Prostitution in Turkmenistan

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Prostitution in Turkmenistan is illegal but common. [1] [2] Prostitution has increased within the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union. [3] Poverty is one of the reasons women have turned to prostitution, [2] sometimes under pressure from family members. [3] [4]

Contents

Prostitutes frequent bars, casinos and nightclubs, [5] some are addicted to heroin. [4] [6] In Daşoguz, a major truck stop, many 'night butterflies' service the truck drivers in the overnight truck parks. [3] STDs among the sex workers are also prevalent although reports show that the problem is less severe than in the neighboring countries. [7]

Law enforcement is corrupt. Police target foreigners who are with prostitutes, telling them it is illegal for two unmarried people of opposite sexes to be in the same hotel room, and then asking for a "fine". [5] During police crack-downs, any single woman in a nightclub when raided is likely to be arrested as a prostitute. [8]

Sex trafficking is a problem in Turkmenistan. [9]

Legislation

Turkmenistan's Criminal Code contains the following articles criminalising prostitution and related activities: [10]

Article 138. The practice of prostitution

The repeated practice of prostitution in the course of a year after an administrative penalty has been imposed shall be punished by a fine amounting to 40 average monthly wages or corrective labour for a term of up to 2 years, or deprivation of liberty for a term of up to 2 years.

Article 139. Enticement into prostitution

(1) Enticement into prostitution shall be punished by corrective labour for a term of up to 2 years or deprivation of liberty for a term of up to 2 years.
(2) This act if carried out:
(a) Repeatedly;
(b) By a group of conspirators;
(c) In relation to a minor;
(d) With the use of physical violence or the threat of its use;
(e) With the use of blackmail or deceit;
shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of between 3 and 8 years.

Article 140. Setting up or keeping of a brothel

(1) The setting up or keeping of a brothel shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to 5 years, with or without the confiscation of property, with or without the imposition of a compulsory residence order for a term of between 2 and 5 years.
(2) These acts if committed repeatedly shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of between 3 and 8 years, with or without the confiscation of property, with or without the imposition of a compulsory residence order for a term of between 2 and 5 years.

Article 141. Procuring

(1) Procuring for debauchery or prostitution shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to 5 years, with or without the confiscation of property.
(2) This act if committed repeatedly shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of between 3 and 8 years, with or without the confiscation of property.

Article 142. Pimping

(1) Pimping for profit-seeking motives, that is to say employing prostitutes for the purpose of their sexual exploitation, shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of between 2 and 5 years, with or without the confiscation of property.
(2) This act if committed repeatedly shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of between 3 and 8 years, with or without the confiscation of property.

VIP entertainment

Under the presidency of Saparmurat Niyazov, a form of state prostitution was introduced. Good looking high school and university students were sent from the provinces to the capital, Ashgabat, to be trained to 'entertain' high-ranking officials and VIPs. [2] [11]

The students were chosen by local female officials. They had to be between 17 and 20, be tall, slim and have good hair and teeth. Once chosen, there was no refusing the 'honour'. [2] [11] Originally they could be of any ethnicity, but later only “pure-blood” Turkmen females were chosen. [2] [11]

Once in Ashgabat, they were trained in etiquette, polite manners, to set tableware and serve dishes. Those who didn't make it as a "body" were used to service lower ranking officials at functions. [11]

Sex trafficking

Turkmenistan is a source country for women, and children subjected to sex trafficking. Turkmen women are subjected to sex trafficking abroad. Turkey, Russia, and India are the most frequent destinations of Turkmen victims, followed by other countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe. Residents of rural areas in Turkmenistan are most at risk of becoming trafficking victims, both within the country and abroad. [9]

Article 129/1 of the criminal code, as amended in November 2016, defines trafficking in persons as acts done by force, fraud, or coercion, but it does not appear to include in its definition the purpose of the crime, which is exploitation. It also exempts trafficking victims from criminal responsibility for acts committed as a result of being trafficked. Article 129/1 prescribes penalties of four to 25 years imprisonment. [9] Women under 35 are restricted from flying to Turkey or United Arab Emirates (UAE) in case prostitution is involved. [3]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Turkmenistan as a 'Tier 3' country. [9]

See also

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Prostitution in Pakistan

Prostitution in Pakistan is a taboo culture of sex-trade that exists as an open secret but illegal. Prostitution is largely based in organisational setups like brothels or furthered by individual call girls.

Prostitution in Bangladesh Sex work and its regulation in Bangladesh

Prostitution in Bangladesh is legal and regulated. Prostitutes must register and state an affidavit stating that they are entering prostitution of their own free choice and that they are unable to find any other work. Bangladeshi prostitutes often suffer poor social conditions and are frequently socially degraded.

Prostitution in Egypt is illegal. The Egyptian National Police officially combats prostitution but, like almost all other countries, prostitution exists in Egypt. UNAIDS estimate there to be 23,000 prostitutes in the country, including Egyptians, West African and Eastern Europeans.

Prostitution in Brunei is illegal and can incur a punishment of imprisonment for 1 year and a fine of BN$ 5,000 for a first offence, or 3 years and BN$ 10,000 on a second or subsequent conviction.

Prostitution in Qatar is illegal and carries severe punishment of several years in prison. Prostitution normally takes place in bars, nightclubs and hotels. There are occasional clamp-downs and the prostitutes are arrested and deported. Many Chinese women travel to Qatar with tourist visas to work in prostitution.

Prostitution in Azerbaijan is illegal but common. Prostitution is an administrative offence and punishable by a fine. Keeping a brothel is a criminal offence and punishable by up to 6 years' imprisonment. In 2017 a draft law proposing to add heavy fines to the punishment for keeping a brothel was before the National Assembly. It has been estimated that there are 25,054 prostitutes in Azerbaijan, some of which are aged 15 to 18.

Prostitution in Bulgaria is itself legal, but organised prostitution is prohibited. In the past, the Bulgarian government considered fully legalising and regulating prostitution.

Prostitution in Rwanda is illegal in all aspects. Prostitutes, clients and any involved third parties are criminalised by the country's Penal Code. However, a draft of a new Penal Code that does not prohibit prostitution was presented for debate in the Rwandan Parliament in December 2017.

Prostitution law Legality of prostitution

Prostitution law varies widely from country to country, and between jurisdictions within a country. At one extreme, prostitution or sex work is legal in some places and regarded as a profession, while at the other extreme, it is a crime punishable by death in some other places.

Turkmenistan is a source country for women subjected to human trafficking, specifically forced prostitution and for men in forced labor. Women from Turkmenistan are subjected to forced prostitution in Turkey. Men and women from Turkmenistan are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Turkey, including domestic servitude and also in textile sweatshops.

Prostitution in Bahrain is illegal but it has gained a reputation in the Middle East as major destination for sex tourism.

Prostitution in Bhutan is illegal but in many of Bhutan's border towns there are people openly practising in the sex trade. Prostitution mainly occurs in bars, clubs & hotels. Some of the sex workers are employed by bar and hotel owners to attract customers. Prostitution also occurs in the capital, Thimphu.

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 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.

References

  1. ↑ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Review of Turkmenistan under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women" (PDF). OHCHR. September 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "TURKMENISTAN: Prostitution on the rise". IRIN . Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  4. 1 2 "Turkmenistan: Poverty Drives Addiction and Prostitution". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Turkmenistan 2011 Crime and Safety Report". OSAC . Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Heroin Seizes Turkmenistan, a Nation Ill Equipped to Cope". The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  7. ↑ "Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan". IMDB. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Turkmen women in discos 'risk arrest'". BBC News. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Turkmenistan 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  10. ↑ "Report submitted by Turkmenistan". OHCHR . Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ovezova, Kumush (28 November 2008). "It is better not to be born beautiful". Chronicles of Turkmenistan. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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