Rights Not Rescue

Date: August 2, 2010

Sex workers are subjected to widespread human rights abuses, including police violence and unequal access to health care, in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Despite enormous challenges, sex workers are organizing to protect their rights and demand an end to violence and discrimination.

A report published by the Open Society Institute, Rights Not Rescue, is based on a series of interviews and focus groups with sex workers and advocates throughout the three countries.

In this animated short film, sex workers who participated in the research and related roundtable discussions tell their personal stories and share the challenges they encounter as well as a collective call for hope and change.

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Related Information

Rights Not Rescue
June 2009
This Open Society Institute report highlights opportunities to expand human rights protections for sex workers in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

Ending Demand to End Sex Trafficking: Does it Work?
OSI-New York
April 12, 2012
audio AUDIO
Experts discuss “end demand” campaigns that are primarily focused on abolishing prostitution by criminalizing the consumers of commercial sex. Are such policies effective in curtailing trafficking, and what impact do they have on marginalized communities?

What You Can’t Say Might Hurt You
Heather Doyle
February 10, 2012
blog BLOG  
Federal courts have repeatedly invalidated the U.S.'s anti-prostitution pledge. Now the Obama administration must decide whether to appeal to the Supreme Court or finally retire this harmful policy.

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