Abidjan ivory coast how to#

Only go to sex work areas to provide services, not to arrest sex workers.

Break the climate of mistrust between sex workers and those in uniform.

To do outreach with sex workers, be empathetic, educate them about their rights and obligations.

Some of the recommendations for people in uniforms included: Violence from perpetrators and also violence from the police,” said Josiane. Violence against sex workers is a huge problem here. Since then, things have changed, even if some violence does continue.

Abidjan ivory coast how to#

We were able to come up with recommendations for them and for sex workers on how to prevent violence against sex workers. “We invited decision-makers in their own domain, and we exchanged information with them. Josiane and other sex workers spoke about what made sex workers vulnerable to violence and developed recommendations to reduce violence against sex workers. A few years ago Bléty organised a conference with sex workers, police officers, the military, and other security personnel. Josiane gave NSWP an example of some of her organisation’s activism.

The majority of staff and volunteers are sex workers. And finally, the empowerment of people, with an emphasis on women, who work in the sex industry.īléty has 7 paid staff and over 35 volunteers.She also lobbies politicians, legislators, the police, and residents to change attitudes about sex work. The organisation was founded in 2007, and before becoming the Executive Director, she was president of the Board of Directors.Īs the Executive Director, Josiane coordinates and supervises all of Bléty’s activities. Josiane is one of the founding members of Bléty and she is the current Executive Director of the organisation.

What organisations are you currently involved in and what are the priority areas that these organisations work in? Tell us a bit about your activism/work specifically.

Josiane said, “all activities and behaviours that could offend someone are illegal, it could be kissing in public, it is all about morality”. Sometimes sex workers are charged with kissing in public. Sometimes sex workers are charged for not dressing ‘normally’ or like other people in society. The Ivory Coast also has a law to make sure everyone dresses and behaves in a ‘traditional way’. Being a sex worker is defined under the law as a ‘breach of morality’. Third parties are also criminalised in the Ivory Coast. If a sex worker is found guilty of solicitation, they can receive up to a 3-year prison sentence. “There is no clause in the Ivory Coast law that says sex work is illegal, but it is illegal to solicit for the purposes of prostitution,” she said. Josiane told NSWP that in the Ivory Coast, sex work is not illegal but there are many laws surrounding sex work that make it impossible for sex workers to work legally.

What is the legal context of sex work in your region?.

She said, “I am looking out at the horizon, which represents a world of hope that the life and living conditions of sex workers will get better someday.” The photograph of her above signifies a lot to her. Josiane described herself as an activist for sex workers’ rights. In the local language, Bléty means ‘hope’.

Novemto Novem12th African Union Private Sector Forum : “Strengthening African private sector’s capacity to respond to disrupted markets and ensure economic resilience in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic.Josiane Tety Prunelle (photographed above) works for Bléty, a non-governmental sex worker-led organisation that was founded in Abidjan, the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.Novemto NovemIntra-African Trade Fair - IATF 2021.