Sex Workers and Sex Work in South Africa: A Guide for Journalists and Writers

This guide was produced to help journalists and writers to report on sex work in South Africa in a respectful and sensitive way. It sets out basic facts about the sex work industry and contains sections on appropriate terminology, use of images, and respectful interviewing techniques. Produced by Sonke Gender Justice, the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce, Sisonke Sex Workers Movement, and the Women's Legal Centre, the publication discusses how the illegal status of sex work in South Africa means that sex workers have little legal protection and are criminalised and stigmatised. This makes sex workers more vulnerable to assault by clients, pimps, and brothel keepers, as well as harassment by the police. It also places them at greater risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and affects their ability to obtain quality treatment.

The guide is designed to help journalists and writers report accurately on sex work and not compound the stigma and stereotypes carried by the term sex work. As explained in the guide, many women – and some men and transgender people – choose to take on sex work as a profession, while others take on sex work as a job or livelihood strategy in the absence of other work opportunities. "The term 'sex work' refers to adult consensual sex. Apartheidera laws, which criminalised different forms of adult consensual sex, including sex across the colour bar and same-sex relationships, have been ruled unconstitutional. Regrettably, some sections of this outdated law remain, making sex work a crime." According to the guide, "it is important that journalists and writers write about sex work and sex workers in South Africa to raise awareness of these issues."

The Guide includes the following chapters:

• Why the need for a guide to reporting on sex work?
• What is sex work?
• Who are sex workers?
• What does the South African law say about sex work?
• How does criminalisation affect sex workers?
• What are the effects of decriminalisation of sex work?
• Is sex work the same as human trafficking or child prostitution?
• Interviewing sex workers, and reporting on sex work
• Common media pitfalls when reporting on sex work
• Responsible reporting on sex work
• Images tell the story
• Relevant organisations to contact
• Glossary of terms
• Appendix A: Facts about sex work and HIV
• Appendix B: Sample Interview Consent Form.