Civil societies endorse access to legal services to sex workers, transgenders

At a national dissemination meet representatives of 46 CBOs of domestic workers, unorganised workers, sex workers, women living with HIV and transgender people from 13 states, shared their learnings and practices while reflecting on how they could enhance access to legal services and entitlements for marginalised communities. Stressing on the issue, Positive Women’s Network president P <g data-gr-id="12">Kousalya</g> said, “Women living with HIV constantly face discrimination because there are no laws to protect us against life threatening stigma. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the free legal aid and services being provided by the Legal Services Authority, with greater protection and assistance being given to victims and survivors from marginalised community.”

While explaining the purpose of the meet, senior programme officer of Centre for Advocacy and Research Sanyogita Dhamdhere said, “The National Legal Services Authority (<g data-gr-id="11">NALSA</g>) and the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and the representatives of CBOs would review and evolve ways in which the access of marginalised communities to entitlements could best be strengthened and advanced.” 

On the occasion, Renuka Pattar of Shakthi AIDS Tadegattuva Mahila Sangh highlighted the incessant violence and denial being faced by women in sex work.