Equal Rights for All Movement (ERAM) is a Namibian sex workers led and focused organisation in the Erongo region of Namibia working towards achieving equity and equality, decriminalisation and recognition of sex work.
ERAM exists to empower, build self-efficacy, to amplify sex worker voices, to represent the sex worker community, to advocate for removal of all punitive laws, to ensure that our countries legislative frameworks are inclusive and protects the rights of sex workers, the right to work, the right to life, the right to dignity, freedom of speech, and the right to choose one's occupation.
Tell us about your organisation
Equal Rights for All Movement was formed in 2016 and exists to promote and protect human rights and address human rights violations as they occur on a national level while focusing on closed societies. The organisation follows the principles of all people being entitled to rights and freedoms and self-determination, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, tradition, culture, political or other opinion, national or social origin, sexual orientation and gender identity as well as economic status.
What is the history of the organisation? How and why was it formed?
In Namibia, sex worker-led and focused organisations that advocate for the rights of sex workers do exist, however, for the past decade and several years organisations have shifted their mandate from advancing, promoting and protecting the rights of sex workers to HIV related interventions due to funding. ERAM observed the operations and how organisations met the holistic needs of sex workers which wasn’t realistic and truthfully couldn’t yield result. ERAM identified gaps, and the needs of sex workers not addressed and met, through this process we capitalised on the weaknesses and threats of other sex worker-led and focused organisations and had clear strategic approach that ensured we have strategies to work from an intersectional and holistic lens.
The formation of ERAM was through extensive consultation, engagement, and community meetings that took place for one year. This process shaped the organisation to have clear understand of what the current gaps are that sex workers feel aren’t addressed or met, what their current needs are, what capacity and skills they need and how best the organisation can lead, represent, and voice on their behalf.
The organisation was formed on the following basis;
- To ensure sex workers do understand they are human before being a sex worker
- To create an enabling environment where sex workers are able to voice and hold management and leadership accountable
- To ensure sex workers are able to speak in spaces as men/women most importantly as Namibians to make their voices heard by addressing national issues that effect them like any other Namibian
- To ensure sex workers are able to attain self-efficacy and also are able to attain and assert their fundamental human rights, bodily autonomy and integrity, and lastly
- To have an organisation that does not voice and represents but an organisation that ensures inclusion, involvement, equal opportunities, and amplification of sex workers voices, nationally, regionally, and internationally.
Which countries and/or regions do you work in?
Equal Rights for All Movement operations are national, meaning we solely work in Namibia with a specific focus in the Erongo region of Namibia, however, we are flexible and serve sex workers throughout all regions of Namibia based on the needs, skills and information needed, as well as to ensure sex workers are well vested with The Namibian Law and legislative frameworks. It is crucial for ERAM to decentralise its work as sex workers faces various forms of issues, challenges, and human rights violations and the magnitude of impact and manifestation per region differs and thus it enables us to address issues within the context of that particular region rather than from a National Context.
What is the sex work context in your country/region?
In Namibia, sex work-related activities, including solicitation, living off the earnings of sex work, or maintaining a brothel, are criminalised. The criminalisation of sex work has led to harassment, sexual abuse by law enforcement agents and degrading treatment of sex workers by state and private actors as well as clients and community members. Criminalisation of sex work in Namibia lies at the foundation of a climate of stigma, discrimination and violence surrounding sex work. This abuse severely compromises sex workers’ personal safety as well as their right to equal protection of the law. Moreover, it creates a climate of impunity that fosters further violence and discrimination against sex workers in the community at large.
The Namibian National Strategic Framework recognises sex workers as a key population at higher risk of HIV, however, the recognition of sex workers aren’t inclusive of all identities within the sex work industry and explicitly recognises female sex workers only and yet to date, only limited and piece-meal information has been available regarding the size of the population. Thus the National Strategic Framework only address, advance and accelerate HIV related health care service uptake and provision that are not decentralized to meet the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights needs of sex workers.
In regards to decriminalisation of sex work that can maximize sex workers’ legal protection and their ability to exercise other key rights, including their right to justice and health care. The decriminalisation model will foster the legal recognition of sex workers and their occupation and maximize their protection, dignity, and equality. This is an important step toward de-stigmatizing sex work. However, with the current laws, policies, and legislative frameworks in place that does not recognise sex work as work makes it difficult for the country to decriminalise sex work. This is a long-term goal and thus far discussions haven’t yielded any results as most of our Parliament Members perception is that if sex work is decriminalised, human trafficking will intensify in the country and minors will be exploited to sex work.
What are the priority areas that your organisation works in?
ERAM works in the following priority areas;
Human Rights - Advocacy promotes equality, social justice, social inclusion and human rights. It aims to make things happen in the most direct and empowering ways possible. It recognises that self-advocacy – whereby people, perhaps with encouragement and support, speak out and act on their own behalf – is the ultimate aim.
Stigma and Discrimination – sex workers in Namibia have been facing hefty stigma and discrimination based on the work they do, the perception of sex workers being the carriers of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. Stigma and discrimination made those involved in the industry vulnerable to physical and emotional harm, which led to many sex workers seeking comfort in drugs and alcohol. Therefore, ERAM see the need to address stigma and discrimination that both create barriers for sex workers to access health care services and justice. Stigma and discrimination has been associated with transphobia, whorephobia, and homophobia that resulted in violence and sexual abuse of diverse sex workers. Thus we constantly and continuously raise awareness of how harmful stigma and discrimination is and its impact on the lives of sex workers.
Criminalisation and legal oppression - Oppression and criminalisation make sex workers vulnerable to violence from clients, and other individuals, from social services, the police, and immigration officials. ERAM has prioritized sensitization of health care workers and law enforcement agent as our main priority, through this, the organisation works with the office of the Ombudsman and the Law Reform Development Commission for legal reform.
Bodily autonomy and Integrity - Bodily autonomy and integrity is the agency over our own bodies as human beings with equal rights. Punitive laws, policies and practices remain the ‘norm’, with severe implications for the right to health of sex workers and responses to health by states. It is paramount for sex workers to have the skills, information, understanding, and the ability to assert and attain their bodily autonomy and integrity.
Do you do political work, or campaigns? What kind?
ERAM does not believe in political work or campaigns as an organisation, however, sex workers do have their right to vote for any political party of their choice or participate in any political campaigns or work. The reason why ERAM doesn’t get involved in politics is based on the following facts;
- Politics tear people apart
- Politics cause unnecessary tension, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups. It also makes for uncomfortable environments even if you are not involved in the conversation
- Politics instil immediate presumptions about people, People become so embedded in their own belief systems that they completely reject and criticize the belief systems of others.
- Politics are full of broken promises, thus ERAM commits itself to fulfil and meet the unmet needs of sex workers.
We strongly believe by doing political work or campaigns, we will not have a voice and the ability to hold Government accountable for human rights violations of sex workers. Politics silence voices and suppress the needs of people, politics doesn’t liberate people and people aren’t at the core of their agenda. Politics doesn’t advance the livelihood and human rights for all; rather it causes more harm than protection for marginalised communities.
How are sex workers meaningfully included in the organisation?
ERAM sex worker-led and focused. The importance of sex workers inclusion has become pivotal for well-functioning, constructive relationships between sex workers and the organisation. Meaningful inclusion and involvement of sex workers is not only desirable, but necessary and viable to lead to more equitable, sustainable shared responsibilities and accountability in decisions and improve the liveability of local sex workers. This is why inclusion is important for sex workers and the organisations alike. Sex workers meaningful inclusion is important in its collaborative approach to design strategies and initiatives that are effective and non-exclusive in the extreme; their involvement enables better understanding of communities’ needs and aspirations. Sex Workers involvement, engagement, and inclusion is imperative as it builds and sustains cohesive communities. Sex workers inclusion is important and can lead to improved outcomes for communities when government organisations and public decision-making entities seek out the aspirations, concerns and values of communities, who, in turn, share their aspirations, concerns and values with governing entities. Incorporated into decision-making processes, public decision makers are better informed and better able to meet community needs.
Tell us about a big event or challenge you have worked on recently. For example, a campaign, a big event you worked on, etc. How did it go? What were the challenges?
Our biggest activity highlight is that of the Law Enforcement Agents and Health Care Workers that took place in Khomas region in the capital city of Namibia Windhoek. The training focused on the following areas;
Understanding sex work and diversity of sex workers identities; sex work is the provision of sexual services for money or goods. Sex work only refers to voluntary sexual transactions; thus the term does not refer to human trafficking and other coerced or non-consensual sexual transactions such as child prostitution. Sex workers are women, men, transgendered people, and other LGBTIQ+ individuals who receive money or goods in exchange for sexual services, and who consciously define sex work as work.
We have sex workers who simply engage in sex work for survival, we have sex workers who do sex work because they aren’t able to find a good paying job or their salaries aren’t able to cover all costs/expenses, and lastly we have sex workers who choose sex work as work. Through this process we were able to dismantle the perception our law enforcement and health care workers had that sex work simply is meant for women only, as well as the perception of sex workers only as providers of penetration sexual services by sharing the following services that are provided by sex workers such as; exotic dancing, pole dancing, twerking, erotic massage, lap dancing, escort service etc. …
· Human Rights; Human rights are equal to all people, all over the world, regardless of their religion and beliefs, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity, occupation, and sex. Human rights shape universal norms to make humankind more understanding. Law enforcement agents under the Ministry of Justice is part of the Governmental institutions that are custodians of The Namibian Constitution and is therefore commanded to uphold the Namibian Constitution as it is the Supreme Law of the Country, thus we need to understand that our service provision should be based on the pillars of upholding the value of human dignity, democracy, development, and justice for all and not biased. As health care workers to uphold the rights of clients is important to provide health care service that are non-prejudice, non-discriminatory, and non-stigmatising, health care workers should provide health care services on the following pillars they have taken an oath to provide services with integrity, humility, honesty, compassion, and empathy. It is important to understand that one right denied equals to all rights denied. Sex workers rights are human rights and there aren’t any other special rights sex workers seek and advocate for. We should, as health care workers and law enforcement agents, treat everyone with equity and equality before the law and when providing needed services.
Overall the activity went according to plan and the delegation of health care workers as well as the law enforcement agents were enthusiastic, overwhelmed, and recognized that they unknowingly violated the rights of sex workers in their diversity, the right to health which is crucial and the right to justice as well as lack of equal treatment which created barriers for sex workers to access key essential services. We haven’t faced any challenges from the onset till the end of the activity because we worked closely with our influential partner namely Society for Family Health; however, we had positive outcomes. Today we have law enforcement agents and health care workers who are agents of change for sex workers and champions who continuously sensitize their peers on the importance of equal service provision to all Namibians regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, or their profession.
What challenges does your organisation face in the future?
Perceived future challenges ERAM could experience is organisational behaviour which is the culture of the organisation, which includes how the employees interact with one another, our partners, stakeholders, and members. It also involves how the employees feel about the organisation itself. The challenges of organisational behaviour includes overcoming cultural and ethnic differences, improving productivity, hiring employees that fit into the organisational culture or who can improve it, and helping employees to find proper level of a work-life balance. One of the primary challenges of organisational behaviour is how we can overcome ethnic and cultural diversity among employees. Because different employees have different beliefs, opinions and ways of working, it can be challenging for employees to work together because of these differences, and lastly another challenge related to organisational behaviour is finding ways to motivate employees as a way to improve relevance, activity, and employee relationships.
Does the organisation have a message for the sex worker rights movement? What about for people outside of the movement?
Ethical leadership requires ethical leaders. If leaders are ethical, they will ensure that ethical practices are carried out throughout the organisation. Leaders are naturally in a position of power both on and off the job, so ethical leadership must focus on how leaders leverage this power in the decisions they make, actions they engage in and ways they influence others. Leaders are responsible for influencing followers to perform actions, complete tasks, and behave in certain manners. Effective leaders also influence processes, stimulate change in attitudes and values, and amplify empowerment and self-efficacy of their followers, as they foster the internalization of organisational vision. The nurturing aspect of leadership can also raise the organisation’s culture and employee’s values to higher levels of ethical behaviour. By demonstrating ethical leadership we promote a high level of integrity that stimulates a sense of trustworthiness, and encourages subordinates to accept and follow our vision. Character and integrity provides a strong foundation for other personal characteristics that direct our ethical beliefs, values, and decisions. Ethical leaders are people-oriented, and aware of how their decisions impact others. They therefore use their power and authority to serve the greater good instead of self-serving interests a win/win for employees, their constituencies and the organisation. Ethical leadership is essential for today’s leaders.
When we respect each other and work in an environment that upholds fairness and inclusion to the highest standard, we enable everyone around us to be their best selves. We can communicate, listen to each other and respect one another. By so doing we create a world where everyone is treated with equity and a world where everyone feels safe, has a sense of belonging, and a world that enables people to enjoy democracy, liberation, and their human rights. We are different in many aspects, however, we share one commonality which is being human and not by default.