CAFAF (COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AID FOUNDATION)

Who do you work with?

We work with female sex workers, MSM and at risk populations, males, clients and service providers. We are hoping to have a shelter to protect the interests of these people to a large extent. We seek to host policy think-tanks to influence changes through advocacy discourse which will protect the interests and developmental needs of these people.

How are sex workers involved in your organisation?

In all cases they are given what it takes to make them be heard at our community level and management levels as well. They are fairly represented in issues that affect them and there is close self-organisation of them which is intended to protect their interests and to appreciate and demand their rights as far as their service delivery is concerned.

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
Critique the trafficking paradigm that conflates representations of sex work, migration, and mobility
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

Lack of legal protection and general rights abuse. There is currently no recognition of their work and the laws in Ghana - though treat everyone as equals - only exist in books but its reflection on the ground is missing as far as the protection of the human rights of people in this field is concerned. The high illiteracy rate among them have also fuelled their ignorance not to know their rights, and therefore do not seek justice when necessary. The same equally applies to reporting the abuses of their rights.

Describe other areas of your work

We provide counselling services, offer life services to the poor in communities, we shelter homes to cater for the needs of the vulnerable. We influence policy discourse on health, HIV, human rights, and promote the work of volunteers for development.

Region
Country
Ghana