Patoo Abraham

In an interview during the Lagos street protests Abraham led, she stated how sex workers, such as herself, feel about their lack of rights and respect: “We are tired of dying in silence.

We want an end to name-calling and stigmatization.”[6] In addition to her leading of multiple street protests in Lagos, Abraham continued to advocate for the legalization of African sex workers’ professions through her involvement in the Nigerian chapter of the ASWA and Women of Power Initiative (WOPI).

[8] As a leader of the Nigerian branch of ASWA, Abraham helped aid the goal of speaking out for equality of African sex workers by, most notably and most recalled in news outlets, leading and participating in street protests such as in Lagos.

[7] The six lead values they follow are: Accountability and Transparency, Equality and Justice, Voice and Agency, Respect, Diversity and Inclusion, and Solidarity.

The qualitative research study was published by Duke University Press, and was conducted in order to understand what it truly means to be an “African sex worker feminist.

"[9] ASWA was open to engaging in this study since they hoped it would aid in the unity and agreement among feminists who may still be uncertain as to whether or not sex work is something they support or not.

[3] The red umbrella being symbolic of the sex worker’s refusal to accept discrimination and unfairness in their work was a central part of the visuals in Abraham’s street protests, and was documented by the news outlet, Aljazeera.

[3] The street protests were covered by a variety of different news outlets and sources based in Africa such as Aljazeera, Legit, and The Daily Post.

[3] Even after Abraham’s leading of multiple Lagos street protests in 2014, The Nigerian Criminal Code still states that prostitution in Nigeria is an illegal activity.