Should prostitution be legalised in Botswana?

Some politicians in Botswana called on the southern African country to consider legalising prostitution to fight against HIV. Botswana is said to have a high prevalence of HIV, and equally known for being proactive in the campaign against HIV/Aids.

"My opinion is: We should consider looking at it because it is there - we should as government take the initiative to do something to help these workers," A deputy minister Botlogile Tshireletso, told the BBC. According to the BBC, despite research findings which show that infection rates are high along commercial truck routes [where prostitution thrives], there is an unwillingness to legalise brothels. "Firstly the majority view is very clear, Botswana is against the legislation making illegal sex work a legal economic activity," Opposition leader Dumelang Saleshando agreed said. "But at the same time you can't ignore it… the industry itself is one of the drivers of the virus". A BBC investigation revealed that commercial sex workers are at an increasing risk because of the illegal tag placed on their trade. "[Legalising sex work] will help us to stand up for our rights… and get support for HIV and Aids," one sex worker in Ledumadumane, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Gaborone, said. Another commercial sex worker told the BBC: "I know I'm not safe because when I'm doing it outdoors I can get raped or even the client can rob me." Continued argument "If it [prostitution] is legalised, more people are going to engage in commercial sex, which means there'll be more infections," one woman said. But a few men reportedly favoured the legalisation of prostitution in Botswana."It should be legalised because it's a lot harder to govern something you don't have the statistics on," one told BBC's reporter.