HRC 56: Akãhatã statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls

 Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls

Akãhatã

Thank you, President.

I am Carolina Calle, a Colombian sex worker and Emiliano's mother. I offer my sexual services on the street. I am very proud and grateful for my work.

The greatest violence we sex workers suffer is based on stigma, discrimination, and police persecution. We need sex work to be recognized as what it is: a job. In this way, the human rights of our population would be respected and the crimes of trafficking and exploitation would be reduced, and in the most violent scenario, the crime of sexual exploitation of children could be identified with greater certainty.

My work is as dignified as any other work, it is the undignified conditions that we have had to endure because of the lack of recognition of our work.

Although it is true that not everyone wants to be a sex worker, it is also true that not everyone wants to be a secretary or do housekeeping, so our decision is as valid as those who decide not to do sex work. I will always demand my rights as a sex worker because I also deserve labor rights.

We need to be part of all discussions and decisions about our lives and our rights - also at the United Nations.