Change mindset to ensure rights of sex workers
Sex workers are not safe even in police custody and often they are forced to have sex there, revealed a draft report at a workshop in the city yesterday.
It said sex workers are often arrested in Rajshahi on Thursday so that they can be kept in police custody on Friday and Saturday to be produced before the court on Sunday, and forced to have sex during custody.
The draft report on the 'Analysis of situation regarding the practice of legal rights by sex workers' was placed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) with the support of Centre for Development Service (CDS) and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) at the Cirdap auditorium.
It was prepared on the basis of a study in six districts Jessore, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Natore and Ishwardi.
According to the report, 77 percent of sex workers are arrested as they do not give money to police while 53 percent police do not pay the sex workers after having sex with them.
It also said around 66 percent of sex workers are not produced before the court after their arrest and become the victims of sexual harassment while 75 percent sex workers do not get any help from the police if they become the victims of violence.
Addressing the workshop as chief guest, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Ministry Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said there is no scope for discriminating sex workers as they have equal rights to live and enjoy all facilities including legal aid as per the constitution.
Stressing the need for changing the mindset towards the sex workers she said not only the government but also the people from all walks of life have to work together to ensure the rights of sex workers.
The state minister stressed the need for providing financial assistance to rehabilitate the sex workers.
She also underscored the need for training of law enforcement agencies on human rights issue to create awareness among them about the sex workers.
"We have already set up victim support centre at Tejgaon Police Station to provide legal help to destitute people especially women and children and it will be extended to other parts of the country to ensure legal rights of all," said Additional Inspector General of Police NBK Tripura.
Around 100 sex workers form different parts of the country took part at the workshop and they placed some demands to ensure their rights and security.
These included recognising the sex work as profession, giving licence instead of affidavit, setting up more brothels, and changing the law related to vagabonds.
ASK Executive Director Advocate Sultana Kamal and CDS Director Khandaker Humayun Kabir also spoke at the workshop with human rights activist Dr Hamida Hossain in the chair.
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