Christian association formed to fight prostitution

A Christian association, Volte-Face, was formed on 14 November in the Republic of Congo capital, Brazzaville, to fight against the commercial sex trade. "Its task will be to fight, together, against prostitution in all its forms for human respect and dignity," Danielle Bagin Kololo, the head of Volte-Face, said. The association - the first such body in the country - aims to aid adult and child prostitutes, as well as those who are potential targets, to abandon or avoid the trade through education, training, and professional and social integration. To carry out its task, it plans to hold conferences and seminars in order to sensitize people on issues linked to prostitution. It will organise meetings for those who have left the trade and those who wish to do so, as well as train them in areas such as computers, the hotel and restaurant businesses, and hairdressing. Volte-Face, which hopes to form partnerships with NGOs and embassies, will be both publicly and privately funded. The rate of infection of HIV/AIDS has seen a spectacular rise in cities and other urban centres in the country, propelled by factors such as poverty. Studies by the National Programme in the Fight Against AIDS have shown the instance among commercial sex workers to be up to three times higher than those not engaged in the trade.