Prostitution by country
Encyclopedia
The laws on prostitution
vary considerably around the world. In some jurisdictions prostitution is illegal. In other places prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but most surrounding activities (such as soliciting in a public place, operating a brothel and other forms of pimping) are illegal, often making it very difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking any law. In some jurisdictions prostitution is legal and regulated.
is illegal in the majority of Africa
countries. Nevertheless, it is common, driven by the widespread poverty
in many sub-Saharan Africa
n countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa
. Social breakdown and poverty caused by civil war
in several African countries has caused further increases in the rate of prostitution in those countries. For these reasons, some African countries have also become destinations for sex tourism
.
AIDS infection rates are particularly high among African sex workers. Long distance truck drivers have been identified as a group with the high-risk behaviour of sleeping with prostitutes and a tendency to spread the infection along trade routes in the region. Infection rates of up to 33% were observed in this group in the late 1980s in Uganda
, Kenya
and Tanzania
.
, the main characteristic of the region is the very big discrepancy between the laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice. For example, in Thailand
prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is tolerated and partly regulated, and the country is a destination for sex tourism
. Such situations are common in many Asian countries. In these countries there is a very strong double standard: while it is considered acceptable for men to use the services of the prostitutes, the prostitutes themselves are stigmatized by the whole society, as "respectable" women are expected to refrain from sexual activity until marriage.
Child prostitution is a serious problem in this region. Past surveys indicate that 30 to 35 percent of all prostitutes in the Mekong sub-region
of Southeast Asia
are between 12 and 17 years of age.
The most common legal system in the European Union
is that which allows prostitution itself (the exchange of sex for money) but prohibits associated activities (brothels, pimping, etc.).
In Sweden
, Norway
and Iceland
it is illegal to pay for sex (the client commits a crime, but not the prostitute).
In the UK, it is illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute who has been "subjected to force" and this is a strict liability offense (clients can be prosecuted even if they didn’t know the prostitute was forced), although prostitution itself is not illegal.
In Netherlands
, prostitution is legal, The majority of women prostitutes are foreigners.
The enforcement of the anti-prostitution laws varies by country. One example is Belgium
, brothels are illegal, but in practice they are tolerated, operate quite openly, and in some parts of the country the situation is similar with that from neighboring Netherlands
.
Prostitution is illegal in most of the ex-communist countries of Eastern Europe
. Here prostitution was outlawed by the former communist regimes and these countries chose to keep it illegal even after the fall of the Communists.
Nevada
is the only US state which allows some legal prostitution in some of its counties. Currently 8 out of Nevada's 16 counties have active brothels. Prostitution outside these brothels is illegal throughout the state; prostitution is illegal in the major metropolitan areas (Las Vegas
, Reno
, and Carson City). Prostitution is heavily regulated by the state of Nevada. See Prostitution in Nevada
.
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
vary considerably around the world. In some jurisdictions prostitution is illegal. In other places prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but most surrounding activities (such as soliciting in a public place, operating a brothel and other forms of pimping) are illegal, often making it very difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking any law. In some jurisdictions prostitution is legal and regulated.
Africa
ProstitutionProstitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
is illegal in the majority of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
countries. Nevertheless, it is common, driven by the widespread poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in many sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
n countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa
HIV/AIDS in Africa
HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern and cause of death in Africa. Although Africa is home to about 14.5% of the world's population, it is estimated to be home to 67% of all people living with HIV and to 72% of all AIDS deaths in 2009.-Overview:...
. Social breakdown and poverty caused by civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
in several African countries has caused further increases in the rate of prostitution in those countries. For these reasons, some African countries have also become destinations for sex tourism
Sex tourism
Sex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
.
AIDS infection rates are particularly high among African sex workers. Long distance truck drivers have been identified as a group with the high-risk behaviour of sleeping with prostitutes and a tendency to spread the infection along trade routes in the region. Infection rates of up to 33% were observed in this group in the late 1980s in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
- Prostitution in Burkina FasoProstitution in Burkina FasoProstitution in Burkina Faso is not specifically prohibited by the law, however soliciting and pimping are illegal. In recent years the demand for prostitutes in Burkina Faso has increased. Burkina Faso has been referred to as "a theatre of child labour". As a large number of children are...
- Prostitution in Cameroon
- Prostitution in Côte d'Ivoire
- Prostitution in EgyptProstitution in EgyptProstitution in Egypt is illegal. Police department officially combats prostitution but, like almost all other countries, prostitution exists in Egypt. The prostitutes in Egypt are Egyptian, Russian and many other nationalities.- The prostitution system :...
- Prostitution in EritreaProstitution in EritreaProstitution in Eritrea is illegal, but, according to the 2009 Human Rights Reports it is a serious problem, and security forces occasionally follow women engaged in prostitution and arrest those who had spent the night with a foreigner....
- Prostitution in Ethiopia
- Prostitution in Liberia
- Prostitution in Morocco
- Prostitution in Nigeria
- Prostitution in RwandaProstitution in RwandaProstitution is illegal in Rwanda. However, due to the immense poverty in the country, many women have been forced into prostitution to make money. It is thought that around 25% of sex workers in Rwanda are HIV positive. On September 23, 2006, Valeria Nyirahabineza ordered prostitutes in Rwanda to...
- Prostitution in Senegal
- Prostitution in SwazilandProstitution in SwazilandProstitution in Swaziland is illegal, and police continue to enforce the law, although they sometimes turn a blind eye to prostitution in clubs.According to the U.S...
- Prostitution in TanzaniaProstitution in TanzaniaProstitution in Tanzania is illegal under Tanzanian law, however it is still widespread. Many women are forced into prostitution due to some poverty and the disintegration of the family unit. trafficking and prostitution are a major problem in Tanzania, sex tourism in particularly prevalent in...
- Prostitution in UgandaProstitution in UgandaProstitution in Uganda is illegal in Uganda, however prostitutes operate freely in Kampala city centre. In 2003 Ugandan authorities ordered sex workers to pay a tax of 9,000 Ugandan shilling in order to operate in Malaba...
- Prostitution in ZanzibarProstitution in ZanzibarProstitution in Zanzibar is illegal under Tanzanian law. However, prostitution, is still widespread. The main causes of this are poverty, lack of job opportunities and culture. There are many prostitutes in Zanzibar from other countries including Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia and Somalia...
- Prostitution in Zimbabwe
Asia
In AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, the main characteristic of the region is the very big discrepancy between the laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice. For example, in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is tolerated and partly regulated, and the country is a destination for sex tourism
Sex tourism
Sex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
. Such situations are common in many Asian countries. In these countries there is a very strong double standard: while it is considered acceptable for men to use the services of the prostitutes, the prostitutes themselves are stigmatized by the whole society, as "respectable" women are expected to refrain from sexual activity until marriage.
Child prostitution is a serious problem in this region. Past surveys indicate that 30 to 35 percent of all prostitutes in the Mekong sub-region
Greater Mekong Subregion
The Greater Mekong Subregion is not a geological region, but rather, a development project mooted by the Asian Development Bank in 1992 that brought together the riparian states of the Mekong River basin, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Yunnan Province of China...
of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
are between 12 and 17 years of age.
- Prostitution in AfghanistanProstitution in AfghanistanProstitution in Afghanistan is illegal, with punishments ranging from 5 to 15 years imprisonment. Despite being deeply religious and one of the most conservative countries in the world, where sex outside marriage is against the law, some prostitution activities are reported in the capital Kabul as...
- Prostitution in BangladeshProstitution in BangladeshProstitution in Bangladesh is legal, however the Bangladesh constitution provides that the "State shall endeavor to prevent gambling and prostitution." Prostitution was legalized in 2000.-Policy and law:...
- Prostitution in BruneiProstitution in BruneiProstitution in Brunei is illegal and can incur a punishment of imprisonment for 5 years and a fine of $ 20,000.-External links:**...
- Prostitution in BurmaProstitution in BurmaProstitution in Burma is illegal. Prostitution is a major social issue that particularly affects women and children.Burma is a major source of prostitutes in Thailand, with the majority of women trafficked taken to Ranong, a location that borders Burma at its south, and Mae Sai, which is located...
- Prostitution in CambodiaProstitution in CambodiaCambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The traffickers are reportedly organized crime syndicates, parents, relatives, friends, intimate partners, and neighbors....
- Prostitution in the People's Republic of ChinaProstitution in the People's Republic of ChinaShortly after taking power in 1949, the Communist Party of China embarked upon a series of campaigns that purportedly eradicated prostitution from mainland China by the early 1960s. Since the loosening of government controls over society in the early 1980s, prostitution in mainland China not only...
- Prostitution in EgyptProstitution in EgyptProstitution in Egypt is illegal. Police department officially combats prostitution but, like almost all other countries, prostitution exists in Egypt. The prostitutes in Egypt are Egyptian, Russian and many other nationalities.- The prostitution system :...
- Prostitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong Kong is itself legal, but organized prostitution is illegal, as there are laws against keeping a vice establishment , causing or procuring another to be a prostitute, living on the prostitution of others, or public solicitation....
- Prostitution in IndiaProstitution in IndiaIn India, prostitution is legal only in metro cities like Mumbai but illegal in other parts of the country., but a number of related activities, including soliciting in a public place, keeping a brothel, pimping and pandering, are outlawed.-History:In ancient India, there was a practice of having...
- Prostitution in IndonesiaProstitution in IndonesiaProstitution in Indonesia is legally considered a "crime against decency/morality", nevertheless it is widely practiced, tolerated and regulated. Some women are financially motivated to become prostitutes, while others may be forced by friends, relatives, or strangers...
- Prostitution in IranProstitution in IranProstitution in Iran is illegal, and incurs various punishments ranging from fines and jail terms to execution for repeat offenders.-History:The exact number of prostitutes working in Iran is unknown. However, prostitutes are visible on some street corners of the major cities. Many of them are...
- Prostitution in IraqProstitution in IraqProstitution in Iraq is illegal. Many women fleeing the war in Iraq have been forced into prostitution. Some sources claim up to 50 thousand Iraqi refugee women in Syria, many of them widows or orphans, have been forced into prostitution. Sources claim the women are exploited by wealthy Saudis and...
- Prostitution in IsraelProstitution in IsraelProstitution in Israel is legal, but organized prostitution in the form of brothels and pimping is prohibited.According to the findings of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee appointed in 2005, 3000-5000 women are smuggled into Israel annually and sold into prostitution...
- Prostitution in JapanProstitution in JapanProstitution in Japan has existed throughout the country's history.While the Anti-Prostitution Law of 1956 states that "No person may either do prostitution or become the customer of it," various loopholes, liberal interpretations of the law, and loose enforcement have allowed the sex industry to...
- Prostitution in North KoreaProstitution in North KoreaProstitution in North Korea is illegal, and according to the North Korean government does not exist, but it is still practiced discreetly.- State prostitution :The North Korean government engages in forced prostitution...
- Prostitution in South KoreaProstitution in South KoreaProstitution in South Korea is illegal, but according to The Korea Women's Development Institute, the sex trade in Korea was estimated to amount to 14 trillion South Korean won in 2007, roughly 1.6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product....
- Prostitution in KuwaitProstitution in KuwaitProstitution in Kuwait is illegal, but according to the US State Department data the country has a poor record in dealing with human trafficking of women and children who are usually sold for the sex trade.-External links:****-References:...
- Prostitution in LebanonProstitution in LebanonProstitution is nominally legal in Lebanon. Although the law on prostitution requires that brothels be licensed, including regular testing for disease, government policy is not to issue new licenses for brothels, in an attempt to gradually eliminate legal prostitution in the country. As a result,...
- Prostitution in MalaysiaProstitution in MalaysiaProstitution is illegal in Malaysia. Demand for prostitution has created a problem of people trafficking from China and other nearby countries.Sexual services, however, are widely available and laws banning prostitution remain largely unenforced.-External links:...
- Prostitution in NepalProstitution in NepalThough prostitution in Nepal is illegal, thousands of prostitutes work in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. There are a number of massage parlors in Thamel, a tourist area of Kathmandu, where sex for money is easily available. Girls can be easily picked up from dance bars in Kathmandu...
- Prostitution in OmanProstitution in OmanProstitution in Oman is illegal and only sex within a legalized marriage is permitted. Oman has a serious problem of people trafficking involving women and is considered a tier 3 level by the CIA.-External links:*...
- Prostitution in PakistanProstitution in PakistanProstitution in Pakistan is a taboo culture of sex-trade that exists as an open secret but illegal. Prostitution is largely based in organisational setups like brothels or furthered by individual call girls in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. The sex trade is deemed illegal in the...
- Prostitution in the Palestinian territoriesProstitution in the Palestinian territoriesProstitution in the Palestinian territories is illegal. Ramallah is one of the few outlets for prostitution in the Palestinian territories as premarital sex is seen as taboo in the territories....
- Prostitution in the PhilippinesProstitution in the PhilippinesHuman trafficking and the prostitution of children is a significant issue in the Philippines, often controlled by organized crime syndicates.Human Trafficking in the Philippines is a crime against humanity....
- Prostitution in QatarProstitution in QatarProstitution in Qatar is illegal and carries severe punishment of several years in prison. In 2007, the U.S. State Department categorized Qatar as a "Tier 2" in its annual Trafficking in Persons reports, because Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards trafficking elimination, but it...
- Prostitution in RussiaProstitution in RussiaProstitution in Russia is illegal, but it is not a serious crime. The maximum punishment for a prostitute is a fine up to 2000 rubles. However, organizing prostitution is punishable by a prison term.-Historical overview:...
- Prostitution in Saudi ArabiaProstitution in Saudi ArabiaProstitution in Saudi Arabia is strictly illegal. Prostitution is punishable by prison and flogging. Indeed adultery, fornication and sodomy are also crimes that a prostitute, or the client, could be charged with...
- Prostitution in SingaporeProstitution in SingaporeProstitution in Singapore is legal, but various prostitution-related activities are not. This includes public solicitation, living on the earnings of a prostitute and maintaining a brothel. In practice, police unofficially tolerate and monitor a limited number of brothels. Prostitutes in such...
- Prostitution in Sri LankaProstitution in Sri LankaProstitution in Sri Lanka is illegal, and prostitution has not become as severe a problem in Sri Lanka as in some neighboring countries.-External links:***...
- Prostitution in SyriaProstitution in SyriaProstitution in Syria is technically illegal. Beyond the practice of prostitution by an undisclosed number of Syrian women, many women fleeing the war in Iraq are practicing underworld prostitution for living...
- Prostitution in TaiwanProstitution in TaiwanProstitution in Taiwan remains illegal under a 1991 law, but is under active consideration of reform following a Constitutional Court decision that it violated the Constitution.- Japanese colonial rule :...
- Prostitution in ThailandProstitution in ThailandProstitution in Thailand is illegal, although in practice it is tolerated and partly regulated. Prostitution is practised openly throughout the country. Local officials with commercial interests in prostitution often protect the practice. The precise number of prostitutes is difficult to assess;...
- Prostitution in the United Arab EmiratesProstitution in the United Arab EmiratesProstitution in the United Arab Emirates is illegal, but attracts many foreign businessmen as the UAE is slowly gaining a reputation as one of the Middle East's sex tourism destinations...
- Prostitution in VietnamProstitution in VietnamProstitution in Vietnam is illegal.Prostitution is a major social issue that particularly affects women and children.Child prostitution is a problem. There are estimated to be at least 70,000 prostitutes in Vietnam, and 20,000 of these are children....
- Prostitution in YemenProstitution in YemenProstitution in Yemen is illegal, but many sex tourists from other gulf states indulge in what are known as "tourist marriages". The punishment for prostitution is 3 years of imprisonment. -External links:***...
Europe
The most common legal system in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
is that which allows prostitution itself (the exchange of sex for money) but prohibits associated activities (brothels, pimping, etc.).
In Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
it is illegal to pay for sex (the client commits a crime, but not the prostitute).
In the UK, it is illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute who has been "subjected to force" and this is a strict liability offense (clients can be prosecuted even if they didn’t know the prostitute was forced), although prostitution itself is not illegal.
In Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, prostitution is legal, The majority of women prostitutes are foreigners.
The enforcement of the anti-prostitution laws varies by country. One example is Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, brothels are illegal, but in practice they are tolerated, operate quite openly, and in some parts of the country the situation is similar with that from neighboring Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Prostitution is illegal in most of the ex-communist countries of Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. Here prostitution was outlawed by the former communist regimes and these countries chose to keep it illegal even after the fall of the Communists.
- Prostitution in Andorra
- Prostitution in AustriaProstitution in AustriaProstitution in Austria is legal and regulated. Most prostitutes are migrants, mainly from the former Eastern Bloc countries. According to a recent TAMPEP study, 78% of prostitutes are foreigners.- History :...
- Prostitution in Belarus
- Prostitution in the Czech RepublicProstitution in the Czech RepublicProstitution in the Czech Republic is not illegal, but organized prostitution is prohibited. The enforcement of these laws, however, can be lax...
- Prostitution in DenmarkProstitution in DenmarkProstitution in Denmark is legal, but third party activities such as operating brothels and other forms of procuring are illegal activities.-Legal status:...
- Prostitution in EstoniaProstitution in EstoniaProstitution in Estonia is, in itself, legal but organized prostitution is illegal. Since prostitution is a sensitive indicator that develops with changes in the social environment and the state, it is useful to divide the history of this phenomenon from Estonia's first independence according to...
- Prostitution in FranceProstitution in FranceProstitution in France is not illegal, but several surrounding activities are. These include soliciting, procuring, operating a brothel , living off the avails, and paying for sex with someone under the age of 18.During the Napoleonic era France became the model for the regulatory...
- Prostitution in GermanyProstitution in GermanyProstitution in Germany is legal, and so are brothels. In 2002, the government changed the law in an effort to improve the legal situation of prostitutes. However, the social stigmatization of prostitutes persists and many prostitutes continue to lead a double life...
- Prostitution in HungaryProstitution in HungaryProstitution in Hungary has been legalized and regulated by the government since 1999. Under the law, prostitutes are basically professionals who engage in sexual activities in exchange for money...
- Prostitution in IcelandProstitution in IcelandPaying for sex is illegal in Iceland. In April 2009, the Icelandic Parliament passed new legislation that makes paying for sex illegal ....
- Prostitution in the Republic of IrelandProstitution in the Republic of IrelandProstitution in the Republic of Ireland is, itself, legal, but most activities associated with it are illegal.-History:...
- Prostitution in ItalyProstitution in ItalyIn Italy prostituzione is not illegal, but organized prostitution is prohibited. Brothels became illegal in 1959...
- Prostitution in Lithuania
- Prostitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. In the last few years, a significant number of brothels and "windows" have been closed because of suspected criminal activity...
- Prostitution in PortugalProstitution in PortugalProstitution in Portugal is not illegal under the Penal Code ,but it is illegal for a third party to profit from, promote, encourage or facilitate the prostitution of another...
- Prostitution in RussiaProstitution in RussiaProstitution in Russia is illegal, but it is not a serious crime. The maximum punishment for a prostitute is a fine up to 2000 rubles. However, organizing prostitution is punishable by a prison term.-Historical overview:...
- Prostitution in SwedenProstitution in SwedenThe laws on prostitution in Sweden make it illegal to buy sexual services, but not to sell them. Pimping, procuring and operating a brothel are also illegal...
- Prostitution in SpainProstitution in SpainProstitution in Spain is not addressed by any specific law, but a number of activities related to it such as pimping are illegal.- Legal status :...
- Prostitution in TurkeyProstitution in TurkeyProstitution in Turkey is legal and regulated. Brothels are also legal. However, many local governments now have a policy of not issuing new registrations, and in some cities, such as Ankara and Bursa, brothels have been demolished by court order....
- Prostitution in UkraineProstitution in UkraineProstitution in Ukraine is illegal but widespread and largely ignored by the government. Sex tourism rose as the country attracted greater numbers of foreign tourists. On January 12, 2005 the Ukrainian parliament passed tougher criminal penalties for human trafficking and coerced prostitution...
- Prostitution in the United KingdomProstitution in the United KingdomIn the United Kingdom, prostitution itself is not a crime, but a number of related activities, including soliciting in a public place, kerb crawling, owning a brothel, pimping and pandering, are crimes....
North America
- Prostitution in BelizeProstitution in BelizeProstitution itself is not illegal in Belize, but associated activities such as operating a brothel, loitering for the purposes of prostitution and soliciting sex are illegal.-External links:***...
- Prostitution in CanadaProstitution in CanadaIn Canada, the buying and selling of sexual services are not illegal, but most surrounding activities, such as public communication for the purpose of prostitution, brothels and procuring are outlawed....
- Prostitution in Costa RicaProstitution in Costa RicaIn Costa Rica, prostitution is not illegal, but the Penal Code prohibits individuals from promoting or facilitating the prostitution ....
- Prostitution in Cuba
- Prostitution in the Dominican RepublicProstitution in the Dominican RepublicProstitution in the Dominican Republic is legal, but a third party may not derive financial gain from prostitution . However, the government usually does not enforce prostitution laws....
- Prostitution in El SalvadorProstitution in El SalvadorIn El Salvador, prostitution itself is not illegal, but the law prohibits inducing, facilitating, promoting or giving incentives to a person to work as a prostitute . The prostitution of children is illegal. Prostitution is common in San Salvador.Child prostitution is a problem...
- Prostitution in GuatemalaProstitution in GuatemalaIn Guatemala, prostitution itself is not illegal, but procuring is prohibited . International tourists travel to Guatemala to engage in child sex tourism, especially in areas such as Antigua and Guatemala City....
- Prostitution in HaitiProstitution in HaitiProstitution in Haiti is illegal but the country used to be a premier destination in the 1970s for sex tourism for adults. Since the 1940's, prostitution rings made up of Dominican women have circulated about the capital and today, are found in Pétionville....
- Prostitution in HondurasProstitution in HondurasIn Honduras, prostitution itself is not illegal, but facilitating and promoting the prostitution of another are illegal . Honduras, like many Latin American countries, has to deal with child sex tourism....
- Prostitution in JamaicaProstitution in Jamaica-Prostitution in practice:Female prostitutes solicit from their homes or join customers in their hotel rooms or private homes. A number of prostitutes dance in adult night clubs and a percentage of them are from other countries. These imported prostitutes work in the more sophisticated night clubs...
- Prostitution in MexicoProstitution in MexicoProstitution in Mexico is legal, but the laws vary by state; 18 of the 32 states of Mexico regulate prostitution. Prostitution involving minors under 18 is illegal, but such activities are common and represent a serious problem. Some Mexican cities have enacted tolerance zones which allow...
- Prostitution in NicaraguaProstitution in NicaraguaIn Nicaragua, prostitution itself is not illegal, but it is heavily discouraged by the law .Prostitution is common in Managua. Prostitutes work on the streets, in nightclubs and bars, or in massage parlors....
- Prostitution in PanamaProstitution in PanamaProstitution in Panama is legal and regulated. Prostitutes are required to register and carry identification cards.However, the majority of prostitutes are not registered; 2,650 sex workers were registered with the government in 2008, but there was no accurate information regarding the total number...
- Prostitution in Trinidad and TobagoProstitution in Trinidad and TobagoProstitution in Trinidad and Tobago is illegal.Like Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, it has a reputation for attracting female sex tourism, which some believe has contributed to the rise in AIDS on the islands.-External links:***...
United States
Prostitution laws in the United States are determined at the state level. The practice is illegal in all but one of its 50 states.Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
is the only US state which allows some legal prostitution in some of its counties. Currently 8 out of Nevada's 16 counties have active brothels. Prostitution outside these brothels is illegal throughout the state; prostitution is illegal in the major metropolitan areas (Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, and Carson City). Prostitution is heavily regulated by the state of Nevada. See Prostitution in Nevada
Prostitution in Nevada
Nevada is the only U.S. state to allow some legal prostitution, in the form of regulated brothels. Prostitution outside these licensed brothels is illegal....
.
South America
- Prostitution in ArgentinaProstitution in ArgentinaIn Argentina, prostitution itself is legal, but organized prostitution is illegal. The 2008 Human Rights Report of the US Department of State stated that trafficking of women to and within the country for prostitution was a problem...
- Prostitution in BoliviaProstitution in BoliviaIn Bolivia, prostitution is legal and regulated.Prostitutes must register and must undergo regular health checks for sexually transmitted diseases...
- Prostitution in BrazilProstitution in BrazilProstitution itself in Brazil is legal, as there are no laws forbidding adult prostitution, but it is illegal to operate a brothel or to employ prostitutes in any other way.-Extent:...
- Prostitution in ChileProstitution in ChileAlthough adult prostitution is legal in Chile, bordellos are not. Several hundred women were registered as prostitutes with the National Health Service. Police often detained prostitutes on charges of "offenses against morality," which could lead to a 50,000 pesos fine or five days in prison...
- Prostitution in ColombiaProstitution in ColombiaProstitution in Colombia is legal as long as it is done in designated "tolerance zones". Prostitution is widespread and exacerbated by poverty and internal displacement...
- Prostitution in EcuadorProstitution in EcuadorProstitution in Ecuador is legal and regulated, as long as the prostitute is over the age of 18. The ownership of brothels is also permitted. Prostitution is widespread throughout the country.-Child prostitution:...
- Prostitution in GuyanaProstitution in GuyanaProstitution in Guyana is illegal.Prostitution continues to receive greater public attention due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among prostitutes....
- Prostitution in ParaguayProstitution in ParaguayProstitution in Paraguay is legal for persons over the age of 18. Prostitution is common in the country.Child prostitution is a problem. Poor children are trafficked from rural areas to urban centers such as Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, and...
- Prostitution in PeruProstitution in Peru-Legal situation:Prostitution is legal for women over 18 years of age if they register with municipal authorities and carry a health certificate. Brothels must be licensed....
- Prostitution in SurinameProstitution in Suriname-External links:****...
- Prostitution in UruguayProstitution in UruguayProstitution in Uruguay is legal for persons over the age of 18. Prostitution is common and it is practiced openly in major cities and tourist resorts....
- Prostitution in VenezuelaProstitution in VenezuelaProstitution in Venezuela is legal and regulated. The punishment for involving minors in prostitution is 3 to 6 years. The Criminal Code prohibits inducing the prostitution or corruption of minors. Punishment is imprisonment for 3 to 18 months. The penalty is doubled if the perpetrator first...