Prostitution in the Dominican Republic

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Prostitution in the Dominican Republic is legal, but related activities such as brothel-keeping or pimping are illegal. [1] [2] However, prostitution laws are generally not enforced. [1] [2] [3] It is estimated that between 6,000 and 10,000 women work as prostitutes in the country, [4] with many of the sex workers coming from neighboring Haiti. [4] The population of illegal Haitian migrants in the country is particularly vulnerable to exploitation. [5] [6]

Contents

Sex Tourism

The Dominican Republic has gained a reputation of being a major destination for international sex tourism, [2] [7] although the activity is mostly concentrated in poor coastal towns (especially Las Terrenas, Cabarete, Sosua, and Boca Chica), where women have less economic opportunities than in larger towns and cities of the country. [1] [8] Haitian immigrants also take part in the sex tourism business, with many of the prostitutes in some areas being of Haitian descent. [9] [10] At sex tourism sites the lighter Dominicans are favored over darker Haitians, [11] who are forced to work in the streets or local bars rather than the more lucrative up-scale areas. [11]

Underage prostitution is a problem, particularly in some urban areas within coastal towns, [12] [13] but there has been a decrease in child prostitution since 2001, with the increase in policing and the decrease in corruption. [14] [15] The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started prosecuting individuals who are engaging in child prostitution. [16] A 2015 study by the International Justice Mission found a quarter of sex workers working on the streets, in parks and on beaches were under 18 years old. [17]

HIV

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic is estimated to be 0.7 percent, which is relatively low by Caribbean standards. However, the percentage among sex workers is estimated to be much higher, ranging from 2.5% to 12.4%, depending on the locale. [18]

Sex Trafficking

According to the US Department of State, the Dominican Republic is a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. [19] Women and children from neighboring Haiti are specially vulnerable to trafficking due to the prevalence of "Restavek" child slavery in Haitian culture, which affects approximately 300,000 Haitian children. [20] [21]

Women from other parts of the Caribbean, Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe to a lesser extent have also been known to be trafficked into the country for Forced prostitution. [19] Colombian and Venezuelan women who had been brought into the country to dance in strip clubs are forced to work in prostitution in some tourist areas.

Dominican women are also subjected to sex trafficking within the island, the rest of the Caribbean, Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Asia and the United States. [19] After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, some Dominican sex workers crossed over the border into Haiti, searching out clients amongst the aid workers and UN personnel. [22] Dominican women are paid a premium because of their lighter skin. [22]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks the Dominican Republic as a 'Tier 2' country. [23]

Sosua

According to a 1998 report in Sosua the women of this town usually have a choice to make a choice between working with locals or the tourist each having their own pros and cons. When working with locals compared to the tourists there is less risk and they are able to sustain a poor but stable lifestyle. [24] However working with tourist and living outside of the local bars provides them with freedom away from the bar owners but they are put through financial stress to make the rent on their own. [24] Sex tourism in the Dominican Republic can be viewed as more than an exchange of typical money for sex. Many of these sexual relations end up being more toward romance and these woman tend to refer to their regular clients as boyfriends. The relationships can end up being more than just about sex and can in turn become a relationship where these women gain financial gift or support from their regular clients. [25] These women have little to no control over their clients but almost all are in search of a husband to better their livelihoods. Many of these women are in overcrowded homes with limited space plumbing and technology. [26] Generally if a woman is capable of securing these men to the point where the men are providing these gifts on a consistent basis it would be considered "marriage" to these women. Many of these marriages are more like social contracts in a sense where the two individuals act as if they were married but no official papers. [26] These woman tend to place these men on higher pedestals ignoring the wrongdoings these men may commit due to the fantasy of having the man that will treat them well. [26] Many of these women enter this work in search of an official marriage despite the rumors of being pimped out by the European men due to the life style these men can provide and the hatred or superior complex over local men. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Prostitution in Jamaica is illegal but widely tolerated, especially in tourist areas. UNAIDS estimate there to be 18,696 prostitutes in the country.

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 Costa Rica is legal. Costa Rica's legal system is based on Roman law rather than common law, and so for prostitution to be illegal it would have to be explicitly stated as such in a penal code, and it is not. Nevertheless, many of the activities surrounding it are illegal, as the law forbids promoting or facilitating the prostitution of another, and therefore pimping, brothels, or prostitution rings are illegal. Prostitution is common and is practiced openly throughout the country, particularly in popular tourism destinations.

Prostitution in Belize is legal, but the buying of sexual services is not. Associated activities such as operating a brothel, loitering for the purposes of prostitution and soliciting sex are also illegal.

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 Panama is legal and regulated. Prostitutes are required to register and carry identification cards. However, the majority of prostitutes are not registered. There are 2,650 sex workers registered with the government in 2008, but there was no accurate information regarding the total number of persons practising prostitution in the country. Some estimate put the number of unregistered prostitutes at 4,000.

Prostitution in Haiti, although illegal, continues to be a widespread problem for the country, particularly in the form of street prostitution, as well as in bars, hotels and brothels. UNAIDS estimate there to be 70,000 prostitutes in the country. Law enforcement is generally lax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sosúa</span> Municipality in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Sosúa is a beach town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Gregorio Luperón International Airport in San Felipe de Puerto Plata.

Prostitution in Trinidad and Tobago is legal but related activities such as brothel keeping, soliciting and pimping are illegal.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostitution in Africa</span>

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.

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

Prostitution laws 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 considered a severe crime punishable by death in some other places. A variety of different legal models exist around the world, including total bans, bans that only target the customer, and laws permitting prostitution but prohibiting organized groups, an example being brothels.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in the Dominican Republic</span>

Human trafficking in the Dominican Republic is the third largest international crime enterprise in the Caribbean, generating 9.5 billion U.S, dollars annually. The large population of undocumented or stateless persons of Haitian descent in the country is particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Women and children have been reportedly subjected to forced sex in the country and throughout the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and the United States. Women from other countries are also brought to the Dominican Republic for prostitution, and an unknown number may have subsequently become trafficking victims, even if they came voluntarily at first.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostitution in the Americas</span>

Legality of prostitution in the Americas varies by country. Most countries only legalized prostitution, with the act of exchanging money for sexual services legal. The level of enforcement varies by country. One country, the United States, is unique as legality of prostitution is not the responsibility of the federal government, but rather state, territorial, and federal district's responsibility.

Prostitution in the Dutch Caribbean is legal and regulated. At least 500 foreign women are reportedly working in prostitution throughout the islands. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Curaçao are sex tourism destinations.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies". Procon. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". Chartsbin. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "2009 Human Rights Report: Dominican Republic". State.gov. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Popular Caribbean Sex Tourism Destinations". News America. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Haitian children sold as cheap labourers and prostitutes for little more than £50".
  6. ↑ "Human Trafficking".
  7. ↑ Jennings, Kathleen M.; Nikolić-Ristanović, Vesna (September 2009). "UN Peacekeeping Economies and Local Sex Industries: Connections and Implications" (PDF). MicroCon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "2008 Human Rights Report: Dominican Republic". Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Gerardo Reyes (24 October 2010). "Sex tourism thrives on Dominican streets with Haitian girls". McClatchydc.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Latin American Herald Tribune - Dominican Republic Deports 163 Haitians". Laht.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  11. 1 2 McCabe, Kimberly Ann; Manian, Sabita (12 April 2010). Sex Trafficking: A Global Perspective. Lexington Books. p. 124. ISBN   9780739147283 . Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Sex, tourism and HIV. A hazardous association in the Dominican Republic". NLM Gateway. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Sex Tourism in Latin America". Harvard University. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Situation of minors in the dominican republic". Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
  15. ↑ "Child Sex Tourism in the Dominican Republic" (PDF). ECPAT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "USVI predator pleads guilty to sex tourism charges following ICE investigation". U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Moloney, Anastasia (16 June 2017). "Child sex tourists do 'dirty business' with impunity in Dominican Republic". Reuters. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  18. ↑ Cohen, Jon (28 July 2006). "The Sun. The Sand. The Sex". Science. 313 (5786): 474. doi: 10.1126/science.313.5786.474 . PMID   16873643.
  19. 1 2 3 "Trafficking in Persons Report 2017" (PDF). US Department of State. 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  20. ↑ Kennedy, C. L. (2014). "Toward Effective Intervention for Haiti's Former Child Slaves". Human Rights Quarterly. 36 (4): 756–778. doi:10.1353/hrq.2014.0059. S2CID   144412249.
  21. ↑ Sommerfelt, Tone (October 2014). "Child Domestic Workers in Haiti 2014" (PDF). www.haiti-now.org.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. 1 2 Carmon, Irin (8 February 2010). "Dominican Prostitutes In Haiti: Prized For Their Light Skin, Patronized By Peacekeepers". Jezebel. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Dominican Republic 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 Brennan DE, editor. (1998). Everything Is for Sale Here: Sex Tourism in Sosúa, the Dominican Republic. New Haven, CT: Yale University.
  25. ↑ Padilla, Mark B.; Guilamo-Ramos, Vincent; Bouris, Alida; Reyes, Armando Matiz (January 2010). "HIV/AIDS and Tourism in the Caribbean: An Ecological Systems Perspective". American Journal of Public Health. 100 (1): 70–77. doi:10.2105/ajph.2009.161968. ISSN   0090-0036. PMC   2791250 . PMID   19910343.
  26. 1 2 3 "Imagining and Experiencing Sosúa", What’s Love Got to Do with It?, Duke University Press, pp. 51–87, 2004, doi:10.1215/9780822385400-003, ISBN   978-0-8223-3259-6 , retrieved 23 September 2021
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