Prostitution in Bulgaria

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Prostitution in Bulgaria is itself legal, [1] but organised prostitution brothels, prostitution rings, or other forms of procuring prostitution procuring are prohibited. [1] [2] In the past, the Bulgarian government considered fully legalising and regulating prostitution. [3]

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The sex trade is a major source of income for Bulgarian criminals. [4] [5] [6]

UNAIDS estimates there are 10,000 prostitutes in the country, [7] and in 2013 there were 20,000 Bulgarian prostitutes working abroad and this was a source of foreign exchange earnings for Bulgaria. [8] Because of poor socioeconomic conditions, a high number of Romani women are involved in prostitution. [2] [9] Nine NGOs offer outreach services to prostitutes in the main cities. [10]

Article 155 of the Criminal Code prohibits procuring and keeping premises used for prostitution: [11]

(1) A person who persuades an individual to practise prostitution or acts as procurer or procuress for the performance of indecent touching or copulation, shall be punished by imprisonment of up to three years and by a fine from BGN 1,000 to 3,000
(2) A person who systematically places at the disposal of different persons premises for sexual intercourse or for acts of lewdness shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for up to five years and by a fine from BGN 1,000 to 5,000
(3) Where acts under Paragraphs 1 and 2 above have been committed with a venal goal in mind, punishment shall be imprisonment from one to six years and a fine from BGN 5,000 to 15,000.
(4) A person who persuades or forces another person to using drugs or analogues thereof for the purposes of practising prostitution, to performing copulation, indecent assault, intercourse or any other acts of sexual gratification with a person of the same sex, shall be punished by imprisonment for five to fifteen years and by a fine from BGN 10,000 to 50,000
(5) Where the act under Paragraphs 1 - 4 has been committed:
1. by an individual acting at the orders or in implementing a decision of an organised criminal group;
2. with regard to a person under 18 years of age or insane person;
3. with regard to two or more persons;
4. repeatedly;
5. at the conditions of a dangerous recidivism,
the punishment under pars. 1 and 2 shall be imprisonment from two to eight years and a fine from BGN five thousand to fifteen thousand, under Paragraph 3 - imprisonment from three to ten years and a fine from BGN ten thousand to twenty five thousand, and under Paragraph 4 - imprisonment from ten to twenty years and a fine from BGN hundred thousand to three thousand

Vagrancy and public order laws are used against prostitutes soliciting. [1]

Sex trafficking

Bulgaria once maintained a reputation as a transit country for sex trafficking, but subsequently, it has become known as a destination where the sex trade takes place. [12] [13] The country remains one of the primary source countries of human trafficking in the EU. Bulgarian women and children are subjected to sex trafficking within the country, as well as in Europe, and the Middle East. Romanian girls are subjected to sex trafficking in Bulgaria. Government corruption creates an environment enabling some trafficking crimes, and officials have been investigated for suspected involvement in trafficking. [14]

The Bulgarian government has stepped up its efforts to eradicate human trafficking. [13] Authorities launched 66 sex trafficking investigations in 2016, compared with 71 investigations in 2015. Authorities prosecuted 72 defendants with sex trafficking in 2016 (55 in 2015). The government convicted 34 sex traffickers in 2016 (47 sex traffickers convicted in 2015). Only 12 of the 34 convicted traffickers, 34 percent, received a prison sentence that was not suspended, a similarly low rate as in the previous three years. [2]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Bulgaria as a 'Tier 2' country. [15]

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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 Romania is not itself criminalized, although associated activities, such as procuring, are criminal offenses, and solicitation is a contravention punishable by fines.

Prostitution in Latvia is legal and regulated. The country is a destination for sex tourism.

Prostitution in Nicaragua is legal, but promoting prostitution and procuring are prohibited. The minimum age for prostitutes is 18 years old. It was estimated in 2015 that there were around 15,000 prostitutes in the country.

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The legality of prostitution in Europe varies by country.

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 North Macedonia is legal, though with various restrictions, and common. UNAIDS estimate there are 3588 prostitutes in the country. The Macedonian government is trying to clamp down on prostitution.

Prostitution in Croatia is illegal but common. Forcible prostitution, any kind of brothels, or procuring are treated as a felony, while voluntary prostitution is considered to be infraction against public order. Like in many other Southeast European countries, the problem of human trafficking for the purposes of sex is big in Croatia.

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

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 Niger is illegal but common in the cities, near mines and around military bases. UNAIDS estimate there are 46,630 sex workers in the country. Many have turned to prostitution because of poverty.

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.

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.

Prostitution in Mali is legal, but third party activities such as procuring are illegal. Prostitution is common in Malian cities. UNAIDS estimate there to be 35,900 prostitutes in the country. Prostitution is on the rise, many having turned to prostitution because of poverty.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sex Work Law - Countries". Sexuality, Poverty and Law. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Country Report on Human Rights in Bulgaria". State.gov. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  3. ↑ Nicholas Kulish (5 October 2007). "Bulgaria moves away from legalising prostitution". International Herald Tribune. Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  4. ↑ David Binder (3 March 2004). "Country report: Bulgaria". NBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Madslien, Jorn (12 May 2005). "Sex trade's reliance on forced labour". BBC News. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Crime gangs make billions from Bulgaria sex slaves". Reuters. 12 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Georgi Papakochev (26 March 2014). "Thank God For Bulgarians Abroad". novinite.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015– via Deutsche Welle.
  9. ↑ Libby Gomersall (13 August 2007). "Reading Room: Bulgaria's working girls". The Sofia Echo . Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Bulgaria". SWAN. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Criminal Code of the Republic of Bulgaria (1968, amended 2017) (English version)" (PDF). Legislation Online. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Country Report on Human Rights in Bulgaria". U.S. Department of State. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  13. 1 2 Elena Kodinova (4 September 2003). "Fighting the Sex Trade". sofiaecho.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "Bulgaria 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  15. ↑ "Bulgaria 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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