Sex workers join force for legal recognition

New organisation formed with 10,000 sex workers
Poverty, divorces push women into it
Some women indulge in prostitution with the connivance of their spouses

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Around 10,000 female sex workers of Sri Lanka have organised themselves under a common banner to push for their legal and social recognition.

The organisation called ‘Prajasakthi Sanwardana Padanama (Community Empowerment Foundation)’, has been formed in the face of sex workers facing arrests, social discrimination and government welfare benefits meant for others, according to its Executive Director H.A. Lakshman.

He said that this is the largest such body of sex workers. Over 10,000 sex workers from areas such as Colombo, Kurunegala, Hambantota and Gampaha have joined it. Women have increasingly resorted to sex trade or prostitution because of reasons such as economic hardships, divorces, rapes and being victims of trafficking.

There are instances where women indulge in prostitution with the connivance of their spouses. Some of these women have become addicted to narcotics, making it challenging for the authorities concerned to rehabilitate them.

Meanwhile, the organisation has taken steps to find self-employment opportunities for women to wean them away from prostitution.

He said that the organisation is working to gain legal recognition for the sex trade.

Earlier, the Daily Mirror reported that, with soaring living costs and shrinking job opportunities, Sri Lanka’s economic crisis forced many women into unimaginable circumstances. According to the Daily Mirror’s previous report, desperation had driven thousands to turn to online prostitution as a means of survival, bearing the brunt of the crisis.

The government’s failure to stabilise the economy and provide sustainable solutions has pushed vulnerable populations to the edge, exposing a dire societal issue that demands immediate attention.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have left a lasting impact on Sri Lanka’s workforce, especially women. Many lost their jobs when garment factories and other companies shut down, leaving them with little to no options for earning a livelihood. Even though the country is no longer officially bankrupt, economic instability remains a significant challenge. Amid this turmoil, women are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of debt, exploitation, and survival, the Daily Mirror reported.

Speaking of the matter, an NGO named National Women’s Unity closely dealing with women, claimed at that time that nearly 40,000 housewives have turned to online prostitution since 2022 due to the economic crisis.

Copied: https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/main_image/Sex-workers-join-force-for-legal-recognition/346-325076