Legislation, Sex Work and Voices of Children.

While the injustices and vulnerabilities of sex workers have been extensively studied on a global scale, there is a critical lack of data on the realities of children of sex workers living in the world of transactional relationships. This early exposure to transactional sex significantly impacts the way these children understand, experience, and express their sexualities, underscoring the urgent need for research in this area. Global discussions on legislative change for the sex work industry have been groundbreaking, and South Africa has been an active participant. Notably, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed himself and his government to the decriminalization of sex work in South Africa as part of the country's fight against Gender-Based Violence. This commitment underscores the role of political leadership in visualizing the experiences of sex workers and creating the urgency for their protection through legislative change. The proximity of children of sex workers to the world of sex work introduces them to vulnerabilities of enhanced sexual exploitation in comparison to their peers. Studied through the lens of an intersection, young people's proximity to their parent's experiences enhances children's vulnerability, given that violence experienced by women tends to become the violence experienced by the child. The lack of data about the experiences of children of sex workers creates a significant gap in our understanding of their realities. This silence mutes their voices and makes this vulnerable community completely invisible. By allowing affected children to share their own stories and experiences, this study can bring visibility to their lives and impact the fight for their protection and the overall effort to make their experiences known.