In Madagascar, the island’s approximately 170,000 sex workers are victims of gender-based violence on a daily basis, reveals a study carried out and presented on Tuesday January 23 by Médecins du monde. The NGO is launching a new program to contribute to improving the health and rights of sex workers on the Island, who are abused, stigmatized, despised and above all deprived on a daily basis. A small revolution in a country where this category of workers is very often left behind.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Sarah Tétaud
“ There are customers who do not respect the price agreed before the pass. And when I ask for my due after the performance, I get hit. » Lova [le prénom a été modifié] is 23 years old, has two children and is a prostitute since he was 16 years old on the sidewalks of Antananarivo. His story is that of daily physical and psychological violence, trivialized by society.
“ I once threatened to file a complaint because I know my rights: “Go ahead, file a complaint, you’re just a whore, no one will listen to you!” the gentleman then said to me. Sometimes the client takes me to a room and when I arrive there are three other boys waiting to rape me. »
Beatings and violence
The beatings and sexual violence happen at least three times a week, says the young woman. The insults are daily.
“ What is most unbearable for me is for my children. The parents in the neighborhood refuse to let their children play with mine. They say “They’re children of whores, with illnesses, it can be contagious!” I wish someone was there for me, to listen to me without judging me, it’s so important. »
Needs that the new Law, Empowerment and Health project led by Dr Valérie Raberanto, from Médecins du Monde, is trying to respond to: “ We are trying at our level within the framework of the project, at the level of health centers with caregivers, to change these behaviors, so that if a sex worker wants to have access to this health (sexual and reproductive health – Editor’s note), they can go there without fear, without shame and will be well received. »
To change the mentalities
This four-year project aims to try to change mentalities, but also to make sex workers themselves, as well as the rest of the population, better aware of their rights.