Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre

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Who do you work with?

We work with female sex workers and they are the primary beneficials. We also engage third parties we sensitize and train them to reduce stigma and discrimination, violations and to promote access to health services.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

Sex workers are involved in the Annual General Meeting which is the biggest decision making organ for LMB and it consists of all paid up registered members and all are sex workers. Members approve policies, annual plans, budgets and reports. They elect the board members. We meaningful engage our community peers in programme design, implementation and M/E and 85% of our staff members are sex workers.

Which of NSWP priority areas does your organisation work on?
Oppose the criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work and support its recognition as work
Advocate for universal access to health services, including primary health care, HIV and sexual and reproductive health services
Speak out about violence against sex workers, including violence from police, institutions, clients, and intimate partners, while challenging the myth that sex work is inherently gender-based violence
Oppose human rights abuses, including coercive programming, mandatory testing, raids and forced rehabilitation
Challenge stigma and discrimination against sex workers, their families and partners, and others involved in sex work
Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers as sex workers
What are the two main challenges that the sex workers you work with face

- High stigma and discrimination and violations due to punitive laws and policies targeting sex workers in Uganda
- Lack of access to health services due to high stigma and discrimination in health facilities

Describe other areas of your work

We use different approaches to reach out to sex workers with information on safe sex, condom use, health sexual behaviour and change risky behaviour, community HC and moonlight activities through the peer out reach model.
- Advocacy at community and national level to demand access to health services
- Training for peer leaders, know your rights, HIV/AIDS & SRHR
- Research and documentation of sex workers' human rights violations.
- Radio and TV shows

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