CARD Werdwet Research Fellowship is a research fellowship project created by CARD to promote indigenous knowledge to fight inequality and look for ways of protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups in Ethiopia. Werdwet Fellowship also gives the youth, especially young women, opportunities to pursue their passion for researching and promoting their ideas to bring about a just society. One of the 2022 CARD Research Werdwet Fellows, Kalkidan Asmamaw has launched her research report on the 7^th of July 2023 in Addis Ababa with the presence of different stakeholders. Her research is titled “Across the Thin Blue Line:  Examining the Relationship between Sex Workers and Police Officers in Addis Ababa”.

Kalkidan shares her experience as a Werdwet Fellow here below.

In my work advocating for women's rights, I have had the privilege of meeting feminist researchers, activists, and other inspiring individuals who are fighting against patriarchy. During this time, I crossed paths with strong and resilient sex workers who founded Nikat Charitable Association to advocate for their own rights and those of their peers. I was deeply moved by their dedication and volunteered to help in any way I could, including assisting with proposal writing and providing translation during meetings.

Although I initially intended to share my knowledge and skills with the sex workers' movement, I actually ended up gaining valuable insights about activism from them. Over time, our friendship blossomed and we started sharing light-hearted moments as well as deep conversations about their struggles, challenges, and aspirations. Our conversations really opened my eyes to the incredible amount of abuse that sex workers face from police officers, and it was truly disheartening to learn that there are no consequences for this behavior. Nevertheless, this newfound knowledge has also motivated me to take action and utilize my abilities to draw attention to this matter and enhance awareness surrounding it. At first, I felt a bit lost on how to address this, but I knew that I wanted to take action. So, when I stumbled upon the call for Werdewt Fellowship on social media, I saw it as the ideal chance to conduct research and make a positive impact.

As I delved deeper into my research on sex work, I found that it presented various personal and professional challenges for me. On a personal level, I had to engage in a significant amount of self-reflection in order to clarify my own beliefs about the industry. While I turned to feminist theories to help guide me, I quickly realized that even within the feminist movement, there is a wide range of perspectives on the issue of sex work. Navigating these conflicting viewpoints was a challenge, as both sides make persuasive arguments. Ultimately, I had to rely on my own moral compass and make an informed decision about where I stood on the issue. This process of self-reflection was both difficult and rewarding, as it allowed me to develop a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding sex work.

The process of collecting data, especially from sex workers, was a completely new experience for me. I had to visit neighborhoods I had never been to before and interact with people in unfamiliar ways to me. Witnessing their living conditions, their interaction with their clients, and hearing their stories of struggle was overwhelming. I felt helpless because I couldn't do much to alleviate their pain. It was especially difficult when they asked me for help in leaving the profession, and I was unable to provide tangible solutions. Seeing their strong spirit and determination despite their circumstances was truly heart-wrenching.

My experience with collecting data from police officers taught me a great deal. One of the most important things I learned is that these officers are subject to a system of masculinity that is enforced upon them by their superiors. They are constantly instructed to remove sex workers from the streets and are held accountable when sex workers commit crimes, which puts a lot of pressure on them and can lead to frustration being projected onto sex workers. Furthermore, I noticed that many of the police officers come from conservative, religious backgrounds. So when they see sex workers taking control of their own sexuality and earning money from it, it can be a real shock to them. The two groups seem to come from completely different worlds, and it's clear that we need to find ways to bridge the gap between them.

I am pleased with the research outcome and grateful for the opportunity to shed light on the challenges faced by sex workers. It was an honor to undertake this task and I feel privileged to have been a part of it. Thanks to the support of colleagues and friends, and especially to the Center for Advancement for Rights and Democracy (CARD), who hosted me as a fellow and supported my requests. The team at CARD was consistently accommodating and supportive.

Now, it is incumbent upon other individuals and organizations to continue the fight we have started. There is a pressing need for increased advocacy, campaigns, and voices that speak out on this issue. It is my sincere hope that activists and NGOs working in these areas will have access to this research and leverage it to effectuate a positive change.

You can download or read Kalkidan's research by clicking here.