prostitution3

Child Prostitution in Ethiopia
The story of Tirsit Tirsit is 16 years old and began working on the street at the age
of 13. Tirsit's reasons for entering street life as a prostitute are sadly
commonplace. Domestic quarrelling and violence left her no other option than to
go to the streets for money. Aided by more experienced girls, Tirsit began a life of
commercial sex work.
"I've been working on the street for 3 years because I had a conflict with my
parents. My stepfather used to get drunk and beat us. Also, he used to favour my
sister who is his real daughter. I met some girls on the street and I began to get
close with them. I became friends with them, and we're still friends. Two of the
older girls used to work and give us the money to live. All I used to think about
was my family, but these people were good to me so I followed them. I was really
hurt by my family experience and these people were nice to me." Tirsit explained.
One of the reasons for the continuing proliferation of child prostitutes, according
to social workers, is that many clients believe that younger girls offer less of a
risk for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. It is also believed that
condom use by the clients is inconsistent at best.
For Tirsit, alerting a policeman didn’t helped her out of a bad situation. "There
used to be this guy who would ask for some sexual acts that I didn't want to do.
He used to scare me and get out of his car [to come after me]. Another time a man
refused to pay me after we went out. I had a fight with him and got out of the car.
The police came because I had hurt my leg getting out of the car, but he bribed
the police when they came to get him. They left me on the street with nowhere to
go so I had to spend the night with some Somalis on a veranda." Tirsit explained.
For young prostitutes looking for a way out of street life, the possibilities are
limited by a lack of skills and a shortage of jobs. The situation can often seem
desperate for girls who have no one to help or guide them.
"I'm interested in stopping [prostituting] and find something else to do, but I don't
know how to do anything else," stated Tirsit. "Everybody has a different opinion
about how to help, but we need a job. Any kind of job."
With the help of UNICEF, child prostitutes can acquire skills to turn their lives
around. UNICEF offers skills training in hairdressing, sewing and weaving to get
girls off the street and on their feet.