Prostitution in the Gambia

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Prostitution in the Gambia is widespread but illegal. [1] [2] [3] Most of the estimated 3,100 [4] prostitutes in the Gambia are from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea . [5] Prostitution takes place on the beach, in bars and hotels on the coast. [6] Away from the coast, prostitution mainly takes place in bars. [5] The bars are frequently raided and the foreign prostitutes deported. They often return within a few days. [5]

Contents

The HIV infection rate for prostitutes is high. [7]

Sex tourism

Gambia is a popular destination for sex tourism. [8] [5] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] One of the most popular areas is the "Senegambia strip", the coastal area around Kololi, and is often arranged through local "bumsters". [6]

Sex tourism in the Gambia attract western female tourists eager for sex with younger men. [6] [14]

The Gambian Tourist Board plans to change the face of tourism in the country and encourage tourism for wildlife and heritage rather than sex. [6]

Child prostitution

Child prostitution is a problem in the Gambia. The Gambian government is taking an active stance against it. [13] Many young people turn to the sex trade due to poverty. [15] [16] [17]

The Gambia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on 3 August 1990, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in September 2000, which mandates the government to protect children from sexual child abuse. The main legislation is the Tourism Offences Act, 2003, which is describes a child as anyone under eighteen, even though the legal age of consent is sixteen years. The Tourism Act means that anyone employed in the tourism industry is committing a crime if s/he offers sexual favours to customers for money. The punishment is a fine, imprisonment of a maximum of two years and disqualification from tourism related work for ten years. The law states that hotel operators can face a fine and five years in prison if they knowingly allow child prostitution on their property. [9] [18]

Child prostitution is particularly prevalent around the Tourist Development Area, as well as in Kololi, Senegambia and Pipeline. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Some girls are sent to be prostitutes by their parents to support their families. [24] [25] [26]

Within The Gambia, girls and, to a lesser extent, boys are subjected to sex trafficking. Children from West African countries, mainly Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin, are recruited for commercial sexual exploitation in The Gambia. The majority of these victims are subjected to sexual exploitation by child sex tourists, primarily from Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Canada. In recent years, sex traffickers are increasingly hosting child sex tourists in private residences outside the commercial tourist areas of the capital, Banjul, making the crime harder for law enforcement to detect. Traffickers have allegedly exploited Sierra Leonean boys and girls as “cultural dancers” in The Gambia. Observers believe organised sex trafficking networks use European and Gambian travel agencies to promote child sex tourism. [26]

Sex trafficking

The Gambia is a Tier 2 Watch List country for Human trafficking according to the US Department of State. [27] The Gambian 2007 Trafficking Act prohibits trafficking and those convicted can be sentenced to prison for up to 50 years. [26]

The Gambia is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Within The Gambia, women, girls, and—to a lesser extent—boys are subjected to sex trafficking. Women and children from West African countries—mainly Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin—are recruited for commercial sexual exploitation in The Gambia. [26]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex tourism</span> Travel to engage in sexual activity

Sex tourism refers to the practice of traveling to foreign countries, often on a different continent, with the intention of engaging in sexual activity or relationships in exchange for money or lifestyle support. This practice predominantly operates in countries where sex work is legal but there are countries where laws prohibit sex work. The World Tourism Organization of the United Nations has acknowledged this industry is organised both within and outside the structured laws and networks created by them.

Child sex tourism (CST) is tourism for the purpose of engaging in the prostitution of children, which is commercially facilitated child sexual abuse. The definition of child in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is "every human being below the age of 18 years". Child sex tourism results in both mental and physical consequences for the exploited children, which may include sexually transmitted infections, "drug addiction, pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and death", according to the State Department of the United States. Child sex tourism, part of the multibillion-dollar global sex tourism industry, is a form of child prostitution within the wider issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Child sex tourism victimizes approximately 2 million children around the world. The children who perform as prostitutes in the child sex tourism trade often have been lured or abducted into sexual slavery.

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

Prostitution in Thailand is not in itself illegal, but many of the activities associated with it are illegal. Because of 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 Myanmar and Laos. UNAIDS in 2019 estimated the total population of sex workers in Thailand to be 43,000.

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 Ghana is illegal but widespread, so much so that many Ghanaians are unaware that it is prohibited. There are growing sex tourism, child prostitution and human trafficking. High rates of unemployment and poverty in Ghana are believed to be causing a drastic growth in the sex industry. Unemployment is a reason the teenage engage in sex trade. A high percentage of sex workers are vulnerable to HIV.

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 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 Sierra Leone is legal and commonplace. Soliciting and 3rd party involvement are prohibited by the Sexual Offences Act 2012. UNAIDS estimate there are 240,000 prostitutes in the country. They are known locally as 'serpents' because of the hissing noise they use to attract clients.

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.

Senegal is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficking within the country is more prevalent than trans-border trafficking and the majority of victims are children. Within Senegal some boys called "talibes" are victims of trafficking, by promising to educate them, but subjecting them instead to forced begging and physical abuse. A 2007 study done by UNICEF, the ILO, and the World Bank found that 6,480 talibe were forced to beg in Dakar alone. Women and girls are trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, including for sex tourism, within Senegal. Transnationally, boys are trafficked to Senegal from The Gambia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea for forced begging by religious teachers. Senegalese women and girls are trafficked to neighboring countries, the Middle East, and Europe for domestic servitude and possibly for sexual exploitation. Women and girls from other West African countries, particularly Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria may be trafficked to Senegal for sexual exploitation, including for sex tourism.

Sierra Leone is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficking within the country is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and the majority of victims are children. Within the country, women and children are trafficked from rural provinces to towns and mining areas for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and forced labor in diamond mines, petty trading, petty crime, and for forced begging. Women and children may also be trafficked for forced labor in agriculture and the fishing industry. Transnationally, Sierra Leonean women and children are trafficked to other West African countries, notably Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia for the same purposes listed above and to North Africa, the Middle East, and Western Europe for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Sierra Leone is a destination country for children trafficked from Nigeria and possibly from Liberia and Guinea for forced begging, forced labor in mines and as porters, and for sexual exploitation. There have also been cases of children trafficked from refugee communities in Sierra Leone.

Syria is a destination and transit country for women and children trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. A significant number of women and children in the large and expanding Iraqi refugee community in Syria are reportedly forced into commercial sexual exploitation by Iraqi gangs or, in some cases, their families. Similarly, women from Somalia and Eastern Europe are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation. Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian women recruited for work in Syria as cabaret dancers are not permitted to leave their work premises without permission, and they have their passports withheld—indicators of involuntary servitude. Some of these women may also be forced into prostitution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Syria may be a destination for sex tourism from other countries in the region. In addition, women from Indonesia, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone are recruited for work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of involuntary servitude, including long hours, non-payment of wages, withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, threats, and physical or sexual abuse. Syria may also be a transit point for Iraqi women and girls trafficked to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and Lebanon for forced prostitution. The Government of Syria does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Syria again failed to report any law enforcement efforts to punish trafficking offenses over the last year. In addition, the government did not offer protection services to victims of trafficking and may have arrested, prosecuted, or deported some victims for prostitution or immigration violations.

<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.

Thailand is a centre for child sex tourism and child prostitution. Even though domestic and international authorities work to protect children from sexual abuse, the problem still persists in Thailand and many other Southeast Asian countries. Child prostitution, like other forms of child sexual abuse, not only causes death and high morbidity rates in millions of children but also violates their rights and dignity.

Human trafficking in the Gambia covers ongoing activities in trafficking women and children in the Gambia as forced labor and prostitution.

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 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 the Central African Republic is legal and commonplace. Procuring or profiting off the prostitution of others is illegal, as is coercing people into prostitution. Punishment is a fine and up to one year in prison, or 5 years if the case involves a minor.

References

  1. ↑ "Gambia: A Call for Eradication of Sex Tourism". Allafrica.com. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017– via AllAfrica.
  2. ↑ "Gambia, The". State.gov. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Sherwood, Harriet (29 January 2016). "Happy hour and drinks are still flowing in the Gambia, the newest Islamic state". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  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. 1 2 3 4 "Prostitutes And Their Clients: A Gambian Survey". CiteSeerX   10.1.1.636.4058 .
  6. 1 2 3 4 Haines, Gavin (24 May 2017). "How Gambia plans to shed its sleazy reputation". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Pickering, H.; Todd, J.; Dunn, D.; Pepin, J.; Wilkins, A. (1 January 1992). "Prostitutes and their clients: a Gambian survey". Soc Sci Med. 34 (1): 75–88. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(92)90069-3. PMID   1738859.
  8. ↑ Kingston, Sarah (15 October 2013). Prostitution in the Community: Attitudes, Action and Resistance. Routledge. ISBN   9781134664740 . Retrieved 14 March 2017– via Google Books.
  9. 1 2 "Don't Look Away" (PDF). Ecpat.org. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Gambia retrains 'bumsters' to shake sex tourism tag". Namibian.com.na. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Emms, Craig; Barnett, Linda; Human, Richard (1 January 2006). The Gambia. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN   9781841621371 . Retrieved 14 March 2017– via Google Books.
  12. ↑ "Bachelor Thesis". Diva-portal.org. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Inspired to Take a Stance Against Child Sex Tourism". Daily News from Gambia. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Gambia Sexual Tourism Economy" (PDF). Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  15. ↑ Smith, Oliver (22 April 2011). "Gambia: An eye-opening introduction to Africa" . Retrieved 1 October 2017– via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  16. ↑ "Gambia ...the Smiling Coast!" (PDF). Gbos.gov.gm. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Workshop on Sex Tourism". Daily News from Gambia. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "Legislation against child sex tourism" (PDF). Unwto.org. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Independent Appeal: Breaking the silence of Gambia's sex tourism". Independent.co.uk. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "Microsoft Word - SES Final CoverBranded rev2.doc" (PDF). Childtrafficking.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  21. ↑ Smith, Alex Duval (3 July 2004). "European paedophiles flock to Gambian 'Smiling Coast'". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017– via The Guardian.
  22. ↑ "Rising poverty breeds sexual exploitation of children by Sugar Daddies". Irinews.org. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "Child sex tourism and exploitation increasing in The Gambia". Unicef.org. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  24. ↑ Saine, Abdoulaye (1 January 2012). Culture and Customs of Gambia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9780313359101 . Retrieved 14 March 2017– via Google Books.
  25. ↑ "Prostitution – eller vägen ut ur fattigdom? - Verkligheten i P3". Sverigesradio.se. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "The Gambia 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". US Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  27. ↑ "Gambia, The 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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