Sexuality from a relationship and rights perspectives can hardly be non-transactional. From a sexual rights perspective, positive sexuality and sexual relationship between two mature individuals should only be a continual transaction, in the sense of deal and consensus. However transactional and commercial sex differs from this fundamental humane expression of sexuality. Commercial sex is simply the commoditization of sex (not necessarily of sexuality). As it is well known in the Marxist approach, commoditization transforms everything into commodities. Such development should be of concern if issues around vulnerability, exploitation and rights are not adequately addressed. Read full article
By Richmond Tiemoko

Safe Haven International is a non profit, non governmental organization set up in 2003 by Margaret Onah, a Medical Laboratory Scientist, who identified a vacuum in dealing with vulnerable girls and women, especially commercial sex workers in Nigeria. She discovered that female sex workers are stigmatized by the society, family and the church. As a result, they have no say in development issues concerning their society or state. Even the church looks upon them as outcasts. In summary, nobody is interested in finding out what the inner cry of a sex worker is. Safe Haven international was established to look into that vacuum by breaking barriers, creating positive attitudes, changing behavior of the society, providing support for women and girls who are victims of violence, rape and pursing activities aimed at preventing rape, all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and violence in schools, at homes and in the community. Read full article

Violence against women (VAW) has become invasive and of recent, researchers have been trying to delve into it as part of public health concern. Of all the forms of VAW, sexual violence (SV) is the most common with a link to STIs and HIV infection, coupled with other grave consequences for women in Africa. SV is any sexual act or attempt to obtain unwanted sexual comments, advances or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim in any setting including home or work. Read full article