from non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, the business community and civil society on how to deal with sex workers in the community.