Thread by @officialsamuch

Presently at the DCO 1’s office at Asaba GRA police division to hear a case against sex workers.
Details soon.
Meanwhile, it’s a new month and a holiday. #endpolicearbitraryarrest

So it happened that I was called upon yesterday by one of our Female Sex Worker(FSW) client that she and 12 other sex workers were arrested by the Asaba GRA police division at one of their hotspots in Asaba around 10:30pm for violating the Delta State COVID-19 pandemic curfew

On getting to station, 9 out of the 12 girls had bailed themselves, some with as much as #10,000; the minimum was #4,000. I was directed to meet with the DCO 1. During the meeting, he confirmed that they were arrested at one of the police’s “black spots” during curfew hour.

I introduced myself and presented my identity card as a Human Rights Defender (HRD), my client was called out of cell and asked if there was another she wanted to go with her among the remaining two and she stated that her friend who was pregnant was also in the cell.

When they called the pregnant girl out, the DCO stated that he was suspecting and building a case of child trafficking since the young pregnant girl, aged 21years had refused to disclose the identity of any of her family members or that of the man responsible for the pregnancy.

I assured the officer that we will followup in providing psychosocial support needs assessment/counseling in other to ascertain the situations around the girl’s pregnancy but he maintained that his men would go to the girl’s house for investigation while they would detain her.

Knowing the situations of young pregnant girls, I was able to get her to open up and actually reveal that her mother was aware of the pregnancy and had paid for her accommodation in Asaba but for the man responsible for the pregnancy, he’s no where to be found.

ased on these, the officer finally release all the remaining three girls to me with no conditions attached.

This situation is just one of the many stories of police harassment, arrest and unlawful detention of FSW’s in Asaba. It’s unlawful because, violators of the curfew are taken to a mobile court in the morning so that the magistrate can hear their case

not detaining them in the police cell while pressuring them to call someone or bring money to facilitate their bail. There was no paperwork, no statement and no case file opened for any of the arrested girls, just pay money and you are free!

The purpose of the post is to highlight the injustice, discrimination and unlawful arrest faced by FSW in the hands of police in Nigeria. Based on the intersectionality of rights and struggles, FSW are sexual minorities

as well as Key Affected Population (KAP) within the HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services in Nigeria and as such advocacies and interventions delivered to other KAPs are extended to them as well.

Promoting sexual reproductive health and rights equally involves protecting the rights of sex workers while providing sexual health care services for them.
#SexWorkIsWork
#endpolicearbitraryarrest