Sexual solicitations from officials to sex workers trapped in relief camps

Ms. Sakuni Mayadunne, President of the 'kek' organization, which advocates for the rights of sex workers, revealed several controversial facts in an interview with a weekend newspaper regarding the problems faced by sex workers in displacement camps during disaster situations.

She mentioned that while she contributes as a transgender woman sex worker, she also runs an organization called 'tet' that provides psychological counseling for sex workers, with foreign training. She pointed out that the members of her organization do not operate solely for monetary gain, but engage in their profession with integrity, adhering to very clean and hygienic practices.

Many sex workers live in urban boarding rooms, and due to the recent disaster, many of them have had to seek shelter in displacement camps. She stated that the most serious problem faced by her and her members during this time was receiving sexual invitations from some officials working in the respective relief camps. The president emphasized that these inappropriate proposals were made as a condition for providing relief services or other benefits, and that she rejected these requests while protecting her professional dignity and ethical code.

She stated that such pressures on women who arrive at relief camps in an extremely helpless state, with only the clothes on their backs, especially during an emergency disaster, are a severe headache. She pointed out that members of her organization never engage in sex work without using condoms, and it is regrettable that individuals making proposals in displacement camps, even in the absence of such protective measures, show no regard for it. She mentioned that the individuals who made these proposals only wanted to fulfill their physical needs and had no concern for health safety.

She expressed deep dismay at the perverse mentality of individuals who try to prey on those who are distressed and helpless, stating that this is a common situation faced not only by her but by many who come to her office. She also mentioned that the societal attitude towards her is very regrettable because, despite being dressed in women's clothing, her voice has a masculine quality. She further revealed that during the last COVID pandemic, unfortunate incidents were reported where her members were even forced to engage in sexual acts with officials in exchange for a food parcel.