Breaking Barriers: GWIHR’s Symposium Workshop Champions SRHR for Sex Workers

On June 13, 2025, Greater Women Initiative for Health and Rights (GWIHR) hosted a transformative Symposium Workshop in Abia State, titled Promoting Rights-Based SRHR Service Delivery for Sex Workers in Their Diversity. Bringing together 30 stakeholders—sex workers, healthcare providers, community leaders, and state officials—the workshop sparked vital dialogue to ensure inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services for sex workers.

Sex workers face systemic barriers like stigma, criminalization, and exclusion from healthcare, yet their right to health is undeniable, enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution and global human rights frameworks. Through dynamic presentations and interactive sessions, participants co-created three actionable strategies: conducting baseline research on restrictive laws, training 50 healthcare providers in stigma-free care, and forming an advocacy coalition to push for decriminalization and policy reform. A key takeaway was the urgent need for research to fuel advocacy and integrate sex workers’ needs into state-level SRHR planning.

The workshop ignited commitment to a rights-based approach, with stakeholders endorsing a concrete action plan to drive change within three months. This is more than a meeting—it’s a movement to uphold the dignity and health of every sex worker in Abia State.

Join us in amplifying sex workers’ voices and building an equitable future. Stay connected for updates on our progress and how you can support this vital work!

Together, we leave no one behind.
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