Runs girls more commonly known as prostitutes have asked the Federal Government to legalize prostitution.
Ms.Amaka Enemo, national coordinator, National Sex Workers Association, has appealed to the Federal Government to de-criminalise sex work in Nigeria for effective control of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Enemo made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the inauguration of a new report on ‘Understanding the high risk of urban sexual networks in Nigeria.’
The national coordinator said that everybody is at risk of whatever he does, adding that sex workers faced a lot of violence especially from their clients, thugs and law enforcement agents.
She said that most of the times, police and other law enforcement agents exploit sex workers when they raid their brothels or streets where sex workers conduct their business.
“When they are arrested, some of the law enforcement agents demand and conduct unprotected sexual acts with the sex workers who do not have money.
“This exposes the sex workers to the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” she said.
According to Enemo, de-criminalising sex work will reduce the risk and the violence sex workers face in Nigeria.
She added that government would also benefit from the sex workers because they would pay tax.
The national coordinator said that in Amsterdam where sex work is legalised, sex workers pay 160 Euros to enable them stay in a ‘window for eight hours.’