Prostitution in Rwanda

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Prostitution in Rwanda is illegal [1] [2] in all aspects. Prostitutes, clients and any involved third parties (such as pimps and brothel keepers) are criminalised by the country's Penal Code. [3] However, a draft of a new Penal Code that does not prohibit prostitution [4] was presented for debate in the Rwandan Parliament in December 2017. [5]

Contents

Due to the immense poverty in the country, many women have been forced into prostitution to make a living. [6] [7] In 2012 it was estimated that there were 12,278 sex workers in the country. [8] It is thought that 45.8% of sex workers in Rwanda are HIV positive. [9]

Overview

Although prostitution is illegal it is widespread, particularly in the capital, Kigali, [10] [11] and other urban centres. [7] Many prostitutes work from bars. [11] Often men who are seeking prostitutes sit at the bar, and those who are not sit away from the bar counter. [7] A significant number of university students use sex work to supplement their income. [12]

Sex workers report harassment from the police. [7]

On 23 September 2006, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Valeria Nyirahabineza ordered prostitutes in Rwanda to stop selling sex otherwise they would face legal action. [13] She claimed that prostitution was a root cause of the HIV problem facing Rwanda. [13] In March 2007 President Paul Kagame gave a speech stating that prostitution in Rwanda must be stopped. He stated: "It is not part of Rwanda’s path to development and, therefore, must stop". [1]

The Rwanda Law Reform Commission started a review of the penal law in 2015 in an attempt to bring the country's laws up date. [5] The Draft Penal Code removes the prohibition of prostitution except for forced prostitution. [4] Parliament started debating the Draft Penal Code in November 2017. [5]

Section 4 of the Penal Code deals with prostitution: [3]

Sub-section : Obligations and penalties for failure to comply

Any person who engages in prostitution shall fulfill, for a period not exceeding one year, one or more of the following obligations:
1° not to leave territorial limits determined by the Court;
2° not to go to certain places determined by the court;
3° to be subjected to surveillance measures;
4° to seek medical treatment;
5° to periodically report to administrative services or authorities determined by the court.
A person who violates any of the obligations under items 1º to 5º of this Article, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three (3) months but less than six (6) months.
If a person subsequently commits prostitution as provided under Paragraph 2 of this Article shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six (6) months to two (2) years and a fine of fifty thousand (50,000) to five hundred thousand (500,000) Rwandan francs or one of these penalties.
The penalties under paragraph 2 of this Article shall also apply to any person caught having sexual intercourse with a prostitute.

Sub-section 2: Incitement to prostitution

Sub-section 3: Exploitation of the prostitution

Sub-section 4: Aggravating circumstances

Serial murders of prostitutes

A number of women, mostly prostitutes, were murdered in Kigali between July and August 2012. The total number of victims was variously reported as fifteen [14] and eighteen. [15] The murders may have been the work of one person, with some people referring to the killer as the "African Jack the Ripper". [16] One victim was described by neighbours as having had the words "I will stop once I have killed 400 prostitutes" carved into the flesh of her stomach, although this was dismissed as a rumour by the police. [14]

It was reported in November 2012 that eight men had been arrested and that one of them had confessed to the murders. [17]

Sex trafficking

Rwanda is a source, transit, and to a lesser extent, destination country for women, and children subjected to sex trafficking. Rwandan girls and some boys, some of whom are secondary school students between the ages of 13 to 18, are exploited in commercial sex in hotels, at times through the facilitation of hotel owners. Local human rights groups reported in 2016 that some Rwandan girls in domestic work, who become pregnant and thereby have their employment terminated by their employers and are unable to return to their home villages, are subsequently exploited in sex trafficking. Some Rwandan men, women, and children are subjected to sex trafficking to destinations around the world; the primary destinations for Rwandan victims are Uganda, the DRC, and other parts of East Africa. Rwandan victims are also reportedly exploited in sex trafficking to China. In previous years, Rwandan victims were exploited in South Africa, Malaysia, the United States, and Europe. In 2016, some Rwandan girls were forced into marriages with men in Tanzania and may have experienced commercial sexual exploitation through these marriages. Reporting in 2013 indicated that Kampala- and Nairobi-based labour recruiters and brokers recruited Rwandan workers through fraudulent offers of employment abroad and subjected them to sex trafficking. [18]

Refugees fleeing conflict and political violence in Burundi and the DRC remain highly vulnerable to trafficking in Rwanda or are subjected to exploitation in third countries after transiting Rwanda. According to an international organisation, there has been an increase in sex trafficking of Burundian male and female teenagers through Rwanda to third countries since 2015. Burundian refugee girls transited through Rwanda were exploited in sex trafficking in Uganda. Separately, female child refugees in a Congolese refugee camp were reportedly subjected to sex trafficking in nearby towns in 2015, allegedly facilitated by one civilian and three RDF soldiers assigned to the camp. [18]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Rwanda as a 'Tier 2' country. [19]

Related Research Articles

Prostitution in Finland is legal, but soliciting in a public place and organised prostitution are illegal. According to a 2010 TAMPEP study, 69% of prostitutes working in Finland are migrants. As of 2009, there was little "visible" prostitution in Finland as it was mostly limited to private residences and nightclubs in larger metropolitan areas.

Prostitution in Denmark was partly decriminalised in 1999, based partly on the premise that it was easier to police a legal trade than an illegal one. Third-party activities, such as profiting from brothel administration and other forms of procuring, remain illegal activities in Denmark, as do pimping and prostitution of minors.

Prostitution in Senegal is legal and regulated. Senegal has the distinction of being one of the few countries in Africa to legalize prostitution, and the only one to legally regulate it. The only condition that it is done discreetly. Prostitution was first legalised in 1966. UNAIDS estimate that there are over 20,000 prostitutes in the country. The average age for a sex worker in Senegal is 28 years old and female.

Prostitution in Uruguay was legislated in 2002 through the sex work law (17.515). Before that, prostitution was unlegislated but it was not illegal, since the constitution allows any activity that is not forbidden by law. Prostitution is currently not a subject of debate.

Prostitution in Georgia is illegal but widespread, particularly in the capital, Tbilisi. Many NGO's attribute this to the harsh economic conditions according to the US State Department. Prostitution occurs on the streets, in bars, nightclubs, hotels and brothels. UNAIDS estimate there are 6,525 prostitutes in Georgia.

Prostitution in Sri Lanka is illegal, and related activities such as soliciting, procuring, and brothels are outlawed. It is also illegal to traffic persons for prostitution, especially minors. Prostitution is not as widespread in Sri Lanka as in some neighbouring countries. It is estimated that there are 40,000 prostitutes in the country, and nearly half of them operate in Colombo.

Prostitution in Uganda is illegal according to Uganda's 1950 Penal Code, but is widespread despite this. Many turn to prostitution because of poverty and lack of other opportunities. A study of Kampala teachers in 2008 showed that teachers were turning to prostitution to increase their income. A sex worker can earn around 1.5 million Ugandan shillings (£439) per month, whereas this would be a yearly wage for a secondary school teacher. There are many Kenyan prostitutes in the country.

Prostitution in Cameroon is illegal but tolerated, especially in urban and tourist areas. In the capital, Yaoundé the main area of prostitution is the neighbourhood of Mini Ferme. UNAIDS estimate there are 112,000 sex workers in the country.

Rwanda is a source and, to a lesser extent, destination country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically conditions of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Rwandan girls are exploited in involuntary domestic servitude within the country; some of these children experience physical or sexual abuse within their employer's household. Older females offer vulnerable younger girls room and board, eventually pushing them into prostitution to pay for their keep. In limited cases, this trafficking is facilitated by women who supply females to clients or by loosely organized prostitution networks, some operating in secondary schools and universities. Rwandan children are also trafficked to Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries in the region for forced agricultural labor, commercial sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude, sometimes after being recruited by peers. In Rwanda there have been reports of isolated cases involving child trafficking victims from neighboring countries. Unlike in past years, there was no indication in 2009 that the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) duped or recruited Congolese men and boys from Rwanda-based refugee camps, as well as Rwandans from nearby towns, into forced labor and soldiering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Prostitution in Uzbekistan is illegal, but prostitution has increased within the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union. UNAIDS estimated there to be 22,000 sex workers in the country in 2019. Many of the women have turned to prostitution in Uzbekistan because of poverty.

Prostitution in Togo is legal and commonplace. Related activities such as solicitation, living off the earnings of prostitution or procuring are prohibited. Punishment is up to 10 years imprisonment if minors or violence is involved.

Prostitution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is legal but related activities are prohibited. The Congolese penal code punishes pimping, running a bawdy house or brothel, the exploitation of debauchery or prostitution, as well as forced prostitution. Activities that incite minors or promote the prostitution of others have been criminalised. The government does little to enforce the law. During the colonial era and the years that followed independence, the Ministry of Health issued calling cards identifying professional sex workers and provided them with medical health checks. However, this system was abandoned in the 1980s. Public order laws are sometimes used against sex workers. Street prostitutes report harassment, violence and extortion from the police. UNAIDS estimated there are 2.9 million sex workers in the country.

Prostitution in Botswana is not illegal, but laws such as public disorder, vagrancy, loitering and state recognised religious provisions are used to prosecute prostitutes. Related activities such as soliciting and brothel keeping are illegal. Botswana has made proposals to make prostitution legal to prevent the spread of AIDS. However, there has been mass opposition to it by the Catholic Church. Prostitution is widespread and takes place on the street, bars, hotels, brothels and the cabs of long-distance trucks.

Prostitution in Libya is illegal, but common. Since the country's Cultural Revolution in 1973, laws based on Sharia law's zina are used against prostitutes; the punishment can be 100 lashes. Exploitation of prostitutes, living off the earnings of prostitution or being involved in the running of brothels is outlawed by Article 417 of the Libyan Penal Code. Buying sexual services isn't prohibited by law, but may contravene Sharia law.

Prostitution in Malawi is legal and prevalent around hotels and bars in urban and tourist areas. Living off the proceeds of prostitution is illegal. In 2015, it was estimated there were 20,000 sex workers in the country.

Prostitution in Benin is legal but related activities such as brothel keeping and benefiting from the prostitution of others are illegal. UNAIDS estimates there to be about 15,000 prostitutes in the country. Most of these are migrants from neighbouring countries, mainly Nigeria, Togo and Ghana. Only 15% of the prostitutes are Beninese. Prostitution occurs on the streets, in bars, restaurants, hotels and brothels. With advent of the smartphone, many prostitutes use apps to make arrangements with clients.

Prostitution in Burundi is illegal but is commonplace and on the rise. Prostitution is prevalent in all areas of the country, and especially in the largest city, Bujumbura, and prior to the security crisis in 2015, the tourist areas around Lake Tanganyika. UNAIDS estimate there are 51,000 prostitutes in Burundi. Many women have turned to prostitution due to poverty.

Prostitution in Cape Verde is legal and commonplace. There are no prostitution laws on the islands except for those concerning trafficking and child prostitution. UNAIDS estimate there are 1,400 prostitutes in Cape Verde, and many were from Ghana and Senegal before being expelled by the police. Some turn to prostitution through poverty.

Prostitution in Chad is illegal but common, especially in the urban centres and the south of the country. UNAIDS estimates there are 1,200 prostitutes in the country. Many are from Cameroon.

Prostitution in Fiji is legal, but most activities connected with it are illegal: brothel keeping, pimping and buying or selling sex in public. Street workers make up the bulk of Fiji's prostitutes. Many of the prostitutes are Asian, especially Chinese that provide sexual services for the growing number of tourists arriving in the country and also locals. Some come into the country on student visas. In 2014, it was estimated that there were 857 sex workers in Fiji. Even though buying and selling sex in public is illegal in Fiji, police have no legal authority to arrest prostitutes without an official report being lodged for the police to take action.

References

  1. 1 2 "100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies - Legal Prostitution". Procon. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Organic Law instituting the penal code" (PDF). Official Gazette. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 Mugisha, Ivan R. (12 November 2017). "Rwandan civil society pushes for legalisation of prostitution". The East African. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Kwibuka, Eugene (17 November 2017). "Rwanda: Heated Debate as MPs Start Scrutiny of Draft Penal Code". The New Times (Kigali). Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Sisters of Rwanda". The Eye Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Prostitution growing with us". IGIHE. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "HIV prevalence amongst sex workers". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Mugarura, Richard (9 July 2015). "Rwanda: Prostitution Still a Major Challenge in Kigali City". Rwanda Focus (Kigali). Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  11. 1 2 Kioko, Dennis (6 January 2014). "Why Kenyans love Kigali (Part 2)". Dennis Kioko COM. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Prostitution in Universities is a Public Secret". IGIHE. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Minister warns on prostitution". Rwanda Development Gateway . 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2007.
  14. 1 2 Smith, David (10 September 2012). "Rwandans fear serial killer is at large after murder of 15 women". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "Prostitution in Rwanda increasingly perilous". Jambo News (in French). 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Mezzofiore, Gianluca (7 September 2012). "'African Jack the Ripper' Kills 15 Prostitutes in Rwanda". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  17. ↑ Santi, Ziyah (28 March 2014). "Sex workers speak out about Rwanda's silent tragedy". Radio National. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Rwanda 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  19. ↑ "Rwanda 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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