Sex workers in Zimbabwe demand rights and healthcare access
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Sex workers in Epworth, Zimbabwe, organised a health outreach event and called for legal changes to protect them from violence and discrimination.
During International Sex Workers’ Pride Day commemorations, participants received HIV testing, PrEP, and health information at a community venue. Organisers from Springs of Life Zimbabwe explained that while sex workers are accessing healthcare services like PrEP and antiretroviral therapy, these medical interventions alone do not protect them from abuse.
The sex workers specifically asked for an end to physical abuse and harassment by police, and they want laws reformed that put them at risk. Community advocate Hazel Magadu noted that many sex workers avoid formal health facilities due to fear of discrimination, so bringing services directly to them removes a significant barrier to care. Participants contributed their own funds to support the event, which included health services alongside music and a braai, a South African barbecue.
Springs of Life Zimbabwe plans to continue advocating for sex workers’ safety and dignity, believing stigma extends beyond healthcare and prevents them from seeking justice. The organisation hopes to create a Zimbabwe where sex workers can live and work without fear, violence, or social judgment, repeating the message “No shame. No silence. No stigma.”
