Prostitution in Tanzania

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Prostitution in Tanzania is illegal but widespread. [1] [2] [3] UNAIDS estimate there to be 155,450 prostitutes in the country. [4] Many women and young girls are forced into prostitution due to poverty, lack of job opportunities, culture, and the disintegration of the family unit. [5] [6] [7] Many university students have to turn to prostitution for economic reasons. [8]

Contents

Sex trafficking [9] and child prostitution [7] are a major problems in Tanzania.

The country is a destination for sex tourism, including female and child sex tourism, especially in the coastal resorts and Zanzibar. [10] [11] [12]

Sex tourism

Tanzania is a popular destination for sex tourism, particularly in Arusha [13] Bagamoyo and the islands of Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba. Many of the tourists are Italian. [10]

Zanzibar is also a destination for female sex tourism. [14] [11] Many of the "beach boys" are not from Zanzibar. There are some agents offering holidays to the island, including an exclusive "guide". Most of the women are from Europe or North America. [11]

Child sex tourism is a problem, [12] especially on the coastal resorts and the Kenyan border. [9] Whilst some of the children are trafficked, [9] some turn to prostitution through poverty. [10]

HIV

Tanzania faces a mature, generalized HIV epidemic. In 2011, an estimated 1.6 million Tanzanians were living with HIV/AIDS. [15] [16] An estimated 1 out of 20 residents in the capital Dar es Salaam and 1 in 3 sex workers are infected with the HIV virus. [17] Nationally, 28% of sex workers [18] and 4.7% of all adults are infected. [19]

Reports show that an increase in the number of cases of HIV and AIDS are growing at an alarming rate in Zanzibar. This is thought to have been added to by large numbers of tourists entering Zanzibar and fueling demand for prostitutes. [20]

Sex trafficking

Tanzania is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking. Internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and characteristically facilitated by victims’ family members, friends, or intermediaries offering assistance with education or securing employment in urban areas. [21] Impoverished children from the rural interior remain most vulnerable to trafficking. Girls are exploited in sex trafficking, particularly in tourist hubs and along the border with Kenya. Previous media reports indicate girls are subjected to sex trafficking in China. Tanzanian nationals are sometimes subjected sex trafficking in other African countries, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Trafficking victims from other countries, particularly children from Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya, as well as adults from India, Nepal, and Yemen are subjected to sex trafficking. Citizens of neighbouring countries may transit Tanzania before being subjected to sex trafficking in South Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. [9]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Tanzania as a "Tier 2" country. [9]

Related Research Articles

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 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 Kenya is widespread. The legal situation is complex. Although prostitution is not criminalised by National law, municipal by-laws may prohibit it.. It is illegal to profit from the prostitution of others, and to aid, abet, compel or incite prostitution.. UNAIDS estimate there to be 133,675 prostitutes in the country.

Prostitution in Ethiopia is legal, and widespread. Procuring is illegal according to Article 634 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, as revised May 2005, however these laws are rarely enforced. Some feel it has contributed to the increased incidence of AIDS. UNAIDS estimate there are over 19,000 prostitutes in the major cities.

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.

Prostitution in Guyana is illegal but widespread. Prostitution law is antiquated and dates from the colonial era. Law enforcement is inconsistent and sex workers report violence and abuse by the police. Many turn to prostitution for economic reasons and the lack of other job opportunities. Prostitution continues to receive greater public attention due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among prostitutes. Prostitution in the country is separated into three types: "uptown", servicing affluent clients, "downtown", servicing the working classes, and mining sites. UNAIDS estimate there to be 6,000 prostitutes in the country.

Prostitution in Burkina Faso is not specifically prohibited by the law, but soliciting and pimping are illegal. Burkinabe society only accepts sexual intercourse within marriage. In 2009, Voice of America reported that the number of prostitutes in Burkina Faso had increased as a result of the country's poverty. The increase in prostitution has given rise to fears of an increase in the number of Burkinabés infected with HIV and AIDS. UNAIDS estimate there to be 31,000 prostitutes in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostitution in Africa</span> Overview of the legality and practice of prostitution in Africa

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 Eswatini is illegal, the anti-prostitution laws dating back to 1889, when the country Eswatini was a protectorate of South Africa. Law enforcement is inconsistent, particularly near industrial sites and military bases. Police tend to turn a blind eye to prostitution in clubs. There are periodic clamp-downs by the police.

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 Mongolia is illegal but widespread in some areas. The Global Fund for Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria estimated there were about 19,000 sex workers in the country in 2006. Many women in Mongolia turn to prostitution through poverty.

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

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 Guinea-Bissau is common and there are no prostitution laws. In 2016 it was estimated there were 3,138 prostitutes in the country. Often it is associated with other crimes: Many pimps are also reported to be drug dealers. Poverty leads many women to be tempted into prostitution and cocaine addiction.

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 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 Somalia is officially illegal. There is generally very little voluntary prostitution in the country according to the African Medical Research and Education Foundation (AMREF). UNAIDS estimated there were 10,957 sex workers in Somalia in 2016.

References

  1. ↑ "DailyNews Online Edition - 'Prostitutes' adopt new trick to milk customers". Dailynews.co.tz. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "DailyNews Online Edition - Prostitution shames the nation, it must be banned". Dailynews.co.tz. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Chapter 4: Safari - The Journey". Between their stories and our realities (Report). The People's Decade of Human Rights Education. January 1999.
  6. ↑ "TANZANIA: Prostitutes work the graveyard shift in Dar es Salaam". IRIN. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 Mwita, Sosthenes (5 October 2015). "Tanzania: When Needy Girls Opt for Redlight". Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Thomson Reuters Foundation | News, Information and Connections for Action". Trust.org. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tanzania 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  10. 1 2 3 Tairo, Apolinari (9 January 2009). "Italians and their "sexcapades" in East Africa". eTurboNews (eTN). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 Crous, Marisa (15 July 2016). "Sex tourism in Africa: European women who pay for sex with locals". W24. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  12. 1 2 Francoeur, Robert T.; Reiss, Ira L.; Noonan, Raymond J.; Opiyo-Omolo, Beldina; Perper, Timothy (2006). The Continuum complete international encyclopedia of sexuality (Updated, with more countries. ed.). New York, NY: Continuum. ISBN   978-0826414885.
  13. ↑ Finke, Jens; Stedman, Henry (2010). The Rough guide to Tanzania (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides. ISBN   978-1848360754.
  14. ↑ McQue, Katie (11 August 2017). "How mass tourism is helping to spread HIV in Zanzibar". New Internationalist. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  15. ↑ 'UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2012 (PDF) (Report). UNAIDS. 2012. p. 7.
  16. ↑ Marsland, Rebecca (December 2012). "(Bio)Sociality and HIV in Tanzania: Finding a Living to Support a Life". Medical Anthropology Quarterly. 26 (4): 470–485. doi:10.1111/maq.12002. ISSN   0745-5194. PMID   23361880.
  17. ↑ "The HIV rebound nobody is discussing | Updates | PBS NewsHour". PBS. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "HIV prevalence amongst sex workers". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "United Republic of Tanzania 2017 Country factsheet". UNAIDS . Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "Tourists Influx Sparks HIV/AIDS In Zanzibar". Dar es Salaam. TOMRIC News Agency. 5 April 2000 – via Hartford Web Publishing.
  21. ↑ Weiss, Adam (1 February 2016), "The Application of International Legislation: Is the Federalisation of Anti-trafficking Legislation in Europe Working for Trafficking Victims?", Human Trafficking, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 41–62, doi:10.3366/edinburgh/9781474401128.003.0003, ISBN   978-1-4744-0112-8
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