Skip to main content

'Realistic, sensitive': Feminist groups welcome modified NHRC advisory on sex workers

Welcoming the modified National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) advisory titled “Human Rights Advisory on Rights of Women in the Context of Covid19”, feminist and women’s rights collectives and organizations have lauded NHRC for “proactively taking on board the diverse and even contradictory view points that emerged in response to the specific sections related to sex workers.”
A media communique signed by the Network of Sex Workers, Gamana Mahila Samuh (Bengaluru), Saheli, Delhi Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai Sangram Sanstha, Sangli Point of View, Mumbai Naz Foundation (India) Trust, and the Delhi All India Progressive Women’s Association, said, the earlier NHRC’s initiative of October 7 was had also accepted “basic human rights” of adult women who for “various reasons have chosen to earn their living through sex work.”
However, it regretted, the October 7 advisory, which had given sex workers access “all welfare measures and health services due to workers in the informal sector” during the pandemic, came in for criticism from Sunitha Krishnan and her organisation, Prajwala, for seeking to reduce sex workers to hapless victims of violence and not citizens entitled to rights.
“There were voices who protested this far-sighted advisory by demanding a withdrawal of the section that recognises these women as workers”, the communique said, adding, “By willfully conflating trafficking and sexual violence which are undoubtedly criminal acts with sex work that per se is not illegal in law they sought to reduce these women to hapless victims with no independent voice of their own who have to be either forcefully rehabilitated or by default, criminalised.”
Calling the modified advisory “extremely balanced” which “in no way compromises on the basic rights and dignity of adult sex workers”, the communique said, “With sensitivity and nuance, NHRC acknowledges both their rights and dignity by stating that (a) sex workers on humanitarian grounds, may be provided the benefits that informal workers are entitled to during the Covid-19 pandemic, and (b) sex workers, who were forced to undertake reverse migration, may be provided the benefits meant for migrants for their survival.”
“We believe that by doing away with the disputed clause on registration of the women as workers but extending rights to the women, the NHRC has taken cognisance of the situation of the sex workers. This will also put the onus on the state to identify and reach out to the vulnerable women while also giving them the opportunity to self-identify as workers who are entitled to these basic needs and services”, the communique, distributed by Saheli, said.

Comments

TRENDING

When Pakistanis whispered: ‘end military rule’ — A Moscow memoir

During the recent anti-terror operation inside Pakistan by the Government of India, called Operation Sindoor — a name some feminists consider patently patriarchal, even though it’s officially described as a tribute to the wives of the 26 husbands killed in the terrorist strike — I was reminded of my Moscow stint, which lasted for seven long years, from 1986 to 1993.

A sector under siege? War and real estate: Navigating uncertainty in India's expanding market

I was a little surprised when I received an email alert from a top real estate consultant, Anarock Group , titled "Exploring War’s Effects on Indian Real Estate—When Conflict Meets Concrete," authored by its regional director and head of research, Dr. Prashant Thakur. I had thought that the business would wholeheartedly support what is considered a strong response to the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor. 

Tracking a lost link: Soviet-era legacy of Gujarati translator Atul Sawani

The other day, I received a message from a well-known activist, Raju Dipti, who runs an NGO called Jeevan Teerth in Koba village, near Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar. He was seeking the contact information of Atul Sawani, a translator of Russian books—mainly political and economic—into Gujarati for Progress Publishers during the Soviet era. He wanted to collect and hand over scanned soft copies, or if possible, hard copies, of Soviet books translated into Gujarati to Arvind Gupta, who currently lives in Pune and is undertaking the herculean task of collecting and making public soft copies of Soviet books that are no longer available in the market, both in English and Indian languages.

A conman, a demolition man: How 'prominent' scribes are defending Pritish Nandy

How to defend Pritish Nandy? That’s the big question some of his so-called fans seem to ponder, especially amidst sharp criticism of his alleged insensitivity during his journalistic career. One such incident involved the theft and publication of the birth certificate of Masaba Gupta, daughter of actor Neena Gupta, in the Illustrated Weekly of India, which Nandy was editing at the time. He reportedly did this to uncover the identity of Masaba’s father.

Ahmedabad's civic chaos: Drainage woes, waterlogging, and the illusion of Olympic dreams

In response to my blog on overflowing gutter lines at several spots in Ahmedabad's Vejalpur, a heavily populated area, a close acquaintance informed me that it's not just the middle-class housing societies that are affected by the nuisance. Preeti Das, who lives in a posh locality in what is fashionably called the SoBo area, tells me, "Things are worse in our society, Applewood."

Adani Group a key player in Indo-Israel defence cooperation: Tel Aviv daily

Said to be one of the most influential Israeli dailies, "Haaretz" (literally: News of the Land) has identified the Adani Group—known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi—as one of the key Indian business houses engaged in defence cooperation with Israel. Pointing out that India supplied the Israeli military with Hermes 900 drones, the daily reported that this advanced aerial vehicle came off “the production line in a factory set up in Hyderabad, as part of the cooperation between the Israeli Elbit and India's Adani Group.”

Environmental concern? Global NGO leads campaign urging banks to cut ties with Odisha steel project

A decade after the withdrawal of the South Korean multinational POSCO from Odisha following large-scale protests, questions remain about whether India-based JSW Steel, which took over the project, can successfully revive the 13.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant and coal-fired power plant. POSCO initiated the project in 2005 but exited in 2017 due to sustained local opposition.

Beyond Indus water treaty suspension: A 'nationalist' push despite harsh climate realities

The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) appears to have pushed the middle classes, at least in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, Gujarat, further towards what the powers-that-be would consider—a "positive" direction. As usual, during my morning walk, I tried talking with a neighbour about what impact it would have. Ignoring what is widely considered a "security lapse," this person, who had just returned after buying milk, compared the Modi move with Trump.

Despite Hindutva hold claim, 18% Hindus in US don't want to be identified with Hinduism!

Scanning through news items on the Google News app on my mobile — which is what I do almost every morning — I came across a story published on India.com, which I found somewhat misleading. The headline said, "Muslim population drops significantly in THIS country as over 25% Muslims leave Islam due to…, the country is…"