When no one is listening: Reena Lama, advocate for the rights of sex workers in Nepal, is visiting Finland

Reena Lama is a Nepalese human rights defender who promotes the rights of sex workers in Nepal. We interviewed Reena about the situation of sex workers in Nepal and the kind of courage it takes to defend their human rights.

Reena Lama serves as the executive director of Friends Affected and Infected Together in Hand (FAITH), an NGO she founded. Supported by KIOS, FAITH defends the rights of sex workers. Reena explains that currently in Nepal, legislation related to sex work leads to the marginalization and exploitation of sex workers.

“Challenges include sex workers’ access to healthcare. Police arrest sex workers based on vague accusations and evidence. Sex workers also do not dare to resist or challenge the situation because societal attitudes have led them to believe they do not have the right or means to do so,” Reena explains the situation in more detail.

What then motivates Reena to defend the human rights of this marginalized group?

”I simply disagree with the treatment sex workers endure, being branded as criminals or societal outsiders. Engaging in sex work is not inherently criminal, nor does it make sex workers criminals. Therefore, I fail to understand why they are subjected to such judgment based on society’s flawed moral standards. Instead of passing judgment, one simply needs to listen to their experiences.”

Advocating for the rights of sex workers faces many obstacles

Sex workers are extremely stigmatized in Nepalese society. Their work is seen as immoral and shameful. FAITH navigates this complex web of legislation and societal morality in its efforts to promote the rights of sex workers.

“Female sex workers often face intense social stigma and marginalization due to the nature of their work, which is widely perceived as immoral and shameful in Nepalese society. This stigma has led to social exclusion, discrimination, and barriers to accessing basic services. They are forced to stay hidden. The notion of them asserting their human rights is intolerable both to the law and society,” Reena says.

In advocating for the human rights of sex workers in Nepal, many obstacles arise. Politicians evade their responsibility, and the police use their power not to protect rights but to harass and pursue their own interests. Politicians, even those who generally advocate for women’s rights, see discussing sex work and the rights of those involved in it as a topic that should not be spoken about.

Reena gives an example of a discussion she had with police authorities. A police official stated that if a sex worker comes forward to report, for example, violence against them, an investigation will be initiated also about her because of her involvement in sex work. This approach is not based on any legislation in force in Nepal. Due to the unjust and discriminatory treatment they receive, sex workers themselves do not dare to demand their rights.

The system also enables corruption, and for example, police benefit from a situation where they can ask for bribes from the clients of sex workers so that they are not prosecuted. However, the end result is that no one benefits, and sex workers and their rights suffer.

Boldly bringing the human rights of sex workers into discussions

Under Reena’s leadership, FAITH has brought the rights of sex workers into discussions. The organization has advocated, for example, for the inclusion of sex workers rights in national and local guidelines and legislation. The organization boldly challenges prevailing perceptions in a patriarchal society. At the same time, sex workers are encouraged to demand their rights themselves and are educated about their human rights. Despite the challenges, the organization has managed to make policymakers listen and thus achieved changes, for example, in national legislation concerning safe motherhood and reproductive health rights.

“Balancing different expectations and demands is, however, tiring. We also do not want to give false hope to sex workers. Progress will not come quickly, but the work is rather taking slow steps towards human rights for all, including sex workers,” says Reena.

Reena does not believe that openly discussing the rights of sex workers in Nepal will happen anytime soon, but policymakers can be guided to think about whose rights are being discussed when talking about marginalized groups. Usually, it is specifically sex workers who are left unnamed. Through their work, Reena and FAITH boldly bring the rights of sex workers into discussions and compel Nepalese society and policymakers to take them into account.

Society’s and individual’s responsibility

During the interview, it becomes clear that the work done by Reena and FAITH requires courage. When asked about courage, Reena herself, however, does not want to prominently highlight herself but emphasizes the community and the courage of sex workers themselves. When hearing the experiences of sex workers, Reena sees her role as acting as their voice in places they cannot reach themselves.

In Reena’s view, everyone has a role, especially in how we as a society take into account various marginalized groups. We as a society have created the situation where sex workers are pushed into the shadows, into the margins of society.

Each individual can also learn and respect the autonomy of persons. Like Reena, others can also lend their voices to marginalized groups, or at least strive not to actively work against their human rights. Through this, society becomes more open and accepting. This is the message that Reena also brings with her to the World Village kylässä festival. Ultimately, we are all part of one world, and each of us has the tools to be part of the change.

The Finnish NGO Human Rights Foundation KIOS has supported the work of FAITH in advocating for the rights of sex workers since 2023 with development cooperation funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Reena Lama will be speaking at the World Village festival on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 6:25 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. at Suvilahti. Read more here!