Last week, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation (ALCO) organised a regional information workshop for associations/networks of sex workers to discuss implementation of projects targeting Key Populations.
Sex worker-led organisations from countries along the corridor (Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana) were represented in the meeting.
The two-day workshop in Abidjan was aimed at to creating a platform for national and regional organisations to discuss best practices, achievements, challenges and solutions.
During the meeting held on 27 and 28 September 2018, in Abidjan the Executive Director of Blety, Josiane Tety, read a consensus statement from sex-worker led organisations in the Lagos-Abuja Corridor.
She acknowledged the fact that sex workers are increasingly being engaged in projects targeting Key Populations along the corridor.
Blety, a member of ASWA, has been in the forefront of fighting for the inclusion of sex workers.
ASWA board co-chair Modeste Mambo shared the organization’s lessons and challenges on movement building and capacity strengthening. ASWA has made strides in building a strong alliance in Africa.
Among the challenges cited were violence and discrimination of sex workers especially because sex worker is decriminalised in many countries. Sex workers from Benin and Togo said that they were excluded from national projects targeting key populations because of religious and cultural limitations.
To address some of the challenges, a network of sex worker-led groups and human rights organisations working with Key Populations along the corridor will be formed.
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