SWEAT supported by BMZ and in partnership with the ILO and SANAC is undertaking an exploration of South African projects that assist sex workers to implement alternative economic activities or who choose to transition out of sex work through economic empowerment programmes including business training and mentorship, access to markets as well as access to business loans.
The project aims to strengthen strategies and provide evidence to support work in this area by engaging with what works in current programmes, engaging sex workers themselves in focus groups and through examinations of projects in South Africa as well as other countries which have reported on their strategies and outcomes. In particular the project will contribute to the Sex Work National Strategic Plan (2016 – 2019) which includes a package of care related to economic empowerment.
The project will begin by holding a one-day SEMINAR in Cape Town on 8th November 2016.
Institutions, including faith based organisations; sex worker co-operatives or groups; representatives of organisations, or institutions and companies that work with people who sell sex and have implemented strategies for economic alternatives and/or transitioning out of sex work are invited to attend the seminar.
Those interested in attending are can save the date, and send an email to sallys@sweat.org.za to express interest in attending.
Organisations and individuals located in South Africa are also invited to submit a paper and/or Presentation, and successful applicants will receive a bursary to attend the Seminar. Deadline for applications is close of business, Friday 21 October 2016.
For more information on abstract submission and how to apply click here