Malawi: Sex work is work

The article examines the lived experiences of women engaged in sex work in Malawi, focusing on stigma, violence, and exclusion faced in both public and private spaces. Through personal accounts from women working in Mwanza district, the story outlines how economic hardship, domestic abuse, and lack of alternatives shape entry into sex work and expose women to exploitation by clients and discrimination within their communities. 

Women interviewed describe abuse by clients, denial of social protection, and barriers to accessing health services due to prejudice linked to their work. The story also highlights how stigma deepens isolation and increases health and safety risks, while peer solidarity and informal safety measures provide limited protection. 

Voices from health rights advocates and civil society stress the need to recognise sex workers as human beings entitled to dignity, healthcare, and protection. The article underscores the public interest implications of exclusion and calls for coexistence, empathy, and institutional accountability to reduce harm and improve safety for women at the margins of society. 

LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY

https://www.yonecofm.com/index.php/2025/12/10/sex-work-is-work/

This article, first published by Yoneco FM, is part of the  Media Parity Capacity Building and republished as part of the programme series.