The “Most Dangerous City in the World” – Especially for Sex Workers
The “Most Dangerous City in the World” – Especially for Sex Workers
By Larry Ladutke
January 18, 2014 at 8:00 AM
Ian Lekus of Amnesty USA’s LGBT Human Rights Cogroup contributed to this post.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has been called “the most dangerous city in the world.” For sex workers in the city, the risk of violence is multiplied many times over.
Despite the fact that sex work is legal in Honduras, many groups and individuals view their actions as immoral. Those who murder sex workers believe they can literally treat these human beings as garbage to be disposed of. Such violence takes place against the broader backdrop of widespread gender- and sexuality-based violence that imperils women and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) persons all through Honduras.
Prejudice against sex workers makes it especially hard to bring pressure on the government to protect those who engage in this activity. Human rights are not, however, a popularity contest. They must apply equally to everyone – and must protect a country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action on the recent killing of sex workers in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In less than a month, at least nine sex workers were murdered in the city of roughly 900,000 residents.
More:
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/americas/the-most-dangerous-city-in-the-world-especially-for-sex-workers/
