TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex work and the 2010 FIFA World Cup
T2 - Time for public health imperatives to prevail
AU - Richter, Marlise L.
AU - Chersich, Matthew F.
AU - Scorgie, Fiona
AU - Luchters, Stanley
AU - Temmerman, Marleen
AU - Steen, Richard
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Director and Head, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Government of India), Trivandrum, for their encouragement and support for conducting this study. Arathi and Mohanan thank Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, for financial support (DST/TDT/DDP-04/2018(G)).
PY - 2010/2/11
Y1 - 2010/2/11
N2 - Background: Sex work is receiving increased attention in southern Africa. In the context of South Africa's intense preparation for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, anxiety over HIV transmission in the context of sex work has sparked debate on the most appropriate legal response to this industry.Discussion: Drawing on existing literature, the authors highlight the increased vulnerability of sex workers in the context of the HIV pandemic in southern Africa. They argue that laws that criminalise sex work not only compound sex workers' individual risk for HIV, but also compromise broader public health goals. International sporting events are thought to increase demand for paid sex and, particularly in countries with hyper-endemic HIV such as South Africa, likely to foster increased HIV transmission through unprotected sex.Summary: The 2010 FIFA World Cup presents a strategic opportunity for South Africa to respond to the challenges that the sex industry poses in a strategic and rights-based manner. Public health goals and growing evidence on HIV prevention suggest that sex work is best approached in a context where it is decriminalised and where sex workers are empowered. In short, the authors argue for a moratorium on the enforcement of laws that persecute and victimise sex workers during the World Cup period.
AB - Background: Sex work is receiving increased attention in southern Africa. In the context of South Africa's intense preparation for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, anxiety over HIV transmission in the context of sex work has sparked debate on the most appropriate legal response to this industry.Discussion: Drawing on existing literature, the authors highlight the increased vulnerability of sex workers in the context of the HIV pandemic in southern Africa. They argue that laws that criminalise sex work not only compound sex workers' individual risk for HIV, but also compromise broader public health goals. International sporting events are thought to increase demand for paid sex and, particularly in countries with hyper-endemic HIV such as South Africa, likely to foster increased HIV transmission through unprotected sex.Summary: The 2010 FIFA World Cup presents a strategic opportunity for South Africa to respond to the challenges that the sex industry poses in a strategic and rights-based manner. Public health goals and growing evidence on HIV prevention suggest that sex work is best approached in a context where it is decriminalised and where sex workers are empowered. In short, the authors argue for a moratorium on the enforcement of laws that persecute and victimise sex workers during the World Cup period.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77949443305&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1744-8603-6-1
DO - 10.1186/1744-8603-6-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77949443305
SN - 1744-8603
VL - 6
JO - Globalization and Health
JF - Globalization and Health
M1 - 1
ER -
