Johannesburg — South Africa on Friday said it would decriminalize sex work, hoping to tackle high levels of crime against women in a country with one of the world’s highest HIV caseloads. The sale and purchase of sexual services will no longer be treated as a crime under proposed legislation put forward by the justice ministry.

According to advocacy groups there are over 150,000 sex workers in the country.  

“It is hoped that decriminalization will minimize human rights violations against sex workers,” Justice Minister Ronald Lamola told a press briefing. “It would also mean better access to health care and… afford better protection for sex workers, better working conditions and less discrimination and stigma.”

• California ends loitering arrests for prostitution

South Africa has one of largest HIV caseloads in the world and has been hit by a growing wave of violence against women.

Police Minister Bheki Cele said there had been a double-digit increase in murders of women year-on-year between July and September with almost 1,000 women killed. Rapes were also up 11 percent, with 10,000 cases during the period, he said.