100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies

100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies
This page details 100 countries' policies on prostitution, brothel ownership, and pimping. These
countries were chosen in order to be inclusive of major religions, geographical regions, and policies
towards prostitution. Taiwan and Scotland were included in the country listings for China and the
United Kingdom, respectively, in accordance with the country listings and population estimates
provided in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and the US State Departments
listing of independent states in the world.
Whenever possible, we have included government documents regarding prostitution such as laws, court
decisions, employment information, etc. under the name of the country. While reasonable efforts have
been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first
checking an official edition of the applicable law.
Percentage of Countries with Legal, Illegal,
Population (total # and % of total) of Countries
and Limitedly Legal Prostitution
with Legal, Illegal, and Limitedly Legal
(of the 100 countries)
Prostitution
(of the 100 countries)
Legal in 49; Limited Legality in 12; Illegal in 39; Total: 100

1.
Afghanistan
26.
Czech Republic
51.
Israel
76.
Portugal
2.
Albania
27.
Denmark
52.
Italy
77.
Romania
3.
Angola
28.
Dominica
53.
Jamaica
78.
Rwanda
4.
Antigua and Barbuda
29.
54.
Japan
79.
55.
Jordan
Saint Kitts and

Nevis
5.
Argentina
Dominican
Republic
30.
Ecuador
Kenya
80.
Saint Lucia
56.
Korea, North
81.
57.
Saint Vincent and

Grenadines
58.
Korea, South
82.
Saudi Arabia
59.
Kyrgyzstan
83.
Senegal
60.
Latvia
84.
Singapore
61.
Liberia
85.
Slovakia
62.
Lithuania
86.
Slovenia
63.
Luxembourg
87.
South Africa
64.
Malaysia
88.
Spain
6.
Armenia
7.
Australia
8.
Austria
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
31.
Egypt
32.
El Salvador
33.
Estonia
34.
Ethiopia
35.
Finland
36.
France
37.
Germany
38.
Greece
15.
Brazil
39.
Grenada
65.
Malta
89.
Suriname
16.
Bulgaria
40.
Guatemala
66.
Mexico
90.
Sweden
17.
Cambodia
41.
Guyana
67.
Netherlands
91.
Switzerland
18.
Canada
42.
Haiti
68.
New Zealand
92.
Thailand
19.
Chile
43.
Honduras
69.
Nicaragua
93.
Trinidad and
Tobago
20.
China (including Taiwan)
44.
Hungary
70.
Norway
94.
Turkey
21.
Colombia
45.
Iceland
71.
Panama
95.
Uganda
22.
Costa Rica
46.
India
72.
Paraguay
96.
23.
Croatia
47.
Indonesia
73.
Peru
United Arab
Emirates
24.
Cuba
48.
Iran
74.
Philippines
97.
United Kingdom
Cyprus
49.
Iraq
75.
Poland
98.
United States
50.
Ireland
99.
Uruguay
100.
Venezuela
25.
Country
Population:
July 2009 Estimate*
1. Afghanistan
Population: 33,609,937
Legal Status of Prostitution,

Brothel Ownership, and Pimping
Prostitution: Illegal
Brothel Ownership: Illegal

Pimping: Illegal
(including Scotland)
Related Information
"Afghanistan's sex industry is booming, according to
both private and official sources. Statistics are
scattered, and few solid figures exist. But since the
fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001, prostitution
has become, if not more widespread, at least more
open...
The Taliban strictly controlled sexual activity, meting
out harsh punishments for extra-marital relations and
adultery. Married women who had sex outside
marriage were stoned to death. Others were publicly
flogged.
Sex outside marriage remains illegal in post-Taliban
Afghanistan, and the prisons are full of women who
have been convicted of 'fornication,' a charge that
carries a penalty of from five to 15 years in jail."
Sayid Yaqub Ibrahimi, "Prostitution Thrives in Afghanistan,"
Middle East Times, Jan. 18, 2008
2. Albania
"The law prohibits prostitution; however, it

remained a problem...

Pimping: Illegal
The country was a source country for

trafficking of women and children for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
and forced labor, although there has been a
slow but steady decline in the number of
persons trafficked each year. Greece is the
main country of destination for trafficked
women. Italy, Macedonia, and Kosovo were
also destinations, with many victims
trafficked onward to Western Europe.
Traffickers largely used overland routes or

falsified documents to transport their
victims by airplane or ferry. Police and
shelter representatives continued to report a
trend of traffickers moving females from
villages and smaller towns to larger cities
for forced prostitution in hotels and private
homes."
US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights,
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Albania," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
3. Angola
Population 12,799,293
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal, but the prohibition

was not consistently enforced. Many
women engaged in prostitution due to
poverty, but there were no estimates on its
prevalence. The MINFAMU [Ministry of
Family and the Promotion of Women]
maintained a women's shelter in Luanda
that was open to former prostitutes...
Child prostitution is illegal; however, local
NGOs expressed concern over child
prostitution in the country, especially in
Luanda and Cunene provinces..."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Angola," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
4. Antigua and
Barbuda
Population: 85,632
Sexual Offences Act, 1995 (213
KB)
"Prostitution is prohibited, but it remained a

problem. There were a number of brothels
that catered primarily to the local
population...
Pimping: Illegal
There are no laws that specifically address
trafficking in persons, and there were
occasional reports of trafficking in women
to the country. There were a number of
brothels, which were staffed mostly by
women from various Caribbean countries
who traveled to the country as 'entertainers'
or 'dancers.' In some cases brothel owners
reportedly retained their documents to exert
influence over the victims. However,
authorities usually deported the women
immediately, before information on possible
trafficking could be obtained.
There were two known cases during the
year in which persons were trafficked to the
country to work in local brothels.
Authorities deported one victim and the
other voluntarily returned to her home
country with the support of the Bureau of
Gender Affairs. In neither case were charges

brought against the brothel owners."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Angola," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
5. Argentina
Cdigo Penal de la Nacin
Argentina - Ttulo III: Delitos
Contra La Integridad Sexual (77
KB)
Prostitution: Legal
Article 19 of the Constitution states, "The
private actions of people that do not offend in
any way the public order and morality, nor
damage a third person, are only reserved to
God, and are exempt from the authority of
the magistrates."
Pimping: Illegal
It is illegal to solicit, to aid or abet a
prostitute, or live off their earnings.
"...[P]rostitutes throughout Argentina are casting off

police persecution and demanding the same rights as
other workers. They have formed the Association of
Women Prostitutes of Argentina, or Ammar - the
word amar means to love in Spanish - ... and have set
their sights even higher. In the coming months, the
nine-year-old organisation plans its boldest step yet:
to demand government recognition as an official
union. It would be the first such union in Latin
America and one of only a handful in the world.
...1,700 Argentine prostitutes [are] now registered as
members of Ammar, whose leaders say government
recognition would give the organisation the legal
standing to fight for the decriminalisation of
prostitution. Technically, prostitution is not illegal in
Argentina but most provinces have laws allowing the
arrest of prostitutes for causing 'scandal in the public
thoroughfare'.
...Pimping is illegal but brothel owners are rarely
sent to jail. Instead, they form shady business
alliances with the police, who collect regular rakeoffs."
Reed Lindsay, "Argentina's Prostitutes Get Militant," Observer,
Jan. 25, 2004
6. Armenia
Prostitution: Legal
Criminal Code of the Republic of

Armenia (39 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution and sex tourism are legal, but

operating a brothel is prohibited and
engaging in other forms of pimping are
punishable by one to 10 years'
imprisonment. According to media reports,
there were fewer than 5,000 women
involved in prostitution in the country,
approximately 1,500 of whom were in
Yerevan. Police and other security forces
reportedly tolerated prostitution...
The country is a source and transit point for
women and girls trafficked primarily for
sexual and, to a lesser extent, labor
exploitation to the United Arab Emirates
and Turkey...
Traffickers, using developed networks in
source and destination countries, typically
recruited victims who were already engaged
in prostitution. The majority, but not all, of
the identified victims were aware that they
would end up in the sex industry in other
countries; however, they were unaware of
the traffickers' intent or the exploitative

circumstances they would face abroad...
Women engaged in prostitution, orphans
who had outgrown their institutions,
homeless or divorced women, and women
in difficult financial situations were at
greatest risk of being trafficked. There were
some reported incidents of physical
violence against trafficking victims."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Armenia,"
www.state.gov, Feb. 25, 2009
7. Australia
Queensland Prostitution
Licensing Authority (PLA)
Summary of Laws (54 KB)
Prostitution: Limited Legality

The law varies depending on the state from
decriminalized to legally regulated to
criminal. Click on the PLA Summary on the
left to see a description of each state.
Brothel Ownership: Limited Legality
4 states permit brothels, 1 allows as part of a
containment policy, and 3 prohibit.
Pimping: Limited Legality
"Foreign backpackers visiting Queensland have been

earning money as illegal prostitutes and damaging
legitimate operators, the legal brothel industry has
claimed. Queensland Adult Business Association
Nick Inskip said the illegal sex industry was
undermining efforts by the legal industry to make a
profit and uphold health and safety standards....
'They can charge less because they are not paying
GST, staff costs for managers and receptionists, or
have a registered business name,' Mr Inskip said.
...One solution could be allowing legal brothels to
operate outcall services, he said. But the proposal has
previously been rejected by the Crime and
Misconduct Commission and the state government.
Queensland currently has 23 legal brothels operating
in city and regional areas. Police figures show the
number of prostitution offences reported in
Queensland increased from 362 to 600 in 2005-06."
"Backpackers Work as Prostitutes, Says Industry," Sydney
Morning Herald, Jan. 30, 2007
8. Austria
Prostitution: Legal
Legal since Jan. 1, 1975. Laws regulating
prostitution require prostitutes to register,
undergo periodic health examinations, be 19
years old or older, and pay taxes.
"A former Olympic figure skating gold medalist was

sentenced to 18 months in prison Friday after being
convicted of involvement in a gang that smuggled
women from Eastern Europe to Austria for forced
prostitution.
Wolfgang Schwarz, who won the gold for men's

figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics, was
arrested in Vienna last March. Police charged him
with procuring visas for seven young women who
were smuggled into the country to work in
brothels....
Pimping: Illegal
Judge Anton Baumgartner sentenced him to 18

months in prison, but Schwarz's attorney has three
days to consider whether to file a formal objection to
the sentence before it will take effect, the Austria
Press Agency reported. 'Signals must be sent that
slave trade is forbidden, Baumgartner said in his
ruling.
Investigators said the gang was involved in

recruiting women from Belarus, Russia,
Ukraine, Lithuania and other eastern

countries to Austria by promising them
lucrative jobs. Upon their arrival, they were
brought to brothels in the Austrian cities of
Vienna, Graz and Salzburg, and their
passports were confiscated, police said."
"Ex-Olympian Jailed for Human Trafficking," Associated Press
(AP), Dec. 6, 2002
9. Bahamas
Population: 309,156
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal and was not a

widespread problem. There are no laws
specifically addressing sex tourism. Police
officials acknowledged that sex
entertainment was a developing industry but
did not consider sex tourism a problem...
On November 26, parliament passed
legislation specifically addressing
trafficking in persons for the first time. The
law also prohibits prostitution and the
procurement of persons for purposes of
prostitution either in or outside the country
by force, threats, intimidation, or the
administering of drugs. The maximum
penalty for trafficking in persons is life
imprisonment."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Bahamas,"
10. Bangladesh

Female prostitution with minimum
age 18 is legal. Male prostitution is
illegal.
Brothel Ownership: Legal
Pimping: Legal
"Female prostitution was legal. Male

prostitution was illegal, although local
NGOs claimed it was common in the major
cities. The authorities generally ignored the
minimum age of 18, often circumvented by
false statements of age, for legal female
prostitution. The government rarely
prosecuted procurers of minors, and large
numbers of underage girls in prostitution
worked in brothels. Local NGOs estimated
the total number of female prostitutes was
as many as 100,000. The UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2004 that
there were 10,000 underage girls used in
commercial sexual exploitation in the
country, but other estimates placed the
figure as high as 29,000. Trafficking of
women internally and internationally
remained a problem...
As many as 10,000 children were used in
brothels for commercial sexual exploitation,
and procurers of minors were rarely
prosecuted.
Government corruption greatly facilitated
the process of trafficking. Police and local
government officials often ignored
trafficking in women and children for
commercial sexual exploitation and were
easily bribed by brothel owners and pimps."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Bangladesh,"
11. Barbados
Population: 284,589
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal, but it remained a

problem, fueled by poverty and tourism. A
number of brothels with women from
Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and other
Caribbean islands operated in the country.
The police and immigration officers
periodically raided brothels and deported
women found working illegally. There is no
statute specifically prohibiting sexual
tourism and no statistics on it, but anecdotal
evidence suggested that it occurred...
The constitution and laws do not
specifically prohibit trafficking in persons,
although laws against slavery, forced labor,
or other crimes could be applied. A law
prohibiting the procurement of persons for
sex, which carries a 15-year sentence, could
be used to prosecute that type of trafficking
cases. There were limited reports that
persons were trafficked to the country, both
to work as prostitutes and as domestic
workers or in the construction and garment
industries."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Barbados,"
12. Belgium
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"As the 9 a.m. shift began at Villa Tinto, which calls

itself Europe's most high-tech brothel, prostitute
Andrea Maes put on her leather boots, pressed her
finger on a biometric scanner and started posing for
potential clients in her neon-lit display window. After
matching her fingerprint with the one in its database,
the brothel's system clocked her in and flashed her
ID number -- A9018 -- to a control room manned by
a fellow prostitute. It also switched on the lights in
her designer-furnished room -- more boutique hotel
than bordello....
Villa Tinto, House of Pleasure, is a

pioneering example of a widening European
drive to legalize prostitution, while
combating the crime and violence it fosters
-- including the explosion in human

trafficking in recent years. The brothel
opened in January, with the help of the
Antwerp city council, the police and the
prostitutes themselves as part of a 'tolerance
zone,' begun in 2001. The Belgian
government views the three-block area as a
test case as it considers national legalization
-- a move to wrest prostitution from the
control of organized criminals and bring in
some lost tax revenue."
Dan Bilefsky, "Belgian Experiment: Make Prostitution Legal To
Fight Its Ills," Wall Street Journal, May 26, 2005
13. Belize
Population: 307,899
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"The law does not explicitly address adult

prostitution, and the government did not use
law enforcement resources to combat
prostitution. Loitering for the purposes of
prostitution, operating a brothel, and
soliciting sex are illegal...
There were no reliable estimates of the
extent of trafficking. However, the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, working with the
Ministry of Human Development, indicated
70 victims of trafficking in persons were
identified through year's end. Sixty-five of
the victims comprised one trafficking case.
There were reports that women were
trafficked to the country from neighboring
countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and
El Salvador, primarily for prostitution and
nude dancing. NGOs reported that persons
in the commercial sex trade appeared to be
in the country (and in their current
occupation) by choice, usually at the
suggestion of a friend or family member
who was also engaged in commercial sex
work. Victims generally lived in squalid
conditions in the bars where they worked.
Some bar owners reportedly confiscated
victims' passports."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Belize," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
14. Bolivia
Prostitution: Legal

Pimping: Illegal
"As of Wednesday morning, Bolivia's 'night

workers' are on strike. Up to 35,000
prostitutes across the country have refused
to report for the medical checkups required
every 20 days to legally work the streets...
It comes in response to attacks in the city of
El Alto last week in which citizens burned

brothels and beat sex workers in protest
against legal prostitution... The rampage
began after citizens demanded that brothels
and bars be located at least 3,200 feet away
from schools. Within 48 hours, angry mobs
had taken matters into their own hands,
burning more than 30 establishments...
The municipal government responded by
closing all brothels within 1,600 feet of
schools, but took no action against those
who had attacked the prostitutes... The latest
violence against Bolivia's sex workers is not
surprising. Although the Supreme Court in
2001 legalized prostitution, which is widely
practiced nationwide, the oldest profession
has not gained the relative social acceptance
it enjoys in some European countries.
Instead, women and men in the sex industry
have become scapegoats for everything
from broken homes to the rising HIVinfection rate."
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, "Prostitutes Strike in Bolivia," TIME
magazine, Oct. 24, 2007
15. Brazil
Labor and Employment Ministry
Primer on Sex Professional (9
KB)
Prostitution: Legal
There are no regulations for adult
prostitution.
"[R]ather than comply with an American demand

that all foreign recipients of AIDS assistance must
explicitly condemn prostitution, Brazil has decided
to forgo up to $40 million in American support....

Pimping: Illegal
'Our feeling was that the manner in which the Usaid

[sic] funds were consigned would bring harm to our
program from the point of view of its scientific
credibility, its ethical values and its social
commitment,' Pedro Chequer, director of the
Brazilian government's AIDS program, said... 'We
must remain faithful to the established principles of
the scientific method and not allow theological
beliefs and dogma to interfere.'...
Mark Dybul, deputy coordinator and chief medical
officer for the Bush administration's global AIDS
initiative,... says the prostitution controversy is not
only overblown, but is also an example of the many
misconceptions about U.S. policy. 'On the ground,
this isn't an issue,'... 'Part of a compassionate
response involves meeting people where they are and
working with them.' He added, 'Each country has a
sovereign right to make decisions for themselves,
and we respect that.' But to receive American aid, he
said, 'it does require an acknowledgment that
prostitution is not a good thing and to be opposed to
it.'"
Larry Rohter, "Prostitution Puts U.S. and Brazil at Odds on AIDS
Policy," New York Times, July 24, 2005
16. Bulgaria
Penal Code of Bulgaria (451 KB)

Prostitution is not specifically
addressed in the law.
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution now exists in a legal gray area

in Bulgaria, a small but important country
for the European sex trade. Women are sent
abroad by the thousands each year to work
as prostitutes, often against their will, and
many others are forced into prostitution
within the countrys borders.
Opponents of legal prostitution argue that
illegal operations flourish in environments
where paying for sex is permitted, and that
human trafficking follows the demand. The
goal of prohibiting sex-for-money is to
reduce the demand, and thus curtail
trafficking if not stamp it out entirely...
While the front-burner issue in Bulgaria is
the export of women into forced prostitution
abroad, Ms. [Antoaneta]Vassileva of the
antitrafficking commission said that 45
percent of trafficking takes place within the
country, often from poor rural villages to the
big cities and resorts along the Black Sea
coast. The countrys chief prosecutor, Boris
Velchev, who was at the forum, described
what he called a double standard' in the
treatment of those forced into prostitution
abroad and attitudes toward those
domestically, who he said receive less
attention and are more likely to be blamed
than treated as victims."
Nicholas Kulish, "Joining Trend, Bulgaria Won't Allow
Prostitution," New York Times, Oct. 6, 2007
17. Cambodia
Pimping: Illegal
"The constitution prohibits prostitution;

however, there is no specific legislation
against working as a prostitute. Trafficking
in women for the purpose of prostitution
was a serious problem, despite laws against
procuring and kidnapping for purposes of
sexual exploitation. There were reports that
police abused prostitutes. Despite increased
crackdowns on brothel operators in Phnom
Penh, prostitution and related trafficking
persisted. Estimates of the number of
working prostitutes ranged from 14,725 to
18,250. Sex tourism was a problem, fueled
by pervasive poverty and the perception of
impunity."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Cambodia,"
18. Canada

Selling sex is legal, but buying sex became
"Bill C-36 dubbed the Protection of Communities

and Exploited Persons Act discourages and
(as of July 1, 2014)
Canadian House Bill C-36 (302
KB)
illegal on Dec. 6, 2014. Buyers face a

minimum $500 fine and up to five years
imprisonment.
criminalizes those who create a demand for

prostitution. The government has maintained all
along that once passed into law, the prostitution bill
will mean safer conditions for sex workers.

Pimping: Illegal
The federal government introduced the bill after the

Supreme Court of Canada struck down in a
unanimous decision the previous law as
unconstitutional, giving the Conservatives one year
to rewrite legislation...
A group advocating for the rights of sex workers said
the law comes into force despite efforts to convince
the government of the link between the
criminalization of prostitution and violence against
sex workers.
'December 6th will be especially sad for sex workers
this year,' said Emily Symons, chair of POWER, in a
written statement on Friday.
'The deeply flawed and misleadingly named
Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons
Act not only reintroduces laws deemed
unconstitutional in a unanimous decision by the
Supreme Court only one year ago it actually
makes them worse.' "
Susana Mas, "Prostitution Law Comes into Force on Day of
Action on Violence against Women," cbc.ca, Dec. 6, 2014
19. Chile
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"President Michelle Bachelet accepted

Friday the resignation of the director of
Chiles PDI investigative police, Arturo
Herrera, amid a scandal over allegations
that members of his force aided and abetted
a prostitution ring which exploited underage
girls...
Though the prostitution ring was broken up
in the autumn of 2007, the uproar over
possible police misconduct began just
weeks ago with the airing of a television
documentary about the operation run by
pimp Carlos Parra Ruis, known as 'Charly.'
...The documentary said that several police
detectives were regular customers at the two
brothels run by Charly: the Hotel Louisiana
and the Cabaret Pandemonium, both in
Valparaiso.
Those detectives were allegedly protecting
Charlys operation, taking payment in the
form of sessions with drugged girls.
Some of the girls also said they were taken
to the police barracks to have sex with
officers.
While the prostitution ring was eventually

broken up by PDI officers from the
Santiago division assigned to Valparaiso,
Channel 13 said that neither police
leadership nor prosecutors were willing to
investigate the charges about cops collusion
with Charly."
"Chilean Police Chief Booted Amid Prostitution Scandal," Latin
American Herald Tribune, June 27, 2009
20. China (including Taiwan) Prostitution: Illegal

Defined as a social practice that abrogates
the inherent rights of women to personhood.
Population: 1,338,612,968
Penal Code of China - Part Two,
Chapter Six, Section Eight:
Crimes of Organizing, Forcing,
Luring, Sheltering, or Procuring
other Persons to Engage in
Prostitution (in Chinese) (158
KB)
(Taiwan, a disputed province of China,

legalized prostitution on June 24, 2009.)
Pimping: Illegal
"In the biggest bust of prostitution related crimes in

recent years, Beijing police last week arrested 38
prostitutes, 63 Internet technicians, five gang leaders,
an unlicensed medical worker, along with 45 of the
prostitutes' clients. The gang attracted clients for the
prostitutes by randomly sending countless messages
to Internet users who were logged on to major chat
rooms, forums, or through instant messages. Police
say the gang sent more than seven million messages
to Internet users in the past month alone. The only
job of most of the gang members was to send the
soliciting messages from Internet bars.
A reporter with the Beijing Daily says he received 32
on-line solicitations for the services of a prostitute in
just a half an hour. Many messages purported to be
from available young, female college students. Other
messages directed people to blogs that contained
nude pictures of women. In all the messages phone
numbers were left where clients could make contact
with a prostitute. Police say the youngest prostitute
they arrested was just 15 years old and one of the
gang members, surnamed Zhao, treated the
prostitutes for venereal disease and provide [sic]
them with condoms. The Beijing Daily reports that
organized messaging for prostitution services
remains rampant in online chat rooms."
"Beijing Police Crack Biggest Internet Prostitution Gang,"
Xinhua, Jan. 21, 2007
21. Colombia
Prostitution: Legal
Cdigo Penal Colombiano -Parte

8, Captulo IV: Del Proxenetismo
(58 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Adult prostitution is legal in designated

'tolerance zones,' but enforcement of, and
restriction to, the zones remained difficult.
Prostitution was widespread and
exacerbated by poverty and internal
displacement. Sex tourism existed to a
limited extent, particularly in coastal cities
such as Cartagena and Barranquilla, where
marriage and dating services were often
fronts for sexual tourism. The law prohibits
organizing or facilitating sexual tourism and
provides penalties of three to eight years'
imprisonment. Trafficking in women for
sexual exploitation continued to be a
problem."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Colombia,"
22. Costa Rica

Prostitution: Legal
Must be over 18 years old and carry a health
card showing how recently they had a
medical check-up.
Pimping: Illegal
23. Croatia
Pimping: Illegal
"Costa Rica can be hard. And it can be easy. It can be

perturbing and paradisiacal. It can be restrictive: No
nudity on the beach. And it can be permissive:
Prostitution is legal. The country has a split
personality and the ironies make the 'rich coast' even
richer."
Linton Weeks, "On the Edge in Costa Rica," Washington Post,
Oct. 24, 2004
"Prostitution is illegal but widespread and

generally punishable by fines. Women's
organizations claimed that prostitutes faced
abuse, stigmatization, and public
humiliation. There were reports that women
were trafficked for commercial sexual
exploitation...
The country is mainly a transit country for
women and girls trafficked from countries
in Eastern Europe and the Balkans to other
parts of Europe for prostitution and labor
exploitation. The country was also a source
and destination country for trafficked
women. In December the government
reported that seven trafficking victims were
identified during the year; three victims
were Croatians, three were Bosnians, and
one was Serbian. Four of the victims were
men trafficked for purposes of labor
exploitation, one was a woman also
trafficked for purposes of labor exploitation,
while three of the victims were women
trafficked for sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Croatia," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
24. Cuba
Pimping: Illegal
"'One day when I was down in Brazil, an Argentinian

asked me 'Is it true that some girls who are university
graduates sometimes practice prostitution?' [Fidel]
Castro said in a rare public reference to a highly
sensitive subject for Cuba's government. 'I replied
instantly, without thinking, 'That proves prostitutes in
Cuba have a university level,'' he added, laughing at
the anecdote given during a lengthy speech to close a
Cuban workers' congress in Havana.
The comment underlined both Castro's pride in his
government's widely praised education system, and
his concern for the re-emergence of a prostitution
problem he thought his socialist system had
eradicated decades ago. Once known as 'the brothel
of the Caribbean' due to its reputation as a haven for
rich Americans looking for sex, gambling and a
swinging nightlife, Cuba drastically cleaned up
society after Castro's 1959 revolution. But the
problem came back at the start of the 1990s against a
backdrop of increased economic hardship for locals,
and an opening to tourism which brought foreigners
flooding back."
"Castro Comments on Cuban Prostitution," Reuters, May 1, 2001
25. Cyprus
Population: 796,740
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Sun-baked Cyprus is the sordid scene of a

flourishing trade in young foreign women
who are often reduced to sexual slavery,
according to non-governmental groups
meeting in Nicosia on Friday...
'Cyprus is a destination country for victims
of trafficking, especially for sexual
exploitation,' said Rita Superman, head of
the anti-trafficking unit of the Cyprus
police. 'The countries of origin of the
victims are traditionally countries of Eastern
Europe, such as Moldova and Ukraine. The
pattern though is changing lately, since a lot
of victims come from developing countries
such as the Philippines, Latin America,
Morocco and Syria,' Superman said...
This year alone, Cypriot police have
identified 54 victims of sexual exploitation,
including 11 on whom force was used to
make them work.
For the third year in a row, Cyprus is
included on a US state department list of
countries where trafficking in women is a
concern."
Agence France-Presse (AFP), "Sexual Slavery of Young Foreign
Women Rife in Cyprus," AsiaOne.com, Nov. 21, 2008
26. Czech Republic

Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"The red lights are going out across Europe

as prostitution falls victim to the credit
crunch... In the Czech Republic, where
prostitution operates in a legal grey zone but
is largely tolerated, the sex industry is big
business, generating $A760 million, much
of it from British visitors, according to Mag
Consulting, a tourism research company in
Prague that studies the sex industry.
Jaromir Beranek, the director of Mag, said
that when Germany and Britain, the two
countries that send the most tourists to
Prague, began to stagnate, sex tourism was
affected too. Brothels have started laying off
working girls while the shutters go up on
the larger bordellos.
Near the border with Germany, many towns
long blighted by a daily influx of sex
tourists are pleased at the decline in

business. A few years ago, the small Czech
town of Dubi was so overrun by prostitution
an orphanage was opened to provide refuge
for dozens of unwanted babies of prostitutes
and their German clients.
Sex could be bought for as little as 3.50
($7.90). Now 40 brothels in town have
shrunk to just four the others have turned
into golf shops or goulash restaurants."
Allan Hall, "Flaccid Economies Lead to Lay-Offs in Europe's
Brothels," The Age, Dec. 11, 2008
27. Denmark
Prostitution: Legal
The act of prostitution was legalized March
17, 1999.
Danish Penal Code (4 KB)

Pimping: Illegal
"Torben Hansen, who has cerebral palsy, which

severely affects his speech and mobility, believes his
local authority should pay the extra charge he incurs
when he hires a sex worker - because his disability
means he cannot go to see them. His case is currently
being considered.
...In Denmark, local authorities compensate disabled
people for extra costs incurred because of their
disability....In Denmark, prostitution and other forms
of sex work are not illegal so long as it is not a
woman's sole means of income.... 'It's unfair to deny
people with disabilities the right to a sex life,' he
[Hansen] added.
Kristen Brosboel, a Social Democrat member of the
Danish Parliament, is among those who have argued
against Mr Hansen. 'We also spend tax money on
trying to prevent prostitution, helping women out of
prostitution - and we have a clear policy that this is a
social problem that we want to solve.... So I think
that's very much in contradiction with spending tax
money on requiring prostitutes."
"Dane Fights For State-funded Sex," BBC News, Oct. 5, 2005
28. Dominica
Population: 72,660
Sexual Offences of 1998 (576

KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal but was a problem.

There were anecdotal reports of trafficking
in persons for commercial sexual
exploitation...
The DNCW [Dominica National Council of
Women] and other activists believed that
there may be some trafficking of women for
prostitution, but acknowledged it was hard
to prove as most of the women in the sex
trade were afraid to come forward, fearing
deportation. An NGO that interviewed
commercial sex workers as part of an
HIV/AIDS awareness campaign found that
most appeared to have entered the country
for economic reasons and began working in
prostitution thereafter."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Dominica,"
29. Dominican
Republic
Prostitution: Legal
Cdigo Penal de La Repblica
Dominicana (607 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is legal, although there are

some prohibitions against sex with minors,
and it is illegal for a third party to derive
financial gain from prostitution. However,
the government usually did not enforce
prostitution laws. Sex tourism remained a
serious problem, particularly in Las
Terrenas, Cabarete, Sosua, and Boca Chica.
Human rights groups reported continuing
prostitution in sugarcane work camps and
areas outside the capital. NGOs conducted
programs about prostitution and child
sexual exploitation for hotel and industrial
zone workers, male and female prostitutes,
and other high-risk groups."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Dominican Republic,"
30. Ecuador
Prostitution: Legal
Brothel Onwership: Legal
Pimping: Legal
"Prostitution is legal for persons over the

age of 18 so long as the businesses are
registered with the government and follow
health regulations. Trafficking in persons
for prostitution was a problem...
Traffickers were organized criminal gangs
specializing in movement of persons,
proprietors of small businesses such as bars
or brothels, or illicit employment brokers.
Accounts indicated that traffickers'
recruitment modalities varied depending on
the type of exploitation. In the case of
sexual exploitation, victims were lured
romantically or with promises of legitimate
employment and then forced into
prostitution. Recruiters for forced labor and
begging included business owners in and
outside the country. These traffickers
offered parents education and work
opportunities for their young children and
then forced victims into trafficking
situations, including prostitution
domestically and in Colombia, Venezuela,
and the Dominican Republic."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Ecuador,"
31. Egypt
It has been illegal since 1949. The man is
Egyptian law bans both prostitution and the marriage

of girls under 16. 'Minors in prostitution are sent to a
considered a witness and is exempt of

punishment for testifying against the
prostitute. The penalty for prostitutes is 3-36
months in prison and/or a fine.
Pimping: Illegal
32. El Salvador
Prostitution: Legal
Cdigo Penal Salvadoreo (536

KB)
Pimping: Illegal
sort of corrective centre, where conditions are often

as bad if not worse than they are in adult prisons,'
said Nihad Abul Qumsan, director of the Egyptian
Centre for Women's Rights. 'The man involved is not
usually prosecuted, but rather acts as a witness in a
trial.'"
"Minors Sold For Prostitution Under Guise of Marriage,"
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), Nov. 16, 2006
"Although prostitution is legal, the law

prohibits inducing, facilitating, promoting,
giving incentives to a person to work as a
prostitute, or paying anyone under the age
of 18 for sexual services. Prostitution
remained common, and there were credible
reports that some women and girls were
forced into prostitution.
Trafficking in women and girls for purposes
of sexual exploitation was a problem. The
attorney general reported that it had
investigated approximately 80 cases of
sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: El Salvador,"
33. Estonia
Prostitution: Legal
Estonian Penal Code (423 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"...[T]he Minister of Justice Rein Lang of the liberal

Estonian Reform Party and the Minister of Social
Affairs Jaak Aab of the Estonian Centre Party, have
expressed their support for the ban on buying sex....
The general opinion in Estonia does not support the
key ministers' views. According to Helve Kase, Head
of the Department of Women's Studies for the
Estonian Institute for Open Society Research, the
prostitutes are generally not viewed as victims....
According to the most recent survey from 2003,
almost a third of Estonians supported punishing the
prostitutes' clients. Nearly half of the women were in
favour of penalizing the prostitutes. More than half
of the respondents gave their support to the existing
system, which forbids pimping."
"Estonia Also Considering Criminalisation of Purchase of Sex,"
Helsingin Sanomat, Sep. 1, 2006
34. Ethiopia
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Everyday about 10,000 people pass through the

cross-country bus station in the Ethiopian capital to
visit relatives, do business or simply search for a
better life. According to a recent survey carried out
in Addis Ababa, child prostitution is on the rise. The
report found that partly because of poverty an
increasing number of girls come to the city to
become sex workers."
Damian Zane, "Ethiopian Girls Driven To Prostitution," BBC
News, May 27, 2003
35. Finland
Prostitution: Legal
Selling and purchasing sex in public
is illegal. Purchasing sex from a
"The sex trade exploded onto the Finnish

scene in the years of the recession of the
1990s. Helsinki had about a dozen erotic
victim of trafficking is also illegal.

The Penal Code of Finland (349
KB)

Pimping: Illegal
restaurants, and personals ads offering

company for 'daytime coffee'. Some even
wanted to hire topless barbers.
In the early years of this decade there was
intense debate in Finland on whether or not
to make buying sex services a crime...
Currently the purchase of sex services in
Finland is illegal only in public places.
Buying sex is also banned if the trade
involves procurement or human trafficking,
or if the provider of the service is below the
legal age.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
estimates that about 500 prostitutes ply their
trade in Finland every day... Nobody knows
how many prostitutes there really are in
Finland. However, there is general
agreement, that about half of the sex
workers who operate regularly in Finland
are Finns, and that a majority work part
time.
Many foreign prostitutes work with the
support, or under the command of a pimp.
The Finns usually operate independently...
As the street trade is banned, Finnish red
light districts can be found in cyberspace on sex pages on the Internet and in
personals ads. Foreign sex workers also sell
their services in night clubs and Thai
massage parlours. "
Panu Rty, "Anna Kontula Speaks on Behalf of Sex Workers,"
Helsingin Sanomat, Sep. 7, 2008
36. France
Criminal Law of France (1.1
MB)
Prostitution: Legal
Must pay taxes. Laws against soliciting in
public places.
Regulation and legal "houses of tolerance"
ended in 1946.
Pimping: Illegal
Any form of assistance given toward
prostitution or living off the earnings of
prostitution can be considered criminal.
"French prostitutes have staged a protest outside

parliament in Paris against a new crime bill which
they say threatens their livelihood. About 500
women and men, some wearing masks and waving
banners, took part in the demonstration, which
activists said was part of the profession's biggest
protest movement in the city since 1975.... The
French Government plans to place a wide-ranging
bill before parliament which would include a law
making 'passive soliciting' - touting for sex by any
means, including by use of dress or posture - a
criminal offence.
Prostitutes say the law would prevent them from
earning income and expose them to dangers from
unscrupulous customers or pimps.... [French Interior
Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says] the law was
necessary to 'guarantee the security of the French
people.'...
Prostitution is legal in France and at the
moment the country's estimated 18,000

prostitutes can only be fined if their
activities disturb the peace. But under the
proposed law, prostitutes could face six
months in prison or a fine of up to $7,500 if
convicted under the law."
"French Prostitutes Rage Against Crime Bill," BBC News, Nov. 5,
2002
37. Germany
Prostitution: Legal
Legalized in 1927.
Measures and Acts on equal
opportunities since 1949 (7 KB)
[Editor's Note: The date of the

legalization of prostitution in
Germany is disputed. Some consider
prostitution to have been legalized or
decriminalized since the passage of
the 1927 Law for Combating
Venereal Diseases. However, others
consider prostitution was legalized
through the Prostitution Act of
January 2002 that improved the social
welfare and legal rights of prostitutes.
Although prostitution is legal under
the German Constitution, prior to the
2002 Prostitution Act, a series of
regulatory laws and court rulings had
restricted the legal and social welfare
rights of prostitutes because
prostitution was considered in
violation of Germany's moral code.]
Pimping: Legal
Exploitative behavior considered criminal.
"An estimated 400,000 prostitutes work in Germany,

and 1.2 million customers are said to use their
services daily. Revenues are estimated at 6 billion
euros every year - equivalent to those of companies
like Porsche and Adidas.
It was mainly to offer prostitutes protection from
violence and exploitation that two years ago - against
the opposition of conservative politicians - the
German government legalized prostitution. Now,
legal contracts between prostitutes and clients can be
established. The government withholds a portion of
their earnings to pay social benefits like pensions and
health insurance and to guarantee a regular 40-hourworkweek. Sex workers can now even unionize.
When it comes to taxation and regulation of the
industry, legalization has been beneficial in some
places, advocates say.
...But when it comes to the goal of improving
conditions for prostitutes and containing the sex
trade, most experts agree that legalizing prostitution
has not succeeded. 'When it was set up there was
much talk of securing proper contracts, proper health
insurance, but a lot of this hasn't materialized
because of big holes in the legislation,' says Marion
Detlefs of the Hydra prostitute advice center in
Berlin. Across the country, no more than a dozen
contracts have been signed. Prostitutes, who often
have to share their income with brothel owners and
other parties, are reluctant to pay taxes....
[A]dvocates for prostitutes complain that - despite
the national law - prostitution is still treated
differently in each region, giving each city the right
to ban prostitution in certain areas."
Isabelle de Pommereau, "Rethinking a Legal Sex Trade,"
Christian Science Monitor, May 11, 2005
38. Greece
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitutes must be at least 21, register, and
have health checks every 2 weeks.
"Greece, whose ancient civilisation introduced the

world to high class prostitutes in the sixth century
BC, has at last decided to salute their contribution to
society.

Pimping: Legal
Athens has announced that its economy is 25%

bigger than thought thanks, in part, to the round-theclock duties of the country's prostitutes, who were
known as hetairai in ancient times. The Greek
authorities are revising the country's gross domestic
product (GDP) after deciding that the black market
should be included in the figures."
Nicholas Watt, "Greek Economy Up 25% - With a Little Help
From Prostitutes," Guardian, Sep. 30, 2006
39. Grenada
Population: 90,739
"Prostitution is illegal but existed...
The constitution and law do not prohibit

trafficking in persons; however, there were
no reports that persons were trafficked to,
from, or within the country. In theory
trafficking cases could be prosecuted under
other laws, such as those prohibiting forced
prostitution, pimping, sexual abuse, and
abuse of a minor."
Pimping: Illegal

and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Grenada,"
40. Guatemala
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"In Guatemala City, a new soccer team is winning

fans -- and it's not because they are winning games.
Members of the Stars of the Tracks team are
prostitutes, who hope to use their growing popularity
to call attention to their collective fight for a better
life."
"Guatemala City's Prostitute Soccer Team," National Public Radio
(NPR), Jan. 12, 2005
41. Guyana
Population: 772,298
Laws of Guyana Chapter 8:01

Criminal Offences Act (381 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal but present. It

continued to receive greater public attention
due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS
among prostitutes...
Government and NGOs reported only a
small number of cases involving trafficking
in persons. There were some unconfirmed
reports of girls from the interior (where
there was little government oversight and
law enforcement was lacking) being
trafficked for commercial sex to countries in
South America and the Caribbean. Most
traffickers were believed to be individual
business persons.
The trafficking case against two women
charged in 2006 with forcing a 12 year old
girl into sexual slavery was dismissed in
October for lack of evidence."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Guyana," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
42. Haiti
"Although prostitution is illegal, it remained

a widespread practice, particularly among
women and girls. Local NGOs reported that
police generally ignored prostitution...
Pimping: Illegal
The law does not specifically prohibit
trafficking in persons, although labor
legislation and other laws, including those

prohibiting and penalizing slavery,
kidnapping, and violence against women,
could be used to combat human trafficking.
There were reports that persons were
trafficked from, to, through, and within the
country... Women from the Dominican
Republic were trafficked into the country
for sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Haiti," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
43. Honduras
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Although adult prostitution is legal and

relatively widespread, the law prohibits
promoting or facilitating for purposes of
prostitution. Women were trafficked for
sexual exploitation and debt bondage...
Trafficking in children for commercial
sexual exploitation and child prostitution
was a problem...
The country was principally a source and
transit country for women and children
trafficked for the purpose of commercial
sexual exploitation. Women and children
were trafficked to Belize, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Mexico, and also internally,
most often from rural to urban settings.
Most foreign victims trafficked into
Honduras came from neighboring countries.
During the year the government returned
dozens of trafficking victims from Mexico
and Guatemala. In the Tegucigalpa
metropolitan area, an estimated several
hundred children were victims of
commercial sexual exploitation.
Gangs, organized crime, and human
smugglers were reportedly among the
principal traffickers for purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation. There were
reports that families sold their daughters for
purposes of trafficking. On February 9,
Emilio Fiallos Pina and his wife Dora
Rutilia Sauceda Fiallos were arrested for
allegedly selling their nine-year-old
daughter to attorney Conrado Zelava
Castellon for sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Honduras,"
44. Hungary
Prostitution: Legal
"In an effort to bring prostitutes into the

Pimping: Illegal
legal economy, officials said Monday that

Hungary will allow sex workers to apply for
an entrepreneur's permit - a move that could
generate government revenues from an
industry worth an estimated $1 billion
annually...
The permits allow prostitutes to give
receipts to customers and become part of
the legal economy by paying taxes and
making social security contributions, said
Agnes Foldi, head of the Hungarian
Prostitutes' Interest Protection Association.
Hungary's sex industry - including
prostitution and the production of
pornographic materials - generates an
estimated $1 billion annually, said Agnes
Bakonyi, the spokeswoman of Hungary's
tax authority APEH...
Prostitutes in Hungary, can work legally
only within certain zones - distant from
schools and churches - and must get regular
medical checkups. Pimping and bordellos
are banned."
Pablo Gorondi, "Hungary Gives Permits to Prostitutes,"
Washington Post, Sep. 24, 2007
45. Iceland
Population: 306,694
Excerpts including Chapter XXII
on Sexual Offences from the
General Penal Code of Iceland
(142 KB)

Selling sexual services is legal. Paying for
sexual services is illegal.
In 2007, buying and selling sexual services
was legalized as long as third parties did not
profit from the earnings of prostitutes. In
Apr. 2009 the Icelandic Parliament passed
legislation to prohibit paying for prostitution.
Pimping: Illegal
"The Icelandic Parliament has passed a new

legislation which makes paying for prostitution
illegal. Those caught paying for prostitution could
face a fine or up to one year in prison...
Iceland is the third country to outlaw the purchase of
prostitution. Sweden was the first country to ban the
buying of sex in 1999 and Norway followed suit
earlier this year. In Finland, a ban on purchasing
sexual services from victims of human trafficking
was introduced in 2007.
Before this change in legislation, selling and buying
sexual services was legal in Iceland. Selling sex was
illegal in the country until 2007, when a change in
the general penal code decriminalized prostitutes and
criminalized profiting on the prostitution of others.
Opinion polls have shown that up to 70% of the
population supports banning the purchase of sexual
services."
Centre for Gender Equality, "A New Law Makes Purchasing Sex
Illegal in Iceland," www.jafnretti.is, Apr. 21, 2009
46. India
Population: 1,166,079,217

Prostitution is not a criminal offense,
but soliciting prostitution and
prostitution in a public place are
"In the heart of Mumbai, India lies Kamathipura, one

of the country's poorest districts and also its largest
red light district, home to more than 60,000 sex
workers...
illegal.
Pimping: Illegal
On the streets of Kamathipura, it's no challenge for

Aronson [Frontline Producer] to find sex workers to
talk with. In a small gathering she asks them frankly
about the core issues of their trade -- economics and
health. The women get the equivalent of US$1.50 for
sex, $2 on a good night, less than a dollar on a bad
night. To have sex without a condom, men will often
pay more or, after a few visits, tell the women they
love them. The women in the group laugh a bit about
the men's proclamations of love, but there's a tragic
fact behind their laughter: more than half of the sex
workers here are HIV positive."
Raney Aronson, "India - The Sex Workers," PBS's Frontline, June
2004
47. Indonesia
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitution is not defined in the law.
Pimping: Legal
"Prostitution is not specifically addressed in the

law. However, many officials interpreted "crimes
against decency/morality" to apply to
prostitution. Prostitution was widespread and
largely tolerated, despite its contradiction with
popular societal and religious norms. During the
year security forces reportedly participated in
operating brothels or protection rackets by
shielding brothels from prosecution.
International sex tourism reportedly continued,
especially on the islands of Batam and Karimun
and in major urban centers across the country...
The number of child prostitutes in the country
was unclear, but the problem was widespread.
Many teenage girls were forced into or found
themselves caught in debt bondage. At times
law enforcement officials treated child
prostitutes as criminals rather than victims.
Corrupt civil servants issued identity cards to
underage girls, facilitating entry into the sex
trade. There also were reports of sexual
exploitation of boys. The country was a
destination for child sex tourism. During the year
NGOs reported that long active pedophile rings
continued to operate in Bali. NGO observers
said many girls were forced into prostitution
after failed marriages entered into when they
were 10 to 14 years of age. There was no
obvious violation of the law because their
paperwork identified them as adults due to the
fact that they were once married."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: El Salvador,"
48. Iran
Prostitutes may face prison, lashing, or
execution by stoning. Customers also face
criminal penalties.
Establishing or managing a place of
immorality or prostitution is a criminal act,
subject to imprisonment from 1-10 years.
Pimping: Illegal
"A controversial plan to set up what are being

denounced as licensed brothels in Iran has been
rejected by official bodies... The idea was that people
would sign up at a registration centre, then be
referred to a health clinic for medical checks and a
free contraceptive service... 'It's a euphemism for the
official establishment of houses of corruption, the
normalisation of illegitimate relations, and the
destruction of the family,' said the Women's Social
and Cultural Council.
Living off the income of prostitution is

illegal.
The plan was defended by Ashraf Borujerdi, Deputy

for Social Affairs at the Interior Ministry, who helped
draw it up. 'Some people believe that talking about
such issues is taboo, but they are part of the reality of
society, and turning a blind eye will not solve the
problem,' she said... Welfare officials say there are at
least 300,000 prostitutes working in the country.
Under Iran's Islamic system, it is possible to take out
a temporary marriage licence - known as Sigheh even for a few hours. The device is used to cover
casual transactions which in many societies would be
regarded simply as prostitution."
"Iran 'Brothel' Plan Rejected," BBC News, July 28, 2002
49. Iraq
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal. During the year,

reports of prostitution increased. According
to the NGO Organization for Women's
Freedom in Iraq, some women have
resorted to prostitution in order to provide
for their children. On June 15, the Kurdish
Lvin magazine published a detailed report
on police involvement in a major Kirkuk
prostitution ring, which routinely bribed
government officials with prostitutes. The
woman who ran the network asserted that
there are over 200 brothels in Kirkuk. The
author of the Lvin article, Soran Hama, was
killed on July 21. The case remained
unsolved at year's end...
Although reliable statistics did not exist,
Iraq was a source and destination country
for men and women trafficked for
commercial sexual exploitation and
involuntary servitude. Children are
trafficked within the country and abroad for
commercial sexual exploitation. Women are
trafficked within the country, as well as to
Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab
Emirates, Turkey, and Iran for the purpose
of commercial sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Iraq," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
50. Ireland
Prostitution: Legal
Criminal Justice (Public Order)

Act, 1994 (13 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)

Act, 1993 (30 KB)
"Organised crime gangs are setting up

foreign language schools to act as a front for
prostitution, Fine Gaels spokesman on
immigration and integration Denis
Naughten has claimed.
Mr Naughton said bogus schools,
established by organised crime groups, were
assisting students in obtaining visas by
providing the necessary documents.

Members of the Oireachtas were informed
during a cross-party briefing on Wednesday
'that language schools in Dublin are
breeding grounds for prostitution. We need
urgent action to deal with the proliferation
of sex trafficking into Irelands 80 million
illegal sex industry,' he said."
Aoife Carr, "Language Schools Act as Fronts for Brothels Naughten," Irish Times, June 19, 2009
51. Israel
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
Procurement and living on the earnings of a
woman in prostitution is prohibited.
"The Supreme Court on Monday rescinded a district

court decision that awarded NIS [Israel Shekel]
150,000 in compensation to a disabled man to pay
for sexual services. The plaintiff, 31, was seriously
injured in a car crash in 1988 as a result of which he
was diagnosed as suffering from a mental disorder
and erectile dysfunction. His lawyer argued that ever
since, his condition has necessitated visits to
prostitutes....
Justice Eliezer Rivlin wrote in his decision that the
claimant would not be given funds that would be
used to violate the law by encouraging prostitution.
'The proper way of society to deal with prostitution
has been subject for contention over many years,'
Rivlin wrote. 'There are those who see prostitutes as
slave laborers and others who claim there are those
among them who make a calculated choice to make a
living thusly. The difficult questions over prostitution
shall not be resolved, here but we cannot ignore the
fact that criminal law frowns upon it.'"
Yuval Yoaz, "Court Rescinds Ruling Funding Disabled Man's
Brothel Visits," Haaretz, Oct. 16, 2006
52. Italy
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
Procurement and living on the earnings of a
woman in prostitution is prohibited.
"Italian prostitutes marched through one of the

country's oldest university towns in protest over new
measures to clamp down on soliciting. Bystanders
stood opened-mouthed as hundreds of women
danced and sang their way in colourful procession
through the streets of Padua in protest against a
crackdown by the Mayor, which would grant police
the power to issue 30 on-the-spot fines to their
clients.
The council says targeting clients is its only option,
given that prostitution is legal in Italy - despite the
ordinarily hard moral line from the Vatican. But the
prostitutes have devised a way to counteract the
penalties - by issuing pink coupons to their clients
promising to refund the fine 'in kind'. The council
claims that prostitution has fallen 70 per cent since
the new rules came in last week, but the prostitutes
said they have merely moved to quieter areas."
"Italian Prostitutes Protest at Clampdown," Marie Claire, May 17,
2007
53. Jamaica
"Although the law prohibits prostitution, it

Pimping: Illegal
was widespread, particularly in tourist

areas. Trafficking in women for prostitution
continued to be a problem...Child
prostitution and trafficking for the purpose
of sexual exploitation were problems...
The law does not specifically prohibit
forced or compulsory labor, including by
children, and there were reports of child
prostitution and of children trafficked into
domestic servitude and forced labor."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Jamaica,"
54. Japan
Report on Implementation of
Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (15 KB)

Prostitution is defined as only coitus. Noncoital sex acts are not illegal.
"Although the 45-year-old Prostitution Prevention

Law prohibits hooking, straight sex has been widely
practiced at soaplands, which number around 1,270
nationwide...

Pimping: Illegal
...The law says that it is prohibited to sell or buy sex,

but it does not penalize those acts. Instead, it
penalizes prostitutes for soliciting or waiting for
customers in public places, such as on the street and
in parks. It also penalizes anyone who forces
somebody to engage in prostitution, exploits a
prostitute or gives financial support to a business
engaged in prostitution...
...According to the National Police Agency, there
were 908 fashion health massage parlors and 5,425
'outcall-style' fashion health parlors that were
publicly registered in 2000 under the Law
Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses, etc.
What protects the operation of the fashion health
parlors is simple -- they only offer oral sex, anal sex
and other sexual services that are not interpreted as
sex in the prostitution law...
...[In] 2000 1,225 people [were] arrested on
suspicion of violating the prostitution law. But that it
is believed to be just the tip of the iceberg. Research
conducted by Bank of Yokohama on the state of the
underground economy in Japan in fiscal 1998
estimated that unreported earnings from commercial
and 'amateur' prostitution come to around 945 billion
yen..."
Hiroshi Matsubara, "Prostitution Testing Bounds of Culture,
Business," Japan Times, Mar. 16, 2002
55. Jordan
Pimping: Illegal
"The country was a destination and transit

point for men and women from South and
Southeast Asia trafficked for forced labor,
as well as a destination for women from
Eastern Europe and Morocco for
prostitution. Women from countries
including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the
Philippines migrated to work as domestic
servants, but some were subjected to
conditions of forced labor, such as

withholding of passports, restrictions on
movement, non-payment of wages, threats,
and physical or sexual abuse."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Jordan," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
56. Kenya
Pimping: Illegal
"Whether one likes it or not, prostitution is a

"profession" that will not die away; it is here to stay.
And with it comes the challenges which hardly allow
easy solutions. The trade in Kenya, which is
classified under the Penal Code, Sections 147 to 154,
is illegal in Kenya and calls for stiff penalty. But
even though the law is clear on commercial sex
work, regardless of gender and affiliation, the
general belief is that it is mostly the women who
engage in it and who are arrested by police when
caught."
May 19, 2007, Mildred Ngesa, "Kenya: What the Law Says About
the Oldest 'Profession'," Nairobi Nation
57. Korea, North

Pimping: Illegal
"According to press reports, prostitution is

illegal; there is no available information on
the prevalence of prostitution in the country.
There continued to be reports of trafficking
in women and young girls who had crossed
into China...
Some North Korean women and girls who
voluntarily crossed into China were picked
up by trafficking rings and sold as brides to
Chinese nationals or placed in forced labor.
In other cases, North Korean women and
girls were lured out of North Korea by the
promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only to
be forced into prostitution, marriage, or
exploitive labor arrangements. A network of
smugglers facilitated this trafficking. Many
victims of trafficking, unable to speak
Chinese, were held as virtual prisoners, and
some were forced to work as prostitutes.
Traffickers sometimes abused or physically
scarred the victims to prevent them from
escaping. Officials facilitated trafficking by
accepting bribes to allow individuals to
cross the border into China."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Democratic People's
Republic of Korea," www.state.gov, Feb. 25, 2009
58. Korea, South

Illegal since 1948.
Up to 10 years in prison.
Pimping: Illegal
"More than 1,400 people have been caught buying,

selling, or brokering sex around the country over the
last ten days, the National Police Agency said
Thursday.
The agency launched a nationwide crackdown on
brothels on April 6 continuing until the end of May.

It apprehended a total of 1,477 people involved in
prostitution during the first seven days, taking 14 of
them into custody.
Among those were 15 building owners allowing
pimps to conduct business there, 814 customers and
369 prostitutes.
More than half, or 820 of those detained were from
Seoul and its surrounding areas ? 340 from Gyeonggi
Province, 268 from Seoul, and 212 from Incheon, the
nation's second largest port city located west of the
capital.
The majority of those caught were at brothels
disguised as 'massage clubs,' the agency said, but
159 were found to have paid for sex from women
they met through online chat rooms.
Under the Anti-Prostitution Law, prostitutes and their
customers can face up to one year in prison, or a
three million won fine, while brokers face up to
seven years in prison or 70 million won in fines.
Those purchasing or brokering sex with minors face
harsher punishment."
Park Si-soo, "1,400 Nabbed for Prostitution in a Week," Korea
Times, Apr. 16, 2009
59. Kyrgyzstan
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitution is not a crime but the exact legal
status is unclear.
Pimping: Illegal
"The sex trade is booming in Bishkek, and

authorities are struggling to respond. Prostitution is
not a crime in Kyrgyzstan, and with no legal
measures in place to regulate the industry,
overburdened Bishkek police are proposing to either
legalize prostitution or, alternatively, outlaw it once
and for all.
Bishkek police claim that some 3,500 prostitutes
work in Kyrgyzstan's capital, while unofficial
estimates put that number at 1.5 to 2 times higher.
Officials claim that sex workers from neighboring
countries account for the vast majority of the
number, with Kyrgyzstani prostitutes making up a
mere 2 to 3 percent of the total. In addition, the
capital offers some 169 saunas, 177 hotels and more
than 1,000 private apartments with sexual services,
police say.
Prostitution is not a crime in Kyrgyzstan, and
prostitutes say that popular attitudes toward their
work are more understanding than in neighboring
Uzbekistan. But that welcome has its limits. Violent
crimes involving prostitutes such as murders or
assaults are on the increase. With less than adequate
control over migration streams into Kyrgyzstan,
police fear that cycle of violence could only worsen."
Jan. 10, 2005, Abdan Shukeev, "Bishkek Battles Going Bawdy,"
EurasiaNet
60. Latvia
Prostitution: Legal
Requires monthly health check.
"A Swedish documentary on Latvian sex workers

snowballed into a major controversy in Riga this
week, drawing harsh remarks from top government
Latvia Regulations (6 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
officials and ministries, which are considering

lawsuits against the director.
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga called 'Buy
Bye Beauty' by Pl Hollander 'political propaganda'
that didn't meet standards of objectivity. Hollander's
movie, recently shown at the Gothenburg Film
Festival, depicted a gloomy picture of the sex
industry in Latvia. Hollander interviewed a number
of people involved with the Latvian pornography
industry while making the film, many of them
prostitutes. Based on his interviews, the filmmaker
claimed there are about 18,000 prostitutes in Latvia.
According to official statistics, there are 2500 to
3000 prostitutes in the country. Hollander also
claimed that about 50 percent of Latvian women
have had sex for money."
Feb. 19, 2001, Ieva Raubiko, "Sex Industry Sparks
Controversy," Central Europe Review
61. Liberia
Pimping: Illegal
62. Lithuania
Pimping: Illegal
"The first woman to be appointed Director of the

Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Beatrice Munah
Sieh, says her administration will eradicate the high
level of prostitution and corruption in Liberia."
Apr. 13, 2006, M. Welemongia Ciapha, II, "Police Boss Vows To
Fight Prostitution," Liberian Observer
"Prostitution is illegal but remained a

problem. The penalty is a fine of 300 to 500
litas (approximately $124 to $207) for a
single offense and up to 1,000 litas ($415)
for repeat offenses. In the first eight months
of the year, police charged 72 women with
administrative violations for prostitution...
The law prohibits forced or compulsory
labor, including by children; however, there
were reports that women and children were
trafficked for commercial sexual
exploitation. Trafficked women and girls in
forced prostitution worked on streets, in
illegal brothels, or as call girls."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Lithuania,"
63. Luxembourg
Population: 491,775
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is legal and was common, but

the activities associated with organized
prostitution, such as profiting from, aiding,
or trafficking prostitutes are punishable by
law...
The country is a destination for women
trafficked transnationally for the purpose of
sexual exploitation. Source countries during
the year primarily included Romania and
Ukraine. During the year the government
identified nine victims of trafficking. At
year's end authorities were prosecuting one

perpetrator for trafficking, and had tried and
convicted nine others for procuring
prostitution and human trafficking."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Lithuania,"
64. Malaysia

Prostitution is not a criminal offense,
but soliciting prostitution is illegal.
"From 2008 until Mar 15, police saved 39

foreigners aged between 18 to 25-year-old,
who had been forced into prostitution by
their agents...

Pimping: Illegal
They were among the 12,070 prostitutes

nabbed throughout the country in 2008. Out
of that number, 8,949 were foreigners China (4,496), Indonesia (1,389), Thailand
(1049), Philippines (1,090) and Vietnam
(512).
And from January to March 15, police
arrested 2,878 prostitutes, out of which
2,144 were foreigners - China (1,030),
Indonesia (387), Thailand (237), Vietnam
(222) and the Philippines (188).
In most of the cases, victims were locked in
a room after being brought into the country
and forced into prostitution...
There is a new department to handle human
trafficking cases known as the AntiTrafficking In Person (ATIP) which was set
up early last year."
Rashitha A. Hamid, "Police Nab 2,878 Prostitutes; Many Are
Duped Foreigners," Star, Mar. 20, 2009
65. Malta
Population: 405,165
Criminal Code of Malta (1.4 MB)
Pimping: Illegal
"The law prohibits prostitution, and the

government effectively enforced it. The law
provides for sentences of several months to
two years in prison. From January through
June, the police arraigned 27 persons on 49
charges (counting repeat arrests) for
offences related to prostitution. There were
a number of prosecutions during the year...
The country is a destination for women
trafficked for commercial sexual
exploitation. On July 6 authorities charged
three men with forcing a Swedish woman
into prostitution. According to police, two
separate investigations in 2007 led to the
arrest of seven persons for the trafficking of
eight Russian and Ukrainian women for the

purpose of sexual exploitation. There was
also anecdotal evidence that women from
Serbia, Romania, and other eastern
European countries may have been
trafficked to the country for forced
prostitution."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Malta," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
66. Mexico
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitution is decriminalized and regulated
at the state level. Where regulated they must
be at least 18, registered, pay for and receive
health checks, and carry their health card. It
cannot be in public though many cities have
a red light district or "zona roja."
Pimping: Illegal
"The testing is one of the measures that this city

[Tijuana] has taken to regulate prostitution, which
has flourished here for decades. The city council
passed a law in June that requires the town's active
prostitutes - 5,000 are currently being tested each
month - to have monthly medical exams for sexually
transmitted diseases and forces brothel owners to
adopt more sanitary practices. Those who do not face
stiff fines and the loss of their business licenses.
One measure of the magnitude of the problem health
officials face is that more than 8,000 women and
men who have registered as prostitutes since the
system began have stopped coming to the city clinic,
Dr. Mayor Noriega said. It is unclear how many left
the business and how many simply decided not to
pay for the tests any more."
James C. McKinley Jr., "A New Law in Tijuana Regulates the
Oldest Profession," New York Times, Dec. 13, 2005
67. Netherlands
Dutch Policy on Prostitution (34
KB)
Prostitution: Legal
Officially legal since Oct. 2000. Prostitutes
must be over 18 and clients must be over 16.
Prostitutes must register and pay taxes.
"One third of the famous 'window' brothels and sex

clubs of Amsterdam are facing closure after the city
council recently refused to renew 33 licences in a
crackdown against organised crime....

The Christian Democrat CDA and the ChristenUnie
Subject to licensing and zoning requirements. (CU) parties - both of which are expected to form
part of the new governing coalition - want even
tougher measures, including the prosecution of men
Pimping: Legal
Living off income from a prostitute is legal if who frequent prostitutes who are working against
their will....
it doesn't involve coercion.
But others, such as Petra Timmermans from the
International Committee on the rights of Sex
Workers in Europe, said the Dutch were
experiencing outside pressure from countries that did
not understand their traditions. 'The Netherlands has
decided to do things differently so it is under
tremendous pressure from neighbouring countries to
re-evaluate its position,' she said. 'People look at the
Netherlands and say it is a failed experiment because
not every sex worker is a millionairess.'"
Nicola Smith, "Amsterdam Cleans Ip Its Act," Expactica.com, Jan.
10, 2007
68. New Zealand

Prostitution: Legal
"Parliament tonight passed prostitution law changes
Since 2003 prostitution has been
when MPs voted 60-59 in favour of a bill which
decriminalized. It is legal for citizens over 18 raised passionate debate and drew the strongest
opposition from moral conservatives since
Frequently Asked Questions

(FAQ) - Prostitution Law Reform
(64 KB)
International Approaches to
Decriminalising or Legalising
Prostitution (117 KB)
years old.
homosexual law reform 17 years ago.

Owners must be over 18 years old, a citizen
of New Zealand or Australia, and have an
Operator's Certificate. Only applicants with
serious criminal convictions will be denied.
Labour MP Tim Barnett's Prostitution Reform Bill

will become law after nearly three years of scrutiny,
415 hours of debate by Parliament and its
committees and 222 public submissions.
Pimping: Legal
No laws against living off the avails of
prostitution.
It decriminalises prostitution and establishes a legal

framework around the sex industry, with licensed
brothels operating under public health and
employment laws."
"Prostitution Decriminalised, Brothels to be Licensed," New
Zealand Herald, June 25, 2003
69. Nicaragua
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Legal
"Prostitution, which is legal for persons 14

years of age and older, was common,
although the law prohibits its promotion,
including procurement. In Managua most
prostitutes worked on the streets, in
nightclubs and bars, or in massage parlors.
The law imposes a penalty of five to seven
years' imprisonment for convicted sex
tourism offenders. The NNP reported no
cases of sex tourism during the year...
Child prostitution remained a problem. The
law permits juveniles 14 years of age or
older to engage in prostitution. The country
was a destination for child sex tourism,
primarily in Granada and Managua;
however, there were no reported cases
during the year."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Nicaragua,"
70. Norway

Selling sexual services is legal. Purchasing
sex is illegal.
Pimping: Illegal
"A new law has come into force in Norway

making the purchase of sex illegal.
Norwegian citizens caught paying for
prostitutes at home or abroad could face a
hefty fine or a six-month prison sentence,
authorities say.
The prison sentence could be extended to
three years in cases of child prostitution.
The Norwegian authorities say they want to
stamp out sex tourism and street prostitution
by targeting clients rather than prostitutes...
The tough new measures go further than
similar ones introduced by other Nordic
countries such as Sweden and Finland.
Norwegian police have been authorised to
use wire-tapping devices to gather evidence.

There has already been a visible decrease in
women working on the streets of central
Oslo, local media report.
Prostitutes will be offered access to free
education and health treatment for those
with alcohol or drugs problems."
BBC News, "New Norway Law Bans Buying of Sex,"
www.news.bbc.co.uk, Jan. 1, 2009
71. Panama
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Although prostitution is legal and

regulated, with prostitutes required to
register and carry identification cards, the
majority of prostitutes were not registered.
Although 2,650 sex workers were registered
with the government, there was no accurate
information regarding the number of
persons practicing prostitution in the
country. Trafficking in women was a
problem...
Although the law prohibits trafficking in
persons for the purpose of sexual
exploitation, persons were trafficked to,
from, and within the country. The PNP Sex
Crimes Unit reported that most victims
trafficked into the country came from
Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and
Central America. The primary destinations
for victims trafficked from the country were
Jamaica and Europe. Most victims
trafficked within the country were women
and children trafficked into the sex trade.
The PNP Sex Crimes Unit reported that the
vast majority of trafficking victims were
women older than 18 years.
The principal traffickers in the country were
owners of houses of prostitution, and most
transnational trafficking occurred using
valid travel documents and was conducted
through official ports of entry."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Panama," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
72. Paraguay
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal

age of 18, and exploitation and trafficking
of women, particularly underage prostitutes,
remained serious problems... Sexual
exploitation of children, principally in
prostitution, was a serious problem.

According to the SNNA, many underage
children were forced to work as prostitutes
or domestic servants for survival and were
sexually abused...
In March a 15-year-old trafficking victim
who escaped from a brothel in Buenos Aires
fled to Ciudad del Este, where she filed a
complaint with the SNNA. Based on her
complaint, Argentine and Paraguayan
authorities rescued 25 girls from the brothel.
Charges remained pending. During the year
prosecutors opened an investigation into a
syndicate that trafficked dozens of
adolescent girls to Chile."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Paraguay,"
73. Peru
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Peruvian sex workers urged the government on

Friday to regulate their profession, saying it would
protect them from violence and help stop the spread
of sexually transmitted diseases. Although
prostitution is legal in Peru and in much of Latin
America, sex workers said prostitutes should be
allowed to work under license in 'tolerance zones.'
To get and keep a license they would have to register
with the government, submit to regular health checks
and pay taxes.
'People have to understand that it's not simply about
a whore standing on a street corner, it's a woman, a
lady who's working,' said Angela Villon, president of
the Civil Association of Sex Workers, at a news
conference....
According to the health ministry, there are around
60,000 sex workers in Peru, 14,000 of them in the
capital Lima, although Villon said she believed the
true figures were higher."
Gideon Long, "Sex Workers Urge Peru to Regulate Prostitution,"
Reuters, May 18, 2007
74. Philippines
"Bar girls" must register and have health
checks.
Pimping: Illegal
"'Hey, Joe,' they shout at passing men, much the way

another generation of prostitutes once shouted to 'GI
Joes' at the former Clark Air Force Base across the
street from the red-light district. Neon lights, strip
joints, 'girlie' bars and 1950s-style hotels jam
together as pop music blares from the clubs. For
more than 100 years, this area has been a capital of
prostitution and hedonism, dating back to a time
when the women were called 'camp followers.'...
Nursing and teaching, more traditional women's
work in the Philippines, pay a fraction of the sums
these women can make. That is, if their pimps allow
them to keep their money. A University of the
Philippines study in the late 1990s estimated there
were about a half-million prostitutes in the country."

Mike Comerford, "A Look at Life in the Red-light District," Daily
Herald, Apr. 17, 2005
75. Poland
Prostitution: Legal
Trafficking in Human Beings in

Poland Report by the Polish
Ministry of Interior and
Administration, 2008 (1 MB)
Pimping: Illegal
"According to police, there were an

estimated 3,200 prostitutes in the country;
however, NGOs estimated that the number
of women in all elements of the sex industry
was significantly higher, from 18,00020,000. Women were trafficked for
commercial sexual exploitation...
While prostitution is not criminalized,
pimping, recruiting, or luring persons into
prostitution carry penalties of up to 10 years
in prison... In 2007, according to the
Ministry of Justice, 70 traffickers were
convicted for forced prostitution and
trafficking, compared to 16 convictions in
2006 strictly for trafficking."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Poland," www.state.gov,
Feb. 25, 2009
76. Portugal
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution in Quarteira has been steadily

rising over the past years, mainly due to the
influx of immigrant women from Eastern
Europe, Brazil and Africa. At the moment
there are 80 street prostitutes in Quarteira,
according to AIDS Support Movement...
They sell their services for as little as 20
and many times must settle for less as the
interested parties haggle and the harsh
competition forces them to accept the
cheaper price.
Their clientele is extremely varied;
labourers, doctors, lawyers, tourists,
students and even the elderly drive down
the street at an idle speed to satisfy their
urge, explained the psychologist who has
been helping women protect themselves
from sexually transmitted diseases for the
past seven years.
The AIDS Support Movement distributes
condoms and information pamphlets
teaching prostitutes how to put on a condom
even if the client does not want to use one...
In 2007 there were 80 prostitutes working in
Quarteira, 78 women and two transsexuals,
65% of them were foreign."

"Quarteira Protesting Prostitution," Portugal News, Aug. 30, 2008
77. Romania
Pimping: Illegal
"Romanian authorities are planning to legalize

prostitution as a way to help fight human trafficking
and sex slavery, police said on September, 1st.
Selling sexual favors is now a crime punishable by
fines or up to three years in prison in Romania.
However, because the crime is considered petty,
most prostitutes only face fines, with some
prostitutes collecting over 500 fines in the last two
years, Bucharest police said. The fines are rarely
paid, and tax collection authorities cannot enforce
them as most prostitutes have no legal income....
Pimps face up to seven years in prison, or up to 20
years if they traffic minors, but despite efforts by law
enforcement sex trafficking remains widespread."
"Romanian Authorities Consider Plan to Legalize Prostitution,"
Associated Press (AP), Sep. 6, 2006
78. Rwanda
Pimping: Illegal
"President Paul Kagame yesterday warned that the

government would not tolerate prostitution in
Rwanda. Addressing thousands that thronged
Amahoro National Stadium to commemorate the
30th International Women's Day, the President
castigated prostitution as an illicit act that should
never be defined as part of the country's development
agenda. 'I received reports from the Mayor of Kigali
recently that some women and girls were arguing
that it (prostitution) is a sign of development,'
Kagame said. 'It is not part of Rwanda's path to
development and, therefore, must stop.'...
'It (prostitution) cannot be classified anywhere in the
country's development indicators. It is a menace that
ought to be stopped immediately because we have
our own morals and cultural values that have to be
preserved and protected,' Kagame stressed...."
Robert Mukombozi, "Rwanda: Govt Toughens On Prostitution,"
New Times, Mar. 9, 2007
79. Saint Kitts and

Nevis
Population: 40,131
"Prostitution is illegal and was not

considered a problem...

Pimping: Illegal
In August parliament passed laws

criminalizing trafficking in persons that
include all elements of the offense, such as
withholding identification or travel
documents of a person and controlling and
restricting the movement of a person. There
were no confirmed reports that persons were
trafficked to, from, or within the country."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Saint Kitts and Nevis,"
80. Saint Lucia
"Prostitution is illegal, but it was a growing

problem. Some underground strip clubs
Population: 160,267
Criminal Code 2003 (1 MB)
Pimping: Illegal
were fronts for prostitution and reportedly

were owned by corrupt police officers.
There were no arrests for prostitution during
the year...
There were reports that some women from
Saint Lucia were trafficked to Saint Marten
and Barbados, and that women from the
Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela,
Brazil and some Eastern European countries
were trafficked to Saint Lucia, where they
worked at strip clubs and brothels. There
were reports that police owned many of
these clubs, particularly in Rodney Bay, and
that women who fled the brothels were
sometimes returned to them by police."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Saint Lucia,"
81. Saint Vincent

and Grenadines
Population: 104,574
Pimping: Illegal
82. Saudi Arabia

Pimping: Illegal
"Although prostitution is illegal, a local

human rights group reported that it
remained a problem among young women
and teenagers."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Saint Vincent and
Grenadines," www.state.gov, Feb. 25, 2009
"Saudi police have arrested more than 80 people

involved in 20 cases of prostitution and pimping this
year, including some seized in the past 24 hours, Al
Riyadh newspaper reported Friday. Some of those
rounded up were foreign domestic workers who had
fled their employers, the paper said.
Among the pimps arrested Thursday were an
Egyptian and a Syrian, along with several Indonesian
prostitutes caught in the act, the paper said. One girl,
arrested earlier, told a newspaper that she had been
'led astray, into error, by the devil to devote herself to
vice, for 1,500 [Saudi] riyals [about $400] a night.'
Prostitution is strictly banned in Saudi

Arabia, which applies Sharia (Islamic law),
and is punishable by prison and flogging."
"Saudi Police Seize 80 For Prostitution, Pimping," Middle East
Times, June 22, 2007
83. Senegal
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitution has been legal since 1969. Must
be at least 21 years of age, register with the
police, carry a valid sanitary card, and test
negative for sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). Free condoms are provided beginning
at the first visit to the clinic and are renewed
monthly.
"Prostitution was legalized in this predominantly

Muslim country in 1969, and today the government
tolerates it as long as each prostitute registers with
the state, is over 21 years old, and comes regularly to
a center run by the Ministry of Health for checkups,
education, and medical treatment. And that's a big
reason why this West African nation of 10.5 million,
according to the World Health Organization, has an
HIV infection rate of about two percent while many
of its nearest neighbors face rates several times
higher; some Southern African countries, such as

Pimping: Illegal
Soliciting or living off the earnings of
prostitution is prohibited.
84. Singapore
Prostitution: Legal
Legal red-light districts, mandatory health
checks, and must be 18 years or older.
Pimping: Illegal
Botswana, report that a mind-boggling 39 percent or

more of the adult population is infected."
Nicholas Thompson, "The Network Effect," Boston Globe, Jan. 5,
2003
"Singapore may raise the minimum age for

prostitutes from 16 to 18 [which it did] to bring its
laws in line with international standards, a
newspaper report said Tuesday, Oct 4. A government
study into the penal code's provisions on sexual
offences is expected to be completed by the end of
the year, the Straits Times newspaper reported. Local
authorities, while declining to provide specific
reasons behind the study, said it was part of a
'holistic review' of Singapore's laws on sexual
offences and may include criminalizing sex with
minors overseas.
'We constantly review our laws to keep abreast of
changing times and norms,' the Straits Times quoted
a Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman as saying.
Under current laws, having sex with girls under 16 is
considered statutory rape, punishable by up to five
years in jail and a fine of S$10,000 (US$5900)....
Prostitution is legal in Singapore but pimping and
public solicitation are not. Licensed brothels operate
in designated areas..."
"Singapore May Raise Minimum Prostitution Age to 18," Agence
France Presse, Oct. 4, 2005
85. Slovakia
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is legal, but related activities,

such as operating brothels, knowingly
spreading sexually transmitted diseases, or
trafficking in women for the purpose of
sexual exploitation, are prohibited. There
was no reliable data on the extent of
prostitution...
The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) estimated that between
150 and 200 persons were trafficked from
or through the country during 2007, mainly
for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation. There were isolated reports
that children were forced into prostitution...
In February 2007 police uncovered a
trafficking ring organized by Slovak and
Slovenian citizens that recruited young
Slovak women to work legally in Croatia,
and then forced them to work as prostitutes
in Slovenia."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Slovak Republic,"
86. Slovenia
Slovenian Penal Code (453 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal, but the government

did not actively enforce this prohibition.
Antitrafficking authorities and NGOs
informally estimated that as many as 80
bars and clubs across the country could be
engaged in facilitating or promoting
prostitution...
The government apprehended, investigated,
and prosecuted traffickers; police
investigated nine instances of human
trafficking and seven instances of forced
prostitution."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Slovenia,"
87. South Africa
South Africa v. Jordan and others

- Summary of Judgment (5 KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"South Africa's Constitutional Court Wednesday

upheld the country's Sexual Offences Act, which
classifies prostitution as an illegal profession. Six of
the country's top 11 judges favoured retaining and
enforcing the Act, which also prohibited the keeping
of brothels. The news has been met with dismay by
Cape Town's tourism chiefs who wanted the city's
sex industry regulated and turned into a major
attraction to the city."
"Court Rules that Prostitution Remains Illegal in South Africa,"
Panafrican News Agency, Oct. 9, 2002
88. Spain

Prostitution is not a crime but the exact legal
status is unclear.
"Is prostitution a form of violence and exploitation

of women, which should be banned, or a job like any
other, which should be regulated? The question has
divided Europe, with Sweden trying to eradicate
Brothel Ownership: Illegal in some regions prostitution by penalizing the clients, while others
such as the Netherlands have legalized the trade. For
Spanish legislators, however, prostitution proved too
Pimping: Illegal
tough a nut to crack.
After nearly three years of debate, a parliamentary
commission advising the government threw in the
towel, rejecting both of the proposed approaches and
simply leaving prostitution where it was: a shady
zone where it is neither legal nor illegal....
Its incapacity to adopt a clear policy angered both
the main camps: women's rights activists regarding
prostitution as a form of slavery, incompatible with
democratic values, and prostitutes' associations
saying sex workers needed legal rights to protect
themselves.
Spain has been dubbed the 'brothel of Europe,' with
up to 500,000 women working as prostitutes. Every
day, 1.5 million men buy sex in Spain, said Maribel
Montano of the governing Socialist Party (PSOE).
The trade, which is plied in places ranging from
parks and flats to roadside brothels, turns over an
estimated 40 billion euros (54 billion dollars)
annually, almost the equivalent of Spain's education
budget."
Sinikka Tarvainen, "Spain Divided Over Semi-Legal Prostitution,"

German Press Agency, May 8, 2007
89. Suriname
Population: 481,267
Pimping: Illegal
"Although the law prohibits sexual

exploitation, including prostitution, in
practice prostitution was tolerated.
Concerns about the link between
prostitution and trafficking in persons
resulted in police raids on brothels and
arrests of several prostitutes. Poverty
continued to put young women at risk of
becoming exploited for commercial sex.
The presence of large groups of illegal
workers in the gold mining sector in the
interior drew young Maroon women and
girls into commercial sexual exploitation.
Police allowed many brothels to operate but
made bimonthly checks on these
establishments to monitor if women were
being abused, held against their will, or
having their passports retained by brothel
owners to ensure fulfillment of work
contract obligations."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Suriname,"
90. Sweden

Since 1999 selling sex is not a crime but the
buying of sex is. Buyers face fines and up to
6 months in prison.
Swedish Penal Code (5 KB)

Punishment includes up to 4 years in prison.
Pimping: Illegal
"In Sweden, prostitution is officially acknowledged

as a form of male sexual violence against women
and children. One of the cornerstones of Swedish
policies against prostitution and trafficking in human
beings is the focus on the root cause, the recognition
that without men's demand for and use of women
and girls for sexual exploitation, the global
prostitution industry would not be able flourish and
expand."
Gunilla Ekberg, "The Swedish Law that Prohibits the Purchase of
Sexual Services," Violence Against Women, Oct. 2004
91. Switzerland
Prostitution: Legal
Prostitutes must register with city authorities
and health authorities and get regular health
checks.
"Switzerland entered a treaty with the European

Union to import workers, seeking more bankers,
managers, and academics. What it got was an influx
of prostitutes....

Legalized in 1992.
Prostitution is legal in Switzerland, and its residents

have the world's highest purchasing power,
according to a study published in December by UBS
AG. Prostitutes from the European Union don't need
a work permit for the first three months of residence
and can offer their services as self-employed
workers, provided they register with police and
comply with tax laws.
Pimping: Illegal
The lack of restrictions, combined with the country's

wealth, has pushed the number of prostitutes per
capita in Zurich to the highest among industrialized
countries, a city employee heading a project for
improvement of the Langstrasse area, Zurich's redlight district, Rolf Vieli, said. Based on police
figures, Zurich has about 11 prostitutes per 1,000
people, similar to the rate in Amsterdam, known for
its sex trade."

Antonio Ligi, "E.U. Treaty Spurs Influx of Prostitutes to Zurich,"
Bloomberg News, Mar. 6, 2007
92. Thailand
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution was made illegal in 1928, and the laws

against it strengthened in 1960. But it is an
omnipresent part of the Thai society, tacitly accepted
and tolerated. Prostitution goes on in brothels in the
countryside, behind the garish signs over Bangkok's
girlie bars and massage parlors. The industry is
estimated to account for an estimated 3 percent of
Thailand's economy, or about US$4.3 billion a year."
"Thailand Holds Debate On Legalizing Prostitution," Taipei
Times, Nov. 28, 2003
93. Trinidad and

Tobago
Sexual Offences Act 1986 (106
KB)
Pimping: Illegal
"Prostitution is illegal, and the authorities

continued to monitor, investigate, and
prosecute major operators believed to be
engaged in soliciting for prostitution. On
January 20, police arrested 42 women
involved in a prostitution ring, many of
whom had entered the country illegally. The
authorities deported many of them...
The Sexual Offenses Act prohibits
procurement of a person for the purpose of
sexual intercourse with another person, and
procuring a person to become an inmate of a
brothel or to frequent a brothel."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Trinidad and Tobago,"
94. Turkey
Prostitution: Legal
Requires registering and attending clinics for
regular examinations. Must carry identity
card indicating the dates of his or her health
checks. Health checks can be as often as
twice a week. Sexworkers cannot be married
and their children are barred from occupying
high rank in the army or police, or marrying
persons of such rank, although they can work
in other areas of government service.
"...[A] special unit in the Prime Ministry's

Human Rights Department will begin a
project aimed at giving prostitutes the
opportunity to find alternative employment,
the daily Aksam reported Sunday.
Sociologists and psychologists interviewed

3,000 registered prostitutes working at
brothels to determine whether they have
been forced into the job and whether they
Brothel Ownership: Limited Legality
Official brothels in Turkey are state-run. The would prefer another line of employment.
Turkish penal code states that it is illegal to
shelter a person for prostitution.
Pimping: Illegal
There are 15,000 registered prostitutes in

Turkey, 3,000 of whom work in 56 brothels.
There are an estimated 100,000 unregistered
prostitutes in the country."
"International Women's Day to Be Marked around Country,"
Hrriyet Daily News, Mar. 7, 2010
95. Uganda
"The Penal Code Act Cap 120, for instance, holds

any person involved in prostitution criminally liable
for the offence even though that person is forced to
do so against his or her will.

Pimping: Illegal
The Immigration Act also prohibits entry of a

prostitute, or a person prior to entering Uganda was
living on the earnings of prostitution and punishes
any person who becomes employed in Uganda
without entry permit. In this case many young girls
and women who are trafficked into prostitution or
forced to enter Uganda illegally are guilty of such
offences. They are further punished by the law. They
are at a risk of being imprisoned, fined, deported and
re-trafficked if found guilty in the existing laws.
There are also no legal provisions that entitle Victims
of trafficking in humans to rehabilitation despite the
grave physical assaults, sexual abuses, and
psychological trauma they experience in the due
process."
"Uganda: Punished Because There is No Law to Protect Them,"
[Kampala] Daily Monitor, May 30, 2007
96. United Arab

Emirates
The sharia courts sentence lashings followed
by imprisonment.
Pimping: Illegal
"Dubai's Cyclone night club is a typical example of

the U.A.E.'s flourishing international sex trade. The
massive club, owned by an Indian based in London,
is known by visitors as the 'United Nations of
prostitution.' On an average night, visitors say, there
are possibly as many as 500 prostitutes from as many
as two dozen countries -- including Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, China, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan.
But Cyclone is hardly the only place in Dubai
providing work for prostitutes. You can find them at
almost every five-star hotel in the emirate, or even
on the streets."
Peyman Pejman, "U.A.E.: Muslim Federation Of States Is Hub of
International Prostitution," Radio Free Europe, July 2, 2004
Prostitution: Legal
"Persistent" solicitation in public places is
illegal. Kerb crawling is illegal.
"New laws making it a criminal offence to have sex

with prostitutes controlled by pimps may be too
complex to work in practice, police have warned.
Sexual Offences Act 2003 (7 KB)

KB)
Pimping: Illegal
Pimping law defined as "controlling
prostitution for gain."
The legislation, which is due to come into effect later

this year, aims to protect women forced into the
trade.
97. United Kingdom

KB)
Civic Government (Scotland)
Act 1982 (21 KB)
Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995 (51 KB)
Prostitution (Public Places)
(Scotland) Act 2007 (46 KB)
Gloucestershire Chief Constable Dr Tim Brain said

he feared the complexity of the law may make
gaining evidence hard...
The government's planned change to the law in
England and Wales aims to protect women forced
into the trade by traffickers and pimps.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith launched the new
legislation with an unequivocal message, saying
'there will be no more excuses for those who pay for
sex'.
At present it is not illegal to pay for sex. Under the
new legislation a man will face prosecution if he
pays for sex with a woman who is being 'controlled
for gain' by someone else...

The Home Office says more than 160 victims of sex
trafficking were rescued by police in a six-month
period last year.
The bill also includes tougher controls on kerb
crawlers."
BBC News, "Police Doubt over Prostitute Laws,"
www.news.bbc.co.uk, Apr. 7, 2009
98. United States

US federal, state, and Nevada
county laws concerning
prostitution

Illegal except for 11 rural counties in
Nevada, where registration and health checks
are required.
Indoor prostitution became legal in Rhode
Island in 1980 due to an unintentional legal
loophole created by legislators. The state
enacted new legislation closing the loophole
on Nov. 3, 2009.
"State attempts to regulate prostitution by

introducing medical check-ups or licenses don't
address the core problem: the routine abuse and
violence that form the prostitution experience and
brutally victimize those caught in its netherworld."
Nov. 24, 2004 US State Department

Illegal except for 11 rural counties in
Nevada.
Pimping: Illegal
99. Uruguay
Prostitution: Legal
Pimping: Illegal

age of 18 and was practiced openly in major
cities and tourist resorts. There were no
known reports of police abuse of individuals
engaging in prostitution. Trafficking in
women for prostitution occurred...
Some minors engaged in prostitution and
forced labor. INAU found that they often
did so at the request of their families to
increase income. The media reported three
cases of minors engaged in prostitution with
the consent of their parents in the provinces
of Tacuarembo, Rocha, and Paysandu...
Most victims were women, girls, and some
boys trafficked within the country to border
and tourist areas for sexual exploitation.
Through use of false job offers, some
women were trafficked to Spain and Italy
for commercial sexual exploitation."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Uruguay,"
100. Venezuela
Prostitution: Legal
"Prostitution is legal. While there was no

government information on the extent of
prostitution, the local anti-trafficking NGO
Association of Women for Welfare and
Pimping: Legal
Mutual Help noted that prostitution was a

serious problem, particularly in Caracas and
domestic tourist destinations...
Trafficking may be prosecuted under
criminal laws against forced prostitution
and trafficking, with penalties of up to 20
years for using force to coerce a victim to
perform a sexual act for a third person, and
under a law to protect children, with fines of
one to 10 months' income for trafficking in
children and two to six years' imprisonment
for trafficking a child abroad. The
Organized Crime Law provides for
sentences of 10 to 15 years if the victim of
trafficking or smuggling for labor or sexual
exploitation is an adult, or 10 to 18 years if
the victim is a child or adolescent...
The law prohibits inducing the prostitution
and corruption of minors. Penalties range
from three to 18 months in prison and up to
four years in prison if the minor is younger
than 12 years old. If the crime is committed
repeatedly or for profit, it is punishable by
three to six years' imprisonment. Prison
sentences for inducing a minor into
prostitution are increased by up to five years
if various aggravating circumstances occur.
Penalties for several crimes relating to child
prostitution do not apply if the perpetrator
marries the victim. The production and sale
of child pornography is prohibited, and the
law establishes penalties of 16 to 20 years'
imprisonment for this crime."
and Labor, "2008 Human Rights Report: Venezuela,"

100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies

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100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies

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100 Countries and Their Prostitution Policies

Legal in 49; Limited Legality in 12; Illegal in 39; Total: 100

Antigua and Barbuda

Saint Kitts and

Saint Vincent and

China (including Taiwan)

Legal Status of Prostitution,

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

"The law prohibits prostitution; however, it

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

The country was a source country for

Traffickers largely used overland routes or

"Prostitution is illegal, but the prohibition

"Prostitution is prohibited, but it remained a

Gender Affairs. In neither case were charges

"...[P]rostitutes throughout Argentina are casting off

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

Criminal Code of the Republic of

"Prostitution and sex tourism are legal, but

the traffickers' intent or the exploitative

Prostitution: Limited Legality

"Foreign backpackers visiting Queensland have been

"A former Olympic figure skating gold medalist was

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

Wolfgang Schwarz, who won the gold for men's

Judge Anton Baumgartner sentenced him to 18

Investigators said the gang was involved in

Ukraine, Lithuania and other eastern

"Prostitution is illegal and was not a

Prostitution: Limited Legality

"Female prostitution was legal. Male

"Prostitution is illegal, but it remained a

"As the 9 a.m. shift began at Villa Tinto, which calls

Villa Tinto, House of Pleasure, is a

-- including the explosion in human

"The law does not explicitly address adult

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

"As of Wednesday morning, Bolivia's 'night

El Alto last week in which citizens burned

"[R]ather than comply with an American demand

Brothel Ownership: Illegal

'Our feeling was that the manner in which the Usaid

Prostitution: Limited Legality

"Prostitution now exists in a legal gray area

"The constitution prohibits prostitution;

Prostitution: Limited Legality

"Bill C-36 dubbed the Protection of Communities

illegal on Dec. 6, 2014. Buyers face a

criminalizes those who create a demand for

Brothel Ownership: Legal

The federal government introduced the bill after the

"President Michelle Bachelet accepted

While the prostitution ring was eventually

20. China (including Taiwan) Prostitution: Illegal

(Taiwan, a disputed province of China,

"In the biggest bust of prostitution related crimes in

Brothel Ownership: Legal

Cdigo Penal Colombiano -Parte

"Adult prostitution is legal in designated

22. Costa Rica

"Costa Rica can be hard. And it can be easy. It can be

"Prostitution is illegal but widespread and

"'One day when I was down in Brazil, an Argentinian

"Sun-baked Cyprus is the sordid scene of a