:Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work

Asijiki members include Amnesty International South Africa, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the African Centre for Migration and Society, the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Doctors Without Borders (MSF-SA), Legal Resources Centre, UCT Gender Health and Justice Research Unit, the One in Nine Campaign, Oxfam South Africa, Rape Crisis, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition, and Treatment Action Campaign.

The coalition was formed in an effort to safeguard the human rights of sex workers, and advocate for the full decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa. Several non-governmental organisations in South Africa form the Steering Committee for the Asijiki Coalition,{{Cite web|url=https://asijiki.org.za/about-us/|title=ABOUT US -|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-12-27}} including Sonke Gender Justice, Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), Sisonke (National Sex Workers Movement in South Africa), and the Women's Legal Centre.

The launch of the Asijiki Coalition in 2015 garnered attention from several news outlets in South Africa. For example, Health24 criticised the 'shameful history' of sex worker murders in South Africa, specifically Cape Town, and voiced support for the Asijiki Coalition's work.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-01 |title=The lives of sex workers are not negotiable |url=https://www.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/the-lives-of-sex-workers-are-not-negotiable-20180701-3 |access-date=2019-12-27 |website=News24 |language=en}} In December 2015, individual members of the Asijiki Coalition gave testimony in South Africa's Gauteng Provincial Legislature, listing the difficulties and barriers that they face as a result of the criminalisation of sex work in South African law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/sex-workers-have-their-say-in-legislature-1958988|title=Sex workers have their say in legislature {{!}} IOL News|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}

Asijiki Coalition has advocated for sex workers' access to healthcare. It draws attention to the high incidence of murders of sex workers in South Africa, police harassment, assault of sex workers, and other barriers resulting from the criminalisation of sex work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.groundup.org.za/article/what-would-you-do-if-your-sister-was-sex-worker/|title=What would you do if your sister was a sex worker?|last=Furlong|first=Ashleigh|date=2016-03-03|website=GroundUp News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.groundup.org.za/article/why-sex-workers-dont-trust-cops/|title=Why sex workers don't trust cops|last=Furlong|first=Ashleigh|date=2016-06-01|website=GroundUp News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/book-on-unwritten-rules-of-sex-work-published-11297852|title=Book on 'unwritten rules of sex work' published {{!}} Cape Times|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} The Asijiki Coalition uses workshops, advocacy, and creative activism to spread awareness of the many issues that affect sex workers. They also advocate for the full decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa. The Coalition has specifically stated that for them, full decriminalisation means the removal of criminal penalties for both sex workers and their clients. This approach can be likened to strategies taken to fully decriminalise prostitution in New Zealand, and is divergent from other solutions, such as the Nordic model.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailyvox.co.za/asijiki-coalition-decriminalise-sex-to-end-workers-agony/|title=Asijiki Coalition: Decriminalise Sex To End Workers' Agony|last=Maduna|first=Lizeka|date=2019-02-04|website=The Daily Vox|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}} The coalition's name, 'Asijiki' is a Zulu word meaning 'no turning back'.

In 2018, Asijiki partnered with the Central Methodist Mission on Greenmarket Square in central Cape Town to display a banner reading "Jesus was the first to decriminalise sex work."{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-01-cape-town-church-calls-for-decriminalisation-of-sex-work/|title=Cape Town church calls for decriminalisation of sex work|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/jesus-was-the-first-to-decriminalise-sex-work-banner-at-cape-town-church-20180302|title='Jesus was the first to decriminalise sex work' - banner at Cape Town church|date=2018-03-02|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} In 2019, the coalition presented a large sunflower to South Africa's then newly elected President Cyril Ramaphosa to thank him for, and remind him of, commitments he had made to decriminalise sex work in South Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-06-08-sex-workers-thank-ramaphosa/|title=Sex workers thank Ramaphosa |website=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA |access-date=2019-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.groundup.org.za/article/sex-workers-thank-ramaphosa/|title=Sex workers thank Ramaphosa|last=Ludidi|first=Velani|date=2019-06-05|website=GroundUp News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} Asijiki was also actively involved in placing pressure on South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development regarding the delay in publishing the final South African Law Reform Commission's report on sex work in South Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-05-29-analysis-what-happened-to-the-sex-work-report/|title=Analysis: What happened to the sex work report?|last=Merwe|first=Marelise Van Der|website=Daily Maverick|date=29 May 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} The Coalition engages with university groups,{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2018-10-03-rainbow-week-embracing-inclusivity|title=Rainbow Week: embracing inclusivity|website=www.news.uct.ac.za|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} researchers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-29-decriminalising-sex-work-is-the-only-rational-choice-to-end-stigma-discrimination-and-violence-against-sex-workers/|title=RIGHT OF REPLY: Decriminalising sex work is the only rational choice to end stigma, discrimination and violence against sex workers|last=Yingwana|first=Sally Shackleton, Elsa Oliveira, Rebecca Walker and Ntokozo|website=Daily Maverick|date=28 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}} Chapter 9 institutions, as well as participating in other forms of activism such as picketing and protest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.groundup.org.za/article/sex-workers-demonstrate-during-deputy-presidents-speech/|title=Sex workers demonstrate during Cyril Ramaphosa's speech|last=Furlong|first=Ashleigh|date=2017-06-15|website=GroundUp News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}

File:Edwin_Cameron_Asijiki_Award.png

The Asijiki Coalition presents Asijiki Awards to allies and prominent public figures or organisations that have supported the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa.

In 2016, the Asijiki Award for Courage & Initiative was presented to Sir Elton John at the XXI International AIDS Conference in Durban.{{Cite web|url=https://www.openglobalrights.org/the-fight-for-fundamental-rights-for-sex-workers-in-south-africa/|title=The fight for "fun"damental rights for sex workers in South Africa|website=OpenGlobalRights|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}

In 2019, the Asijiki Award for Solidarity & Hard Work was presented to South Africa's #TotalShutdown Movement, and the Asijiki Award for Service & Humanity was presented to retired Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/asijikicoalition/posts/2597672583794479|title=Asijiki Coalition|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}

File:Sex_Work_Promise_-_South_Africa.jpg|A red umbrella with the words 'sex work promise' on it, against a backdrop of South African flags

File:Sex_Work_Promise_Protest.jpg|Red umbrellas with "sex work is work" written on them, against the backdrop of the SA flags outside South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town

File:Sex_Worker_Rights_are_Human_Rights.jpg|Protestors protesting for the full decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa

• List of sex worker organizations

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|asijiki.org.za}}

Category:Human rights organisations based in South Africa

Category:Prostitution in South Africa

Category:Trade unions in South Africa

Category:Sex worker organizations