Prostitution laws in VanuatuRipablik blong Vanuatu
In Vanuatu, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves. Section 101 of the Penal Code (Cap. 135) makes it an offence, punishable by five years, to procure, aid or facilitate the prostitution of another person, to share in the proceeds of such prostitution 'whether habitual or otherwise', or to be subsidised by any person engaging in prostitution; there is no separate brothel offence, but running premises for others would fall under 'facilitate'. Behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in a public place for the purpose of prostitution, and soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, carry three months (s. 148). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
Exchanging sex for money is not an offence, but s. 101 of the Penal Code (Cap. 135) prohibits procuring, aiding or facilitating the prostitution of another person, sharing in its proceeds or being subsidised by a person engaging in prostitution (five years), and s. 148 penalises disorderly or indecent behaviour in public for the purpose of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes in public (three months).[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | Selling sex is not an offence. A person who behaves in a disorderly or indecent manner in any public place for the purpose of prostitution, or who solicits for immoral purposes in any public place, is liable to three months' imprisonment.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No offence of paying an adult for sex was found; s. 101B criminalises participating as a client in an act of child prostitution. The public soliciting offence in s. 148(d) is not limited to sellers.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | There is no brothel-specific offence, but procuring, aiding or facilitating the prostitution of another person carries five years, which covers running or providing premises for other people's sex work.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | No person may procure, aid or facilitate the prostitution of another person, share in the proceeds of such prostitution, whether habitual or otherwise, or be subsidised by any person engaging in prostitution: five years.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. Advertising another person's sexual services could amount to aiding or facilitating their prostitution under s. 101; a sex worker's own advertising is not addressed.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is not an offence. A person who behaves in a disorderly or indecent manner in any public place for the purpose of prostitution, or who solicits for immoral purposes in any public place, is liable to three months' imprisonment.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No offence of paying an adult for sex was found; s. 101B criminalises participating as a client in an act of child prostitution. The public soliciting offence in s. 148(d) is not limited to sellers.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
There is no brothel-specific offence, but procuring, aiding or facilitating the prostitution of another person carries five years, which covers running or providing premises for other people's sex work.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked. Application of 'facilitate' to premises is an inference from the wording.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
No person may procure, aid or facilitate the prostitution of another person, share in the proceeds of such prostitution, whether habitual or otherwise, or be subsidised by any person engaging in prostitution: five years.[1]
Confidence: medium. Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. Advertising another person's sexual services could amount to aiding or facilitating their prostitution under s. 101; a sex worker's own advertising is not addressed.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Penal Code [Cap 135], Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu, Consolidated Edition 2006 Penal Code, Chapter 135 (Consolidated Edition 2006) s. 101 · ss. 101A-101D · s. 148 | Prostitution offence covering procuring, facilitating and sharing in proceeds (s. 101), child prostitution offences (ss. 101A-101D) and idle and disorderly conduct, including public soliciting (s. 148).[1] |
Sources
- Penal Code [Cap 135], Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu, Consolidated Edition 2006. Republic of Vanuatu (copy hosted by WIPO Lex). legislation · accessed 30 October 2026