Paper details
| Paper authors | Hilhorst, Dorothea; Bashwira, Marie Rose |
| In panel on | Transactional sex in humanitarian contexts |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Transactional sex (TS) in conflict areas is multi-faceted, from sex work to occasional transactions. It helps survival but is risky and rooted in unequal power. We seek a future where voices and needs of people engaging in TS will be leading in policies and strategies of humanitarian agencies.
Our current research programme ListenH aims to address the perplexity that surrounds transactional sex in humanitarian contexts and the resulting inadequacy of support to individuals and communities living through or recovering from conflict and disaster who engage in it. The use of transactional sex as a livelihood strategy in contexts of humanitarian crisis is insufficiently researched and poorly understood. The understanding of it is
hampered by biases and taboos that may (re)produce or even aggravate structural violence against the people involved.
This paper explores current representations of transactional sex in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Discourses on transactional sex in DRC are inextricably interwoven with stories of sexual violence. Lately, the
sexual violence within humanitarian response programmes has further complicated the discussions on how to represent and support men and women engaging in transactional sex.
The paper draws on a survey among sex workers and a number of focus group discussions. It brings out how multi-faceted transactional sex in the country is, and seeks to contribute to a future where voices and needs of people engaging in transactional sex will be leading in policies and strategies of humanitarian agencies and other service providers.
