DANAYA SO

Who do you work with?

DANAYA SO aims to improve the living conditions of the sex workers and their children in Mali. The members of DANAYA SO are adult sex workers working in brothels and the ‘clandestines’ (informal sex work). They are single, divorced or widows Malians and women from bordering countries. Most of these women are single mothers. DANAYA SO is giving support to the children of the sex workers present in Mali.
DANAYA SO also provide support to children that have been sexually exploited for commercial reasons.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

The sex workers manage DANAYA SO themselves. Only sex workers can become member of DANAYA SO, be a board or team member.
DANAYA SO is a national association with presently 3’800 members in six different Malian towns. The national assembly elects the national board that puts the national Coordination into place and in six towns. DANAYA SO has opened project centers with local boards and local teams. A yearly planning workshop is organised with the boards and coordination’ of all project locations.

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

- Oppose criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work.
- Aim at universal access to health services of health, including primary healthcare, and prevention and treatment services for Sexual Health.
Fight violence against sex workers, including violence of police, institutions, clients and private intimate partners.
Challenge stigmatisation and discrimination against sex workers, their families and their partners.

Describe other areas of your work

-Behavior Change Communication (CCC): HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Drug abuse, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other subjects
-Education on human rights
-Legal protection
-Literacy classes
-Micro-credit for start-ups; professional training
-Support for the sex workers children: facilitate access to birth certificates, to health services, school and professional training.

Region
Country
Mali