Advocacy group campaigns for rights of prostitutes

An advocacy group in Central African Republic (CAR) has called for the regulation of the commercial sex industry in the country to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. "In a very short time, we will review the provisions of the penal code on prostitution, and draft a bill of law taking into account the existence of HIV/AIDS," Brigitte Balipou Guino, the coordinator of the Reseau Centrafricain sur l’Ethique, le Droit et le VIH/SIDA (RCEDV), told IRIN on Thursday. She said the association, which comprises mostly lawyers, magistrates, medical doctors and journalists, had launched a nationwide consultation to assess the impact of prostitution on the HIV/AIDS situation in the country. "There has to be, for instance, a provision requiring prostitutes to have health cards, facilitating their access to medical care and enabling them to impose condoms on their clients to protect themselves and the population," she added. Since 11 December, the RCEDV has been holding consultations in the capital, Bangui, with the Association des Filles Libres de Centrafrique, an organisation for commercial sex workers. "During our debate-talks, we tell them that they too are human beings having rights that have to be respected, such as right to life, medical care, to work, and to be protected against HIV/AIDS," said Balipou, adding that a debate held by the organisation on 11 December was attended by 115 commercial sex workers, and not only the 50 who were initially invited. The RCEDV was created in 1995 after an international meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on ethics, law and HIV/AIDS in Africa. It has about 30 members and is being financially supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). "This year the UNDP granted us 10 million francs CFA [US $15,384] plus 1.5 million francs CFA for this education campaign," added Balipou. The CAR remains the most HIV-affected nation in the subregion and the 10th in the world, with 14 percent of its population reported to be HIV positive.