Prostitution in Africa
Encyclopedia
Prostitution
in Africa
is illegal in most countries. Nevertheless, it is frequently common in practice, driven by the widespread poverty
in many sub-Saharan Africa
n countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of AIDS
in Africa. Social breakdown caused by civil war
or economic collapse
in several African countries has caused further increases in the rate of prostitution in those countries.
Transactional sexual relationships are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa, where they often involve relationships between older men and younger women or girls. In many cases, the woman in a transactional sexual relationship may remain faithful to her boyfriend, while he may have multiple sexual partners. In other cases, the woman may have multiple partners. In both of these cases, transactional sex presents an increased risk of HIV
infection. As a result, transactional sex is a factor involved in the spread of AIDS in Africa.
, and the main opposition leader are in favor of the initiative, while the Catholic Church is opposed.
is illegal but attracts sex tourism
from the west especially for child prostitution. The Cameroonian government has attempted to stop this trade by agreeing to multi-laterial agreements such as charters against sex tourism, like signing up with the Universal Federation of Travels Agents Associations (UFTAA).
prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but associated activities such as soliciting, pandering or running brothels are illegal. The civil war has left many women in need for wages, so some have resorted to prostitution, as there is high unemployment.
is legal, but procuring
(operating brothels, benefiting from prostitution, etc.) is illegal according to Article 634 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, as revised May 2005. Many feel it has contributed to the increased incidence of AIDS
.
Like its neighbor, Sierra Leone, child prostitution has seen an increase in the aftermath of a civil war.
since the 1970s,
but is widespread
and legalisation is under discussion.
Morocco is a one of the premier destinations for child sex tourism
in Africa.
The country is considered as tier 2.
Many children are vulnerable as adoption laws in Morocco are very rigid and difficult which is made worse if the child is female because of preference for boys. Morocco's increasing reputation for attracting foreign pedophiles made it sign various international treaties to deal with the problem.
Male prostitution exists but is stigmatised.
Health services for Moroccan sex workers include OPALS.
is legal and regulated. Prostitutes must be at least 21 years of age, register with the police, carry a valid sanitary card, and test negative for sexually transmitted infections. NGOs working with prostitutes claim that the police abuses prostitutes. .
in Sierra Leone
, there has been an increase in child prostitution, especially among children who are struggling to survive. This is happening in spite of the fact that prostitution is illegal in the country.
.
is illegal but since the increase of famine in the country prostitution has thrived.
Côte d'Ivoire:
Ethiopia:
The Gambia
Ghana
Liberia:
Morocco:
Nigeria:
Senegal:
Zimbabwe:
Sierra Leone
Zambia
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...
in 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...
is illegal in most countries. Nevertheless, it is frequently common in practice, 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 AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in Africa. Social breakdown 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....
or economic collapse
Economic collapse
There is no precise definition of an economic collapse. While some might consider a a severe, prolonged depression with high bankruptcy rates and high unemployment an economic collapse, others would additionally look for a breakdown in normal commerce, such as hyperinfalation, or even a sharp...
in several African countries has caused further increases in the rate of prostitution in those countries.
Transactional sexual relationships are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa, where they often involve relationships between older men and younger women or girls. In many cases, the woman in a transactional sexual relationship may remain faithful to her boyfriend, while he may have multiple sexual partners. In other cases, the woman may have multiple partners. In both of these cases, transactional sex presents an increased risk of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infection. As a result, transactional sex is a factor involved in the spread of AIDS in Africa.
Botswana
Prostitution is illegal in Botswana, but is neverthelss common. Legalization is currently being discussed as a means of lowering HIV infection rates, which are among the highest in the world. Both the head of the National AIDS Council, Festus MogaeFestus Mogae
Festus Gontebanye Mogae is a Botswana politician who was President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was reelected in October 2004; after ten years in office, he stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Ian Khama...
, and the main opposition leader are in favor of the initiative, while the Catholic Church is opposed.
Cameroon
Prostitution in CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
is illegal but attracts 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...
from the west especially for child prostitution. The Cameroonian government has attempted to stop this trade by agreeing to multi-laterial agreements such as charters against sex tourism, like signing up with the Universal Federation of Travels Agents Associations (UFTAA).
Côte d'Ivoire
In Côte d'IvoireCôte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but associated activities such as soliciting, pandering or running brothels are illegal. The civil war has left many women in need for wages, so some have resorted to prostitution, as there is high unemployment.
Ethiopia
Prostitution in EthiopiaEthiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
is legal, but procuring
Procuring
Procuring may refer to:* Procurement, a business process to acquire goods or services* Procuring , the act of aiding a prostitute in the arrangement of a sex act with a customer...
(operating brothels, benefiting from prostitution, etc.) is illegal according to Article 634 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, as revised May 2005. Many feel it has contributed to the increased incidence of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
Liberia
Prostitution is illegal in LiberiaLiberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
Like its neighbor, Sierra Leone, child prostitution has seen an increase in the aftermath of a civil war.
Morocco
Prostitution has been illegal in MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
since the 1970s,
but is widespread
and legalisation is under discussion.
Morocco is a one of the premier destinations for child sex tourism
Child sex tourism
Child sex tourism is tourism for the purpose of engaging in the prostitution of children, that is commercially-facilitated child sexual abuse...
in Africa.
The country is considered as tier 2.
Many children are vulnerable as adoption laws in Morocco are very rigid and difficult which is made worse if the child is female because of preference for boys. Morocco's increasing reputation for attracting foreign pedophiles made it sign various international treaties to deal with the problem.
Male prostitution exists but is stigmatised.
Health services for Moroccan sex workers include OPALS.
Senegal
Prostitution in SenegalSenegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
is legal and regulated. Prostitutes must be at least 21 years of age, register with the police, carry a valid sanitary card, and test negative for sexually transmitted infections. NGOs working with prostitutes claim that the police abuses prostitutes. .
Sierra Leone
Since the end of the ten-year civil warSierra Leone Civil War
The Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, there has been an increase in child prostitution, especially among children who are struggling to survive. This is happening in spite of the fact that prostitution is illegal in the country.
Zambia
Prostitution in Zambia is illegal but Zambia has a huge problem relating to child prostitution. There is a mistaken belief having intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
Zimbabwe
Prostitution in ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
is illegal but since the increase of famine in the country prostitution has thrived.
Other
External links
Cameroon:- Protecting the "unattached" girls of Cameroon
- Cameroon tackles sex tourism
- Living With Bandits, Feymen And Prostitutes In Bamenda
- Selling to Survive in Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire:
- Ivory Coast's Prostitutes Learn to Live with AIDS
- Young West African Girls Face Perils of Prostitution, Trafficking
- IVORY COAST: War, Prostitution Fuel AIDS Epidemic in Ivory Coast
Ethiopia:
The Gambia
- Gambia retrains "bumsters" to shake sex tourism tag
- Child sex tourism and exploitation increasing in The Gambia
- Bureau of International Labor Affairs
- Globalization of sex trade
- European paedophiles flock to Gambian 'Smiling Coast'
- Gambia: High Spate of Prostitution in The Muslim Country
Ghana
- The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality
- Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation
- Child Prostitution The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
- Legalizing prostitution – Morality vrs. Reality
- Poverty in Ghana driving children into prostitution
- HIV–AIDS is not an excuse to legalise prostitution in Ghana
- Sex girls try to score with footie fans
- GHANA: Profile of a child sex worker
Liberia:
- Aid staff abusing Liberian children, charity says
- U.N. Faces More Accusations of Sexual Misconduct
- UN Report
Morocco:
- Saudi Ban Moroccan Women to perform hajj
- On Moroccan Women and Prostitution
- Concern Over Prostitution
Nigeria:
- Nigerian college students: HIV knowledge, perceived susceptibility for HIV and sexual behaviors
- A job to die for
- Nigeria Is Spared the Worst of AIDS, but Experts Wonder for How Long
- Deaths in the desert (2)
Senegal:
- Senegal: Prostitution - Frontline of the War to Contain HIV
- AIDS is no problem among Senegal's legal prostitutes
- SENEGAL'S SUCCESS
- Senegal's aggressive AIDS strategy saves thousands from infection
Zimbabwe:
- Harare elite driven into prostitution
- Zimbabwe clamps down on male hookers
- Teachers sell sex to buy food as Mugabe cronies get richer
Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone's Children are Pushed onto Streets
- Young West African Girls Face Perils of Prostitution, Trafficking
- Sierra Leone's forgotten 'bush wives'
- Prostitution and Lesbianism among Teenagers in Sierra Leone
Zambia