This report was submitted as part of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) policy framework and examines the relationship between prostitution and gender-based violence, drawing on evidence from South Africa and globally.

The document presents research demonstrating the high levels of violence, coercion, and exploitation experienced by women and girls in the sex trade. It argues that effective policy must treat these harms as central rather than incidental to the issue of prostitution.

The submission recommends decriminalisation for those in prostitution, criminalisation of buyers and exploiters, and investment in survivor support and exit pathways. It emphasises the need for survivor voices to be centred in policy development.