Call to ensure sex workers' rights
Speakers at a conference yesterday called for formulation of a national policy for sex workers clearing legal ambiguity to ensure their social and constitutional rights.
They urged the state to recognise sex work as a profession to protect the rights of sex workers and develop their standard of living.
They said this during the National Sex Workers Conference 2011 titled 'Rights of Sex Workers and Legal Assistance' jointly organised by Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition (BWHC) and Durjoy Nari Sangha at Shishu Academy auditorium in the city.
The speakers also called for ensuring budgetary allocation for the development of sex workers and immediate steps to ensure that the children of sex workers receive formal education and have the chance to lead a decent life.
Speaking as the special guest lawmaker Tarana Halim said sex workers faced stigma, harassment and torture at every stage of their daily lives due to the absence of state recognition of their profession.
She also said there are many discrimination laws against women and urged the sex workers to raise their voice against such laws.
Joya Sikder of Sex Workers Network of Bangladesh presented keynote paper at the programme where around 1,000 sex workers from different parts of the country participated.
Abu Yusuf Chowdhury, president of STI Network Bangladesh, Dr Md Abdul Wahid, line director, National Aids/STD Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Planning, and Dr Munir Ahmed, social mobilisation adviser at UNAIDS also spoke at the conference chaired by BWHC chief executive Md Masudul Haque.
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