Prostitution in Tajikistan

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Prostitution in Tajikistan is legal, but related activities such as soliciting, procuring and brothel keeping are prohibited. [1] Prostitution has increased within the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union. [2] UNAIDS estimate there are 14,100 female sex workers in Tajikistan. [3] Government official figures for 2015 were 1,777 prostitutes and 194 brothels. [4] Prostitution occurs on the streets and in bars, restaurants, nightclubs and saunas, [2] and HIV prevalence is 3.5% amongst sex workers. [5]

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Previously, as soliciting is an administrative offence, [4] arrested prostitutes are given a nominal fine and released, [6] [7] while those procuring are prosecuted, [6] potentially being punished by up to eight years in jail. [8] In 2015, a new law was passed that doubled the fine for solicitation and added 15 days of home arrest to the punishment. [4] [9]

Being the poorest country to emerge from the Soviet Union, [10] economic hardship is a primary reason women in the country enter prostitution. [9] [11]

Sex trafficking is a problem in the country. [12]

Sex tourism

Tajikistan is a sex tourism destination for Afghans. [13] The more liberal regime in Tajikistan, the poverty of the country and a similar language make it attractive to Afghans, even if a Tajik visa may cost $500. [13] Tajikistan has such a bad reputation in Afghanistan that men going to the country may tell their wives they are going to India. [13]

Sex trafficking

Tajikistan is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Women and children from Tajikistan are subjected to sex trafficking primarily in Turkey, UAE, and Russia, and also in Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan, as well as within Tajikistan. [12]

Women and minors are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking. In some cases, migrant laborers abandon their families, making women more vulnerable to trafficking as sole providers for their families. Some women who travelled to Syria or Iraq with promises of marriage were instead sold into sexual slavery. Tajik women and girls are transported to Afghanistan for the purpose of forced marriage, which can lead to sex trafficking. Tajik children are subjected to sex trafficking in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. [12]

Article 130.1 of the 2003 criminal code, amended in 2004 and 2008, prohibits all forms of trafficking, including the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labour. The article prescribes penalties of five to 15 years imprisonment. [12]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Tajikistan as a 'Tier 2 Watch List' country. [14]

2014 crackdown

In June 2014, the Interior Minister, Ramazon Rahimov, [8] expressed concerns about the growth of “immoral crimes,” [4] and ordered a crackdown on prostitution. [1] [4] Brothels were to be raided and sex workers arrested and forcibly tested for HIV and other STIs. [1] [8] 505 sex workers were detained in the capital, Dushanbe, for the first few days, [4] [10] of these 450 had an STI according to a statement issued by the minister. [4] 30 of the women were fined. [10]

Sex workers reported that this led to rape, sexual humiliation and police officers demanding sex to release the sex workers from detention. [1]

See also

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Prostitution in Greece is legal at the age of 18, and regulated. It is estimated that fewer than 1,000 women are legally employed as prostitutes and approximately 20,000 women, half of whom are of foreign origin and the other half are Greek, are engaged in illegal prostitution. Many women affected by the economic crisis have turned to prostitution through poverty.

Prostitution in Guatemala is legal but procuring is prohibited. There is an offence of “aggravated procuring” where a minor is involved. Keeping a brothel is not prohibited.

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 Ecuador is legal and regulated, as long as the prostitute is over the age of 18, registered, and works from a licensed brothel. Prostitution is widespread throughout the country. Many brothels and prostitutes operate outside the regulatory system and the regulations have been less strictly enforced in recent years. 25,000 prostitutes were registered in the year 2000. In 2007 it was estimated that 70% of the prostitutes in the country were from Colombia. The country attracts Colombian prostitutes as the currency is the US$ rather than the unstable Colombian peso. UNAIDS estimate there to be 35,000 prostitutes in the country.

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 Zambia is legal and common. Related activities such as soliciting and procuring are prohibited. UNAIDS estimate there are 9,285 prostitutes in the capital, Lusaka. Many women turn to prostitution due to poverty. Sex workers report law enforcement is corrupt, inconsistent and often abusive.

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.

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The legal status of prostitution in Africa varies widely. It is frequently common in practice, partially driven by the widespread poverty in many sub-Saharan African countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of AIDS in Africa. Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire permit the operations of brothels. In other countries, prostitution may be legal, but brothels are not allowed to operate. In some countries where prostitution is illegal, the law is rarely enforced.

Prostitution in Cambodia is illegal, but prevalent. A 2008 Cambodian Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation has proven controversial, with international concerns regarding human rights abuses resulting from it, such as outlined in the 2010 Human Rights Watch report.

Prostitution in Namibia is legal and a highly prevalent common practice. Related activities such as solicitation, procuring and being involved in the running of a brothel are illegal. A World Bank study estimated there were about 11,000 prostitutes in Namibia.

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 Madagascar is legal, and common, especially in tourist areas. Related activities such as soliciting, procuring, living off the earnings of prostitution or keeping a brothel are prohibited. Public Order laws are also used against prostitutes. There are recent laws against "consorting with female prostitutes". People caught paying for sex with children under 14 can face criminal penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment. This is strictly enforced against foreign tourists. As well as in the tourist areas, prostitution also occurs around the mining towns of the interior such as Ilakaka and Andilamena. It was estimated that there were 167,443 sex workers in the country in 2014.

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 Angola is illegal and prevalent since the 1990s. Prostitution increased further at the end of the civil war in 2001. Prohibition is not consistently enforced. Many women engage in prostitution due to poverty. It was estimated in 2013 that there were about 33,000 sex workers in the country. Many Namibian women enter the country illegally, often via the border municipality of Curoca, and travel to towns such as Ondjiva, Lubango and Luanda to work as prostitutes.

Prostitution in Ivory Coast is legal, but associated activities, such as soliciting, pandering or running brothels, are illegal. Sex workers report law enforcement is sparse and corrupt. Police sometimes harass sex workers and demand bribes or sexual favours. Transgender prostitutes are often targeted by police and soldiers and subjected to violence. It was estimated in 2014 that there were 9,211 prostitutes 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostitution in Oceania</span> Legality of prostitution in Oceania

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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 3 4 "Sex Work Law - Countries". Sexuality, Poverty and Law. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Tajikistan Moves to Curb Prostitution". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  3. ↑ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Yuldoshev, Avaz (15 October 2015). "Tajikistan raises fines for prostitution". Tajikistan News ASIA-Plus. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "HIV prevalence amongst sex workers". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 "2008 Human Rights Report: Tajikistan". state.gov. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 Najibullah, Farangis (6 June 2014). "World's Oldest Profession Up For Discussion In Tajikistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 Putz, Catherine (24 October 2015). "Sex Sells, Even in Tajikistan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "Tajikistan arrests 500 prostitutes". SBS News. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Tajikistan: Is prostitution a profession or way to survive?". Fergana . Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Tajikistan 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  13. 1 2 3 Trofimov, Yaroslav (29 October 2012). "The Siren Call Of Central Asia". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Tajikistan 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
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