Latest news with #SWEAT
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
Decriminalisation of sex work: Western Cape High Court plans amici curiae hearings in September
After years of delays and no clear timeline for change, a sex worker known as S.H. together with SWEAT (the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce), decided to take legal action. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media The Western Cape High Court will hold a special hearing in September after several civil society groups applied to join the case on the decriminalisation of sex work as amici curiae (friends of the court). The hearings are set to take place between 1-2 September. In 2022, the Decriminalisation Bill was introduced, but progress in legalisation has been deemed by those affected as too slow, sparking legal action. After years of delays and no clear timeline for change, a sex worker known as S.H., together with SWEAT (the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce), decided to take legal action. S.H. and SWEAT filed a case in May 2024 to challenge the laws that criminalise adult sex work, arguing that these laws violate constitutional rights like equality, dignity, safety, privacy, and health. In the court documents, SWEAT, on behalf of the sex workers, explained that the applicants are challenging the ban and criminalisation of the sale, the offer for sale, and the buying of sexual services by adults. They are challenging section 20(1A)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (the Sexual Offences Act); section 19/(2) of the Sexual Offences Act; and section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 (the Amendment Act). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In early 2025, the government (the Department of Justice) filed a response saying it supports decriminalisation and asked the court to give Parliament time to finish fixing the Bill. The September hearings will involve several organisations — from public health researchers to feminist lawyers to religious groups — who have asked to join the case as amici curiae. Some are in support of decriminalisation, and others are opposed to the case, wanting to argue that criminalisation should stay. Those seeking to join in support of SWEAT include: Treatment Action Campaign, Sonke Gender Justice, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, Survivor Exit Foundation, United Nations Working Group on /discrimination Against Women and Girls, South African Human Rights Commission, Access Chapter 2, Amnesty International South Africa, GenderDynamix, Cause for Justice, The African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, The Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria) and the Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights (University of the Western Cape), Women's Legal Centre Trust and Triangle Project. Some of these opponents have now applied to become full respondents (official parties to the case). SWEAT added that the opponents have also stated that they need to be allowed to join as respondents, as the Department of Justice is no longer opposing it, and they believe that they are doing this in the public interest. The applicants are seeking: All pending charges and criminal proceedings relating to sexual services solicited, engaged in, rendered or received by adult persons brought under the rubric of the impugned provisions must be withdrawn. The criminal records of any person who has, since 16 December 2007, been convicted of rendering, engaging in or receiving sexual services in terms of the impugned provisions must be expunged, and Any person serving a sentence pursuant only to a conviction falling within the terms of the above must be released. In court papers, SWEAT said although there are no agreed on, or recent, estimates of the number of adult sex workers in South Africa, in 2015, there are estimated to be between 131,000 and 182,000 adult female sex workers in country, but that number does not account for adult male sex workers, or transgender or non-bínary sex workers. They also mentioned that in the fourth quarter of 2023, the informal sector accounted for 19% of total employment in South Africa, and is the fastest-growing sector of the economy. The main case of the decriminalisation of sex work is expected to be heard towards the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Rough Trade's Newest Signing The Sophs Share New Single + Video'Death In The Family'
After announcing their signing to Rough Trade Records in May with their first-ever song 'SWEAT', Los Angeles six-piece The Sophs have returned with a brand new single and video, 'DEATH IN THE FAMILY'. A bold admission of vulnerability and moral failure, delivered over an undeniably head-noddable, fuzzed-out beat, every instrument and lyric on 'DEATH IN THE FAMILY' lands like a gut punch. Frontman Ethan Ramon says it's 'one of the most personal songs I've ever written. It confronts my complicated relationship with shame, and how, at a certain point, I had convinced myself I'd rather grieve a loved one than take any kind of accountability. Releasing it almost feels like purging those thoughts. Maybe it's because I finally feel like I'm explaining myself clearly. Maybe I feel protected by my vulnerability. All I know is it means something to me. ' The Sophs' brutal honesty, flamingly intrusive thoughts, and broad genre-spreading caught the attention of Rough Trade label heads Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee immediately when they received a demo from Ramon. In the band's demos they heard the sort of creativity and variety — and 'don't expect me to act pretty' sentiment — that could get The Sophs — including frontman Ethan Ramon, Sam Yuh (keyboards), Austin Parker Jones (electric guitar), Seth Smades (acoustic guitar), Devin Russ (drums), and Cole Bobbitt (bass) — a slot on nearly any stage. 'It's rare that a demo that arrives in the post sets your heart racing and sends you off on a quest to track down its sender. But that's what happened when we listened to the music sent to us by Ethan Ramon,' Travis and Lee explain. The Sophs will play a donation/pay-what-you-can hometown show in Los Angeles at the non-profit venue Scribble on Friday, July 25 before heading to NYC for two free shows in August and then onto the UK and EU, including a spot at the UK's End of the Road Festival in August. All tour dates are below and tickets for all dates are on-sale now.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Betty Who is stripping down & making us sweat with her steamy new music
Once again, Betty Who is blessing the LGBTQ+ community with incredible music. After three years, the queer singer is kicking off a brand new era by is releasing her own original music as an independent artist. Her first empowering single "Run!" is literally designed to keep the gays moving and remaining optimistic during these challenging times. "A lot of the music that'll be coming your way is a little bit tongue-in-cheek! Ultimately, I'm a silly little goose who wants to write a big bridge. Leaning into the things that make me, me, is now what this era is about," Who tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Who is also showing plenty of skin in the visuals for her second single "SWEAT," which comes out this Friday and just before Pride Month begins. "Pride season is coming up! It is my Mariah Carey Christmas season. I am in my cryogenic freezer and I am defrosting as we speak! I feel my season coming. It's time! The next song is for Pride. It's for the club. In the club, we all fam!" Beyond the clubs, Who is also hitting the road this summer and performing all of her biggest hits. The star is even slated to perform at the WorldPride Music Festival in Washington, D.C. "This is my city! These are my people! I'm very excited to show both sides of me at WorldPride. You better believe... I will be performing my set, and then I will be taking my drag off and going to watch Ms. Rita Ora and Jennifer Lopez. What a night to be alive!" Although the political climate is raising concerns for many tourists around the world, Who is reminding everyone to remain steadfast and unafraid to live out and proud. "To my LGBTQIA+ sisters, brothers, and everyone in between in the community, don't give too much of your time and energy to the people who don't get it. Save it all for the people who do and celebrate you for who you are! You can't let other people hold you back from living your life and feeling the joy you absolutely deserve to feel." Fans can get tickets to the WorldPride Music Festival now. To see the full interview with Betty Who, check out the video at the top of the page.
Eyewitness News
03-06-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
Sex workers offer Justice Department help
Sex workers and activists are calling for urgency reviving a bill to decriminalise sex work bill, which is currently being drafted for the second time. On Monday 2 June, members of Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) and the Asijiki Coalition set up desks and chairs outside the offices of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Cape Town. The mock 'help desk' was meant to represent sex workers and the DOJ drafting the bill together, with the seat reserved for the DOJ left empty. A large sign at the desk read: 'Sex workers are here to help you to redraft the bill.' 'Maybe they will come down and draft the bill with us,' said Lloyd Rugara, provincial coordinator for the Sisonke National Sex Work Movement. It's been two years since the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022 was withdrawn and sent back to be revised. In May 2023 state law advisors raised concerns about the bill's lack of regulation, according to former deputy minister John Jeffery. The new deputy minister Andries Nel has since taken office. Sex worker organisations have demanded a clear timeframe for the bill's implementation, consultations with sex workers, and the prioritisation of the 'long-delayed reform'. Constance Mathe, national coordinator at Asijiki, said that since funding cuts from USAID caused sex worker-friendly clinics to close down, sex workers have struggled to access health services at public facilities. They face stigma and long waiting hours at clinics and hospitals, she says. Mathe says that the decriminalisation bill would mean sex workers would be recognised under labour laws and would have safer working conditions. Mathe also raises concerns over the lack of consultation with sex workers during the second drafting of the bill and says that the drafting process was taking too long. 'No redrafting can take two years,' says Mathe. DOJ official Ashika Singh came outside to meet the activists. She said the DOJ would give them a response within three weeks. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Bitget Announces Strategic Partnership With SWEAT To Boost Movement Economy In Web3
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 13 (Bernama) -- Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced its strategic partnership with SWEAT, the pioneering movement economy ecosystem, lowering entry barriers for Web2 audiences while seamlessly connecting them to Web3. The alliance was unveiled at Dubai Esports Festival 2025 (DEF), where attendees experienced the future first-hand through interactive activities that turn physical activity into crypto rewards. From Dubai Airport to Sheikh Zayed Road, the city's most prominent billboards now carry a powerful message: Walk into Crypto—Step. Sweat. Score. "We're turning physical activity into financial empowerment," declared SWEAT Co-founder and CEO Oleg Fomenko. "This is about rewarding the most natural human behavior, movement, with digital ownership."
