Take steps to rehabilitate sex workers before eviction
Human rights activists at a discussion yesterday demanded steps to rehabilitate sex workers in society before evicting them.
They also urged the political leaders to make sincere efforts to ensure the rights of sex workers.
The Sex Workers' Network organised the discussion at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium.
Former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal said the politicians seek vote from the sex workers but do not take any steps for their welfare -- this is simply 'hypocrisy'.
The authorities evicted or tried to evict sex workers from different brothels across the country 14 times during the period from 1999 to November 2008, said Vice-President of the Network Jotsna Akter in a written statement.
Executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association Advocate Salma Ali suggested amending the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1933, saying that the administration is using this act to harass sex workers.
Prof Helal Uddin Khan Arefin of anthropology department of Dhaka University called for well thought-out plan for their rehabilitation.
Shaymol Dutt, editor of the Bhorer Kagoj, called on them to become involved in politics and raise their voice to ensure their human rights.
Prof Sadeka Halim of sociology department of Dhaka University, Assistant Country Director of Concern Humayra Aziz, and President and Secretary of the Network Momtaj Begum and Shahnaz Begum also spoke.
Comments