Greater Women Initiative for Health and Right (GWIHR), a non governmental organization ( NGO), has decried the scenario where sex workers across Nigeria are systematically excluded from civic participation in public health programmes, among others.
The NGO disclosed this while commemorating this year’s International Sex Workers Day , themed ” No Justice Without Us: The Time for Sex Worker Inclusion Is Now”.
To mark the event, GWIHR hosted a well participated community-led dialogue and advocacy session that brought together sex workers, legal advocates, healthcare providers, and civil society actors, thus, making it a call for action than being just symbolic.
Participants posited that sex workers are criminalized, stigmatized, and denied the fundamental rights that every citizen deserves.
GWIHR and its partners reaffirmed a simple truth, that sex workers are human beings, their rights are human rights. They are also mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and neighbors.
” Sex Workers are Nigerians that deserve a voice in shaping the policies and systems that affect their lives. The ongoing marginalization of sex workers is not just a public health concern—it is both a moral crisis and a democratic failure”.
GWIHR in a statement signed by Vena Daniel, the Program Director,
stated ” inclusion is not a favor, it is justice hence, we cannot claim to build an equitable society while turning our backs on an entire community.
” Sex workers must be actively included in public discourse, decision-making process , health interventions, and justice processes. Because their life experiences are vital to building stronger institutions, improving public health outcomes, and fostering community safety”, GWIHR pointed out.
Reporting that sex workers during the session shared their stories of resilience, of pain, of hope and demanded what every citizen is entitled to, listed them to include dignity, protection, and participation”.
It was noted that the stakeholders that participated in the event, echoed a collective commitment to amplify these voices and ensure no one is left behind.
Consequently, they called on government agencies, the civil society, media, religious and traditional leaders, and the general public to stand , not in pity, for the Sex Workers, but in their solidarity.
According to GWIHR, Sex Workers should be engaged on the table, protect their rights, prioritize their safety including listening to their truths.
GWIHR argued that excluding Sex Workers would amount to betraying the very values we claim to uphold while, including them amounts to affirming justice, equality, and our shared humanity, hence , ” there should be no justice without, and no progress without all of us”.
Written By GORDI UDEAJAH
