Prostitution in the Maldives

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Prostitution is illegal in Maldives, [1] but occurs on a small scale. [2] A 2014 survey by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) estimated there were 1,139 female prostitutes on the islands. [3] Some women enter the country posing as tourists but then engage in sex work. [4]

Contents

Sex trafficking [5] and child prostitution [6] are problems in the country.

Closure of spas

Following complaints that sexual services were being offered in spas in hotels, and a protest in the capital, Malé, by the opposition Adhaalath Party, the government ordered the closure of the spas in 1,000 hotels in late December 2011. [4] [7] [8] Following pressure from the country's tourism industry, president Mohamed Nasheed lifted the ban a few days later. [7]

Child prostitution

Child prostitution is a problem in the country, [6] especially in Malé and in the Laamu Atoll region. [9] According to Psychologist Dr Aishath Ali Naaz, it is so common in some areas that its regarded as 'normal'. [9] Often the prostitution is arranged by family members. [6]

The HRCM estimate 8% of female prostitutes on the island are underage. [3]

Article 88(a) of the Maldivian Penal Code 1967 [10] includes Sharia Law into the country's legislation. Sex outside marriage is outlawed under Sharia Law, as are other forms of 'immorality', therefore prostitution is forbidden. [1]

Public order and immigration laws are also used against sex workers. [1] Foreigners who engage in prostitution can expect to be deported and Maldivians can expect a prison sentence. [11] [12]

Whilst condoms are allowed to be sold to married couples, they cannot be sold to single people. [1] Condoms and lubricants are sometimes confiscated by the police and used as evidence of prostitution. [12]

Sex trafficking

The Maldives are a destination country for women, and children subjected to sex trafficking, and a source country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. A small number of women from Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, as well as girls from Bangladesh and Maldives, are subjected to sex trafficking in the Maldives. Maldivian women may be subjected to sex trafficking in Sri Lanka. [5]

A Thai hotelier reported in 2013 that Thai women were being recruited with offers for good jobs in the Maldives, but on arrival being forced into prostitution. [4]

The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) criminalises some, but not all forms, of sex trafficking. For the first time, in 2016, the government secured a conviction under the PHTA. Three foreign nationals were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in a sex trafficking case. [5]

In November 2016, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) arrested 2 men in connection with trafficking Sri Lankan women to the Maldives, where they worked in brothels. More than 100 women were thought to be involved. A Maldivian man was also being sought. [13]

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

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Prostitution in Thailand is illegal. However, due to police corruption and an economic reliance on prostitution dating back to the Vietnam War, it remains a significant presence in the country. It results from poverty, low levels of education and a lack of employment in rural areas. Prostitutes mostly come from the northeastern (Isan) region of Thailand, from ethnic minorities or from neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. In 2019, UNAIDS estimated the total population of sex workers in Thailand to be 43,000.

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Prostitution in Myanmar is illegal, but widespread. Prostitution is a major social issue that particularly affects women and children. UNAIDS estimate there to be 66,000 prostitutes in the country.

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 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 is not illegal in Sri Lanka, however, 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 El Salvador is not prohibited by national law, but may be prohibited by local municipal ordinances. Municipal ordinances may also prohibit the purchase of sexual services. Related activities such as facilitating, promoting or giving incentives to a person to work as a prostitute (pimping) are illegal. The prostitution of children is also illegal. Brothel ownership, however, is legal. There are no specific laws against human trafficking, but any criminal offence that includes ‘commerce in women or children’ requires sentencing to be increased by 30%.

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 Indonesia is legally considered a "crime against decency/morality", although it is widely practiced, tolerated and even regulated in some areas. Some women are financially motivated to become prostitutes, while others may be forced by friends, relatives or strangers. Traditionally, they have met with customers in entertainment venues or special prostitution complexes, or lokalisasi (localization). However, recently internet forums and Facebook have been used to facilitate prostitute-client relations. In recent years, child sex tourism has become an issue at the resort islands of Batam and Bali.

Prostitution in Malaysia is restricted in all states despite it being widespread in the country. Related activities such as soliciting and brothels are illegal. In the two states of Terengganu and Kelantan, Muslims convicted of prostitution may be punishable with public caning.

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 Eritrea is legal and regulated. Official figures state there are around 2,000 prostitutes in the country, who are not allowed to operate near schools, hospitals, and churches. According to the 2009 Human Rights Reports, security forces occasionally follow women engaged in prostitution and arrest those who had spent the night with a foreigner. Some women enter prostitution due to poverty. Prostitutes are known locally as "shermuta" in Arabic, or "mnzerma" and "me'amn" in Tigrinya.

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 South Sudan is legal but related activities such as soliciting or brothel-keeping are illegal.

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sex Work Law - Countries". Sexuality, Poverty and Law.
  2. ↑ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 Shaufa, Mariyam; Hazim, Hassan (19 January 2015). "Eight percent of female prostitutes in Maldives are underage". V News. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Thai women being trafficked to the Maldives as sex workers | Coconuts Bangkok". Coconuts. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Maldives 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. 1 2 3 "Child Prostitution in the Maldives - Havocscope". Havocscope. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Maldives overturns spa closures". BBC News. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Maldives tourism industry denies spas are brothels". Al Arabiya News. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 Naish, Ahmed (23 June 2013). "Maldives facing widespread child prostitution, sexual abuse: clinical psychologist". Minivan News. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Maldives Penal Code" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime . Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Prostitution on the rise in the Maldives". Minivan Daily . Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  12. 1 2 "Maldives nab foreigners for prostitution". Lanka Business Online. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  13. ↑ "Sri lanka busts major prostitution ring linked to Maldives". Avas. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Maldives 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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