ADVOCACY

Our work focuses on advocating for the decriminalisation of sex work, reducing stigma, and ensuring sex workers have access to health services, legal protection, and social support.

Lobbying: We engage with policymakers and legislators to promote the decriminalisation of sex work and the implementation of laws that protect sex workers’ rights and well-being.

Media Engagement: Through press releases, interviews, and media campaigns, we ensure that the voices of sex workers are heard, and their stories are told accurately and respectfully.

Direct Action: We organise and participate in protests, rallies, and public demonstrations to demand justice and equality for sex workers.

Research: We conduct and disseminate research on various aspects of sex work, including health, safety, legal issues, and economic impact. Research informs our advocacy efforts and provides a solid foundation for our lobbying and public education campaigns.

Training

Our expertise has allowed us to create comprehensive training materials, positively impacting thousands of individuals in various roles. We also offer sensitisation training for a wide range of stakeholders. Our training covers diverse topics such as peer educator training, site coordinator training, advocacy officer training, human rights defender training. In addition, we also provide sensitisation training, conducting support groups and facilitating community dialogues.

Our workshops are designed to be highly interactive, engaging participants in practical, hands-on learning experiences. We prioritise verbal information sharing in simple, accessible language, complemented by visual aids to enhance understanding.

Community Advice Office

The Community Advice Office was launched in November 2023 to respond to the needs of vulnerable communities. The main objective of the Community Advice Office is to provide legal advice to sex workers. However, it is recognised that there is also a need for this type of service amongst other vulnerable groups.

The service is therefore also extended to people who identify as LGBTQIA+, migrants, unhoused people, people who use drugs and people who are living with HIV.

We provide free legal advice and refer those who require legal representation but cannot afford to pay an appropriate attorney or organisation. Regular legal literacy workshops are presented in communities to empower people with knowledge on relevant topics.

Outreach

The outreach team is the core of our organisation. It is staffed by sex workers who conduct physical outreach amongst their own social networks and build relationships with sex workers who are employed in brothels and those who work independently.

The team distributes condoms and provides sex workers with health and human rights information while promoting professional conduct. Sex workers are encouraged to share their challenges with outreach workers who can refer them to appropriate services as needed.

Information that is gathered by the outreach team is used as evidence to advocate for law reform and policy changes on behalf of sex workers to ensure that their rights are protected. The information is also used to intervene on behalf of sex workers if it is found that groups of sex workers are experiencing similar challenges with a particular service provider, law enforcement agency, or other authority.

Mothers for the Future

Founded by SWEAT’s very own Advocacy Manager, Duduzile Dlamini, Mothers for the Future is a support group specifically designed for sex workers who are mothers. This program provides parenting resources and a safe space where mothers can discuss their challenges and learn about vital topics such as sexual and reproductive health and parenting skills.

The success of this initial group led to the creation of a comprehensive curriculum, developed collaboratively with academics and the sex worker mothers themselves. Recognising the widespread need for such support, the M4F program expanded, establishing groups in five other provinces across South Africa. Now, M4F has provincial coordinators in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Kimberly, Polokwane, and Buffalo City, where groups meet regularly.

Helpline

Our toll-free 24-hour helpline service is a vital lifeline for sex workers, providing round-the-clock support and assistance. Our dedicated team offers confidential, non-judgmental support on various issues, including health concerns, legal advice, emotional support, and crisis intervention.

Whether it’s providing information about accessing health services, offering guidance on legal rights, or simply lending a compassionate ear, our helpline is here to ensure that sex workers have access to the help they need whenever they need it. Our goal is to empower sex workers by connecting them with resources, advocating for their rights, and ensuring their safety and well-being.

24-hour Helpline: 0800 606060
WhatsApp or send a ‘Please Call Me’ to 071 357 7632.