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Momodou
Denmark
11646 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Dec 2006 : 18:37:17
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A Gender Activist Reacts To The Arrest of ‘Sex Workers’
By Abdou Yanka
For the last three (3) weeks over forty women termed as sex workers, were arrested from the pubs, bars and brothels by the police and charged with section 168 of the Criminal Code of The Gambia Vol. III. However, it is amazing that women are the only ones being arrested for violating this Act and not the men who pay for the purported service.
This has not gone down well with many gender activists who insist that the police are not fair to the women. Some of the arrested women complained that the police will arrest every woman who is found outside her home or whilst waiting for a vehicle after closing from work at night.
Reacting to the police onslaught, Mrs. Amie Sillah, a gender activist, said she is disappointed; that The Gambia has ratified the AU Women Protocol since last year with reservations and it is only this year that the government has lifted those reservations. She asked “why are government security forces (police) harassing women? They are called sex workers, it may be morally ugly, but that is their trade.” She noted that the women are not done in this act; that they tango with male clients who the police (security) never arrest. Mrs. Amie Sillah called on the society to stop being double standard and open avenues for these women in order to dissuade them from this dangerous and risky business. She said if avenues are created and still people refused to take it then punishing them for risky trades can be justifiable.
Foroyaa made many efforts to speak to the police Public Relations Officer to ask him why the alleged sex workers’ clients, the men whose participation completes the act are always left out during their raids. When this reporter contacted Aziz Bojang, he said he was on a meeting and would not be available.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 113/2006, 18-19 December, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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