Group calls for release of 32 jailed sex workers in Nigeria

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), on Friday, called for the unconditional release of some commercial sex workers recently jailed by the Lagos State Government. In a press release signed by CDWR's Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, the group condemned the arrests of the 52 alleged sex workers and the eventual jail terms of between one to four months slammed on 32 of them. Describing the sentence passed by the State's Special Offence Court as "draconian and diversionary", the group called for the release of the sex workers. "Hence, we call on the Lagos State Government to immediately and unconditionally release all “sex workers” imprisoned, and immediately come out with economic and social policies aimed at training and engaging jobless people in productive ventures," the statement read. The group also blamed the present administration in the state for being responsible for some of the factors that might have forced the ladies into prostitution. "Sex work is an act of desperation forced on people of mostly poor background by social dislocation and economic pressures. This is not a choice made by free will," the report read. "A case study is the recent hike in fees in Lagos State University by more than 700% (from N25,000 to between N193,750 and N348,750) by the Babatunde Fashola-led Action for Democracy (ACN) government." The group, however, suggested "training, rehabilitation and gainful employment" as ways to constructively engage the youth and keep them off commercial sex work. The statement added that the actions of the State Special Task Force were at "variance with basic democratic tenets", alleging that most of the 'sex workers' were denied fair hearing and proper legal representation. Culled from DAILY TIMES