SOUTH AFRICA: SEX WORKERS WELCOME GOVERNMENT’S DECRIMINALISATION PLANS

Cabinet has released a bill that would decriminalise sex work for public comment. Sex workers and activists have been calling for decriminalisation for years. Sex workers say that decriminalisation will help to protect them, in particular from police abuses. Cabinet announced that a bill to decriminalise sex work would be published for public comment. If brought into law, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022 would decriminalise "the sale and purchase of adult sexual services" by repealing Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.