Sex workers deserve equal rights: advocacy group
Advocacy group, Sweat is asking for rights, services and that delegates attending the 21st International Aids Conference in Durban make the week-long event count for sex workers.
A group of about 50 people have gathered outside the Durban ICC where the conference is being held.
They're carrying placards commemorating the deaths of sex workers who've died since the event was held in South Africa 16 years ago.
Among the victims is 39-year-old Desiree Murugan whose decapitated body was found at a sports ground in Shallcross, south of Durban two years ago.
Sweat's director, Sally Jean-Shackleton says sex workers deserve equal rights.
"One of the major themes of this conference is leaving no one behind but sex workers have been left behind. It's really time for us to change the criminalised legislation in South Africa - it's time for us to provide services and end stigma against sex workers," she said.
#AIDS2016 Delegates looking on at the Sweat demonstration pic.twitter.com/DH0tyOeqff
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) July 18, 2016
#AIDS2016 Sex workers advocacy group - Sweat demonstrating outside the Durban ICC pic.twitter.com/S9UdNDmRc7
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) July 18, 2016
#AIDS2016 Sweat has placards commemorating the deaths of sex workers since the last Conference in 2000 pic.twitter.com/61DRS6XJc7
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) July 18, 2016
#AIDS2016 Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Task Force (Sweat) demonstrating outside the Durban ICC pic.twitter.com/EJZ1VGJSWo
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) July 18, 2016
(Photos via Facebook/Sweat)