{ "name": "Prostitution Laws: Europe", "license": "CC BY 4.0", "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/", "generated": "2026-10-30", "countries": [ { "iso2": "AF", "name": "Afghanistan", "nativeName": "افغانستان", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Since August 2021 the de facto (Taliban) authorities have suspended the 2004 Constitution and apply their interpretation of Hanafi Sharia, under which zina (any sexual intercourse outside marriage) is a hudud crime. The status of the Republic-era laws, including the 2017 Penal Code, remained unknown as of 2023. Selling and buying sex both fall within the general zina offence; this is the general extramarital-sex offence, not a prostitution-specific law.", "modelSources": [ "af-unama-2023" ], "summary": "Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has had no published, codified law on prostitution that could be checked. The de facto authorities suspended the 2004 Constitution and Republic-era laws pending review, and say Sharia is the applicable framework. Sex outside marriage (zina) is treated as a hudud crime. UNAMA documented a sharp rise in judicial floggings after November 2022, mostly for zina, adultery and \"running away from home\", typically 30 to 39 lashes and sometimes up to 100. Before 2021, the 2017 Penal Code punished zina with long-term imprisonment where it was not punished as hudud. Every party to commercial sex, including third parties, therefore faces corporal punishment and imprisonment.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is sex outside marriage and so falls under zina, which the de facto courts punish with public flogging and imprisonment. UNAMA reports that all women and girls flogged between August 2021 and November 2022 had reportedly been convicted of zina, adultery or \"running away from home\".", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No statute or decree of the de facto authorities on prostitution could be opened, and UNAMA notes that the legal status of Republic-era laws is unknown. This entry relies on UNAMA's reporting of court practice.", "mapLabel": "flogging" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The client commits zina in the same way as the seller. UNAMA has documented men and women flogged together after zina convictions by de facto courts.", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on UNAMA's reporting of punishments for zina; no buyer-specific provision was found.", "mapLabel": "flogging" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No published rule specific to brothels under the de facto authorities was found. Any premises for commercial sex would involve zina and fall under the moral policing of the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023", "af-unama-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No official text could be checked; this is an inference from the general zina prohibition and moral-oversight practice described by UNAMA." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No published provision of the de facto authorities on procuring was found. Facilitating sex outside marriage is treated as an \"immoral act\"; UNAMA reports that officials outside the courts, including vice-and-virtue officers and police, also lashed people, most commonly for zina and \"immoral acts\".", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No official text could be checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Offering sex for payment would be an offer to commit zina. The de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice also imposes restrictions on media content. No rule specific to sexual-services advertising was found.", "sources": [ "af-unama-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, reportedly approved by the Taliban leader in early 2024, had not been published when UNAMA's July 2024 report was written, and its text was not checked here." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "af-unama-2023", "titleEn": "Penal Code 2017, as described by UNAMA", "relevance": "Republic-era code: zina punished by long-term imprisonment where not punished as hudud (Arts 426-427), with hudud left to Hanafi jurisprudence (Art. 3). Its validity under the de facto authorities is unknown.", "provisions": [ "Art. 3", "Art. 426", "Art. 427" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2021-08-15", "event": "The Taliban take Kabul. The de facto authorities later announce that the 2004 Constitution and Republic-era laws are suspended pending a review of their compliance with Sharia.", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023" ] }, { "date": "2022-11-13", "event": "A de facto spokesperson reports the Taliban leader instructing judges to apply hudud and qisas punishments. UNAMA records a significant increase in judicial floggings afterwards, mostly for zina, adultery and \"running away from home\".", "sources": [ "af-unama-2023" ] }, { "date": "2024-07", "event": "UNAMA reports on the moral oversight exercised by the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, including restrictions on media and on women's movement.", "sources": [ "af-unama-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "af-unama-2023", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Corporal Punishment and the Death Penalty in Afghanistan", "publisher": "United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Human Rights Service", "url": "https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/hr_brief_on_cpdp_03052023-_english_0.pdf", "published": "2023-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "af-unama-2024", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "De Facto Authorities' Moral Oversight in Afghanistan: Impacts on Human Rights", "publisher": "United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)", "url": "https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/moral_oversight_report_english_final.pdf", "published": "2024-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/afghanistan/" }, { "iso2": "AL", "name": "Albania", "nativeName": "Shqipëria", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Both selling and paying for sex are criminal offences under Article 113 of the Criminal Code (fine or up to three years). Buyers were added in 2012. Exploiting prostitution and keeping premises for it are separate, heavier crimes.", "modelSources": [ "al-kp" ], "summary": "Albania criminalises both parties. Article 113 of the Criminal Code punishes engaging in prostitution with a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, and since Law No. 23/2012 the same penalty applies to giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit, that is, to buyers. Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution carries two to five years (seven to fifteen in aggravated cases), and keeping, operating, financing or renting premises for prostitution a fine or up to ten years. Law No. 8/2026 of 28 January 2026 amended Article 114 and added a separate offence of exploiting the prostitution of minors. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution (\"ushtrimi i prostitucionit\") is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "neni 113 par. 1 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "al-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit is punishable by a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, the same as selling. The paragraph was added by Law No. 23/2012.", "provisions": [ "neni 113 par. 2 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "al-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, operating, financing or renting out premises for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to ten years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "neni 115 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "al-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution is punishable by two to five years; seven to fifteen years where committed against several people, by relatives or guardians, by abuse of office, jointly, repeatedly or by public officials. Exploiting the prostitution of minors is a separate offence since 2026.", "provisions": [ "neni 114 Kodi Penal", "neni 114/a/1 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "al-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the Criminal Code. Advertising on behalf of a third party may amount to inducement or mediation under Article 114; an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the Article 113 offence.", "provisions": [ "neni 114 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "al-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; media and electronic communications law was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "al-kp", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 27 January 1995, as amended)", "relevance": "Articles 113–115 criminalise selling, buying, exploitation of prostitution and keeping premises for it.", "provisions": [ "neni 113", "neni 114", "neni 114/a/1", "neni 115" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-03-01", "event": "Law No. 23/2012 adds a second paragraph to Article 113, making paying for prostitution an offence.", "sources": [ "al-kp" ] }, { "date": "2026-01-28", "event": "Law No. 8/2026 amends Article 114 and adds Article 114/a/1 on exploiting the prostitution of minors.", "sources": [ "al-kp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "al-kp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ligj nr. 7895, datë 27.1.1995 \"Kodi Penal i Republikës së Shqipërisë\" (i ndryshuar, deri me ligjin nr. 8/2026)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania (consolidated, including Law No. 8/2026)", "publisher": "Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare", "url": "https://qbz.gov.al/preview/a2b117e6-69b2-4355-aa49-78967c31bf4d", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sq" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/albania/" }, { "iso2": "DZ", "name": "Algeria", "nativeName": "الجزائر", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Borderline. The Penal Code, as reproduced in the consolidations consulted, has no offence of selling or buying sex in private and no general offence of sex outside marriage (only adultery, on a spouse's complaint). It criminalises public soliciting (Article 347), procuring (Articles 343–344) and premises where prostitution is tolerated (Articles 346 and 348). UN gender-justice reviews describe prostitution as illegal; this classification follows the statutory text, and enforcement practice was not checked.", "modelSources": [ "dz-cp", "dz-undp" ], "summary": "Algeria's Penal Code (Ordinance No. 66-156 of 1966) targets the organisation and visibility of prostitution rather than the private sale of sex. Publicly soliciting people to debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means carries six months to two years (Article 347). Aiding or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, living with a person who habitually engages in it, recruiting or acting as an intermediary carries two to five years (Article 343), and five to ten years in aggravated cases (Article 344). Owners and managers of hotels, bars and other places open to the public who tolerate prostitution there face two to five years, loss of licence and closure (Article 346). Paying for sex is not a specific offence. UN reviews nonetheless describe prostitution as illegal. The official consolidated text could not be opened for this overview.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The Penal Code does not make selling sex in private an offence, but publicly soliciting people of either sex to debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means is punishable by six months to two years and a fine of 1,000 to 20,000 dinars (Article 347).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 347" ], "sources": [ "dz-cp", "dz-undp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Ministry of Justice legal portal (droit.mjustice.gov.dz) could not be reached; the text was read from an unofficial consolidation and a UNDP review. The UNDP review states that prostitution is illegal; how sex workers are prosecuted in practice was not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes paying an adult for sex an offence, and consensual sex between unmarried adults is not criminalised. A married client may be prosecuted for adultery (one to two years) only on the complaint of the offended spouse (Article 339).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 339" ], "sources": [ "dz-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation; the official text could not be opened." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who owns, manages, runs or finances a hotel, furnished house, bar, restaurant, club, dance hall or any place open to the public and habitually tolerates prostitution or the search for clients there faces two to five years and a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 dinars, loss of licence and closure for at least a year (Article 346). Tolerating habitual clandestine prostitution in private premises one controls carries two to five years (Article 348).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 346", "Code pénal art. 348" ], "sources": [ "dz-cp", "dz-undp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation; the official text could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Article 343 punishes with two to five years anyone who knowingly aids, assists or protects another's prostitution, shares in its proceeds, lives with a person who habitually engages in it, cannot justify their lifestyle while in habitual relations with such persons, recruits a person even with consent, or acts as an intermediary. Aggravating circumstances (minors, coercion, several victims, among others) raise this to five to ten years (Article 344).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 343", "Code pénal art. 344" ], "sources": [ "dz-cp", "dz-undp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation; the official text could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific advertising offence, but public soliciting \"by writings or any other means\" is punishable under Article 347, and aiding or protecting another's prostitution \"in any manner\" is procuring under Article 343(1).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 343(1)", "Code pénal art. 347" ], "sources": [ "dz-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation. Whether and how these provisions are applied to online advertisements or hosting sites was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "dz-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Ordinance No. 66-156 of 8 June 1966), as amended", "relevance": "Articles 342 to 349 cover the corruption of minors, procuring, premises tolerating prostitution and public soliciting; Article 339 covers adultery.", "provisions": [ "art. 339", "art. 342–349" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1966-06-08", "event": "Penal Code adopted by Ordinance No. 66-156.", "sources": [ "dz-cp" ] }, { "date": "1975-06-17", "event": "Ordinance No. 75-47 rewrites the procuring offence (Article 343) and the offence of tolerating prostitution in private premises (Article 348).", "sources": [ "dz-cp" ] }, { "date": "1982-02-13", "event": "Law No. 82-04 rewrites the offences on establishments tolerating prostitution (Article 346) and public soliciting (Article 347).", "sources": [ "dz-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "dz-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal algérien (Ordonnance n° 66-156 du 8 juin 1966), version consolidée", "titleEn": "Algerian Penal Code (Ordinance No. 66-156 of 8 June 1966), consolidated version", "publisher": "algdz.com (unofficial consolidation based on the Ministry of Justice text)", "url": "https://www.algdz.com/fr/politique/lois-et-reglementations/code-penal", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "dz-undp", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Algeria: Gender Justice & The Law", "publisher": "UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and UN ESCWA", "url": "https://www.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/algeria-adjusted.pdf", "published": "2018", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/algeria/" }, { "iso2": "AD", "name": "Andorra", "nativeName": "Andorra", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Public Security Law 30/2018 prohibits soliciting or obtaining sexual relations from a person engaged in prostitution in exchange for payment and makes it a serious administrative infringement for the client; the person selling is not sanctioned. The Penal Code criminalises running or financing a prostitution establishment, any promotion or facilitation of another's prostitution, and its online publicity. Because the client sanction is administrative rather than criminal, Andorra is a variant of the Nordic model.", "modelSources": [ "ad-llei-30-2018", "ad-codi-penal" ], "summary": "Andorra sanctions the client, not the seller. Since Llei 30/2018 qualificada de seguretat pública entered into force in 2019, soliciting or obtaining paid sexual relations is a serious administrative infringement (fine of €501–1,000 in the consolidated text). The Penal Code (Llei 9/2005) punishes running or financing a prostitution establishment (art. 150) and recruiting for, promoting, facilitating or favouring another person's prostitution (art. 151, three months to three years), with a higher penalty for promoting or publicising prostitution through the media or the internet. Coercive procuring is punished under art. 152. In July 2026 the Consell General adopted a Penal Code reform that, according to press reports, adds an offence of facilitating sexual services in the digital environment; its final text was not reviewed.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence for the person selling. The 2018 Public Security Law presents itself as incorporating a 'legal prohibition of prostitution', but its sanction falls only on the person who solicits or obtains paid sex. Any third-party help, venue or publicity is criminal.", "provisions": [ "Llei 30/2018 art. 31", "Codi penal arts. 150–152" ], "sources": [ "ad-llei-30-2018", "ad-codi-penal", "ad-3cat-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Soliciting or obtaining sexual relations from a person engaged in prostitution, even occasionally, in exchange for payment, a promise of payment or a benefit in kind is prohibited (Llei 30/2018 art. 31) and is a serious infringement (art. 51(h)), fined €501–1,000 (art. 53(2)).", "details": "Using a minor or person with a disability in prostitution is a crime (Codi penal art. 154, one to five years). The government's March 2026 bill proposed fines of €501–1,500 for consumers who request and pay for interactive, personalised sexual content online, treating it as prostitution; press reports on the law adopted on 15 July 2026 say the Consell General kept a definition limited to physical prostitution (see pending).", "provisions": [ "Llei 30/2018 arts. 31, 51(h), 53(2)", "Codi penal art. 154" ], "sources": [ "ad-llei-30-2018", "ad-llei-30-2018-consolidated", "ad-codi-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "€1,000 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who runs or finances a prostitution establishment faces three months to three years' imprisonment and disqualification from managing hotel, restaurant or leisure businesses for up to five years (Codi penal art. 150). Where the offender profits, a fine of up to €30,000, or three times the profit, is added (art. 153).", "provisions": [ "Codi penal arts. 150, 153" ], "sources": [ "ad-codi-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Recruiting for prostitution, or promoting, facilitating or favouring another person's prostitution, is punishable by three months to three years (art. 151(1)), regardless of consent. Using violence, intimidation, deception or abuse of a position of need or dependence to make someone engage in prostitution carries two to five years (art. 152). Penalties rise for organised groups (art. 460).", "provisions": [ "Codi penal arts. 151, 152, 153, 157 bis, 460" ], "sources": [ "ad-codi-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Cited from the government's unofficial consolidated text, which does not yet include the reform adopted on 15 July 2026; that reform may have amended this chapter." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting, publicising, facilitating, disseminating or inciting prostitution through the media, the internet or other information technologies so that it becomes accessible to a large number of people is punished with the art. 151 penalty in its upper half (art. 151(2)). This covers ad sites and other online intermediaries.", "details": "Art. 151(2), unlike art. 151(1), does not refer to 'the prostitution of another', so its wording does not clearly exclude self-advertising by a sex worker; no case law was found. The July 2026 reform reportedly adds a specific offence of facilitating the provision of sexual services in the digital environment, aimed at platforms.", "provisions": [ "Codi penal art. 151(2)" ], "sources": [ "ad-codi-penal", "ad-radiovalira-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Consolidated text predates the July 2026 reform; the new digital-facilitation offence is known only from press reports." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ad-codi-penal", "titleEn": "Qualified Law 9/2005 of 21 February on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Chapter on offences relating to prostitution: establishments, facilitation and online publicity, coercive procuring, child prostitution, trafficking.", "provisions": [ "arts. 150–154 bis, 157 bis, 460" ] }, { "sourceId": "ad-llei-30-2018", "titleEn": "Qualified Law 30/2018 of 6 December on Public Security", "relevance": "Prohibits soliciting or obtaining paid sexual relations and fines the client as a serious administrative infringement.", "provisions": [ "arts. 31, 51(h), 53" ], "inForce": "2019-04" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "codi-penal-reform-2026", "title": "Projecte de llei qualificada de modificació del Codi penal (online sexual offences, age of consent, digital facilitation of sexual services)", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-07-15", "next": { "what": "Publication in the BOPA and entry into force; final wording of the prostitution provisions to be checked" }, "summary": "Approved by the government in March 2026, the bill would have treated paid sexual content with direct interaction (e.g. personalised requests on subscription platforms) as prostitution and fined consumers. The Consell General adopted the reform on 15 July 2026; press reports say it kept the definition of prostitution limited to physical prostitution, created an offence of facilitating sexual services in the digital environment and raised the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16.", "sources": [ "ad-3cat-2026", "ad-radiovalira-2026", "ad-elperiodic-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2005-02-21", "event": "Penal Code (Qualified Law 9/2005) adopted, with a chapter on offences relating to prostitution.", "sources": [ "ad-codi-penal" ] }, { "date": "2019-01-10", "event": "Public Security Law 30/2018 published in the BOPA; its ban on soliciting paid sexual relations takes effect three months later.", "sources": [ "ad-llei-30-2018" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-15", "event": "Consell General adopts a Penal Code reform including a new offence of facilitating sexual services in the digital environment.", "sources": [ "ad-radiovalira-2026", "ad-elperiodic-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ad-codi-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Llei 9/2005, del 21 de febrer, qualificada del Codi penal (Text refós sense caràcter oficial)", "titleEn": "Qualified Law 9/2005 of 21 February on the Penal Code (unofficial consolidated text)", "publisher": "Govern d'Andorra – Portal Jurídic d'Andorra", "url": "https://portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2005009", "published": "2005-02-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "ad-llei-30-2018", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Llei 30/2018, del 6 de desembre, qualificada de seguretat pública (BOPA núm. 3, 10 de gener del 2019)", "titleEn": "Qualified Law 30/2018 of 6 December on Public Security", "publisher": "Consell General d'Andorra", "url": "https://www.consellgeneral.ad/fitxers/documents/lleis-2018/llei-30-2018-qualificada-de-seguretat-publica", "published": "2019-01-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "ad-llei-30-2018-consolidated", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Llei 30/2018, del 6 de desembre, qualificada de seguretat pública (Text refós sense caràcter oficial)", "titleEn": "Qualified Law 30/2018 on Public Security (unofficial consolidated text)", "publisher": "Govern d'Andorra – Portal Jurídic d'Andorra", "url": "https://portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2018030", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "ad-3cat-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Andorra considerarà prostitució demanar i pagar per contingut sexual a plataformes com OnlyFans", "titleEn": "Andorra will treat requesting and paying for sexual content on platforms such as OnlyFans as prostitution", "publisher": "3Cat", "url": "https://www.3cat.cat/3catinfo/andorra-considerara-prostitucio-demanar-i-pagar-per-contingut-sexual-a-plataformes-com-onlyfans/noticia/3401254/", "published": "2026-03-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "ad-radiovalira-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "El Consell General eleva el consentiment sexual als 16 anys", "titleEn": "The Consell General raises the age of sexual consent to 16", "publisher": "Ràdio Valira", "url": "https://radiovalira.ad/2026/07/15/el-consell-general-eleva-ledat-de-consentiment-sexual-als-16-anys/", "published": "2026-07-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "ad-elperiodic-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "La cambra eleva l'edat de consentiment sexual fins als 16 anys i reforça la 'lluita' contra la pornografia infantil", "titleEn": "Parliament raises the age of sexual consent to 16 and steps up the fight against child pornography", "publisher": "El Periòdic d'Andorra", "url": "https://elperiodic.ad/politica/la-cambra-eleva-ledat-de-consentiment-sexual-fins-als-16-anys-i-reforca-la-lluita-contra-la-pornografia-infantil/", "published": "2026-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/andorra/" }, { "iso2": "AO", "name": "Angola", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "This is a borderline case. The 2020 Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex, and its lenocínio offence (art. 189) is narrower than in most abolitionist systems. Promoting or facilitating another's prostitution for profit is a crime only where the offender exploits economic need or particular vulnerability, or uses violence, threat or fraud. Consensual, non-exploitative organisation is therefore not expressly criminalised, but there is no licensing or labour regime either.", "modelSources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "summary": "Angola's Penal Code, approved by Lei n.º 38/20 of 11 November 2020 and in force since February 2021, replaced the Portuguese Penal Code of 1886. It contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Lenocínio (art. 189) punishes promoting, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution for profit only where the offender exploits economic need or particular vulnerability, or coerces through violence, threat or fraud. The penalty is one to eight years, rising to five to ten years for exploiting mental incapacity or doing so as a profession. Luring or coercing a person into prostitution abroad is sexual trafficking (art. 190). Any involvement of persons under 18 is separately criminalised (arts. 195–197).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the 2020 Penal Code makes it an offence for an adult to sell sex. The general offence of sexual importuning (art. 191: explicit sexual proposals, exhibitionism or forced sexual contact; up to three years or a fine) is not specific to sex work.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 38/20) arts. 189–191" ], "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Diário da República text (I Série n.º 179, 11 November 2020) as hosted by Angola's Serviço de Investigação Criminal. Later amendments to the Code were not checked. Administrative or police practice (round-ups, municipal rules) was not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no client offence for adults. An adult who has a sexual act with a minor in exchange for payment or other consideration commits an offence punishable by up to three years, or one to five years where there is penetration (art. 197).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 38/20) art. 197" ], "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2020 Diário da República text." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running premises for prostitution is not an offence in its own right. It falls under lenocínio (art. 189) when the operator, for profit, exploits the economic need or particular vulnerability of the people working there, or coerces them by violence, threat or fraud. The penalty is one to eight years, or five to ten years if done as a profession.", "details": "Art. 189(1), translated: \"Whoever, with intent to profit, promotes, favours or facilitates the exercise of prostitution or the repeated practice of sexual acts by another person, taking advantage of a situation of economic need or particular vulnerability of the victim, or compels them to such exercise or practice using violence, threat or fraud, is punished with imprisonment of 1 to 8 years.\" Art. 189(2): if the offender exploits the victim's mental incapacity or makes the activity a profession, 5 to 10 years.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 38/20) art. 189" ], "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Translation by the editors. How broadly courts read \"economic need\" is unknown; a wide reading would bring most commercial arrangements within the offence." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from another's prostitution is a crime only in exploitative or coercive forms. These are taking advantage of economic need or particular vulnerability, or using violence, threat or fraud (art. 189, one to eight years; five to ten as a profession). Luring or coercing a person into prostitution abroad, or facilitating it by transporting or lodging them, is sexual trafficking (art. 190, two to ten years).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 38/20) arts. 189–190", "arts. 195–197 (minors)" ], "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2020 Diário da República text." }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code targets advertising sexual services by or for adults. An advert placed by a third party would be criminal only as part of an exploitative or coercive lenocínio (art. 189) or trafficking (art. 190) offence.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 38/20) arts. 189–190" ], "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on a search of the Penal Code text for prostitution-related provisions; media, advertising and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ao-cp2020", "titleEn": "Law No. 38/20 of 11 November approving the Angolan Penal Code", "relevance": "Replaces the 1886 Portuguese Penal Code; lenocínio (art. 189), sexual trafficking (art. 190), minors (arts. 195–197).", "provisions": [ "arts. 189–191", "arts. 195–197" ], "inForce": "2021-02" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2020-11-11", "event": "Lei n.º 38/20 approving the Angolan Penal Code is published, replacing the Portuguese Penal Code of 1886; it enters into force 90 days later.", "sources": [ "ao-cp2020" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ao-cp2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 38/20, de 11 de Novembro — Aprova o Código Penal Angolano (Diário da República, I Série, n.º 179)", "titleEn": "Law No. 38/20 of 11 November approving the Angolan Penal Code (Official Gazette, Series I, No. 179)", "publisher": "Diário da República (copy hosted by the Serviço de Investigação Criminal)", "url": "https://sic.gov.ao/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Novo-Codigo-Penal-Angolano.pdf", "published": "2020-11-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/angola/" }, { "iso2": "AG", "name": "Antigua and Barbuda", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 1995 criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 16), brothel-keeping (s. 21) and living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 22); the Small Charges Act (Cap. 405) adds public loitering and soliciting offences and a separate brothel offence.", "modelSources": [ "ag-soa", "ag-sca" ], "summary": "In Antigua and Barbuda, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Sexual Offences Act 1995, procuring another person for prostitution or to frequent a brothel carries fifteen years; keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries a $10,000 fine and five years on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries five years. The Small Charges Act penalises loitering in public for prostitution 'to the annoyance of the public' (two months) and keeping a brothel (fine up to $1,000). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Loitering or being in a public place for the purpose of prostitution or solicitation to the annoyance of the public carries up to two months; a 'common prostitute' behaving riotously or indecently in public carries up to six months; and soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries five years under the Sexual Offences Act.", "provisions": [ "s. 41(3) and (5) Small Charges Act, Cap. 405", "s. 22(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act 1995" ], "sources": [ "ag-sca", "ag-soa", "ag-sca24" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Small Charges (Amendment) Act 2024 added curfew-style loitering offences for children and did not amend s. 41.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found. A male person who persistently solicits or importunes in a public place for immoral purposes commits an offence (six months), which could reach clients.", "provisions": [ "s. 41(4) Small Charges Act, Cap. 405" ], "sources": [ "ag-sca", "ag-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of an offence in the acts reviewed; the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in managing, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used carry a $10,000 fine and five years on summary conviction. The Small Charges Act separately penalises keeping a brothel (fine up to $1,000) and permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution (six months).", "provisions": [ "s. 21 Sexual Offences Act 1995", "s. 19 Small Charges Act, Cap. 405", "s. 41(1) Small Charges Act, Cap. 405" ], "sources": [ "ag-soa", "ag-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The section number of the brothel offence was lost in the PDF text and is inferred from its position between ss. 20 and 22 and its marginal note 'Prohibition of brothel'." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring another for prostitution, whether or not that person is already a sex worker, or to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel, carries fifteen years. Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries five years, with a presumption against anyone living with or controlling a sex worker. A woman who controls a sex worker's movements for gain faces six months under the Small Charges Act.", "provisions": [ "s. 16(b)-(c) Sexual Offences Act 1995", "s. 22(1)(a) and (3) Sexual Offences Act 1995", "s. 41(2) Small Charges Act, Cap. 405" ], "sources": [ "ag-soa", "ag-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 22(1)(b) of the Sexual Offences Act applies 'in any place', and a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 22 Sexual Offences Act 1995" ], "sources": [ "ag-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ag-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 1995 (No. 9 of 1995)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 16), prohibition of brothels (s. 21) and living on earnings or soliciting (s. 22).", "provisions": [ "s. 16", "s. 21", "s. 22" ] }, { "sourceId": "ag-sca", "titleEn": "Small Charges Act, Cap. 405", "relevance": "Disorderly houses and brothels (s. 19) and the prostitution offences in s. 41 (premises, control by women, public loitering and soliciting).", "provisions": [ "s. 19", "s. 41" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ag-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences Act, 1995 (No. 9 of 1995)", "publisher": "Government of Antigua and Barbuda, laws.gov.ag", "url": "https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/a1995-9.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ag-sca", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Small Charges Act, Cap. 405, Laws of Antigua and Barbuda", "publisher": "Government of Antigua and Barbuda, laws.gov.ag", "url": "https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-405.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ag-sca24", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Small Charges (Amendment) Act 2024 (No. 20 of 2024)", "publisher": "Government of Antigua and Barbuda, laws.gov.ag", "url": "https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/No.-20-of-2024-Small-Charges-Amendment-Act-2024.pdf", "published": "2024-10-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/" }, { "iso2": "AR", "name": "Argentina", "nativeName": "Argentina", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not federal offences, but brothels have been banned nationwide since the 1936 venereal disease law (Law 12.331), and the Penal Code punishes promoting or facilitating another person's prostitution and economically exploiting it even with the person's consent (arts. 125 bis and 127, as amended in 2012). A 2011 decree bans advertisements offering sexual services. Local contravention codes add rules on soliciting in public space.", "modelSources": [ "ar-12331", "ar-cp", "ar-936" ], "summary": "Argentina follows an abolitionist model. Law 12.331 of 1936 prohibits establishing houses or premises where prostitution is practised or incited, and punishes those who keep, administer or run them. Since Law 26.842 of 2012 the Penal Code punishes whoever promotes or facilitates the prostitution of a person, and whoever economically exploits it, with four to six years even if the person consents, and five to ten with deception, violence, abuse or other aggravating circumstances. Decree 936 of 2011 prohibits, by any medium, advertisements that promote sexual offers or seek people for the sex trade, enforced by a monitoring office in the Ministry of Justice. Selling and buying are not federal crimes, but local codes regulate public soliciting: in the City of Buenos Aires, ostensibly offering or seeking sexual services in unauthorised public spaces is a contravention.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "The Contravention Code (Law 1472, as amended up to Law 6839 of 2025) punishes ostensibly offering or seeking sexual services in public spaces that are not authorised, or outside authorised conditions, with one to five days' community work or a fine (art. 97); until zones are authorised, this is barred in front of or within 200 metres of homes, schools and places of worship. It also punishes distributing or posting leaflets and posters promoting the sexual offer in establishments with 5 to 30 days' arrest (art. 96). Appearance, clothing or manner can never ground the contravention.", "sources": [ "ar-caba-1472" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not a federal offence. Provincial and city contravention codes may sanction public soliciting; in Buenos Aires City, ostensibly offering sexual services in unauthorised public spaces carries one to five days' community work or a fine.", "provisions": [ "Código Contravencional CABA (Ley 1472), art. 97" ], "sources": [ "ar-cp", "ar-caba-1472" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Only the Buenos Aires City code was checked; provincial and municipal codes differ." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a federal offence. The Buenos Aires City code applies its public-space contravention to whoever ostensibly \"demands\" sexual services as well as to whoever offers them.", "provisions": [ "Código Contravencional CABA (Ley 1472), art. 97" ], "sources": [ "ar-cp", "ar-caba-1472" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Law 12.331 prohibits throughout the Republic the establishment of houses or premises where prostitution is practised or incited (art. 15). Those who keep, administer or run such houses, openly or covertly, are fined and, on a repeat offence, imprisoned for one to three years without suspension (art. 17).", "details": "The fine in article 17 is expressed in the 1936 currency (1,000 pesos moneda nacional). Managing a venue where others sell sex will usually also meet the Penal Code offences of facilitating or economically exploiting prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Ley 12.331, arts. 15, 17", "Código Penal, arts. 125 bis, 127" ], "sources": [ "ar-12331", "ar-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The InfoLEG text consulted reproduces the original 1936 wording; whether and how later amendments (such as Decree-Law 10.638 of 1944) changed articles 15 and 17 was not traced." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting or facilitating the prostitution of a person carries four to six years, even with the person's consent; economically exploiting the exercise of another person's prostitution carries the same, also regardless of consent. Both rise to five to ten years with deception, violence, threats, abuse of a position of vulnerability or other aggravating circumstances, and ten to fifteen if the victim is under 18.", "details": "Law 26.842 of 2012 gave articles 125 bis, 126 and 127 their current wording; article 125 bis ends \"aunque mediare el consentimiento de la víctima\".", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 125 bis, 126, 127" ], "sources": [ "ar-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Decree 936 of 2011 prohibits, nationwide and by any medium, advertisements that promote the sexual offer or refer explicitly or implicitly to seeking people for the sex trade, including ads for lawful activities that are a disguise for these. A monitoring office in the Ministry of Justice checks print media and imposes or requests sanctions; the government's plain-language guide tells the public such ads are prohibited and can be reported.", "details": "Article 4 of the decree sets the procedure: a record of the infringement, an order to withdraw the ad within 24 hours, then five working days for a defence before a decision. Resolution 1180/2011 of the Ministry of Justice and Resolution 14/2011 of the Secretariat of Public Communication set the sanctions, which according to secondary sources rise to fines of up to 300 times the price of the ad for repeated serious breaches. The decree's stated purpose is to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation; it is directed at the media publishing the ads rather than at the people advertised. In Buenos Aires City, distributing leaflets or posters promoting the sexual offer in establishments is separately a contravention (art. 96).", "provisions": [ "Decreto 936/2011, arts. 1-4", "Código Contravencional CABA (Ley 1472), art. 96" ], "sources": [ "ar-936", "ar-936-ficha", "ar-leysimple", "ar-caba-1472" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The sanction scales in Resolutions 1180/2011 and 14/2011 were not read in the original. Whether the monitoring office is still active in 2026 could not be confirmed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ar-12331", "titleEn": "Law 12.331 on the prevention of venereal diseases (1936)", "relevance": "Prohibits brothels nationwide and punishes those who keep or run them.", "provisions": [ "arts. 15, 17" ] }, { "sourceId": "ar-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code of the Nation (Law 11.179, consolidated text), as amended by Law 26.842 of 2012", "relevance": "Criminalises promoting, facilitating and economically exploiting prostitution regardless of consent.", "provisions": [ "arts. 125 bis, 126, 127" ] }, { "sourceId": "ar-936", "titleEn": "Decree 936/2011 on eradicating messages and images that encourage sexual exploitation", "relevance": "Bans advertisements offering sexual services in any medium and creates the monitoring office.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1-5" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1936-12-17", "event": "Congress passes Law 12.331, which bans brothels throughout the country; it is published on 11 January 1937.", "sources": [ "ar-12331" ] }, { "date": "2011-07-06", "event": "Decree 936/2011 banning sexual-offer advertisements is published in the Official Gazette.", "sources": [ "ar-936-ficha" ] }, { "date": "2012-12-27", "event": "Law 26.842 is published, rewriting the Penal Code's prostitution offences so that consent does not exclude liability.", "sources": [ "ar-cp" ] }, { "date": "2025-10-20", "event": "Law 6839 amending the Buenos Aires City Contravention Code is published; the consolidated code keeps the public-space and leaflet contraventions (arts. 96-97).", "sources": [ "ar-caba-1472" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ar-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal de la Nación Argentina, Ley 11.179 (T.O. 1984 actualizado)", "titleEn": "Penal Code of the Argentine Nation, Law 11.179 (consolidated text)", "publisher": "InfoLEG, Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación", "url": "https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/15000-19999/16546/texact.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ar-12331", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 12.331, Profilaxis de las enfermedades venéreas", "titleEn": "Law 12.331 on the prevention of venereal diseases", "publisher": "InfoLEG, Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación", "url": "https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/190000-194999/194957/norma.htm", "published": "1937-01-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ar-936", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto 936/2011, Protección integral a las mujeres: erradicación de difusión de mensajes e imágenes sobre explotación sexual", "titleEn": "Decree 936/2011 on comprehensive protection of women: eradicating messages and images on sexual exploitation", "publisher": "InfoLEG, Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación", "url": "https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/180000-184999/184133/norma.htm", "published": "2011-07-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ar-936-ficha", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto 936/2011: ficha de la norma", "titleEn": "Decree 936/2011: record page", "publisher": "InfoLEG, Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación", "url": "https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/verNorma.do?id=184133", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ar-leysimple", "kind": "government", "title": "Ley simple: Trata de personas", "titleEn": "Plain-language law guide: trafficking in persons", "publisher": "Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación (Derecho Fácil)", "url": "https://www.argentina.gob.ar/justicia/derechofacil/leysimple/trata-de-personas", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ar-caba-1472", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley P - N° 1.472, Código Contravencional de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (texto actualizado a la Ley 6839)", "titleEn": "Law 1.472, Contravention Code of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (text updated to Law 6839)", "publisher": "Boletín Oficial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires", "url": "https://boletinoficialpdf.buenosaires.gob.ar/util/imagen.php?idn=62598&idf=3", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/argentina/" }, { "iso2": "AM", "name": "Armenia", "nativeName": "Հայաստան", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 179.1 of the 1985 Code of Administrative Offences, still in force). Buying is not an offence. The 2021 Criminal Code, in force since 1 July 2022, punishes pimping (inducing or involving another person in prostitution for gain) and facilitating prostitution, which covers running an establishment for it or providing premises or a vehicle.", "modelSources": [ "am-aoc-en", "am-cc" ], "summary": "In Armenia engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for fines, forty times for a repeat within a year; trafficking and exploitation victims are released from liability for offences committed under coercion. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. The Criminal Code of 2021 defines prostitution as regularly, or with that intent, performing sexual acts with another person for remuneration or its promise. Pimping (Article 298) carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or two to five years; facilitating prostitution by creating, managing or keeping an establishment for it, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling (Article 299), carries a fine, community work or up to three years.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for administrative fines, and forty times for a repeat within one year of a penalty. A person subjected to trafficking or exploitation is released from administrative liability for offences committed under coercion.", "provisions": [ "Art. 179.1 Code of Administrative Offences", "Art. 21.1 Code of Administrative Offences" ], "sources": [ "am-aoc-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read in the official English translation on ARLIS, updated to amendments of 3 July 2025. The fine in drams was not verified.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence: Article 179.1 penalises engaging in prostitution, and the Criminal Code's prostitution offences target pimps, facilitators and those who exploit children.", "provisions": [ "Art. 179.1 Code of Administrative Offences", "Arts. 298-299 ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք" ], "sources": [ "am-aoc-en", "am-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from the absence of any buyer offence in the texts read; the separate Criminal Code provisions on child prostitution were not reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Creating, managing or keeping an establishment for prostitution, using a public establishment for that purpose, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling for another person's prostitution is 'facilitating prostitution': a fine, 100 to 200 hours of community work, restriction of liberty up to two years, short-term detention or up to three years. Group or official abuse: up to five years; criminal organisation: three to six.", "provisions": [ "Art. 299 ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք" ], "sources": [ "am-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pimping, meaning involving or inducing another person to engage in prostitution for gain or other base motives where the act is not trafficking or exploitation, carries a fine, 150 to 270 hours of community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty, short-term detention or two to five years. Against a pregnant woman or a dependant, by a group or by abuse of office: three to six years; by a criminal organisation: four to eight.", "provisions": [ "Art. 298 ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք" ], "sources": [ "am-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the codes reviewed. The person selling sex commits the Article 179.1 offence whether or not they advertise; a third party who publishes adverts to induce or involve others could fall under Article 298 or 299 of the Criminal Code.", "provisions": [ "Art. 179.1 Code of Administrative Offences", "Arts. 298-299 ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք" ], "sources": [ "am-aoc-en", "am-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on Advertising was not checked, and applying Articles 298-299 to adverts or ad sites is our reading; no case law was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "am-aoc-en", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Armenia (1985)", "relevance": "Article 179.1 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence; Article 21.1 releases trafficking victims.", "provisions": [ "Art. 21.1", "Art. 179.1" ], "inForce": "1986-06-01" }, { "sourceId": "am-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (HO-199-N of 5 May 2021)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution among its general definitions; Article 298 (pimping) and Article 299 (facilitating prostitution, incl. establishments and premises).", "provisions": [ "Art. 298", "Art. 299" ], "inForce": "2022-07-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2021-05-05", "event": "National Assembly adopted a new Criminal Code, with separate offences of pimping (Article 298) and facilitating prostitution (Article 299).", "sources": [ "am-cc" ] }, { "date": "2022-07-01", "event": "The 2021 Criminal Code entered into force.", "sources": [ "am-cc" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "am-aoc-en", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Armenia (official English translation, with changes up to HO-258-N of 3 July 2025)", "publisher": "ARLIS, Armenian Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.arlis.am/en/acts/224995", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "am-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "ՀՀ քրեական օրենսգիրք, ՀՕ-199-Ն, 05.05.2021", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, HO-199-N of 5 May 2021", "publisher": "ARLIS, Armenian Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.arlis.am/hy/acts/153080", "published": "2021-05-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hy" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/armenia/" }, { "iso2": "AU", "name": "Australia", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "decriminalisation", "modelNote": "Prostitution law is made by the six states and two territories, so there is no single national model. The label describes the most common position: New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland have removed sex-work-specific criminal offences and regulate sex work businesses mainly through planning, workplace and anti-discrimination law. The ACT runs a registration regime; Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania keep selling legal but criminalise brothels and most third-party involvement. Each unit is listed separately.", "modelSources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "nsw-ps-07-017", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "act-swa-1992", "wa-criminal-code", "sa-soa-1953", "tas-sioa-2005" ], "summary": "Australia has eight prostitution regimes. Four jurisdictions, have decriminalised sex work: New South Wales (1995), the Northern Territory (in force 12 June 2020), Victoria (in two stages, 2022 and 2023) and Queensland (in force 2 August 2024; no repeal found as of October 2026). The ACT requires commercial brothels and escort agencies to register and confines brothels to prescribed locations. Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania allow independent sex work but criminalise brothel-keeping or commercial operation, living on earnings and street soliciting. Advertising rules differ sharply: New South Wales still makes it an offence to advertise that a person is available for prostitution, while Queensland repealed all such controls in 2024. Commonwealth law adds trafficking offences and shields Australian hosts from state-law liability for unknown content.", "subnational": [ { "name": "New South Wales", "model": "decriminalisation", "note": "Selling, buying and running a brothel are not criminal offences. A 1995 amendment to the Restricted Premises Act 1943 abolished the common-law offence of keeping a brothel, and brothels have since been regulated as a land use under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979; the Brothels Legislation Amendment Act 2007 (in force 1 October 2007) added council brothel closure orders and court-ordered utility cut-offs for unlawful brothels, which do not apply to lawful brothels or single sex workers. Part 3 of the Summary Offences Act 1988 keeps offences of causing prostitution by coercion or undue influence (s 15A), prostitution in premises held out as massage, sauna or photographic studios (ss 16-17), advertising that premises or a person are available for prostitution (s 18), advertising for sex workers (s 18A), street soliciting near dwellings, schools, churches and hospitals by sex workers (s 19) and clients (s 19A), and public acts of prostitution (s 20).", "sources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "nsw-ps-07-017" ] }, { "name": "Victoria", "model": "decriminalisation", "note": "The Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 (No. 7 of 2022) worked in two stages. Stage 1 (10 May 2022) repealed the street sex work offences, the mandatory STI testing and safer-sex offences, and added 'profession, trade or occupation' as a protected attribute in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Stage 2 (1 December 2023) repealed the Sex Work Act 1994 and with it the licensing system, moved coercion and child-related offences into the Crimes Act 1958 and left sex work businesses to general business, planning and workplace law. Local laws must not undermine decriminalisation (s 3). Soliciting or loitering for commercial sexual services in a public place near schools, childcare and children's services between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., or near places of worship, remains an offence (s 38B Summary Offences Act 1966); advertisements must comply with regulations made under s 39 (s 38F).", "sources": [ "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "vic-swda-2022-inforce" ] }, { "name": "Queensland", "model": "decriminalisation", "note": "The Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (No. 23 of 2024), passed on 2 May 2024 and assented on 9 May 2024, commenced on 2 August 2024. It omitted Chapter 22A (Prostitution) of the Criminal Code, repealed the Prostitution Act 1999 (including its brothel licensing system, the Prostitution Licensing Authority and its advertising offences), barred local governments from making local laws that prohibit or regulate sex work or sex work businesses, and added 'sex work activity' as a protected attribute in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. New Criminal Code offences cover obtaining commercial sexual services from a child (s 217A), allowing a child to take part (s 217B), conduct relating to child sex work (s 217C) and procuring commercial sexual services by coercion (s 218). The current Criminal Code still shows Chapter 22A as repealed; no repeal or amendment by the government elected in October 2024 was found.", "sources": [ "qld-dsw-act-2024", "qld-dsw-act-2024-lh", "qld-criminal-code", "qld-prostitution-act-1999", "qld-legal-aid" ] }, { "name": "Northern Territory", "model": "decriminalisation", "note": "The Sex Industry Act 2019 (No. 40 of 2019) was assented on 13 December 2019 and commenced on 12 June 2020, repealing the Prostitution Regulation Act 1992. Its first object is to decriminalise sex work and legalise contracts for it (s 3). Remaining offences cover inducing a person to perform sex work or hand over earnings by intimidation, drugs, fraud or property damage (ss 10-11, up to 5 years), children (ss 12-14), placing sex work advertisements in newspapers, television or radio other than in accordance with the regulations and publishing advertisements likely to induce a person to seek employment as a sex worker (s 15), and misrepresenting medical examinations (s 16). Operators of a business that engages three or more sex workers must hold a suitability certificate; a breach attracts a civil penalty, not an offence (s 18).", "sources": [ "nt-sia-2019", "nt-sia-2019-pdf" ] }, { "name": "Australian Capital Territory", "model": "regulation", "note": "Under the Sex Work Act 1992 (originally the Prostitution Act 1992, renamed in 2018), sex work is lawful. Operators of commercial brothels and commercial escort agencies (anything other than a business solely owned and operated by one sex worker) must give the Commissioner for Fair Trading a registration notice and police reports at least 7 days before opening and annual notices thereafter (ss 12-14); people with disqualifying convictions may not be interested persons (s 15). Brothels may operate only in prescribed locations, except escort agencies and premises used by a single sex worker (s 18). Accosting, soliciting or loitering in a public place to offer or procure commercial sexual services is an offence for sellers and buyers alike (s 19, 20 penalty units).", "sources": [ "act-swa-1992" ] }, { "name": "Western Australia", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "Selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves, but s 190 of the Criminal Code makes it a crime to keep or manage premises for the purposes of prostitution, to permit premises to be so used, to let premises knowing of such use, or to live wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution (up to 3 years). The Prostitution Act 2000 penalises seeking a sex worker or a client in or within view or hearing of a public place (ss 5-6), inducing a person to act as a sex worker (s 7), sex without a prophylactic (s 8), publishing statements likely to induce a person to work as a sex worker or in a prostitution business (s 9, up to $50,000) and sponsorships that promote a sex worker or prostitution business (s 10). Under s 14, acting as a sex worker is itself an offence for a child, a person declared a drug trafficker or a person with certain convictions.", "sources": [ "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "wa-criminal-code" ] }, { "name": "South Australia", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "The Summary Offences Act 1953 does not penalise selling or buying sex as such, but makes it an offence to accost or solicit for prostitution in or within view or hearing of a public place, or to loiter in a public place for the purpose of prostitution (s 25, fine up to $750), to procure a person to become a sex worker or advertise to employ one (s 25A), to knowingly live on the earnings of another person's prostitution (s 26), to keep or manage a brothel or receive money paid in a brothel for prostitution (s 28), and to let or permit premises to be used as a brothel (s 29). A 'brothel' is any premises to which people resort, or which are used, for prostitution (s 27). Brothel prosecutions need the written consent of the Police Commissioner or a senior officer (s 30).", "sources": [ "sa-soa-1953" ] }, { "name": "Tasmania", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "Under the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005, a 'self-employed sex worker' may work alone or with no more than one other sex worker when neither employs or manages the other (s 3). Being a commercial operator of a sexual services business is an offence (s 4, up to 8 years), and so is knowingly receiving sexual services from such a commercial business (s 5, up to 1 year), which makes Tasmania the only Australian jurisdiction with a client offence tied to how the business is organised. Coercion of sex workers (s 7, up to 15 years), soliciting, accosting or loitering in a public place (s 8) and failing to use prophylactics (s 12) are also offences. The Act contains no advertising rules.", "sources": [ "tas-sioa-2005" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Selling sex as an independent adult is lawful in every state and territory. What differs is how sex workers may work: alone or with others, from which premises, and whether they may solicit in public. In South Australia the broad statutory definition of a brothel may reach a worker's own premises. Western Australia makes acting as a sex worker an offence only for children, declared drug traffickers and people with specified convictions.", "details": "- **Decriminalised (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, NT):** no offence for selling; remaining offences concern coercion, children, public soliciting in specified places and, in NSW, advertising.\n- **ACT:** lawful; commercial brothels and escort agencies must register, sole operators need not.\n- **WA, SA, Tasmania:** selling is not an offence, but working with others is restricted through brothel, procuring and living-on-earnings offences. In Tasmania two self-employed sex workers may work together (s 3 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005).\n- **WA exception:** s 14 Prostitution Act 2000 makes acting as a sex worker an offence for a child, a person declared a drug trafficker under s 32A Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 or a person found guilty of a Schedule 1 offence (up to 2 years).", "provisions": [ "s 3 Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "s 14 Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "s 3 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)" ], "sources": [ "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "tas-sioa-2005", "act-swa-1992" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying for sex is not an offence in most of Australia. Tasmania is the exception: knowingly receiving sexual services from a commercial sexual services business is an offence (up to 1 year), though buying from a self-employed sex worker is not. Clients can also commit street-soliciting offences in NSW, the ACT, WA and Tasmania, and Victoria's time-and-place soliciting offence covers anyone.", "details": "- **Tasmania:** s 5 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005, fine up to 100 penalty units or up to 1 year. Proceedings may not be brought against a client who gives or agrees to give evidence for the prosecution (s 5(3)).\n- **NSW:** s 19A Summary Offences Act 1988 (clients soliciting near dwellings, schools, churches and hospitals, or in a harassing manner).\n- **ACT:** s 19 Sex Work Act 1992 applies to offering or procuring commercial sexual services.\n- **WA:** s 5 Prostitution Act 2000 (seeking a person to act as a sex worker in or within view or hearing of a public place, up to 2 years).\n- **Victoria:** s 38B Summary Offences Act 1966 (soliciting near schools, children's services and places of worship) is not limited to sellers.\n- Buying sexual services from a child is an offence everywhere, e.g. s 217A Criminal Code (Qld, up to 10 years, 14 if the child is under 16).", "provisions": [ "s 5 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)", "s 19A Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "s 19 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "s 5 Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "s 217A Criminal Code (Qld)" ], "sources": [ "tas-sioa-2005", "nsw-soa-1988", "act-swa-1992", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-dsw-act-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brothels are lawful businesses in NSW (subject to development consent), Victoria and Queensland (no licence since 2023 and 2024), the NT (operators of businesses with three or more workers need a suitability certificate) and the ACT (registration and prescribed locations). Keeping or managing a brothel is a criminal offence in Western Australia and South Australia, and operating a commercial sexual services business is one in Tasmania (up to 8 years).", "details": "- **NSW:** brothel-keeping offence abolished in 1995; brothels are a land use under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, with council closure orders and utilities orders for unlawful premises (Brothels Legislation Amendment Act 2007). Brothels disguised as massage, sauna or photographic premises remain offences (ss 16-17 Summary Offences Act 1988).\n- **Victoria:** licensing under the Sex Work Act 1994 ended with its repeal on 1 December 2023.\n- **Queensland:** the Prostitution Act 1999 licensing regime and the Prostitution Licensing Authority were abolished on 2 August 2024; councils may not make local laws regulating sex work businesses (s 37A Local Government Act 2009, s 40A City of Brisbane Act 2010).\n- **NT:** s 18 Sex Industry Act 2019 (suitability certificate; civil penalty).\n- **ACT:** ss 12-18 Sex Work Act 1992.\n- **WA:** s 190 Criminal Code (up to 3 years).\n- **SA:** ss 27-29 Summary Offences Act 1953.\n- **Tasmania:** s 4 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005; the Police Commissioner may order owners or occupiers to stop a commercial business operating on their premises (s 16).", "provisions": [ "ss 16-17 Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "s 37A Local Government Act 2009 (Qld)", "s 18 Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "ss 12-18 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "s 190 Criminal Code (WA)", "ss 27-29 Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)", "ss 4, 16 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)" ], "sources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "nsw-ps-07-017", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "act-swa-1992", "wa-criminal-code", "sa-soa-1953", "tas-sioa-2005" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "In the four decriminalised jurisdictions sex workers may share premises; Queensland's 2024 reform specifically repealed the offences that stopped them working together. In the ACT two or more workers at one place make it a brothel that must be in a prescribed location and, if commercial, registered. Tasmania allows two self-employed sex workers to work together. In WA and SA shared premises can fall within the brothel offences.", "details": "- **ACT:** a 'premises used by a single sex worker' is exempt from the location rule in s 18; that exemption is lost if adjacent premises or another unit in the same block are used for sex work, or if clients are arranged or referred by others (Dictionary).\n- **Tasmania:** 'self-employed sex worker' includes a worker who owns and operates a business together with no more than one other sex worker, neither employing or managing the other (s 3).\n- **WA:** s 190(1) Criminal Code covers anyone who keeps, manages or assists in managing 'any premises for purposes of prostitution'.\n- **SA:** 'brothel' means premises to which persons resort, or which are used, for prostitution (s 27 Summary Offences Act 1953). The statute does not set a minimum number of workers; how courts apply this to a single worker was not checked.\n- **Queensland:** the Attorney-General's statement of 2 May 2024 cites the repeal of laws that criminalised working with another sex worker.", "provisions": [ "s 18 and Dictionary Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "s 3 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)", "s 190 Criminal Code (WA)", "s 27 Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)" ], "sources": [ "act-swa-1992", "tas-sioa-2005", "wa-criminal-code", "sa-soa-1953", "qld-statement-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether a single sex worker's own premises can be a 'brothel' under South Australian law depends on case law that was not reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Coercing someone into sex work or into handing over earnings is an offence everywhere. Living on the earnings of another person's prostitution is still an offence in Western Australia and South Australia; elsewhere managers and employers are lawful if they do not coerce. Commonwealth trafficking, slavery, servitude and deceptive recruiting offences (Criminal Code Divisions 270-271) apply nationwide.", "details": "- **NSW:** s 15A Summary Offences Act 1988 (coercive conduct or undue influence; 50 penalty units or 12 months).\n- **Victoria:** coercion and child offences re-enacted in the Crimes Act 1958 (new Subdivision (8FAA), Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 s 42).\n- **Queensland:** s 218 Criminal Code (procuring commercial sexual services or payment by coercion, up to 14 years) and ss 217A-217C (children).\n- **NT:** ss 10-11 Sex Industry Act 2019 (up to 5 years).\n- **ACT:** s 17 Sex Work Act 1992 (duress, up to 6 years).\n- **WA:** s 190(3) Criminal Code (living on earnings, up to 3 years, with a presumption against a person who lives with a sex worker and has no visible means of subsistence); s 191 (procuring); s 7 Prostitution Act 2000 (inducing, up to 10 years).\n- **SA:** s 25A (procurement for prostitution) and s 26 (living on earnings) Summary Offences Act 1953.\n- **Tasmania:** s 4 (commercial operation) and s 7 (offences against sex workers, up to 15 years) Sex Industry Offences Act 2005.\n- **Commonwealth:** Criminal Code Divisions 270 (slavery, servitude, forced labour, deceptive recruiting, s 270.7) and 271 (trafficking).", "provisions": [ "s 15A Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "s 218 Criminal Code (Qld)", "ss 10-11 Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "s 17 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "ss 190-191 Criminal Code (WA)", "ss 25A, 26 Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)", "ss 4, 7 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)", "Divs 270-271 Criminal Code (Cth)" ], "sources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "act-swa-1992", "wa-criminal-code", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "sa-soa-1953", "tas-sioa-2005", "cth-criminal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Rules range from none to a near-total ban. New South Wales makes it an offence to publish an advertisement indicating that a person is available for prostitution (s 18) or seeking sex workers (s 18A). Victoria requires advertisements to comply with regulations; the NT limits newspaper, TV and radio advertising to what regulations allow; WA, SA and the NT ban recruitment advertising. Queensland, the ACT and Tasmania have no sex-work-specific advertising offence in force.", "details": "- **NSW:** s 18 Summary Offences Act 1988: a person must not publish or cause to be published an advertisement, or erect a sign, 'indicating that any premises are used or are available for use, or that a person is available, for the purposes of prostitution' (6 penalty units or 3 months). s 18A: advertisements for employment as a sex worker (10 penalty units or 3 months).\n- **Victoria:** s 38F Summary Offences Act 1966 (40 penalty units) for advertisements that contravene regulations made under s 39 on size, form, content and permitted publications.\n- **NT:** s 15 Sex Industry Act 2019: advertisements for sex work in a newspaper or on television or radio only in accordance with the regulations; recruitment advertisements prohibited unless they make clear the work is not sex work (20 penalty units, strict liability). Online advertising is not mentioned.\n- **WA:** s 9 Prostitution Act 2000 (statements likely to induce a person to work as a sex worker or in a prostitution business, up to $50,000) and s 10 (sponsorships).\n- **SA:** s 25A(2)(b) Summary Offences Act 1953 (advertising willingness to employ or engage a sex worker).\n- **Queensland:** the advertising offences in Part 6 Division 4 of the Prostitution Act 1999 were repealed with that Act on 2 August 2024.\n- **ACT:** no advertising offence in the Sex Work Act 1992, although s 32 allows regulations on advertisements for brothels and escort agencies.\n- **Tasmania:** the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 contains no advertising provision.", "provisions": [ "ss 18, 18A Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "ss 38F, 39 Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic)", "s 15 Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "ss 9-10 Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "s 25A Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)", "s 32 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)" ], "sources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "sa-soa-1953", "qld-prostitution-act-1999", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "act-swa-1992", "tas-sioa-2005" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How often the NSW s 18 offence is enforced against individual sex workers' online advertisements was not found in official data. The content of any Victorian advertising regulations made under s 39 and any ACT regulations under s 32 was not checked." }, "platforms": { "status": "varies", "summary": "No Australian law targets adult advertising websites as such. NSW's s 18 covers anyone who publishes or causes to be published an advertisement for prostitution, without excluding online publishers. Commonwealth law limits that exposure: s 235 Online Safety Act 2021 overrides state laws that would make an Australian hosting provider liable for content it was not aware of, or require it to monitor content. eSafety can issue notices for sexually explicit (class 2) material.", "details": "- **Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth), s 235:** a state or territory law, or a rule of common law or equity, has no effect to the extent it subjects an Australian hosting service provider to criminal or civil liability for hosting online content where it was not aware of its nature, or requires it to monitor, make inquiries about or keep records of hosted content. 'Australian hosting service provider' means a provider hosting material in Australia, so offshore sites are not covered.\n- **Online Content Scheme:** class 2 material (s 107) is material classified, or likely to be classified, X 18+ or equivalent; eSafety can issue remedial notices to services and hosting providers (ss 119-120). Ordinary text advertisements are unlikely to be class 2; explicit images may be.\n- **State law:** the NSW s 18 offence reaches anyone who 'causes to be published' an advertisement; the WA s 9 and SA s 25A recruitment offences could apply to a site publishing recruitment notices. No reported prosecution of a website operator under these provisions was found.\n- **Queensland:** no sex-work-specific advertising law applies since 2 August 2024.\n- The EU Digital Services Act does not apply.", "provisions": [ "s 235 Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth)", "s 107 Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth)", "ss 119-120 Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth)", "s 18 Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)" ], "sources": [ "cth-osa-2021", "nsw-soa-1988", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "sa-soa-1953", "qld-dsw-act-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How s 235 interacts with the NSW advertising offence has not been tested in a reported case found during this review. The industry codes registered under the Online Safety Act were not reviewed." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Street-based sex work is largely lawful in Queensland, Victoria, the NT and NSW, with place-based exceptions: in NSW near dwellings, schools, churches and hospitals; in Victoria near schools and children's services from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and near places of worship. Soliciting or loitering in a public place is an offence in the ACT, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.", "details": "- **NSW:** ss 19-20 Summary Offences Act 1988; public acts of prostitution are also offences.\n- **Victoria:** street sex work offences in ss 12-14 Sex Work Act 1994 were repealed on 10 May 2022; s 38B Summary Offences Act 1966 (infringement penalty 2 penalty units).\n- **Queensland:** public soliciting is no longer a specific offence since 2 August 2024; Legal Aid Queensland notes general public nuisance laws still apply.\n- **NT:** the Sex Industry Act 2019 creates no soliciting offence.\n- **ACT:** s 19 Sex Work Act 1992 (20 penalty units; up to 3 years for accosting a child).\n- **WA:** ss 5-6 Prostitution Act 2000, with move-on directions (s 24) and restraining orders (Part 5).\n- **SA:** s 25 Summary Offences Act 1953 (fine up to $750).\n- **Tasmania:** s 8 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (20 penalty units).", "provisions": [ "ss 19-20 Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "s 38B Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic)", "s 19 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "ss 5-6, 24 Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "s 25 Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)", "s 8 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)" ], "sources": [ "nsw-soa-1988", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-legal-aid", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "act-swa-1992", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "sa-soa-1953", "tas-sioa-2005" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "summary": "Individual sex workers do not register anywhere in Australia, and none of the statutes reviewed requires routine STI testing. Business-level controls remain in the ACT (registration of commercial brothels and escort agencies with the Commissioner for Fair Trading) and the NT (suitability certificates for operators of businesses with three or more sex workers). Victoria's and Queensland's licensing systems were abolished in 2023 and 2024.", "details": "- **ACT:** registration notice and police report 7 days before opening, annual notices before 1 October, public register (ss 11-14 Sex Work Act 1992). Misusing medical test results to imply a sex worker is free of infection is an offence (s 26); condom use is compulsory and operators must supply prophylactics and protective equipment free of charge (ss 26A-27).\n- **NT:** suitability certificates (ss 18-21 Sex Industry Act 2019); records must be destroyed once a holder stops needing a certificate (s 22).\n- **Victoria:** mandatory STI testing and the infected-worker offences were repealed in Stage 1 (10 May 2022); the Business Licensing Authority licensing system ended with the Sex Work Act 1994 on 1 December 2023.\n- **Queensland:** licensing by the Prostitution Licensing Authority ended on 2 August 2024; the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 applies.\n- **NSW:** brothels need development consent under planning law but there is no licensing scheme.\n- **WA, SA, Tasmania:** no licensing; commercial operation is a criminal matter. WA (s 8 Prostitution Act 2000) and Tasmania (s 12) make prophylactic use compulsory.", "provisions": [ "ss 11-16, 26-27 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "ss 18-22 Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "s 8 Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "s 12 Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)" ], "sources": [ "act-swa-1992", "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "qld-dsw-act-2024", "qld-legal-aid", "nsw-ps-07-017", "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "tas-sioa-2005" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "summary": "There is no sex-work-specific tax regime. Income from sex work is taxed under general Commonwealth income tax and GST law like other business or employment income. The NT Sex Industry Act states as an object that the industry should operate under the laws that apply to businesses generally, including taxation.", "details": "Section 3(e) of the Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT) lists among its objects enabling the sex industry to operate in accordance with Territory and Commonwealth laws 'as they apply to all individuals and businesses generally, including laws governing employment, occupational health and safety, workers compensation and rehabilitation, planning, taxation and discrimination'. Queensland's 2024 reform likewise brought sex work businesses under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.", "provisions": [ "s 3(e) Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)" ], "sources": [ "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "qld-legal-aid" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No Australian Taxation Office guidance specific to sex work was opened for this review; the statement that general tax law applies rests on the absence of any special regime in the statutes reviewed." }, "migrants": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No Commonwealth or state statute reviewed bars visa holders from sex work in the way New Zealand's s 19 does. Where sex work is lawful, a migrant's ability to do it depends on the general work conditions attached to their visa. The 2025 US Trafficking in Persons report says some police assumed women who migrated to work in commercial sex could not be trafficking victims.", "details": "The trafficking framework is federal: Criminal Code (Cth) Divisions 270 and 271. The ACT counts offences under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 232A, 233(1) and 233A (bringing non-citizens into Australia unlawfully) as disqualifying offences for brothel and escort agency operators (s 6 Sex Work Act 1992). Tasmania makes threatening to have a person deported, in order to induce them to provide sexual services or hand over earnings, an offence (s 7(2)(f) Sex Industry Offences Act 2005).\n\nThe US State Department's 2025 report recommends screening people in commercial sex for trafficking indicators and reports observers' claims that some law enforcement officials treated migrant women who chose to work in commercial sex establishments as unable to be trafficked.", "provisions": [ "Divs 270-271 Criminal Code (Cth)", "s 6 Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "s 7(2)(f) Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)" ], "sources": [ "cth-criminal-code", "act-swa-1992", "tas-sioa-2005", "us-tip-2025-au" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 were not reviewed, so the absence of a sex-work-specific visa rule is inferred from the statutes and reports reviewed, not confirmed against migration law." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "nsw-soa-1988", "titleEn": "Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW)", "relevance": "Part 3 (Prostitution): coercion, brothels in massage or photographic premises, the advertising offences in ss 18 and 18A, street soliciting by sex workers and clients, and public acts of prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s 15A", "ss 16-17", "s 18", "s 18A", "ss 19-20", "s 21" ], "inForce": "1988" }, { "sourceId": "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "titleEn": "Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 (Vic)", "relevance": "Decriminalised sex work in Victoria in two stages, repealing the street offences and testing rules (10 May 2022) and then the Sex Work Act 1994 and its licensing system (1 December 2023); inserted ss 38B and 38F into the Summary Offences Act 1966; requires a statutory review.", "provisions": [ "s 3", "s 4", "s 6", "s 28", "s 37", "s 49" ], "inForce": "2022-05-10" }, { "sourceId": "qld-dsw-act-2024", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Qld)", "relevance": "Omitted Chapter 22A of the Criminal Code, repealed the Prostitution Act 1999, barred local laws regulating sex work, added 'sex work activity' to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 and created child and coercion offences; requires an independent review 4-5 years after commencement.", "provisions": [ "s 4", "s 13 (ss 217A-217C Criminal Code)", "s 14 (s 218 Criminal Code)", "s 15", "s 28", "s 33 (s 275A Work Health and Safety Act 2011)", "s 35" ], "inForce": "2024-08-02" }, { "sourceId": "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "titleEn": "Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "relevance": "Decriminalised sex work in the Northern Territory, legalised contracts, limited broadcast and print advertising, banned recruitment advertising and introduced suitability certificates for larger businesses; repealed the Prostitution Regulation Act 1992.", "provisions": [ "s 3", "ss 10-16", "ss 18-22", "s 26", "s 27" ], "inForce": "2020-06-12" }, { "sourceId": "act-swa-1992", "titleEn": "Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT)", "relevance": "Registration of commercial brothels and escort agencies, brothel location rules, soliciting offence and health provisions in the ACT.", "provisions": [ "ss 11-16", "s 17", "s 18", "s 19", "ss 26-27", "s 32" ], "inForce": "1993-05-07" }, { "sourceId": "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "titleEn": "Prostitution Act 2000 (WA)", "relevance": "Public soliciting offences for sellers and clients, recruitment-advertising and sponsorship bans, compulsory prophylactics and police powers in Western Australia.", "provisions": [ "ss 5-10", "s 14", "s 24", "Part 5" ] }, { "sourceId": "wa-criminal-code", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (WA), in the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913", "relevance": "Criminalises keeping or managing premises for prostitution, landlord involvement and living on the earnings of prostitution (s 190), and procuring (s 191).", "provisions": [ "s 190", "s 191" ] }, { "sourceId": "sa-soa-1953", "titleEn": "Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA)", "relevance": "Soliciting, procurement, living on earnings and brothel offences in South Australia.", "provisions": [ "s 25", "s 25A", "s 26", "ss 27-32" ] }, { "sourceId": "tas-sioa-2005", "titleEn": "Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas)", "relevance": "Permits self-employed sex workers (alone or in pairs) but criminalises commercial operators and their clients, soliciting and coercion in Tasmania.", "provisions": [ "s 3", "s 4", "s 5", "s 7", "s 8", "s 12", "s 16" ] }, { "sourceId": "cth-osa-2021", "titleEn": "Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth)", "relevance": "Online Content Scheme for class 1 and class 2 material and the s 235 override protecting Australian hosts and internet service providers from state-law liability for content they are unaware of.", "provisions": [ "s 107", "ss 119-120", "s 235" ] }, { "sourceId": "cth-criminal-code", "titleEn": "Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), Schedule (Criminal Code)", "relevance": "Federal slavery, servitude, forced labour, deceptive recruiting and trafficking offences that apply in every state and territory.", "provisions": [ "Div 270", "s 270.7", "Div 271" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "vic-statutory-review", "title": "Victoria: statutory review of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "date": "2026-12-01", "what": "Earliest date the review may start (3 years after full commencement on 1 December 2023); it must start by 1 December 2028." }, "summary": "Section 4 requires the Minister to commission a review of the amendments, including the effect of repealing the Sex Work Act 1994, starting at least 3 and no more than 5 years after all provisions commenced, and to table the report in both Houses. No announcement of the reviewer or terms of reference was found.", "sources": [ "vic-swda-2022-asmade" ] }, { "id": "qld-statutory-review", "title": "Queensland: independent review of the 2024 decriminalisation", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "date": "2028-08", "what": "Review window opens 4 years after commencement (2 August 2024) and closes after 5 years." }, "summary": "Section 275A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, inserted by the 2024 Act, requires an independent and appropriately qualified entity to review the operation of the decriminalisation amendments 4 to 5 years after commencement, with the report tabled in Parliament. Searches found no move by the Crisafulli government, in office since October 2024, to repeal or amend the reform before then.", "sources": [ "qld-dsw-act-2024", "qld-dsw-act-2024-lh", "qld-criminal-code" ] }, { "id": "nt-review-committee", "title": "Northern Territory: five-year review of the Sex Industry Act 2019", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "summary": "Section 26(2) requires the statutory Review Committee to review the Act within 5 years of commencement (12 June 2020), including whether the suitability certificate system works and whether a system is needed to identify the location of sex services businesses. Whether that review was completed and published by June 2025 could not be confirmed.", "sources": [ "nt-sia-2019-pdf" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1992-12-01", "event": "ACT Prostitution Act 1992 notified; most provisions commenced on 7 May 1993. It was renamed the Sex Work Act 1992 in 2018.", "sources": [ "act-swa-1992" ] }, { "date": "1995", "event": "New South Wales amends the Restricted Premises Act 1943 to abolish the offence of keeping a brothel; brothels are thereafter regulated as a land use.", "sources": [ "nsw-ps-07-017" ] }, { "date": "2000-06-22", "event": "Western Australia's Prostitution Act 2000 receives assent.", "sources": [ "wa-prostitution-act-2000" ] }, { "date": "2005-11-24", "event": "Tasmania's Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 receives Royal Assent.", "sources": [ "tas-sioa-2005" ] }, { "date": "2007-10-01", "event": "NSW Brothels Legislation Amendment Act 2007 commences, adding brothel closure orders and utilities orders against unlawful brothels.", "sources": [ "nsw-ps-07-017" ] }, { "date": "2019-12-13", "event": "Northern Territory Sex Industry Act 2019 receives assent; it commences on 12 June 2020 and repeals the Prostitution Regulation Act 1992.", "sources": [ "nt-sia-2019-pdf" ] }, { "date": "2022-05-10", "event": "Victoria: Stage 1 of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 in force, repealing street sex work offences and mandatory STI testing rules.", "sources": [ "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "vic-swda-2022-inforce" ] }, { "date": "2023-03-31", "event": "Queensland Law Reform Commission delivers Report No 80, 'A decriminalised sex work industry for Queensland', to the Attorney-General.", "sources": [ "qlrc-report-80-summary" ] }, { "date": "2023-12-01", "event": "Victoria: Stage 2 in force; the Sex Work Act 1994 and its licensing system are repealed.", "sources": [ "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "vic-swda-2022-inforce" ] }, { "date": "2024-05-02", "event": "Queensland Parliament passes the Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024; assent follows on 9 May 2024.", "sources": [ "qld-statement-2024", "qld-dsw-act-2024-lh" ] }, { "date": "2024-08-02", "event": "Queensland's decriminalisation commences: Criminal Code Chapter 22A and the Prostitution Act 1999 are repealed and the Prostitution Licensing Authority is abolished.", "sources": [ "qld-dsw-act-2024-lh", "qld-criminal-code" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Queensland: licensed brothels before decriminalisation", "value": "20 (estimated 10% of the industry)", "year": "2023", "note": "Queensland Law Reform Commission, Report No 80 summary. The 10% share is the Commission's estimate; licensing ended on 2 August 2024.", "sources": [ "qlrc-report-80-summary" ] }, { "label": "Australia: people prosecuted and convicted for trafficking offences", "value": "66 prosecuted (51 for sex trafficking); 60 convicted (49 for sex trafficking)", "year": "2024", "note": "As reported by the US State Department from Australian government data; counts follow US trafficking definitions and include extraterritorial child sexual exploitation cases. Not an Australian official statistic.", "sources": [ "us-tip-2025-au" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "nsw-soa-1988", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Summary Offences Act 1988 No 25 (NSW), Part 3 Prostitution", "publisher": "NSW Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel's Office)", "url": "https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1988-025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nsw-ps-07-017", "kind": "government", "title": "Planning Circular PS 07-017: Commencement of Brothels Act 2007", "publisher": "NSW Department of Planning", "url": "https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/planning-circular-ps-07-017-commencement-of-brothels-act-2007.pdf", "published": "2007-10-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vic-swda-2022-asmade", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 (Vic), No. 7 of 2022, as made", "publisher": "Victorian Legislation (Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/as-made/acts/sex-work-decriminalisation-act-2022", "published": "2022", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vic-swda-2022-inforce", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 (Vic), in force, version history", "publisher": "Victorian Legislation (Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/sex-work-decriminalisation-act-2022", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-dsw-act-2024", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Qld), Act No. 23 of 2024, as passed", "publisher": "Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2024-023", "published": "2024-05-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-dsw-act-2024-lh", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Qld): legislative history", "publisher": "Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2024-023/lh", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-criminal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld), Schedule 1 Criminal Code, current version", "publisher": "Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1899-009", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-prostitution-act-1999", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Prostitution Act 1999 (Qld), repealed", "publisher": "Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/repealed/current/act-1999-073", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-legal-aid", "kind": "government", "title": "Sex work and the law", "publisher": "Legal Aid Queensland", "url": "https://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Find-legal-information/Relationships-and-children/Relationships/Sex-and-the-law/Sex-work-and-the-law", "published": "2025-01-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qld-statement-2024", "kind": "government", "title": "Reforms promise better protection for Queensland's sex workers", "publisher": "Queensland Government Ministerial Media Statements (Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath)", "url": "https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100231", "published": "2024-05-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "qlrc-report-80-summary", "kind": "government", "title": "A decriminalised sex-work industry for Queensland, Report No 80: Report summary", "publisher": "Queensland Law Reform Commission", "url": "https://www.qlrc.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/763385/qlrc-report-80-a-decriminalised-sex-work-industry-for-queensland-report-summary-.pdf", "published": "2023", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nt-sia-2019", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT)", "publisher": "Northern Territory Legislation", "url": "https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/Legislation/SEX-INDUSTRY-ACT-2019", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nt-sia-2019-pdf", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT), as in force at 25 May 2024 (PDF)", "publisher": "Northern Territory Legislation", "url": "https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/Act/PDF?id=12378", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "act-swa-1992", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT), A1992-64, republication No 31 effective 5 January 2026", "publisher": "ACT Legislation Register (Parliamentary Counsel's Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1992-64/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wa-prostitution-act-2000", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Prostitution Act 2000 (WA), Act No. 017 of 2000, consolidated version 02-d0-00", "publisher": "Western Australian Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel's Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a2003.html&view=consolidated", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wa-criminal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA), consolidated version current from 1 May 2026", "publisher": "Western Australian Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel's Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a196.html&view=consolidated", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sa-soa-1953", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA), version of 1 July 2026", "publisher": "South Australian Legislation (Attorney-General's Department)", "url": "https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=%2Fc%2Fa%2Fsummary%20offences%20act%201953", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tas-sioa-2005", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas), No. 42 of 2005, current version", "publisher": "Tasmanian Legislation (Office of Parliamentary Counsel)", "url": "https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2005-042", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cth-osa-2021", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth), Compilation No. 4 (12 September 2026)", "publisher": "Federal Register of Legislation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2021A00076/latest/text", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cth-criminal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), latest compilation (30 June 2026), Volume 2", "publisher": "Federal Register of Legislation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04868/latest/text/2", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "us-tip-2025-au", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Australia", "publisher": "United States Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/australia/", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/australia/" }, { "iso2": "AT", "name": "Austria", "nativeName": "Österreich", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Prostitution is legal but there is no federal prostitution act: each of the nine Länder has its own law on where and how it may take place, and most allow it only in approved brothels (some also allow house visits). Federal law adds criminal offences against exploitation (§§ 215-217 StGB), compulsory health checks, income tax and social insurance. Vorarlberg is the exception in practice: brothels need a permit and none has ever been granted.", "modelSources": [ "at-bka-2024", "at-wpg", "at-vbg-spg" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are legal in Austria, but the rules are set by nine separate Land laws. Sex work is generally allowed only in approved brothels or other permitted places; Vienna also allows street-based work outside residential areas and fines clients who make contact where it is banned. Sex workers must undergo a health check every six weeks. Profiting from someone else's prostitution is a crime when it amounts to exploitation (§ 216 StGB). There is no federal rule on advertising; several Länder restrict it, in Vienna and Upper Austria in particular for unsafe-sex practices.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Vienna (Wien)", "model": "regulation", "note": "Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011 (WPG 2011): sex workers register in person with the police (§ 5); prostitution is allowed only in notified and acknowledged premises (§§ 4, 7) and, for street-based work, outside residential areas, cemeteries, public transport stops and restricted zones (§ 9). Clients who make contact in a banned place face a fine of up to EUR 500 (§§ 16, 17(3)); contact by phone or e-mail is excluded. Advertising unsafe sex is banned since 1 June 2023 (§ 10(2)).", "sources": [ "at-wpg", "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "name": "Vorarlberg", "model": "regulation", "note": "Under the Sittenpolizeigesetz, offering and practising prostitution are banned except in a brothel holding a permit (§§ 4, 5); a permit may only be granted if the brothel appears suitable to reduce disturbances caused by prostitution. No brothel has ever been approved, so there were no registered sex workers in the Land (BKA 2024). Signs and advertising installations for brothels are banned (§ 11(1)). Since LGBl. Nr. 18/2024, sexual assistance for people with severe disabilities in their own homes is exempt (§ 4(5)).", "sources": [ "at-vbg-spg", "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "name": "Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)", "model": "regulation", "note": "Oö. Sexualdienstleistungsgesetz: soliciting and providing sexual services are allowed only in approved brothels and, for the service itself, during house visits (§ 3(3) Z 1-2, § 13). Advertising unsafe-sex practices, in particular in brothels, print and electronic media, and advertising services by people under 18 are banned (§ 3(3) Z 4-5).", "sources": [ "at-ooe-sdlg", "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "name": "Tyrol (Tirol)", "model": "regulation", "note": "The Tiroler Landes-Polizeigesetz (§ 14) also penalises clients who know that they are at an illegal place, according to the federal working group. In 2010 the Constitutional Court held the Land's general ban on advertising brothels to be incompatible with freedom of expression under Article 10 ECHR (VfSlg. 19159/2010). The Land has only around eight to ten approved brothels.", "sources": [ "at-bka-2024" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Legal for adults in all Länder, but only in the places and forms the Land law allows, usually approved brothels; some Länder also allow house visits or street-based work in permitted zones. Sex workers must have a health check before starting and every six weeks (a blood test every twelve weeks), are liable to income tax and are insured as self-employed. Working outside the permitted places is an administrative offence.", "details": "- **Federal level:** the Länder regulate prostitution as a matter of public morals; federal law covers the mandatory health checks (recorded on the so-called *Gesundheitskarte*), income tax (since 1984) and social insurance as *Neue Selbständige*. Roughly 90-95 % of registered sex workers are migrants (BKA 2024).\n- **Contracts:** in its decision of 18 April 2012 (3 Ob 45/12g) the Supreme Court (OGH) held that a contract for sexual services between a sex worker and a client is no longer in principle contrary to public morals (*sittenwidrig*), departing from its 1989 case law.\n- **Vienna:** penalties for working without registration or in a banned place go up to EUR 800 (EUR 1,600 for a repeat offence), § 17(4) WPG 2011; outside permitted street zones up to EUR 500, § 17(5).\n- **Vorarlberg:** no permitted brothel exists, so lawful sex work is in practice impossible there (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "§§ 4, 5, 9, 17 Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011", "§§ 4, 5, 18 Vorarlberger Sittenpolizeigesetz", "§ 3 Abs. 3 Oö. Sexualdienstleistungsgesetz" ], "sources": [ "at-bka-2024", "at-wpg", "at-vbg-spg", "at-ooe-sdlg", "at-ogh-2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a crime. Vienna and Tyrol fine clients who seek services in places where prostitution is banned, such as outside the permitted street zones. Under federal criminal law, a client who exploits a person's coercion commits § 205a StGB, and paying for sex with a person under 18 is a crime.", "details": "- **Vienna:** § 16 WPG 2011 bars clients from contacting sex workers to obtain services outside permitted street zones and in premises where prostitution is banned; fine up to EUR 500, § 17(3). Contact by phone, e-mail or other media is excluded.\n- **Tyrol:** § 14 Tiroler Landes-Polizeigesetz, as reported by the federal working group (BKA 2024).\n- **Policy:** the federal working group reported clear agreement among its members in rejecting a Swedish-style ban on buying sex (BKA 2024, p. 111).", "provisions": [ "§ 16, § 17 Abs. 3 Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011", "§ 205a StGB" ], "sources": [ "at-wpg", "at-bka-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "Vienna: €500 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Brothels are legal if approved under the Land law; the conditions (location away from residential areas and protected sites, operator reliability, a separate entrance) differ by Land. Running unapproved premises is an administrative offence. Escort agencies that openly arrange sexual services are not permitted under any Land law; an approved brothel may arrange services delivered on its premises or, where allowed, at the client's home. Vorarlberg has never approved a brothel.", "details": "- **Vienna:** premises must be notified before opening and may operate only once the notification has been finally acknowledged (§ 7(3) WPG 2011); operating without it carries a fine up to EUR 7,000 (EUR 10,000 for a repeat offence), § 17(2).\n- **Numbers:** the federal working group counted 312 brothels in Vienna in 2022 (361 in 2017) and about eight to ten approved establishments in Tyrol (BKA 2024).\n- **Escort agencies:** these are not criminal per se, as § 215 StGB has never on its own led to a conviction in Supreme Court case law; their problem is Land law (BKA 2024, p. 99).", "provisions": [ "§§ 6-8, 17 Abs. 2 Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011", "§§ 5-11 Vorarlberger Sittenpolizeigesetz" ], "sources": [ "at-wpg", "at-vbg-spg", "at-bka-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from another person's prostitution is a crime when it exploits that person with the aim of a regular income (Zuhälterei, § 216 StGB: up to two years; up to three years for intimidation, dictating the terms of work or exploiting several people). Bringing a person into prostitution (§ 215) and cross-border recruitment (§ 217) are separate offences. Operating an approved brothel is not in itself procuring.", "details": "- **§ 215 StGB** (*Zuführen zur Prostitution*): up to two years.\n- **§ 216 StGB** (*Zuhälterei*): Abs. 1 up to two years; Abs. 2 up to three years; six months to five years for members of a criminal association (Abs. 3) and for using intimidation to stop a person leaving prostitution (Abs. 4).\n- **§ 217 StGB** (*Grenzüberschreitender Prostitutionshandel*): recruiting or bringing a non-national, non-resident person into prostitution in Austria, six months to five years, one to ten years if commercial; one to ten years where deception, coercion or force is used.", "provisions": [ "§ 215 StGB", "§ 216 StGB", "§ 217 StGB" ], "sources": [ "at-stgb-215", "at-stgb-216", "at-stgb-217", "at-bka-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No federal law bans advertising sexual services. The Land laws differ, using vague terms such as advertising that is intrusive or offends moral sensibilities, bans near schools, rules on brothel signs, and in Vorarlberg a ban on brothel advertising installations. Vienna and Upper Austria ban advertising unsafe-sex practices. The Land laws do not expressly regulate internet advertising, and no rule on ad-site liability was found.", "details": "- **Vienna:** § 10(2) WPG 2011 bans advertising sexual intercourse or equivalent acts without a condom in connection with prostitution; fine up to EUR 800 (EUR 1,600 for a repeat offence), § 17(4a). In force since 1 June 2023 (LGBl. Nr. 8/2023).\n- **Upper Austria:** § 3(3) Z 4 Oö. SDLG bans advertising unsafe-sex practices, \"insbesondere in Bordellen, Printmedien und elektronischen Medien\"; Z 5 bans advertising services by people under 18.\n- **Vorarlberg:** § 11(1) Sittenpolizeigesetz bans \"Ankündigungen und Werbeanlagen jeder Art\" indicating that a building is used for prostitution.\n- **Constitutional limits:** in 2010 the Constitutional Court held Tyrol's general ban on brothel advertising to breach Article 10 ECHR (VfSlg. 19159/2010, as reported in BKA 2024).\n- **Online:** the federal working group notes that internet advertising is not expressly regulated in the Land laws and recommended allowing explicit advertising for brothels (BKA 2024, pp. 108-110). Platform liability would fall under general law, including the EU Digital Services Act; no Austria-specific rule was found.", "provisions": [ "§ 10 Abs. 2, § 17 Abs. 4a Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011", "§ 3 Abs. 3 Z 4-5 Oö. Sexualdienstleistungsgesetz", "§ 11 Abs. 1 Vorarlberger Sittenpolizeigesetz" ], "sources": [ "at-wpg", "at-ooe-sdlg", "at-vbg-spg", "at-bka-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "at-stgb-216", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (StGB)", "relevance": "Federal offences of bringing a person into prostitution, exploitative pimping and cross-border prostitution trafficking.", "provisions": [ "§ 215", "§ 216", "§ 217" ] }, { "sourceId": "at-wpg", "titleEn": "Vienna Prostitution Act 2011", "relevance": "Registration, premises, street zones, client fines and the unsafe-sex advertising ban in Vienna.", "provisions": [ "§§ 2-17" ] }, { "sourceId": "at-vbg-spg", "titleEn": "Vorarlberg Public Morals Police Act", "relevance": "Allows prostitution only in permitted brothels, of which none exists; bans brothel advertising installations.", "provisions": [ "§§ 4-11", "§ 18" ] }, { "sourceId": "at-ooe-sdlg", "titleEn": "Upper Austria Sexual Services Act", "relevance": "Restricts soliciting and services to approved brothels and house visits; bans unsafe-sex and under-18 advertising.", "provisions": [ "§ 3 Abs. 3" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2011", "event": "Vienna adopts the Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011 (LGBl. Nr. 24/2011), replacing its 1983 act.", "sources": [ "at-wpg" ] }, { "date": "2012-04-18", "event": "The Supreme Court (OGH, 3 Ob 45/12g) holds that contracts between sex workers and clients are no longer in principle contrary to public morals.", "sources": [ "at-ogh-2012", "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "date": "2023-06-01", "event": "Vienna's amendment (LGBl. Nr. 8/2023) bans advertising unsafe-sex practices and raises penalties.", "sources": [ "at-wpg", "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024-01", "event": "The federal working group on sexual services publishes its report with recommendations, including allowing house visits and explicit brothel advertising.", "sources": [ "at-bka-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024", "event": "Vorarlberg exempts sexual assistance for people with severe disabilities in their homes from its prostitution ban (LGBl. Nr. 18/2024).", "sources": [ "at-vbg-spg" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Registered sex workers reported to the Federal Criminal Police Office", "value": "5,279", "year": "2022", "note": "Administrative registrations, not cleaned for people who left or moved between Länder, so double counting is possible. Mandatory health-check data suggest that 4,000-5,000 individuals worked legally in 2022. Not an estimate of the total population.", "sources": [ "at-bka-2024" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "at-stgb-215", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) § 215 – Zuführen zur Prostitution", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, § 215 – Bringing a person into prostitution", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10002296&Paragraf=215", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-stgb-216", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) § 216 – Zuhälterei", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, § 216 – Pimping", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10002296&Paragraf=216", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-stgb-217", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) § 217 – Grenzüberschreitender Prostitutionshandel", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, § 217 – Cross-border prostitution trafficking", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10002296&Paragraf=217", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-wpg", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wiener Prostitutionsgesetz 2011 (WPG 2011), LGBl. Nr. 24/2011 idF LGBl. Nr. 8/2023", "titleEn": "Vienna Prostitution Act 2011 (consolidated)", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=LrW&Gesetzesnummer=20000170", "published": "2011", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-vbg-spg", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Gesetz über Angelegenheiten der Sittenpolizei (Sittenpolizeigesetz), LGBl. Nr. 6/1976 idF LGBl. Nr. 18/2024", "titleEn": "Vorarlberg Public Morals Police Act (consolidated)", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=LrVbg&Gesetzesnummer=20000263", "published": "1976", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-ooe-sdlg", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Oö. Sexualdienstleistungsgesetz (Oö. SDLG) § 3", "titleEn": "Upper Austria Sexual Services Act, § 3", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS)", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=LrOO&Gesetzesnummer=20000696&Paragraf=3", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-ogh-2012", "kind": "case-law", "title": "OGH 18.04.2012, 3 Ob 45/12g", "titleEn": "Supreme Court of Justice, decision of 18 April 2012, 3 Ob 45/12g", "publisher": "Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS), Judikatur Justiz", "url": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokument.wxe?Abfrage=Justiz&Dokumentnummer=JJT_20120418_OGH0002_0030OB00045_12G0000_000", "published": "2012-04-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "at-bka-2024", "kind": "government", "title": "Regelungen sexueller Dienstleistungen in Österreich. Empfehlungen der Arbeitsgruppe „Sexuelle Dienstleistungen – Verbesserung der Rahmenbedingungen zur Prävention von Ausbeutung“", "titleEn": "Regulation of sexual services in Austria: recommendations of the Task Force on Human Trafficking working group on sexual services", "publisher": "Bundeskanzleramt, Sektion III Frauenangelegenheiten und Gleichstellung", "url": "https://www.bmfwf.gv.at/dam/jcr:d554b57f-dc5d-418a-88fb-32b1320961f9/bericht_der_ag_sexuelle_dienstleistungen_jaen_2024.pdf", "published": "2024-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/austria/" }, { "iso2": "AZ", "name": "Azerbaijan", "nativeName": "Azərbaycan", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 524 of the 2015 Code of Administrative Offences (fine of AZN 100); since an amendment published in January 2026, making open calls to engage in prostitution online carries AZN 500. Buying is not expressly penalised. Involving a person in prostitution for gain and keeping dens of debauchery are crimes (Articles 243 and 244 of the Criminal Code).", "modelSources": [ "az-ixm", "az-cm" ], "summary": "In Azerbaijan engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a fine of AZN 100. A paragraph added by Law No. 334-VIIQD of 30 December 2025, published in January 2026, fines open calls to engage in prostitution made through internet information resources or telecommunication networks, and prostitution-related deals made in public view, AZN 500. Buying sex from an adult is not a specific offence. The Criminal Code punishes involving a person in prostitution for income or other benefit (fine of AZN 2,500 to 3,500, community work or one to three years) and organising or keeping dens of debauchery for prostitution or providing dwellings for it (fine, community or correctional work, or up to three years). Involving minors in prostitution carries three to eight years.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution (fahişəliklə məşğul olma) is an administrative offence punished by a fine of AZN 100. Since an amendment published in January 2026, making open calls to engage in prostitution online, or a prostitution-related deal in public view, is fined AZN 500.", "provisions": [ "Art. 524.1 İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi", "Art. 524.2 İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi" ], "sources": [ "az-ixm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read on the official e-qanun.az portal (consolidated text). Our translation of Article 524.2; the original wording is in the advertising topic.", "mapLabel": "AZN 500 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes paying for sex with an adult an offence. Article 524 targets engaging in prostitution; whether the 'deal' limb of Article 524.2 could reach a client making an arrangement in public view has not, as far as we found, been tested.", "provisions": [ "Art. 524 İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi" ], "sources": [ "az-ixm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from the absence of a buyer offence in the codes read; no enforcement data found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping dens of debauchery for prostitution, or providing dwellings for that purpose, carries a fine of AZN 2,500 to 3,500, 400 to 480 hours of community work, correctional work up to two years or up to three years' imprisonment. Repeat offences or those by a group or organised group carry three to six years.", "provisions": [ "Art. 244 Cinayət Məcəlləsi" ], "sources": [ "az-cm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Involving a person in prostitution for income or other benefit carries a fine of AZN 2,500 to 3,500, 320 to 480 hours of community work or one to three years; exploiting a person's helplessness or impairments, or acting as an organised group, three to six years. Involving a minor in prostitution carries three to six years, four to eight in aggravated cases.", "provisions": [ "Art. 243 Cinayət Məcəlləsi", "Art. 171 Cinayət Məcəlləsi" ], "sources": [ "az-cm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Since an amendment published in January 2026, open calls to engage in prostitution made through internet information resources or information and telecommunication networks are an administrative offence fined AZN 500. The Law on Advertising also bans advertising goods and actions that harm consumers' morality or physical and psychological health.", "details": "Article 524.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences, added by Law No. 334-VIIQD of 30 December 2025 (published 26 January 2026): *İnternet informasiya ehtiyatından və ya informasiya-telekommunikasiya şəbəkəsindən istifadə etməklə fahişəliklə məşğul olmağa açıq çağırışların edilməsinə və ya kütləvi nümayiş etdirilməklə fahişəliklə məşğul olmaqla bağlı sövdələşməyə görə – beş yüz manat məbləğində cərimə edilir.* Article 11.1 of the Law on Advertising (No. 1281-IVQ of 15 May 2015) bans advertising of goods and actions that adversely affect the consumer's morality or physical and psychological health; applying it to sexual services is our reading. Whether a website hosting such adverts is itself liable, under Article 524.2 or under Article 243 of the Criminal Code, was not established.", "provisions": [ "Art. 524.2 İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi", "Art. 11.1 Reklam haqqında Qanun" ], "sources": [ "az-ixm", "az-reklam" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 524.2 is read from the official text; platform liability and the reach of the Law on Advertising are not established." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "az-ixm", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015)", "relevance": "Article 524: engaging in prostitution (524.1) and online open calls to engage in prostitution (524.2, since 2026).", "provisions": [ "Art. 524" ], "inForce": "2016-03-01" }, { "sourceId": "az-cm", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1999)", "relevance": "Article 171 (involving minors in prostitution), 243 (involving a person in prostitution), 244 (keeping dens of debauchery).", "provisions": [ "Art. 171", "Art. 243", "Art. 244" ], "inForce": "2000-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "az-reklam", "titleEn": "Law on Advertising (No. 1281-IVQ of 15 May 2015)", "relevance": "Article 11.1 bans advertising of goods and actions harmful to consumers' morality or health.", "provisions": [ "Art. 11.1" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-03-01", "event": "The 2015 Code of Administrative Offences entered into force, with prostitution as an administrative offence.", "sources": [ "az-ixm" ] }, { "date": "2026-01-26", "event": "Law No. 334-VIIQD of 30 December 2025 published, adding Article 524.2: AZN 500 fine for open calls to engage in prostitution online.", "sources": [ "az-ixm" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "az-ixm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Azərbaycan Respublikasının İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan (consolidated text)", "publisher": "E-QANUN, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan", "url": "https://e-qanun.az/framework/46960", "published": "2015-12-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "az" }, { "id": "az-cm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Azərbaycan Respublikasının Cinayət Məcəlləsi", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (consolidated text)", "publisher": "E-QANUN, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan", "url": "https://e-qanun.az/framework/46947", "published": "1999-12-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "az" }, { "id": "az-reklam", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Reklam haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu", "titleEn": "Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Advertising (text as published)", "publisher": "President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (official website)", "url": "https://president.az/az/articles/view/15859", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "az" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/azerbaijan/" }, { "iso2": "BS", "name": "Bahamas", "nativeName": "The Commonwealth of The Bahamas", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Ch. 84) criminalises keeping a brothel (s. 137), living on the earnings of prostitution and persistent public soliciting (s. 138), and importuning passers-by for prostitution (s. 212(13)); the Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 99) adds procuration (s. 7) and a parallel living-on-earnings offence with a five-year maximum (s. 8).", "modelSources": [ "bs-penal", "bs-soa" ], "summary": "In The Bahamas, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Penal Code (Ch. 84, LRO 1/2017), keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, is punishable by a $150 penalty or three months on first conviction, rising to $1,000 or twelve months on a third; loitering and importuning passers-by for prostitution carries a $150 penalty. The Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 99) makes procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute', 'whether by electronic means or otherwise', punishable by fifteen years, and knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes punishable by five years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. A person who loiters or wanders about and importunes any passenger for the purposes of prostitution is liable to a $150 penalty. Persistently soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes is an offence under both the Penal Code (six months) and the Sexual Offences Act (five years).", "provisions": [ "s. 212(13) Penal Code, Ch. 84", "s. 138(2) Penal Code, Ch. 84", "s. 8(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 99" ], "sources": [ "bs-penal", "bs-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The two persistent-soliciting provisions overlap with different maximum penalties; which one prosecutors use was not researched.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: BSD 150 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found in the Penal Code or the Sexual Offences Act. The persistent-soliciting offences are not limited to sellers and could reach a client who importunes in public.", "provisions": [ "s. 138(2) Penal Code, Ch. 84", "s. 8(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 99" ], "sources": [ "bs-penal", "bs-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of an offence in the two acts reviewed; other legislation, such as the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act, was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used are offences: a $150 penalty or three months, $500 or six months on a second conviction and $1,000 or twelve months on a third, plus a possible good-behaviour recognisance.", "provisions": [ "s. 137 Penal Code, Ch. 84", "s. 42 Penal Code, Ch. 84 (search warrant)", "s. 45 Penal Code, Ch. 84 (assignment of lease)" ], "sources": [ "bs-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure a person, 'whether by electronic means or otherwise', to become a 'common prostitute' or to leave home or The Bahamas to frequent a brothel carries fifteen years. Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries five years under the Sexual Offences Act (six months under the Penal Code), with a statutory presumption against anyone who lives with a sex worker or controls their movements.", "provisions": [ "s. 7(a)(ii)-(iv) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 99", "s. 8(1)(a) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 99", "s. 138(1) Penal Code, Ch. 84", "s. 43 Penal Code, Ch. 84" ], "sources": [ "bs-soa", "bs-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The procuration offence in s. 7 of the Sexual Offences Act expressly covers procuring 'by electronic means', which could reach online recruitment of sex workers, and the brothel and living-on-earnings offences could apply to a third party who profits from advertising others.", "provisions": [ "s. 7 Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 99" ], "sources": [ "bs-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bs-penal", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Chapter 84 (LRO 1/2017)", "relevance": "Brothel-keeping (s. 137), living on earnings and persistent soliciting (s. 138), importuning for prostitution (s. 212(13)) and the presumption of living on earnings (s. 43).", "provisions": [ "s. 43", "s. 137", "s. 138", "s. 212" ] }, { "sourceId": "bs-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 99 (LRO 1/2017)", "relevance": "Procuration, including by electronic means (s. 7), and living on the earnings of prostitution or persistent soliciting, five years (s. 8).", "provisions": [ "s. 7", "s. 8" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bs-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Chapter 84, Statute Law of The Bahamas, LRO 1/2017", "publisher": "Office of the Attorney General, Bahamas Laws Online", "url": "https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1873/1873-0015/1873-0015_2.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bs-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 99, Statute Law of The Bahamas, LRO 1/2017", "publisher": "Office of the Attorney General, Bahamas Laws Online", "url": "https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1991/1991-0009/1991-0009_2.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahamas/" }, { "iso2": "BH", "name": "Bahrain", "nativeName": "البحرين", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Living wholly or partly on one's own earnings from prostitution is a crime (Art. 326(1), Penal Code of 1976), as is soliciting in a public place (Art. 329). No offence aimed at clients was found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over; adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Brothels, procuring and living off others' prostitution are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "bh-penal" ], "summary": "Bahrain's Penal Code (Legislative Decree 15/1976) punishes any man or woman who relies wholly or partly for a living on earnings from prostitution with up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)), and soliciting another person in a public place with up to two years; any notice containing an invitation to prostitution counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Clients are not targeted by any provision found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over, though adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Running premises for prostitution carries two to five years and closure (Art. 328). Enticing or assisting prostitution carries imprisonment (Art. 324); coercion, five to seven years (Art. 325); living off another's prostitution or protecting it for a benefit, up to five years (Art. 326).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Every person, male or female, who relies wholly or partly for a livelihood on earnings from prostitution or immorality is liable to up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)). On detection, the police refer the person for a medical examination, and someone found to have a venereal disease is ordered into a medical institution until recovery (Art. 330).", "provisions": [ "Art. 326(1) Penal Code", "Art. 330 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "bh-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Wording from the English version published by the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission; the Arabic text is authoritative.", "mapLabel": "up to 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code targets clients, and consensual sex with a woman aged 21 or over is not itself an offence (Art. 345 covers ages 14 to 21). A married client may commit adultery, which carries up to two years (Art. 316).", "provisions": [ "Art. 316 Penal Code", "Art. 345 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "bh-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether clients have been prosecuted as accomplices, for example for 'assisting' prostitution under Art. 324, or under other laws, was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Establishing or running premises for immorality or prostitution, or assisting in any way in doing so, carries two to five years' imprisonment. The court orders the premises closed and the property and furniture in them confiscated. Premises count if they are normally used for others to engage in prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 328 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "bh-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Enticing a person into prostitution or assisting in it carries imprisonment, up to five years if the victim is under 18 (Art. 324). Inducing prostitution by coercion, threats or deception carries five to seven years, seven to ten under 18 (Art. 325). Living off another's prostitution through influence, or protecting a person engaged in it in return for a benefit, carries up to five years (Art. 326(2)-(3)).", "details": "Article 327 doubles the minimum and maximum penalties of Articles 324 to 326, up to fifteen years, where the offender is the victim's spouse, in-law, carer or a person in authority over the victim.", "provisions": [ "Art. 324 Penal Code", "Art. 325 Penal Code", "Art. 326 Penal Code", "Art. 327 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "bh-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting another person in a public place to immorality or prostitution carries up to two years' imprisonment, and every notice containing an invitation implying a temptation to prostitution, or drawing attention to it, counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Inciting passers-by to debauchery on a public road carries three to six months and/or a fine of BHD 100 to 1,000 (Art. 354, as replaced in 2025).", "provisions": [ "Art. 329 Penal Code", "Art. 354 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "bh-penal", "bh-law25-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How Article 329(2) on notices applies to online ads, and whether it requires a public place, was not checked against case law; Bahrain's cybercrime legislation was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bh-penal", "titleEn": "Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1976 with respect to the Penal Code", "relevance": "Chapter 3, 'Immorality and Prostitution' (Arts. 324 to 330), covers prostitution offences; Arts. 316 and 345 set the limits of the offences on adultery and consensual sex with young people.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 324-330", "Art. 316", "Art. 345" ] }, { "sourceId": "bh-law25-2025", "titleEn": "Law No. 25 of 2025 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code", "relevance": "Replaced Art. 354 on inciting passers-by to debauchery on a public road, with a fine of BHD 100 to 1,000.", "provisions": [ "Art. 354" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1976-04-08", "event": "Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1976 enacts the Penal Code, including the chapter on immorality and prostitution.", "sources": [ "bh-penal" ] }, { "date": "2025-05-28", "event": "Law No. 25 of 2025 replaces Art. 354 on inciting passers-by to debauchery, together with the privacy offences in Arts. 370 and 372.", "sources": [ "bh-law25-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bh-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "مرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976 بإصدار قانون العقوبات", "titleEn": "Legislative Decree No. (15) of 1976 with respect to Enactment of the Penal Code (consolidated Arabic text and English version)", "publisher": "Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain", "url": "https://lloc.gov.bh/Legislation/id/L1576", "published": "1976-04-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "bh-law25-2025", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون رقم (25) لسنة 2025 بتعديل بعض أحكام قانون العقوبات الصادر بالمرسوم بقانون رقم (15) لسنة 1976", "titleEn": "Law No. 25 of 2025 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code", "publisher": "Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain", "url": "https://lloc.gov.bh/Legislation/HTM/K2525", "published": "2025-05-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahrain/" }, { "iso2": "BD", "name": "Bangladesh", "nativeName": "বাংলাদেশ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No statute makes selling sex by an adult an offence, and the High Court held in 2000 that the work is \"apparently ... not an illegal one under the law of the land\". The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 nevertheless criminalises keeping a brothel, letting premises for one and soliciting. In practice long-established brothel districts operate openly with local administrative enrolment of the women, so the law on paper and the practice diverge sharply.", "modelSources": [ "bd-tip-2012", "bd-bsehr-2000" ], "summary": "Selling sex by an adult is not an offence in Bangladesh, although Article 18(2) of the Constitution commits the State to \"adopt effective measures to prevent\" prostitution. The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 defines prostitution as \"sexual exploitation or abuse of any person for commercial purpose\". It punishes keeping or managing a brothel, and knowingly letting a place be used as one, with three to five years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of at least 20,000 taka. Soliciting in a street or public place, or from inside a building, carries up to three years or a fine. The 2012 Act repealed the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1933. In 2000 the High Court held the forced eviction of sex workers from the Tanbazar and Nimtali brothels unlawful, describing how women enrol with the local administration, sometimes by sworn affidavit.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Attracting attention for the purpose of prostitution \"in any street or public place or from within any house or building\", by words, gestures or indecent exposure, is punishable by up to three years' rigorous imprisonment, a fine of up to 20,000 taka, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 13 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012", "art. 18(2) Constitution" ], "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012", "bd-bsehr-2000" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. Buying or hiring a girl under 18 for prostitution is an offence under section 373 of the Penal Code, and trafficking offences under the 2012 Act apply where force, fraud or deception are involved.", "provisions": [ "s. 373 Penal Code 1860" ], "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012", "bd-bsehr-2000" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of a buyer offence is inferred from the 2012 Act and the High Court's 2000 review of the applicable law; the Penal Code was not read on the official portal (bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd did not respond)." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or actively assisting in managing a brothel, or knowingly letting a house or land be used as one, carries three to five years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of at least 20,000 taka. A brothel is \"any house, place or structure used for the purpose of prostitution\". Large brothel districts such as Daulatdia nevertheless operate openly.", "provisions": [ "s. 2(9) Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012", "s. 12 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012" ], "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012", "bd-bsehr-2000" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "How the 2012 brothel offence is reconciled with the tolerated brothel districts was not found in any official source. The High Court's 2000 judgment predates the 2012 Act and described enrolment with the local administration under the 1933 Act, since repealed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Bringing a person into Bangladesh, or moving a person within it, for prostitution or other sexual exploitation by force, fraud or seduction carries five to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of at least 50,000 taka. Managing or assisting in the management of a brothel is separately punished. Human trafficking carries five years to life.", "provisions": [ "s. 11 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012", "s. 12 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012" ], "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No general offence of living on another person's earnings from prostitution was found in the 2012 Act, which repealed the 1933 Act that contained one. Whether consensual adult third-party arrangements outside a brothel are prosecuted was not established." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Attracting another person's attention for the purpose of prostitution by words, gestures or indecent exposure, in a street or public place or from inside a building, is an offence carrying up to three years' imprisonment or a fine. No offence specific to printed or online advertising was found.", "provisions": [ "s. 13 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012" ], "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether section 13 reaches online advertisements is untested in the sources found. Pornography and cyber laws were not checked because the official legislation portal did not respond." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bd-tip-2012", "titleEn": "Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 (Act No. 3 of 2012)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and brothel; criminalises brothel keeping, letting premises for a brothel, soliciting and trafficking for sexual exploitation; repealed the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1933.", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 11", "s. 12", "s. 13", "s. 47" ], "inForce": "2012-02-20" }, { "sourceId": "bd-bsehr-2000", "titleEn": "Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights and Others v Government of Bangladesh and Others (High Court Division, 14 March 2000)", "relevance": "Held the forcible eviction of sex workers from the Tanbazar and Nimtali brothels and their detention as vagrants unlawful; described prostitution as not illegal under the law of the land.", "inForce": "2000-03-14" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2000-03-14", "event": "The High Court Division rules that the 1999 eviction of sex workers from the Tanbazar and Nimtali brothels, and their confinement in a vagrants' home, violated their rights to life and protection of law under Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution.", "sources": [ "bd-bsehr-2000" ] }, { "date": "2012-02-20", "event": "The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 is enacted, creating the current brothel and soliciting offences and repealing the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1933.", "sources": [ "bd-tip-2012" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bd-tip-2012", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 (Act No. 3 of 2012), English translation", "publisher": "Government of Bangladesh (Bangladesh Gazette translation), copy hosted by ecoi.net", "url": "https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1028974/1930_1413966465_543f75664.pdf", "published": "2012-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bd-bsehr-2000", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) and Ors v. Government of Bangladesh and Ors, High Court Division, judgment of 14 March 2000", "publisher": "UNODC Case Law Database (SHERLOC)", "url": "https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/case-law/bgd/2000/bangladesh_society_for_the_enforcement_of_human_rights_bsehr_and_ors_v__government_of_bangladesh_and_ors_html/Bangladesh_Society_for_the_Enforcement_of_Human_Rights_versus_Government_of_Bangladesh_and_Others_-_Judgment.pdf", "published": "2000-03-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bangladesh/" }, { "iso2": "BB", "name": "Barbados", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 154) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 13), brothel-keeping and letting premises for a brothel (s. 18), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 19), and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 20).", "modelSources": [ "bb-soa" ], "summary": "In Barbados, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 154) penalises the activities around them. Procuring another for prostitution or to become an inmate of a brothel carries fifteen years on indictment. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries five years or a $5,000 fine, or both, on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries a $5,000 fine or five years, or both; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. A person who 'in any place solicits for immoral purposes' is liable on summary conviction to a $5,000 fine or five years, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 19(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154" ], "sources": [ "bb-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Law Revision edition of Cap. 154 on the Barbados Law Courts site (pages dated L.R.O. 1993/2002); later amendments to the Act were not checked. The Minor Offences Act was not checked for street offences, and how courts read 'immoral purposes' was not researched.", "mapLabel": "immoral soliciting: 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found in the Sexual Offences Act. The soliciting offence in s. 19(1)(b) is not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 19(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154" ], "sources": [ "bb-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Law Revision edition of Cap. 154 on the Barbados Law Courts site (pages dated L.R.O. 1993/2002); later amendments to the Act were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in managing, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used are punishable on summary conviction by five years or a $5,000 fine, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 18 Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154" ], "sources": [ "bb-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Law Revision edition of Cap. 154 on the Barbados Law Courts site (pages dated L.R.O. 1993/2002); later amendments to the Act were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring another for prostitution, whether or not that person is already a sex worker, or to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel, carries fifteen years on indictment. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution carries a $5,000 fine or five years, with a presumption against anyone living with or controlling a sex worker; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 13(b)-(c) Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154", "s. 19(1)(a) and (3) Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154", "s. 20 Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154" ], "sources": [ "bb-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Law Revision edition of Cap. 154 on the Barbados Law Courts site (pages dated L.R.O. 1993/2002); later amendments to the Act were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 19(1)(b) applies 'in any place', and a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 19 Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154" ], "sources": [ "bb-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bb-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 13), suppression of brothels (s. 18), living on earnings and soliciting (s. 19) and aiding prostitution for gain (s. 20).", "provisions": [ "s. 13", "s. 18", "s. 19", "s. 20" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bb-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154, The Laws of Barbados (L.R.O. 2002)", "publisher": "Barbados Judicial System (barbadoslawcourts.gov.bb)", "url": "https://www.barbadoslawcourts.gov.bb/assets/content/pdfs/statutes/SexualOffencesCAP154.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/barbados/" }, { "iso2": "BY", "name": "Belarus", "nativeName": "Беларусь", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is an administrative offence (Article 19.5 of the 2021 Code of Administrative Offences, fine, community work or administrative arrest). Buying is not an offence. Organising or profiting from another person's prostitution, keeping a den and providing premises are crimes (Article 171 of the Criminal Code).", "modelSources": [ "by-koap", "by-uk" ], "summary": "Belarus penalises the person who sells sex: engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of 6 to 20 base units, community work or administrative arrest, and a repeat within a year by 20 to 30 base units, community work or arrest (Article 19.5 of the 2021 Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex is not an offence. Under Article 171 of the Criminal Code, organising or \"using\" another person's prostitution (deriving any benefit from it), knowingly providing premises for it for gain, or keeping a den for prostitution carries two to five years' restriction of liberty or three to five years' imprisonment with a fine; drawing a person into prostitution is punished under Article 171-1. The Law on Advertising prohibits advertising sexual services, including when presented as massage, relaxation or companionship.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of 6 to 20 base units, community work or administrative arrest; a repeat within a year after a penalty is punishable by 20 to 30 base units, community work or arrest.", "details": "Administrative arrest lasts up to fifteen days (Art. 6.6 КоАП).", "provisions": [ "ст. 19.5 КоАП" ], "sources": [ "by-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 15 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence; the administrative offence in Article 19.5 targets the person engaging in prostitution, and no offence directed at buyers was found in the Code of Administrative Offences.", "sources": [ "by-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly providing premises for prostitution for gain, or organising or keeping a den for prostitution, is punishable by two to five years' restriction of liberty or three to five years' imprisonment with a fine; five to ten years in aggravated cases.", "provisions": [ "ст. 171 УК" ], "sources": [ "by-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or using another person's prostitution, defined as deriving material or other benefit from another person's voluntary provision of sexual services, carries the same penalty as brothel keeping. Drawing a person into prostitution or compelling them to continue is punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty of up to three years or one to three years' imprisonment with a fine.", "provisions": [ "ст. 171 УК (примечание)", "ст. 171-1 УК" ], "sources": [ "by-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "The Law on Advertising prohibits advertising sexual services, including under the guise of psychological help, companionship, relaxation, massage or other lawful activity, and advertising aimed at drawing people into providing sexual services. Breaches of advertising law are administrative offences carrying fines for advertisers, producers and distributors of ads.", "provisions": [ "ст. 10 Закона «О рекламе»", "ст. 13.9 КоАП" ], "sources": [ "by-ad", "by-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The prohibition sits in the general requirements for advertising (Article 10); the paragraph number was not identified. Application to foreign websites was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "by-koap", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (2021)", "relevance": "Article 19.5 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence; Article 13.9 sanctions breaches of advertising law.", "provisions": [ "ст. 19.5", "ст. 13.9" ] }, { "sourceId": "by-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1999, as amended)", "relevance": "Articles 171 and 171-1 criminalise organising, profiting from and drawing people into prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ст. 171", "ст. 171-1" ] }, { "sourceId": "by-ad", "titleEn": "Law on Advertising (2007, as amended)", "relevance": "Prohibits advertising sexual services, including disguised offers.", "provisions": [ "ст. 10" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "by-koap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс Республики Беларусь об административных правонарушениях от 6 января 2021 г. № 91-З", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (2021)", "publisher": "Национальный правовой Интернет-портал Республики Беларусь (pravo.by)", "url": "https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=HK2100091", "published": "2021-01-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "by-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Уголовный кодекс Республики Беларусь от 9 июля 1999 г. № 275-З", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1999)", "publisher": "Национальный правовой Интернет-портал Республики Беларусь (pravo.by)", "url": "https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=hk9900275", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "by-ad", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Закон Республики Беларусь «О рекламе» от 10 мая 2007 г. № 225-З", "titleEn": "Law on Advertising (2007)", "publisher": "Национальный правовой Интернет-портал Республики Беларусь (pravo.by)", "url": "https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=h10700225", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belarus/" }, { "iso2": "BE", "name": "Belgium", "nativeName": "België / Belgique / Belgien", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "decriminalisation", "modelNote": "Since 1 June 2022 selling and buying sex between adults is not a criminal offence and the old offences around prostitution were repealed. Criminal law still covers procuring (organising another person's prostitution for gain, or profiting abnormally), most advertising, public incitement and exploitation. Since 1 December 2024 an employer recognised under the law of 3 May 2024 may hire sex workers on an employment contract without committing procuring. Municipalities regulate where and how prostitution takes place.", "modelSources": [ "be-law-2022", "be-cp-book2", "be-labour-2024", "be-hausman-2023" ], "summary": "Belgium decriminalised prostitution between adults with the sexual criminal law reform of 21 March 2022 (in force 1 June 2022). Selling and buying are legal. Procuring is still an offence, defined narrowly. Advertising for prostitution is banned, except for a sex worker's own ads behind a window in a dedicated venue or on a dedicated medium, and ads on dedicated platforms that meet a royal decree of 18 May 2024 (which, according to the government, may include ads placed by venues). The law of 3 May 2024 lets recognised employers hire sex workers on employment contracts (in force 1 December 2024). It is under challenge at the Constitutional Court, which had not ruled by 22 October 2026. A new Criminal Code in force since 1 September 2026 moves the offences to articles 265 to 272 and lowers the advertising penalty. Municipalities regulate windows, venues and street work.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Antwerp (city)", "note": "Window prostitution is allowed only in the Schipperskwartier concentration zone (just over 300 windows, including the purpose-built Villa Tinto complex, which has a police post on its ground floor). Window operators need a suitability declaration (geschiktheidsverklaring) per building and must register every window rental in the police app HookUp. Window workers must be at least 18 and hold valid residence or identity papers. Sex businesses (brothels, clubs, massage parlours, escort agencies and others) need no licence but must comply with a city regulation, amended on 15 December 2025, and pay a local tax. Street prostitution is banned and punished with municipal administrative fines (GAS) or a street ban. Prostitution from a person's own home is tolerated if it causes no nuisance. The rules are in the police code (politiecodex), title 6, chapter 2.", "sources": [ "be-antwerp-rules", "be-antwerp-forms", "be-at5-2023" ] }, { "name": "Brussels-Capital Region: Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode", "note": "The window district around Brussels-North station (rue d'Aerschot / Aarschotstraat) is regulated by the two municipalities. Under a security plan for the Brabant quarter, both councils voted on 25 March 2026 to require every publicly accessible establishment in a set zone, brothels included, to close from 01:00 to 06:00 from 1 April 2026. The closure was extended to the end of September 2026, with different relaxations in each municipality. On 15 September 2026 Schaerbeek said it would propose not to extend it. UTSOPI objected that sex workers lost income while their window rents stayed the same. We could not confirm whether Saint-Josse also ended the closure.", "sources": [ "be-bruzz-2026-03", "be-vrt-2026-04", "be-bruzz-2026-09" ] }, { "name": "Liège (city)", "note": "Liège closed the prostitution salons in its Cathédrale-Nord district in 2009 and planned a supervised Eros Center on rue Varin, but the project never opened. In November 2020 the mayor told the council it had been set aside for lack of political consensus and that the city would instead pursue a delimited 'zone P' where prostitution would be tolerated. A planned Eros Center in neighbouring Seraing was also abandoned. We found no evidence that a zone P had been put in place by October 2026.", "sources": [ "be-rtbf-2020-liege" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not an offence. The 2022 reform repealed the old Criminal Code articles on prostitution (articles 379 to 382bis and related provisions). It replaced them with a chapter that criminalises only the abuse of prostitution by third parties.", "details": "The law of 21 March 2022 repealed, among others, articles 379, 380, 380bis, 380ter, 381, 382 and 382bis of the 1867 Criminal Code (art. 117 of the 2022 law) and inserted a new chapter 'De l'abus de la prostitution' (arts. 433quater/1 to 433quater/8; a law of 30 July 2022 added confiscation as 433quater/8 and the evaluation article became 433quater/9). Since 1 September 2026 the same offences are in articles 265 to 272 of the new Criminal Code. The preparatory works describe prostitution as a matter of personal freedom, so long as it is exercised freely (Hausman 2023). Any third-party involvement in the prostitution of a minor (recruiting, exploiting, paying, advertising) remains a serious offence under arts. 152–168.\n\nSex workers may work self-employed. Since 1 December 2024 they may also work as employees of a recognised employer (see `brothels` and `tax`).", "provisions": [ "Law of 21 March 2022, art. 117 (repeal of arts. 379–382bis Code pénal 1867)", "Arts. 265–272 Code pénal (2024)" ], "sources": [ "be-law-2022", "be-cp-book2", "be-hausman-2023", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-cp-1867" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sexual services is not an offence. Belgium has no purchase ban. Paying a minor, or giving a minor any material benefit in exchange for sex, is always a criminal offence.", "details": "None of the prostitution offences in the 2022 chapter (now arts. 265–272 of the new Criminal Code) targets clients of adult sex workers. Clients can still commit general offences, such as non-consensual sexual acts, or take part as co-offenders in trafficking or procuring.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 265–272 Code pénal (2024): no client offence for adults" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-antwerp-forms" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "It is procuring to organise another person's prostitution for gain 'except in the cases provided for by law'. Since 1 December 2024 the law of 3 May 2024 supplies that exception: a legal person recognised by the Ministers of Justice and Work may employ sex workers on a sex worker employment contract. Renting rooms or windows is an offence only if it yields an abnormal advantage.", "details": "**Criminal Code.** Article 265 of the new Code (formerly art. 433quater/1) defines procuring as three acts committed against an adult:\n- organising another person's prostitution for an advantage, except where the law provides otherwise;\n- promoting, inciting, encouraging or facilitating prostitution to obtain an *abnormal* economic or other advantage;\n- taking measures to prevent or hinder someone from leaving prostitution.\n\nIt carries a level-3 penalty (more than 3 to 5 years' imprisonment), and the judge may add a fine of €200 to €200,000 per victim (€200 to €40,000 for attempt). Before 1 September 2026 the penalty was 1 to 5 years and €500 to €25,000. Fine amounts in the Code are nominal: courts add the statutory décimes additionnels, which multiply them by 1.25 from 1 September 2026. Abuse of a person made vulnerable by an illegal or precarious residence or social situation, age, pregnancy, illness or disability is aggravated (art. 268, level 4: more than 5 to 10 years). The 2024 text also let courts close the establishment for 1 month to 3 years (art. 269), but the law of 16 March 2026 repealed that article before the Code took effect; Justel's consolidated Book II still prints it. Closure now needs a basis in law under Book I art. 59. Commentators note the 'abnormal advantage' test targets, among others, landlords who charge excessive rents (Hausman 2023), and the city of Antwerp warns landlords that charging sex workers higher rents is an offence.\n\n**Recognised employers (law of 3 May 2024).** Under art. 12, a recognised employer who employs sex workers in line with the law and its decrees does not commit procuring under art. 265, first indent. Conditions (arts. 14 and 17):\n- the employer is a private limited company (SRL/BV, not a single-member one), a cooperative or a non-profit association (ASBL/VZW), with a seat in Belgium; natural persons cannot be recognised;\n- directors and managers have no conviction for listed sexual, trafficking, violence, theft or fraud offences;\n- a reference person is available throughout working hours;\n- every room has an emergency button, and workers outside the premises carry a mobile one;\n- independent socio-medical organisations and unions have access to the premises;\n- the employer may not subcontract its authority.\n\nThe Ministers of Justice and Work grant recognition jointly after consulting the public prosecutor and the labour prosecutor. VRT NWS reported that recognitions are published in the Moniteur belge. Workers fall under joint committee 302 (hotel industry). Students, flexi-jobs, occasional work and temporary agency placement are excluded. Workers may refuse any client or act at any time without loss of pay, and may leave without notice. Breaches are punished under the Social Penal Code, for example a level-4 sanction for employing a minor (arts. 20–25 of the 2024 law).\n\n**Local rules.** Municipalities regulate venues through police regulations, zoning and taxes (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "Art. 265 Code pénal (2024), formerly art. 433quater/1 Code pénal (1867)", "Arts. 268, 270–271/1 Code pénal (2024) (art. 269 repealed by the law of 16 March 2026)", "Law of 3 May 2024, arts. 11–19", "Social Penal Code arts. 122/3, 136/2, 177 §3, 186/2 (as amended in 2024)" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-1867", "be-cp-book1", "be-labour-2024", "be-fod-2025", "be-hausman-2023", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-law-2026-03-16", "be-decimes-1952", "be-vrt-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision forbids adult sex workers from working together or sharing premises. The procuring offence requires organising someone else's prostitution for gain, or obtaining an abnormal advantage. Local planning and nuisance rules still apply, for example Antwerp's conditions on home-based prostitution.", "details": "Belgian law has no specific rule on sex workers sharing a flat or a window building, so this entry is an inference from the elements of art. 265 (see `brothels`). An arrangement in which one worker organises the others' work for profit, or takes an abnormal share, could fall within the offence. In Antwerp, prostitution from homes is tolerated only where the worker also lives in the premises and causes no nuisance. Window buildings need a city suitability declaration.", "provisions": [ "Art. 265 Code pénal (2024)" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-antwerp-forms" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Neither the statute nor any case law we found addresses shared premises directly. The status is inferred from the elements of the procuring offence." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring remains a crime: organising another adult's prostitution for gain, outside a recognised employment relationship; facilitating prostitution for an abnormal advantage; or obstructing exit. Since 1 September 2026 the penalty is level 3 (more than 3 to 5 years) and the judge may add a fine of up to €200,000 per victim. Third parties who provide normal services at normal prices (landlords, accountants, drivers) are not covered.", "details": "See `brothels` for the full text of art. 265 and the employer exception. Before 1 September 2026 the same conduct was art. 433quater/1 of the 1867 Code: 1 to 5 years' imprisonment and a fine of €500 to €25,000, applied once per victim. Attempt is punishable. The 'abnormal advantage' element is a special intent. Commentators read it as allowing third parties a benefit substantially equivalent to the service they provide, and no more (Hausman 2023). Under the new Code, art. 265 applies 'without prejudice to' the trafficking offence in art. 258 (formerly art. 433quinquies). Conduct involving minors falls under separate child-exploitation offences (arts. 152 ff.).", "provisions": [ "Art. 265 Code pénal (2024)", "Art. 268 Code pénal (2024) (aggravated abuse)", "Formerly arts. 433quater/1 and 433quater/4 Code pénal (1867)" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-1867", "be-cp-book1", "be-hausman-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising the prostitution of an adult is an offence, except for an adult's own ads behind a window in a dedicated venue or on a dedicated platform, medium or section, and for dedicated platforms that meet the royal decree of 18 May 2024. According to the decree's report, venues may also advertise on such platforms. Since 1 September 2026 the penalty is level 1 (a fine of €200 to €20,000, community service or probation).", "details": "**The offence (art. 266 Code pénal 2024, formerly art. 433quater/2).** 'Advertising for prostitution' covers three things:\n- deliberately making, publishing, distributing or spreading advertising, directly or indirectly, for an offer of sexual services by an adult, even when disguised in coded language;\n- making known by any means of advertising that an adult engages in prostitution;\n- facilitating an adult's prostitution by any means of advertising.\n\nIt is prohibited, except:\n1. for an adult advertising **their own** sexual services behind a window in a place specifically intended for prostitution;\n2. for an adult placing advertising for **their own** sexual services on an internet platform or other medium, or part of a medium, specifically intended for that purpose;\n3. for the **provider** of such a dedicated platform or medium that carries advertising for sexual services, or for a venue offering them, if it takes measures to protect sex workers and prevent abuse and trafficking, reports possible abuse or exploitation to the police or judicial authorities immediately, and complies with the conditions set by the King (royal decree of 18 May 2024; see `platforms`).\n\n**What stays illegal.** Advertising someone else's services outside these exceptions remains an offence. According to the report to the King accompanying the 2024 decree, a third party such as a brothel manager may lawfully advertise the services of the sex workers in its establishment on a dedicated platform or press section that complies with the decree. A private individual's ad for someone else's services on a non-dedicated site, such as a social network, falls under the general ban and can be prosecuted. Advertising in non-dedicated media or outside a dedicated section, such as general press pages or street advertising, is not covered by the exceptions. A section of a newspaper or online service devoted to prostitution ads does qualify (decree art. 1, 2°). The city of Antwerp reads the law as excluding ads visible to minors or to people who do not want to see them. Separately, public incitement of an adult to prostitute themselves, through advertising or in public, is an offence (art. 267, level 1). Advertising aimed at minors, or for services by a minor or someone presented as one, is a separate and heavier offence (art. 166).\n\n**Penalty change.** Under the 1867 Code the advertising offence carried 1 month to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of €100 to €1,000. The new Code makes it a level-1 offence. Imprisonment is not available as a principal penalty at that level, which consists of a fine of €200 to €20,000, a work penalty of 20 to 120 hours, probation of 6 to 12 months, confiscation, or a declaration of guilt (art. 36 Book I). Fine amounts are nominal (see `brothels` on décimes additionnels). The new text also adds the word 'deliberately' (délibérément) to each limb.\n\n**Social media.** The report to the King says that a private individual who posts an ad for their own services on a non-dedicated site, such as a social network or messaging service, falls outside the decree and that such an ad 'is legal' under the second exception. This sits uneasily with the statutory wording, which requires a medium 'specifically intended' for the purpose.", "provisions": [ "Art. 266 Code pénal (2024), formerly art. 433quater/2 Code pénal (1867)", "Art. 267 Code pénal (2024) (public incitement), formerly art. 433quater/3", "Art. 166 Code pénal (2024) (minors)", "Arrêté royal du 18 mai 2024 portant exécution de l'article 433quater/2 du Code pénal", "Art. 36 Code pénal (2024) (penalty levels)" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-1867", "be-cp-book1", "be-law-2022", "be-ar-2024", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-hausman-2023", "be-law-2026-03-16", "be-law-2026-03-16-decimes", "be-law-2026-03-03" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The commentary on social-network ads, and the reading that third parties such as brothel managers may advertise on compliant dedicated platforms, come from the government's report to the King, not from the statute. No court decision on either was found. The consolidated Justel text of art. 266 (updated to 2 April 2026) does not reproduce two amendments the law of 15 May 2024 made to art. 433quater/2: the words 'at least, but not only' before the reporting duty, and the paragraph listing the personal data that platforms process and keep for up to three years. Neither law of 16 March 2026 nor the harmonisation law of 3 March 2026 amends art. 266, so the 2024 additions appear to have been lost in the recodification." }, "platforms": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A website that publishes prostitution ads is exempt from the advertising ban only if it, or the section carrying the ads, is specifically dedicated to prostitution and meets the royal decree of 18 May 2024. The decree requires checking each advertiser's identity and age, showing safety and anti-trafficking information, reporting suspected abuse without delay, a contact point for police in Belgium, and keeping account and ad data for three years. Other hosts fall under the advertising offence.", "details": "**Scope.** The royal decree of 18 May 2024 (Moniteur belge 13 June 2024; notified to the European Commission under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 on 6 February 2024) covers free and paid ads. It applies to 'providers', meaning undertakings within the meaning of art. I.1 of the Code of Economic Law. A self-employed natural person running a site can be one. The decree applies to providers established in Belgium and to foreign providers whose ads target a public specifically in Belgium, wherever the services are offered. According to the report to the King, mere accessibility of a site is not enough to show targeting. A .be domain, the use of a Belgian official language, or Belgian advertisers may show it. A pure storage or cloud provider with no contractual relationship with the advertiser is outside scope.\n\n**Obligations:**\n- Before publication, verify the advertiser's identity and age (identity document plus a same-day face photo, which must then be destroyed), the phone number and, if available, the e-mail address. Refuse the ad if doubts remain (art. 3).\n- Give advertisers information on safety, sexually transmitted infections, safe practice and exit or reorientation, plus contact details of recognised centres and sex-worker organisations. The SPF Justice provides a standard information page (art. 4).\n- Display the trafficking-victim contact point visibly (art. 5).\n- Make staff who handle ads aware of abuse and trafficking and of the help available, for example through yearly training (art. 6).\n- Report suspected abuse or trafficking to the police or judicial authorities without delay. There is no general duty to monitor every ad (art. 7).\n- Warn visitors that the ads are reserved for adults (art. 8).\n- Online providers must also offer visitors a reporting tool and give support organisations a free account to contact advertisers (art. 9).\n- Keep a contact point in Belgium reachable on working days. Answer police and judicial requests free of charge, within 24 hours in urgent cases (art. 10).\n- Keep, for three years after the contract ends, a copy of the identity document, account-creation data (including IP address), ad-creation data, payment data and change logs (art. 11).\n\n**Liability.** A provider outside these conditions, or a general platform outside a section dedicated to prostitution ads (decree art. 1, 2°), does not benefit from the exception. Publishing such ads is then itself the advertising offence (art. 266), now a level-1 offence. A platform taking an abnormal advantage, or organising others' prostitution, could also face procuring charges (art. 265). As intermediary services, platforms are also subject to the EU Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), including its rules on hosting liability and notice-and-action.", "provisions": [ "Art. 266 §2 Code pénal (2024), formerly art. 433quater/2 §2", "Arrêté royal du 18 mai 2024, arts. 1–11", "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA)" ], "sources": [ "be-ar-2024", "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-1867", "eu-dsa", "be-law-2026-03-03" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The decree was adopted to implement art. 433quater/2 of the 1867 Code. Since 1 September 2026 the provision is art. 266 of the new Code. The decree still refers to art. 433quater/2. The harmonisation law of 3 March 2026 does not update that reference, but art. 266 keeps the same delegation to the King. The data-processing paragraph inserted in 2024 does not appear in art. 266 (see `advertising`). No published enforcement figures against ad platforms were found." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Federal law has no soliciting offence for adults since 2022. Municipalities control street-based prostitution through police regulations and administrative fines. Antwerp bans street prostitution outright and punishes it with municipal fines or a street ban. Public incitement of an adult to prostitute themselves remains a federal offence.", "details": "The 2022 reform repealed the old Criminal Code provisions in this area (arts. 379–382bis). The advertising exception for one's own services mentions only advertising 'behind a window' in a dedicated venue. A legal commentator notes this leaves open whether active soliciting in public is lawful under the advertising ban (Hausman 2023). Article 267 (formerly 433quater/3) punishes inciting an adult in public to prostitute *themselves*. That offence targets recruitment, not workers seeking clients. Local rules vary: Antwerp bans street prostitution with municipal administrative sanctions (GAS) or a street ban, and the Brussels municipalities of Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse imposed night closures on the window district in 2026 (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "Art. 267 Code pénal (2024)", "Municipal police regulations (e.g. Antwerp politiecodex, title 6, chapter 2)" ], "sources": [ "be-law-2022", "be-cp-book2", "be-hausman-2023", "be-antwerp-forms", "be-bruzz-2026-03" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether active soliciting falls under the federal advertising ban is unsettled in the literature. We found no case law." }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No national registration or licence exists for sex workers themselves. Employers of sex workers need prior joint recognition by the Ministers of Justice and Work. Some municipalities register workers or venues: Antwerp requires a suitability declaration per window building and records every window rental in the police app HookUp. We found no mandatory health checks in the federal acts reviewed.", "details": "**Federal.** The law of 3 May 2024 requires prior recognition of employers (arts. 11–16). Recognition can be suspended or withdrawn by the ministers or by the labour courts. The administration sends the list of recognised employers to the joint committee each year. Sex workers employed under contract have the rights of employees, including occupational health and safety rules. A further royal decree sets room size, hygiene, information display and identity-check conditions (art. 17).\n\n**Antwerp.** Window operators need a suitability declaration (one per building, with a morality check) and must use HookUp. Window workers must show valid residence or identity papers. The police prostitution team checks venues and home-based workers and keeps their data in a database.", "provisions": [ "Law of 3 May 2024, arts. 11–17", "Antwerp police code, title 6, chapter 2; Antwerp regulation on sex businesses" ], "sources": [ "be-labour-2024", "be-fod-2025", "be-antwerp-rules", "be-antwerp-forms" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statement that no national health-check duty exists is based on the federal acts reviewed here (2022 Criminal Code reform, new Criminal Code, 2024 labour law). We did not review every municipal regulation." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Sex workers may work as self-employed or, since 1 December 2024, as employees of a recognised employer. Employees have a normal employment contract under the 1978 Employment Contracts Act with full labour and social security protection: pension, unemployment, health insurance, paid leave and maternity leave. They fall under joint committee 302.", "details": "Art. 3 of the law of 3 May 2024 makes the sex worker employment contract an employment contract within the meaning of the law of 3 July 1978. All labour and social security law applies, subject to the exceptions in that law. Specific protections include the right to refuse any client or act without loss of pay or other penalty, protection against dismissal and adverse measures (with a reversed burden of proof and a fixed indemnity of six months' gross pay), and the right to resign without notice (arts. 7–8). The law does not regulate self-employed sex workers, whose work UTSOPI says was already possible before the reform. UTSOPI wrote that, as plans stood, sex workers would be employed under hotel-sector (horeca) contracts that do not mention prostitution. The law itself requires a written sex worker employment contract stating the employer's recognition number (art. 6).", "provisions": [ "Law of 3 May 2024, arts. 3–10" ], "sources": [ "be-labour-2024", "be-fod-2025", "be-utsopi" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "We did not review the income-tax and self-employed social-security rules that apply specifically to sex workers, so this entry is limited to the employment-contract regime." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No rule bars foreign nationals from prostitution as such, but general residence and work-authorisation rules apply. Recognised employers must comply with the rules on employing foreign workers. Antwerp requires window workers to hold valid residence or identity papers. Exploiting a person's illegal or precarious residence status is an aggravating factor in prostitution offences.", "details": "Art. 268 of the new Criminal Code (formerly 433quater/4) aggravates procuring, unlawful advertising and public incitement when committed against an adult made vulnerable by an illegal or precarious administrative or social situation (level 4: more than 5 to 10 years). Under art. 17, 4° of the law of 3 May 2024, a recognised employer must respect, among other things, the regulations on the employment of foreign workers. UTSOPI noted after the 2024 law that it was unclear how sex workers without work status or legal residence would be treated. Migrant sex workers who are trafficking victims can contact the federal contact point, which the 2024 decree requires ad platforms to display.", "provisions": [ "Art. 268 Code pénal (2024)", "Law of 3 May 2024, art. 17, 4°" ], "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-labour-2024", "be-antwerp-forms", "be-utsopi", "be-ar-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The immigration rules themselves (residence and single permit) were not reviewed for this entry." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "be-law-2022", "titleEn": "Act of 21 March 2022 amending the Criminal Code with regard to sexual criminal law", "relevance": "Decriminalised prostitution between adults. It repealed the old prostitution offences and created the chapter 'abuse of prostitution' (procuring, advertising ban with exceptions, public incitement, aggravated abuse, closure of establishments, four-yearly evaluation by the Chamber).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 75–83 (new arts. 433quater/1–433quater/8 Code pénal; the evaluation article was renumbered 433quater/9 in 2022)", "Art. 117 (repeals)" ], "inForce": "2022-06-01" }, { "sourceId": "be-cp-1867", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 8 June 1867 (consolidated)", "relevance": "Held the 2022 prostitution chapter (arts. 433quater/1 ff.) until 31 August 2026, including the May 2024 amendment of the advertising provision. It still governs offences committed before 1 September 2026, subject to the rule that the more lenient law applies.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 433quater/1–433quater/9" ] }, { "sourceId": "be-cp-book2", "titleEn": "Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book II of the Criminal Code", "relevance": "The new Criminal Code. It restates the prostitution offences as arts. 265–272 under the new penalty scale and adds an intent requirement ('deliberately') to advertising and incitement.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 265–272", "Art. 166" ], "inForce": "2026-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "be-cp-book1", "titleEn": "Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book I of the Criminal Code", "relevance": "Sets the eight penalty levels used by the new prostitution offences (art. 36). Entry into force was postponed from 8 April to 1 September 2026 by the law of 30 March 2026 (arts. 252–253).", "provisions": [ "Art. 36" ], "inForce": "2026-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "be-law-2026-03-16", "titleEn": "Act of 16 March 2026 amending the Acts introducing Books I and II of the Criminal Code", "relevance": "Amended the new Code before it took effect: it repealed art. 269 (closure of the establishment) and inserted art. 271/1 in the prostitution section. Justel's consolidated Book II had not integrated these changes when checked.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 51–53" ], "inForce": "2026-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "be-labour-2024", "titleEn": "Act of 3 May 2024 laying down provisions on sex work under an employment contract", "relevance": "Created the sex worker employment contract and the recognition regime for employers. A recognised employer that complies with it does not commit procuring.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 2–19", "Art. 26 (evaluation after two years)" ], "inForce": "2024-12-01" }, { "sourceId": "be-ar-2024", "titleEn": "Royal Decree of 18 May 2024 implementing article 433quater/2 of the Criminal Code", "relevance": "Sets the conditions under which a dedicated platform or medium may lawfully publish prostitution ads: identity and age checks, information duties, reporting, a Belgian contact point and three-year data retention.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1–11" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "constitutional-court-annulment-2024-law", "title": "Annulment action against the law of 3 May 2024 on sex work under an employment contract", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "what": "Judgment of the Constitutional Court. None had been published as of judgment no. 125/2026 of 22 October 2026. BRUZZ reported in July 2026 that a ruling was expected at the end of 2026." }, "summary": "In March 2025 isala asbl and eight other Belgian associations asked the Constitutional Court to annul the 2024 labour law. They argue that it legitimises procuring and breaches international human-rights conventions, including the 1950 UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons. The federal employment ministry confirmed the pending action in May 2025. We checked every judgment the Court published in 2025 and 2026 up to no. 125/2026 (22 October 2026) and found none on this law.", "sources": [ "be-isala-2025", "be-fod-2025", "be-vrt-2025", "be-bruzz-2026-07", "be-cc-125-2026" ] }, { "id": "evaluation-2024-labour-law", "title": "Government evaluation of the law of 3 May 2024 and its implementing decrees", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-06-14", "next": { "date": "2026-12", "what": "Evaluation due two years after entry into force (art. 26). The federal employment ministry plans it for the end of 2026." }, "summary": "Art. 26 of the law requires the government to evaluate it two years after its entry into force on 1 December 2024. The FPS Employment says the evaluation will look at effectiveness, problems of application and possible amendments. Uptake has been low: 12 employers had been recognised by mid-2026.", "sources": [ "be-labour-2024", "be-fod-2026" ] }, { "id": "chamber-evaluation-prostitution-chapter", "title": "Multidisciplinary evaluation of the prostitution offences by the Chamber of Representatives", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "summary": "The 2022 law required the Chamber to evaluate the prostitution chapter two years after its entry into force (i.e. from 1 June 2024) and then every four years, with input from justice, police, specialised public bodies, civil society and academics. Art. 272 of the new Criminal Code keeps a four-yearly evaluation. We could not confirm whether the first evaluation has been carried out.", "sources": [ "be-cp-1867", "be-cp-book2" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1948-08-21", "event": "Law abolishing the official regulation of prostitution. From then until 2022 Belgium was usually classed as abolitionist: selling was legal, while procuring, advertising and public incitement were criminalised, though the authorities generally tolerated breaches in practice.", "sources": [ "be-hausman-2023" ] }, { "date": "2009", "event": "Liège closes the prostitution salons in its Cathédrale-Nord district. A planned replacement Eros Center on rue Varin never opens and is shelved in 2020.", "sources": [ "be-rtbf-2020-liege" ] }, { "date": "2022-03-21", "event": "Act reforming sexual criminal law adopted (published 30 March 2022). It decriminalises prostitution between adults and creates the 'abuse of prostitution' chapter.", "sources": [ "be-law-2022" ] }, { "date": "2022-06-01", "event": "The 2022 reform enters into force. Selling and buying sex between adults are no longer offences, and advertising one's own services on dedicated media becomes lawful.", "sources": [ "be-law-2022", "be-cp-1867" ] }, { "date": "2024-04-08", "event": "The new Criminal Code (Books I and II, laws of 29 February 2024) is published in the Moniteur belge, originally to enter into force two years later.", "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-book1" ] }, { "date": "2024-05-03", "event": "Act on sex work under an employment contract adopted, after a plenary vote of 93 in favour, 0 against and 33 abstentions. It is published on 6 June 2024.", "sources": [ "be-labour-2024", "be-utsopi" ] }, { "date": "2024-06-07", "event": "Amendment of the advertising article by the law of 15 May 2024 enters into force. It adds a legal basis for platforms' processing of advertiser data, with retention of up to three years.", "sources": [ "be-cp-1867" ] }, { "date": "2024-06-13", "event": "Royal decree of 18 May 2024 setting the conditions for dedicated advertising platforms is published.", "sources": [ "be-ar-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024-12-01", "event": "The law of 3 May 2024 enters into force. Recognised employers may now hire sex workers on employment contracts.", "sources": [ "be-labour-2024", "be-fod-2025" ] }, { "date": "2025-03", "event": "Nine associations led by isala asbl file an annulment action against the 2024 labour law at the Constitutional Court.", "sources": [ "be-isala-2025", "be-bruzz-2026-07" ] }, { "date": "2026-03-30", "event": "The law of 30 March 2026 (arts. 252–253) postpones the entry into force of the new Criminal Code from 8 April to 1 September 2026.", "sources": [ "be-cp-book1", "be-cp-book2" ] }, { "date": "2026-04-01", "event": "Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse impose a 01:00–06:00 night closure, brothels included, on the Brabant quarter around Brussels-North. It is extended to the end of September 2026.", "sources": [ "be-bruzz-2026-03", "be-bruzz-2026-09" ] }, { "date": "2026-06-14", "event": "The FPS Employment reports 22 applications for employer recognition since early 2025: 12 granted (3 in Flanders, 9 in Wallonia, none in Brussels) and 6 refused or inadmissible.", "sources": [ "be-fod-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-01", "event": "The new Criminal Code enters into force. The prostitution offences become arts. 265–272, and unlawful advertising drops to a level-1 penalty with no principal prison sentence.", "sources": [ "be-cp-book2", "be-cp-book1" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Employers recognised to employ sex workers", "value": "12 (3 Flemish Region, 9 Walloon Region, 0 Brussels)", "year": "2025–2026", "note": "Cumulative to the FPS Employment report of 14 June 2026, out of 22 applications since early 2025 (15 of them in 2025). Counts employers, not workers. No official count of sex workers on employment contracts has been published.", "sources": [ "be-fod-2026" ] }, { "label": "Employer recognition applications refused or inadmissible", "value": "6", "year": "2025–2026", "note": "FPS Employment, cumulative to 14 June 2026.", "sources": [ "be-fod-2026" ] }, { "label": "Prostitution windows in Antwerp's Schipperskwartier", "value": "just over 300", "year": "2026", "note": "City of Antwerp figure for its single concentration zone. It is not a count of workers.", "sources": [ "be-antwerp-forms" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "be-law-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 21 mars 2022 modifiant le Code pénal en ce qui concerne le droit pénal sexuel", "titleEn": "Act of 21 March 2022 amending the Criminal Code with regard to sexual criminal law", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Moniteur belge / Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2022/03/21/2022031330/justel", "published": "2022-03-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-cp-1867", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal du 8 juin 1867 (version consolidée, Justel)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 8 June 1867 (consolidated)", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=1867060801&table_name=loi", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-cp-book2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 29 février 2024 introduisant le livre II du Code pénal", "titleEn": "Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book II of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Moniteur belge / Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2024/02/29/2024002088/justel", "published": "2024-04-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-cp-book1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 29 février 2024 introduisant le livre Ier du Code pénal", "titleEn": "Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book I of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Moniteur belge / Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=2024022909&table_name=loi", "published": "2024-04-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-labour-2024", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 3 mai 2024 portant des dispositions en matière du travail du sexe sous contrat de travail", "titleEn": "Act of 3 May 2024 laying down provisions on sex work under an employment contract", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Moniteur belge / Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2024/05/03/2024202750/justel", "published": "2024-06-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-ar-2024", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Arrêté royal du 18 mai 2024 portant exécution de l'article 433quater/2 du Code pénal", "titleEn": "Royal Decree of 18 May 2024 implementing article 433quater/2 of the Criminal Code (with report to the King)", "publisher": "Moniteur belge", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article_body.pl?language=fr&caller=summary&pub_date=2024-06-13&numac=2024005196", "published": "2024-06-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-law-2026-03-16", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 16 mars 2026 modifiant la loi du 29 février 2024 introduisant le livre Ier du Code pénal et la loi du 29 février 2024 introduisant le livre II du Code pénal", "titleEn": "Act of 16 March 2026 amending the Acts introducing Books I and II of the Criminal Code (Moniteur belge, 25 March 2026, pp. 17819–17820 for arts. 51–53)", "publisher": "Moniteur belge", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2026/03/25_1.pdf", "published": "2026-03-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-law-2026-03-16-decimes", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 16 mars 2026 modifiant la loi du 5 mars 1952 relative aux décimes additionnels sur les amendes pénales, le Code pénal social et diverses dispositions de droit pénal social", "titleEn": "Act of 16 March 2026 amending the Act of 5 March 1952 on décimes additionnels, the Social Penal Code and other social criminal law provisions (Moniteur belge, 1 April 2026)", "publisher": "Moniteur belge", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2026/04/01_1.pdf", "published": "2026-04-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-law-2026-03-03", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 3 mars 2026 relative à la mise en concordance des dispositions légales en vigueur de la Justice avec le Code pénal du 29 février 2024", "titleEn": "Act of 3 March 2026 harmonising existing Justice legislation with the Criminal Code of 29 February 2024 (Moniteur belge, 10 March 2026)", "publisher": "Moniteur belge", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2026/03/10_1.pdf", "published": "2026-03-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-decimes-1952", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 5 mars 1952 relative aux décimes additionnels sur les amendes pénales (version consolidée, Justel)", "titleEn": "Act of 5 March 1952 on décimes additionnels on criminal fines (consolidated)", "publisher": "SPF Justice, Justel", "url": "https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=1952030530&table_name=loi", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "eu-dsa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act)", "publisher": "EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng", "published": "2022-10-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "be-cc-125-2026", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Grondwettelijk Hof, arrest nr. 125/2026 van 22 oktober 2026", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court, judgment no. 125/2026 of 22 October 2026 (latest judgment published at the time of review; cited to date the check)", "publisher": "Grondwettelijk Hof / Cour constitutionnelle", "url": "https://nl.const-court.be/125/2026.pdf", "published": "2026-10-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-fod-2025", "kind": "government", "title": "Inwerkingtreding van de wet van 3 mei 2024 houdende bepalingen betreffende sekswerk onder arbeidsovereenkomst", "titleEn": "Entry into force of the law of 3 May 2024 on sex work under an employment contract (annual report 2024)", "publisher": "FOD Werkgelegenheid, Arbeid en Sociaal Overleg", "url": "https://werk.belgie.be/nl/blog/inwerkingtreding-van-de-wet-van-3-mei-2024-houdende-bepalingen-betreffende-sekswerk-onder", "published": "2025-05-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-fod-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Toepassing van de wet van 3 mei 2024 houdende bepalingen betreffende sekswerk onder arbeidsovereenkomst", "titleEn": "Application of the law of 3 May 2024 on sex work under an employment contract (annual report 2025)", "publisher": "FOD Werkgelegenheid, Arbeid en Sociaal Overleg", "url": "https://werk.belgie.be/nl/blog/toepassing-van-de-wet-van-3-mei-2024-houdende-bepalingen-betreffende-sekswerk-onder", "published": "2026-06-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-antwerp-rules", "kind": "government", "title": "Wetgeving en reglementen sekswerk", "titleEn": "Legislation and regulations on sex work", "publisher": "Stad Antwerpen", "url": "https://www.antwerpen.be/info/wetgeving-reglementen-sekswerk", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-antwerp-forms", "kind": "government", "title": "Toegelaten en verboden vormen van sekswerk", "titleEn": "Permitted and prohibited forms of sex work", "publisher": "Stad Antwerpen", "url": "https://www.antwerpen.be/info/toegelaten-verboden-vormen-sekswerk", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-hausman-2023", "kind": "academic", "title": "La prostitution des personnes majeures dans la réforme du droit pénal sexuel belge : les premiers jalons d'un modèle néo-réglementariste", "titleEn": "Adult prostitution in the Belgian sexual criminal law reform: first steps towards a neo-regulationist model (J.-M. Hausman, AJ Pénal, January 2023)", "publisher": "AJ Pénal (Dalloz), via DIAL UCLouvain", "url": "https://research.dial.uclouvain.be/server/api/core/bitstreams/095331f6-0873-439c-bf35-8a7268cd0a58/content", "published": "2023-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-isala-2025", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Prostitution et contrat de travail : 9 associations belges demandent l'annulation de la loi auprès de la Cour Constitutionnelle", "titleEn": "Prostitution and employment contracts: nine Belgian associations ask the Constitutional Court to annul the law", "publisher": "isala asbl", "url": "https://www.isalaasbl.be/prostitution-contrat-travail-loi-belgique-annulation-cour-constitutionnelle/", "published": "2025-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "be-utsopi", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Belgian labor law for sex workers: what and how?", "publisher": "UTSOPI (Belgian Union of Sex Workers)", "url": "https://www.utsopi.be/our-work/decriminalisation/cadre-du-travail", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "be-vrt-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Jaar na nieuwe wet op sekswerk slechts 4 werkgevers erkend: \"Velen blijven in zwart werken door extra kosten\"", "titleEn": "A year after the new sex work law only 4 employers recognised", "publisher": "VRT NWS", "url": "https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/11/27/het-oudste-beroep-ter-wereld-kiest-er-niet-voor-om-als-loontrekk/", "published": "2025-11-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-bruzz-2026-07", "kind": "news", "title": "Arbeidswet voor sekswerkers vindt amper weerklank: nog geen erkende werkgevers in Brussel", "titleEn": "Labour law for sex workers finds little uptake: no recognised employers in Brussels yet", "publisher": "BRUZZ", "url": "https://www.bruzz.be/actua/economie/arbeidswet-voor-sekswerkers-vindt-amper-weerklank-nog-geen-erkende-werkgevers-brussel-2026-07-06", "published": "2026-07-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-bruzz-2026-03", "kind": "news", "title": "Bars, winkels en bordelen in de Brabantwijk moeten vanaf 1 april 's nachts sluiten", "titleEn": "Bars, shops and brothels in the Brabant quarter must close at night from 1 April", "publisher": "BRUZZ", "url": "https://www.bruzz.be/actua/veiligheid/bars-winkels-en-bordelen-de-brabantwijk-moeten-vanaf-1-april-s-nachts-sluiten-2026-03-26", "published": "2026-03-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-vrt-2026-04", "kind": "news", "title": "Vervroegd sluitingsuur in Brabantwijk Schaarbeek en Sint-Joost treft sekswerkers: \"Minder inkomsten, zelfde kosten\"", "titleEn": "Earlier closing time in the Brabant quarter hits sex workers: 'less income, same costs'", "publisher": "VRT NWS", "url": "https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/04/30/vervroegd-sluitingsuur-in-brabantwijk-treft-sekswerkers-minder/", "published": "2026-04-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-bruzz-2026-09", "kind": "news", "title": "Schaarbeek zet punt achter nachtsluiting Brabantwijk: 'Criminaliteit is niet verminderd'", "titleEn": "Schaerbeek ends the night closure of the Brabant quarter: 'crime has not fallen'", "publisher": "BRUZZ", "url": "https://www.bruzz.be/actua/veiligheid/schaarbeek-zet-punt-achter-nachtsluiting-brabantwijk-criminaliteit-niet-verminderd-2026-09-15", "published": "2026-09-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-at5-2023", "kind": "news", "title": "Een erotisch centrum: hoe doen ze dat in Antwerpen? Op bezoek bij 'Villa Tinto'", "titleEn": "An erotic centre: how does Antwerp do it? A visit to Villa Tinto", "publisher": "AT5", "url": "https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/219867/een-erotisch-centrum-hoe-doen-ze-dat-in-antwerpen-op-bezoek-bij-villa-tinto", "published": "2023-04-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "be-rtbf-2020-liege", "kind": "news", "title": "Liège se dirige vers la création d'une zone de tolérance pour la prostitution plutôt qu'un Eros center", "titleEn": "Liège heads towards a tolerance zone for prostitution rather than an Eros Center", "publisher": "RTBF", "url": "https://www.rtbf.be/article/liege-se-dirige-vers-la-creation-d-une-zone-de-tolerance-pour-la-prostitution-plutot-qu-un-eros-center-10638512", "published": "2020-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belgium/" }, { "iso2": "BZ", "name": "Belize", "nativeName": "Belize", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence for either party, but the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act criminalises keeping or managing a brothel and letting premises for one (s. 15), a male person living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 18), and loitering or importuning for prostitution in a street or public place (ss. 4(1)(ix) and 18(1)(c)).", "modelSources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "summary": "In Belize, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act (Cap. 98, Revised Edition 2020), keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for use as one, is punishable on first conviction by a fine of up to BZ$500 or six months; a male person who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, and anyone who loiters or importunes in a street or public place for prostitution, faces a fine of up to BZ$100 or six months, rising to twelve months on a second conviction. A 'common prostitute' who loiters in public for prostitution to the annoyance of others commits a separate petty offence. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Loitering about or importuning any person in a street or other place for prostitution is a summary offence (fine up to BZ$100 or six months on first conviction); a 'common prostitute or night-walker' loitering in public for prostitution to the annoyance of others commits a petty offence (fine up to BZ$200 or two months).", "provisions": [ "s. 4(1)(ix) and (9) Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98", "s. 18(1)(c) Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98" ], "sources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Criminal Code (Cap. 101) was not checked for further provisions.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found in the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act. Its soliciting offence in s. 18(1)(c) is not limited to sellers and could reach a client who importunes in public.", "provisions": [ "s. 18(1)(c) Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98" ], "sources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Some secondary sources state that buying is illegal in Belize; no statutory basis for that was found, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 101) and the 2013 trafficking and child-exploitation acts were not reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, assisting in its management, knowingly permitting premises to be used as one, or letting premises knowing they will be so used is a summary offence: fine up to BZ$500 or six months on first conviction, BZ$1,000 or twelve months on a later one. A 'brothel' includes any place where people resort for 'illicit intercourse'.", "provisions": [ "s. 15 Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98", "s. 16 Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98" ], "sources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A male person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution commits a summary offence (fine up to BZ$100 or six months; twelve months on a later conviction). A man who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker and has no visible means of subsistence is presumed to do so unless he proves otherwise.", "provisions": [ "s. 18(1)(a), (2) and (3) Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98" ], "sources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Procuring offences in the Criminal Code (Cap. 101) and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act were not checked; the Summary Jurisdiction offence is worded for male persons only." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for sexual services was found. The Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act penalises selling or publicly exhibiting obscene printed matter (s. 4(1)(x)), and the soliciting offences cover importuning in streets and public places.", "provisions": [ "s. 4(1)(x) Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 98" ], "sources": [ "bz-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; the Criminal Code, broadcasting and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bz-sjoa", "titleEn": "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 98 (Revised Edition 2020)", "relevance": "Contains the brothel-keeping offence (s. 15), living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 18) and the loitering and soliciting offences (ss. 4 and 18).", "provisions": [ "s. 4", "s. 15", "s. 18" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bz-sjoa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 98, Revised Edition 2020 (showing the substantive laws as at 31 December 2020)", "publisher": "Law Revision Commissioner of Belize (copy hosted by GEF Islands)", "url": "https://www.gefislands.org/sites/default/files/downloads/policies/639762f72e12f_Cap_98_Summary_Jurisdiction__Offences__Act.pdf", "published": "2020-12-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belize/" }, { "iso2": "BJ", "name": "Benin", "nativeName": "Bénin", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code of 28 December 2018 does not make selling or buying sex an offence. Procuring, including aiding another person's soliciting, and running or tolerating prostitution in an establishment are délits; publicly soliciting people in order to provoke them to debauchery is a police contravention. Police nevertheless carry out periodic round-ups of sex workers for soliciting.", "modelSources": [ "bj-cp2018", "bj-cp2018-archive", "bj-bip-2024" ], "summary": "Benin's Penal Code (Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018) contains no offence of selling or buying sex. Procuring, defined broadly to include aiding another person's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds and living with a sex worker, is punishable by one to three years and a fine, rising to two to five years when aggravated (Arts. 556–557). Owning, running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other public venue, carries the same penalties, with licence withdrawal and closure (Arts. 560–561). Publicly soliciting people by gestures, words, writing or any other means to provoke them to debauchery is a minor police offence (Art. 994). Police in Cotonou and Parakou arrested dozens of sex workers for soliciting in 2024.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Publicly soliciting people of either sex by gestures, words, writing or any other means to provoke them to debauchery is a police contravention (Art. 994(3)), punishable by one day to two months in prison and/or a fine of 2,000 to 200,000 CFA francs (Arts. 987–988). Police in Cotonou and Parakou held dozens of sex workers for soliciting in 2024.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 994(3)", "Code pénal 2018 arts. 987–988" ], "sources": [ "bj-cp2018", "bj-bip-2024", "bj-beninwebtv-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the text layer of a scanned copy of the promulgated law, which is imperfect. A Beninese law lecturer quoted in 2021 said prostitution and soliciting are not offences under the 2018 Code; the contravention in Art. 994 suggests soliciting is a minor offence. Women arrested in Cotonou in 2021 were released after appearing before the court of first instance.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the 2018 Penal Code. Sex with a minor under 15 is an offence regardless of consent (Art. 554), and habitually inciting or facilitating the debauchery of people under 18 carries six months to five years (Art. 558).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 554", "Code pénal 2018 art. 558" ], "sources": [ "bj-cp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in an imperfect scanned text. The public-soliciting contravention in Art. 994(3) is not limited to sellers, but no case of it being used against a client was found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning directly or through another, managing, running, financing or helping to finance a prostitution establishment, or as the operator of a hotel, furnished house, bar, restaurant, club, dance hall or any place open to the public habitually accepting prostitution or the seeking of clients there, carries the penalties of Art. 556, doubled for a repeat within ten years (Art. 560). Conviction withdraws the licence and closes the premises for three months to five years (Art. 561).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 560", "Code pénal 2018 art. 561" ], "sources": [ "bj-cp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in an imperfect scanned text." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who knowingly aids or protects another's prostitution or soliciting; shares its proceeds; knowingly lives with a person who habitually sells sex; cannot justify their income while associating with sex workers; recruits or keeps a person, even a consenting adult, for prostitution; or acts as an intermediary. Penalty: one to three years and a 250,000 CFA franc fine (Art. 556); two to five years and 300,000 to 4 million if aggravated (Art. 557).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 556", "Code pénal 2018 art. 557", "Code pénal 2018 art. 559" ], "sources": [ "bj-cp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in an imperfect scanned text. Loi n° 2021-11 rewrote several sexual-offence articles (from Art. 551 on); the readable part of it did not touch Arts. 556–561, but this was not fully confirmed. When the victim is a child, procuring carries five to ten years." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to adverts was found. Public soliciting by writing or any other means is a contravention (Art. 994(3)), and so is displaying posters or images contrary to decency in public places (Art. 994(2)). Knowingly aiding or assisting another person's soliciting for prostitution is procuring (Art. 556(1)), which on its face could reach a site that hosts adverts for sexual services.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 994(2)–(3)", "Code pénal 2018 art. 556(1)" ], "sources": [ "bj-cp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case applying them to online adverts or platforms was found. The Digital Code (Law No. 2017-20) was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bj-cp2018", "titleEn": "Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018 on the Penal Code of the Republic of Benin", "relevance": "Paragraph on procuring and habitual incitement of minors to debauchery (Arts. 556–561) and the police contravention of public soliciting (Art. 994).", "provisions": [ "arts. 556–561", "arts. 986–988", "art. 994" ], "inForce": "2018-12-28" }, { "sourceId": "bj-loi2021-11", "titleEn": "Law No. 2021-11 of 20 December 2021 on special provisions for punishing offences committed on grounds of sex and protecting women", "relevance": "Amends sexual-offence articles of the 2018 Penal Code (sexual harassment, rape, sexual assault on minors, incest).", "provisions": [ "art. 2 (new arts. 551–555 of the Penal Code)" ], "inForce": "2021-12-20" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-12-28", "event": "Law No. 2018-16 on the Penal Code is promulgated, replacing the colonial-era code; it contains no offence of selling or buying sex.", "sources": [ "bj-cp2018", "bj-cp2018-archive" ] }, { "date": "2021-11", "event": "The prefect of the Littoral department campaigns against sex work in Cotonou and promises to close all brothels; a law lecturer argues that arrests lack a legal basis under the 2018 Code.", "sources": [ "bj-beninwebtv-2021" ] }, { "date": "2021-12-20", "event": "Law No. 2021-11 amends sexual-offence articles of the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "bj-loi2021-11" ] }, { "date": "2024-09-02", "event": "Police in Cotonou's 12th arrondissement report about twenty sex workers arrested for soliciting in an operation begun a week earlier.", "sources": [ "bj-bip-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bj-cp2018", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2018-16 du 28 décembre 2018 portant code pénal en République du Bénin", "titleEn": "Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018 on the Penal Code of the Republic of Benin", "publisher": "Droit et politique en Afrique (scan of the promulgated text)", "url": "https://droit-et-politique-en-afrique.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Code-penal-en-Republique-du-Benin-du-28-decembre-2018.pdf", "published": "2018-12-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bj-cp2018-archive", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n°2018-16 du 28 Décembre 2018 portant code pénal en République du Bénin", "titleEn": "Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018 on the Penal Code (National Assembly archive record)", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale du Bénin (documentation archive)", "url": "https://documentation-anbenin.org/s/textes-de-lois/item/2074", "published": "2018-12-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bj-loi2021-11", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2021-11 du 20 décembre 2021 portant dispositions spéciales de répression des infractions commises à raison du sexe des personnes et de protection de la femme en République du Bénin", "titleEn": "Law No. 2021-11 of 20 December 2021 on punishing offences committed on grounds of sex and protecting women", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale du Bénin (documentation archive)", "url": "https://documentation-anbenin.org/files/original/2210/loi-2021-11.pdf", "published": "2021-12-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bj-bip-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Cotonou : Une vingtaine de travailleuses du sexe interpellée pour racolage", "titleEn": "Cotonou: about twenty sex workers arrested for soliciting", "publisher": "Bip Radio", "url": "https://bipradio.com/racolage-a-cotonou-une-vingtaine-de-travailleuses-du-sexe-interpellee/", "published": "2024-09-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bj-beninwebtv-2021", "kind": "news", "title": "Traque des prostituées: un juriste apprécie le fondement juridique de l'action de Alain Orounla", "titleEn": "Hunt for sex workers: a lawyer assesses the legal basis of Alain Orounla's action", "publisher": "Bénin Web TV", "url": "https://beninwebtv.bj/traque-des-prostituees-un-juriste-apprecie-le-fondement-juridique-de-laction-de-alain-orounla/", "published": "2021-11-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/benin/" }, { "iso2": "BT", "name": "Bhutan", "nativeName": "འབྲུག་ཡུལ་", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 makes selling sex (offering, agreeing to or engaging in sexual conduct for money or property), buying sex (\"patronizing a prostitute\") and promoting prostitution (brothels, procuring, soliciting clients, taking earnings) separate offences. Each is a misdemeanour for adults, carrying one to under three years' imprisonment.", "modelSources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "summary": "Chapter 26 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 criminalises every party. A person who \"offers, agrees to engage, or engages in sexual conduct with another person for money or property\" commits prostitution (section 373). A person who \"gives money, property, or other gratification to engage in sexual act\" commits patronizing a prostitute (section 377). Owning or managing a brothel, procuring, encouraging someone to become or remain a sex worker, soliciting clients and taking a sex worker's earnings are promotion of prostitution (section 375). All three are misdemeanours, punishable by one year to under three years' imprisonment, rising to fourth- or third-degree felonies where the person is a child. Trafficking a person into or out of Bhutan for prostitution is a separate offence (section 379).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Offering, agreeing to or engaging in sexual conduct for money or property is the offence of prostitution, a misdemeanour carrying a minimum of one year and a maximum of under three years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "s. 373 Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 374 Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 12 Penal Code of Bhutan" ], "sources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the English text of the 2004 Code as reproduced by the Warnath Group; no official consolidated text including the 2011 and 2021 amendments was found. No report was found of either amendment changing Chapter 26.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Giving money, property or other gratification to engage in a sexual act is the offence of patronizing a prostitute, a misdemeanour for an adult, and a fourth-degree felony (three to under five years) or third-degree felony (five to under nine years) where the person is a child.", "details": "As a misdemeanour, patronizing an adult prostitute carries a minimum of one year and a maximum of under three years' imprisonment, the same as selling.", "provisions": [ "s. 377 Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 378 Penal Code of Bhutan" ], "sources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "As for selling: the 2004 text, read in an unofficial reproduction.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, leasing, controlling, managing or supervising a brothel, or otherwise keeping a prostitution business, is promotion of prostitution, a misdemeanour (felony where a child is involved).", "provisions": [ "s. 375(a) Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 376 Penal Code of Bhutan" ], "sources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a person for a house of prostitution, encouraging or causing someone to become or remain a sex worker, procuring a sex worker for a client, or requiring a sex worker to hand over any of her earnings is promotion of prostitution. Transporting, selling or buying a person into or out of Bhutan for prostitution is trafficking under section 379.", "provisions": [ "s. 375(b), (c), (e), (f) Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 379 Penal Code of Bhutan" ], "sources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A sex worker who offers sexual conduct for money commits prostitution, since \"offers\" is part of the offence. A third party who solicits a person to patronize a sex worker commits promotion of prostitution. No provision specific to online platforms was found.", "provisions": [ "s. 373 Penal Code of Bhutan", "s. 375(d) Penal Code of Bhutan" ], "sources": [ "bt-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Applying the offer and soliciting offences to advertisements is a reading of the text; no case applying them to online ads was found. The Information, Communications and Media Act was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bt-penal-code", "titleEn": "Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 (amended 2011 and 2021)", "relevance": "Chapter 26 criminalises prostitution, promotion of prostitution, patronizing a sex worker and trafficking for prostitution; Chapter 3 sets the sentence ranges for each grade.", "provisions": [ "s. 373", "s. 375", "s. 377", "s. 379" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bt-penal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code of Bhutan (2004)", "publisher": "The Warnath Group (reproduction of the English text)", "url": "https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bhutan-Penal-Code.pdf", "published": "2004", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bhutan/" }, { "iso2": "BO", "name": "Bolivia", "nativeName": "Bolivia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Adult prostitution is not a crime, and the criminal law reaches third parties only where they use deception, abuse of need or vulnerability, violence or coercion, or keep a house where sexual exploitation is promoted (Penal Code art. 321 as amended in 2012). Venues (\"lenocinios\") operate with sanitary certificates and sex workers hold health cards issued after periodic STI and HIV checks, overseen by departmental health services. The classification as regulation rests on that health-control practice rather than on a single national licensing statute, which was not found.", "modelSources": [ "bo-ley-263", "bo-minsalud-2015", "bo-erbol-2014" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Bolivia. Since Law 263 of 2012, the Penal Code's proxenetismo offence punishes promoting, facilitating or contributing to another person's prostitution for profit or to satisfy others only where it involves deception, abuse of need, vulnerability, dependency or power, violence or threats (10 to 15 years), and separately punishes keeping a house or establishment where sexual exploitation or commercial sexual violence is promoted (8 to 12 years). Sex workers obtain a health card after STI tests every three months and HIV tests every six, which the Ministry of Health describes as allowing them to work in venues; venues without sanitary certificates have been closed in health inspections. Law 263 also requires that advertisements for sexual services exclude nudity, references to regional or national origin, and minors.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. Sex workers obtain a health card (carnet sanitario) after STI checks every three months and HIV tests every six months at departmental surveillance centres; the Ministry of Health describes the card as allowing work in venues and lenocinios.", "sources": [ "bo-minsalud-2015", "bo-ley-263" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The health-card rules are described from a 2015 Ministry of Health release; the regulation that sets them, and whether working without a card is sanctioned, were not found." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Commercial sexual violence against minors and trafficking are separate crimes.", "sources": [ "bo-ley-263" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the Penal Code provisions amended by Law 263; the full current Penal Code was not reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Venues where sex is sold need a sanitary certificate from the departmental health service, and those without one have been closed in inspections. Keeping, openly or covertly, a house or establishment where sexual exploitation or commercial sexual violence is promoted carries 8 to 12 years.", "details": "Article 321(IV) of the Penal Code, as amended by Law 263, punishes whoever \"mantuviere ostensible o encubiertamente una casa o establecimiento donde se promueva la explotación sexual y/o violencia sexual comercial\". In October 2014 an official quoted by Erbol reported that 88 lenocinios in La Paz and El Alto had been closed during the year for lacking sanitary certificates and workers' health booklets, and that the La Paz health service (SEDES) issues sanitary certificates and health cards but not operating licences.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 321(IV)" ], "sources": [ "bo-ley-263", "bo-erbol-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Which authority issues operating licences (presumably municipalities) and under which rules was not confirmed." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting, facilitating or contributing to another's prostitution, or forcing them to remain in it, for profit or to satisfy others, is proxenetismo (10 to 15 years) when committed through deception, abuse of need, vulnerability, dependency or power, violence, threats or other coercion. Higher penalties apply for victims under 18 or with disabilities (12 to 18) and under 14 (15 to 20).", "details": "Law 263 of 31 July 2012 rewrote article 321 so that, for adults, the offence requires one of the listed means. The 2006 wording (Law 3325) had punished promoting, favouring or facilitating prostitution for profit without that requirement.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 321 (Ley 263, art. 34)" ], "sources": [ "bo-ley-263" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statement about the 2006 wording comes from secondary summaries of Law 3325 and was not checked against its text." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Advertisements offering sexual services are lawful but regulated: Law 263 requires them to protect dignity, bans images of partial or total nudity and references to a person's regional, local or national origin, and requires that minors are never involved. The Ministry of Communication enforces this and imposes administrative sanctions on media outlets.", "details": "Article 23(IV) of Law 263: \"todos los avisos de oferta sexual, deberán ser reguladas precautelando la dignidad de las personas, prohibiendo el uso de imágenes de desnudos parciales o totales\". Article 23(I) also bars the media from disseminating messages that promote trafficking and related offences.", "provisions": [ "Ley 263, art. 23" ], "sources": [ "bo-ley-263" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether the rule and its implementing regulation are applied to online platforms was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bo-ley-263", "titleEn": "Law 263, Comprehensive Law against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons (2012)", "relevance": "Rewrote the proxenetismo offence (Penal Code art. 321) and regulates advertisements for sexual services (art. 23).", "provisions": [ "art. 23", "art. 34 (Penal Code arts. 321, 321 bis, 321 ter)" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-07-31", "event": "Law 263 against trafficking adopted, rewriting the proxenetismo offence and setting rules for sexual-services advertisements.", "sources": [ "bo-ley-263" ] }, { "date": "2014-10-31", "event": "Erbol reports that 88 lenocinios in La Paz and El Alto were closed during 2014 for lacking sanitary certificates.", "sources": [ "bo-erbol-2014" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bo-ley-263", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 263, Ley Integral contra la Trata y Tráfico de Personas, de 31 de julio de 2012", "titleEn": "Law No. 263, Comprehensive Law against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons, 31 July 2012", "publisher": "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (official edition hosted by the CEPAL Gender Equality Observatory)", "url": "https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/ley263contralatrataytraficodepersonas_bol_2012.pdf", "published": "2012-07-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "bo-minsalud-2015", "kind": "government", "title": "Trabajadoras sexuales fueron reconocidas por cumplir normas de protección", "titleEn": "Sex workers recognised for complying with protection rules", "publisher": "Ministerio de Salud y Deportes de Bolivia", "url": "https://www.minsalud.gob.bo/619-trabajadoras-sexuales-fueron-reconocidas-por-cumplir-normas-de-proteccion", "published": "2015-06-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "bo-erbol-2014", "kind": "news", "title": "Clausuraron 88 lenocinios en La Paz y El Alto", "titleEn": "88 brothels closed in La Paz and El Alto", "publisher": "Erbol", "url": "https://anteriorportal.erbol.com.bo/noticia/social/31102014/clausuraron_88_lenocinios_en_la_paz_y_el_alto", "published": "2014-10-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bolivia/" }, { "iso2": "BA", "name": "Bosnia and Herzegovina", "nativeName": "Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution law is set by the two entities, Brčko District and, in the Federation, the ten cantons. Selling sex is a public order misdemeanour in the jurisdictions checked (Sarajevo Canton, Brčko District); Sarajevo Canton also fines buyers. Procuring and organising prostitution are crimes under all three criminal codes. Republika Srpska's public order law could not be checked.", "modelSources": [ "ba-ks-ppjrm", "ba-bd-zjrm", "ba-kz-fbih" ], "summary": "Bosnia and Herzegovina has no single prostitution law: criminal law is set separately by the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, and public order misdemeanours by the cantons, Republika Srpska and Brčko. In Sarajevo Canton, both engaging in prostitution and using prostitution services are fined 200–600 KM, and inducing others or renting premises for prostitution 500–1,500 KM. In Brčko District, engaging in prostitution is fined 100–1,000 KM, with no corresponding offence for buyers. The three criminal codes punish inducing or luring a person to provide sexual services for gain, handing them over to others, or taking part in organising or running the provision of sexual services, with six months to five years. Offences involving children are separate. No offence of advertising adults' sexual services was found.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Public order is cantonal law, so sanctions differ between the ten cantons; only Sarajevo Canton was checked, where selling and buying are both fined 200–600 KM (Art. 8(2)(c)) and inducing or providing premises 500–1,500 KM (Art. 8(5)(c)). The Federation Criminal Code (Art. 210) punishes procuring and organising prostitution with six months to five years.", "sources": [ "ba-ks-ppjrm", "ba-kz-fbih" ] }, { "name": "Republika Srpska", "note": "Has its own Law on Public Order and Peace (Službeni glasnik RS 11/15, amended 58/19); its prostitution provisions could not be checked for this overview. The Criminal Code of Republika Srpska (Art. 169) punishes procuring and organising prostitution with six months to five years and a fine, or one to eight years where several people are involved.", "sources": [ "ba-rs-zjrm", "ba-rs-zjrm-2019", "ba-kz-rs" ] }, { "name": "Brčko District", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in prostitution is fined 100–1,000 KM (Art. 16 of the Law on Public Order and Peace); that article does not mention buyers. The Brčko Criminal Code (Art. 207) punishes procuring and organising prostitution with six months to five years.", "sources": [ "ba-bd-zjrm", "ba-kz-bd" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is a public order misdemeanour in the jurisdictions checked: 200–600 KM in Sarajevo Canton and 100–1,000 KM in Brčko District. Other cantons and Republika Srpska have their own public order laws, which were not checked.", "provisions": [ "čl. 8 st. 2 tač. c) Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira KS", "čl. 16 Zakona o javnom redu i miru BD" ], "sources": [ "ba-ks-ppjrm", "ba-bd-zjrm", "ba-rs-zjrm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statute texts were read in the Paragraf Lex BA database, an unofficial consolidation; official gazettes for the entities and cantons are not freely available in consolidated form." }, "buying": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Sarajevo Canton fines anyone who uses prostitution services 200–600 KM, the same as sellers. Brčko District's public order law penalises only the person engaging in prostitution. Using the sexual services of a child aged 15 or over for payment is a crime in the Federation and Republika Srpska (six months to five years).", "provisions": [ "čl. 8 st. 2 tač. c) Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira KS", "čl. 210g st. 2 KZ FBiH", "čl. 180 st. 2 KZ RS" ], "sources": [ "ba-ks-ppjrm", "ba-bd-zjrm", "ba-kz-fbih", "ba-kz-rs" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statute texts were read in the Paragraf Lex BA database, an unofficial consolidation; official gazettes for the entities and cantons are not freely available in consolidated form." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Taking part in any way in organising or running the provision of sexual services is a crime punishable by six months to five years in all three criminal codes. In Sarajevo Canton, renting or providing premises for prostitution is also a misdemeanour (500–1,500 KM).", "provisions": [ "čl. 210 KZ FBiH", "čl. 169 KZ RS", "čl. 207 KZ BD", "čl. 8 st. 5 tač. c) Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira KS" ], "sources": [ "ba-kz-fbih", "ba-kz-rs", "ba-kz-bd", "ba-ks-ppjrm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statute texts were read in the Paragraf Lex BA database, an unofficial consolidation; official gazettes for the entities and cantons are not freely available in consolidated form." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing, inciting or luring another person to provide sexual services for gain, or otherwise enabling their handover to another for that purpose, is punishable by six months to five years in the Federation, Republika Srpska (plus a fine; one to eight years if several people are involved) and Brčko District. Whether the person already sold sex is irrelevant.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210 KZ FBiH", "čl. 169 KZ RS", "čl. 207 KZ BD" ], "sources": [ "ba-kz-fbih", "ba-kz-rs", "ba-kz-bd" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statute texts were read in the Paragraf Lex BA database, an unofficial consolidation; official gazettes for the entities and cantons are not freely available in consolidated form." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of advertising adults' sexual services was found in the three criminal codes or the public order laws checked. The Federation Criminal Code makes advertising the sexual services of a child a crime (six months to five years). Advertising for a third party could fall within \"taking part in organising\" prostitution.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210g st. 5 KZ FBiH" ], "sources": [ "ba-kz-fbih", "ba-kz-rs", "ba-kz-bd" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; cantonal laws other than Sarajevo's and Republika Srpska's public order law were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ba-kz-fbih", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH (2003, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 210 (procuring) and Article 210g (child prostitution, including advertising).", "provisions": [ "čl. 210", "čl. 210g" ] }, { "sourceId": "ba-kz-rs", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Republika Srpska (2017, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 169 (procuring) and Article 180 (child prostitution).", "provisions": [ "čl. 169", "čl. 180" ] }, { "sourceId": "ba-kz-bd", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Brčko District (consolidated 2020, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 207 (procuring).", "provisions": [ "čl. 207" ] }, { "sourceId": "ba-ks-ppjrm", "titleEn": "Sarajevo Canton Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (2007, as amended)", "relevance": "Fines selling, buying, inducing and providing premises.", "provisions": [ "čl. 8" ] }, { "sourceId": "ba-bd-zjrm", "titleEn": "Brčko District Law on Public Order and Peace (2009)", "relevance": "Fines engaging in prostitution.", "provisions": [ "čl. 16" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ba-kz-fbih", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Krivični zakon Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (\"Sl. novine FBiH\", br. 36/2003 … 31/2023 i 58/2025)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex BA (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/fbih/krivicni-zakon-federacije-bosne-i-hercegovine.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "bs" }, { "id": "ba-kz-rs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Krivični zakonik Republike Srpske (\"Sl. glasnik RS\", br. 64/2017 … 85/2025)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Republika Srpska", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex BA (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/republika-srpska/krivicni-zakon-republike-srpske.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" }, { "id": "ba-kz-bd", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Krivični zakon Brčko distrikta Bosne i Hercegovine (\"Sl. glasnik Brčko distrikta BiH\", br. 19/2020 - prečišćen tekst, 3/2024 i 14/2024)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Brčko District", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex BA (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/brcko/krivicni-zakon-brcko-distrikta-bosne-i-hercegovine.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "bs" }, { "id": "ba-ks-ppjrm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira (\"Sl. novine Kantona Sarajevo\", br. 18/2007, 7/2008 i 34/2020)", "titleEn": "Sarajevo Canton Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex BA (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/kantona-sarajevo/zakon-o-prekrsajima-protiv-javnog-reda-i-mira.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "bs" }, { "id": "ba-bd-zjrm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o javnom redu i miru Brčko distrikta BiH (\"Sl. glasnik Brčko distrikta BiH\", br. 32/2009 i 14/2010 - ispr.)", "titleEn": "Brčko District Law on Public Order and Peace", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex BA (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/brcko/zakon-o-javnom-redu-i-miru-brcko-distrikta-bih.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "bs" }, { "id": "ba-rs-zjrm", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Закон о јавном реду и миру (Службени гласник 11/15)", "titleEn": "Republika Srpska Law on Public Order and Peace (adopted-laws register entry)", "publisher": "Народна скупштина Републике Српске", "url": "https://www.narodnaskupstinars.net/ci/akti/usvojeni-zakoni/zakon-o-javnom-redu-i-miru-0", "published": "2015-02-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" }, { "id": "ba-rs-zjrm-2019", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Закон о измјенама и допунама Закона о јавном реду и миру (Службени гласник 58/19)", "titleEn": "Republika Srpska law amending the Law on Public Order and Peace (register entry)", "publisher": "Народна скупштина Републике Српске", "url": "https://www.narodnaskupstinars.net/ci/akti/usvojeni-zakoni/zakon-o-izmjenama-i-dopunama-zakona-o-javnom-redu-i-miru", "published": "2019-07-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/" }, { "iso2": "BW", "name": "Botswana", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Cap. 08:01) has no offence of selling or buying sex. It criminalises procuration, living on the earnings, aiding prostitution for gain, brothels and public soliciting. The living-on-earnings offence is written for \"every person\", so its wording does not exclude a sex worker's own earnings. An MP's motion in August 2026 asked the Government to decriminalise sex work by repealing these provisions.", "modelSources": [ "bw-pc", "bw-notice-2026" ], "summary": "Botswana's Penal Code does not make the exchange of sex for money itself an offence. It does criminalise procuring a person to become a \"common prostitute\" (s. 149), knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting in a public place (s. 155), controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 156) and keeping or letting premises for a brothel (s. 158). Soliciting in a public place is also an \"idle and disorderly\" offence (s. 179). Where no penalty is specified the general maximum is two years (s. 33), and repeat offences under s. 155 can attract corporal punishment. On 4 August 2026 a motion by MP Galenawabo Lekau asking the Government to decriminalise sex work was placed on the National Assembly Order Paper. Churches campaigned against it, and no outcome had been reported by October 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Persistently soliciting or importuning for immoral purposes in a public place is an offence (s. 155(1)(b)), punishable by up to two years (s. 33), with possible corporal punishment on a repeat conviction. Soliciting in a public place, or a \"common prostitute\" behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner there, is an idle-and-disorderly offence (s. 179(a), (f)). The penalty is a fine of up to P10 or one month, rising to one year for repeat convictions.", "details": "Section 155(1)(a) punishes \"every person\" who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution. Unlike the colonial-era wording in some neighbouring codes, it is not limited to men, and its text does not exclude a sex worker's own earnings. How it is applied in practice was not checked.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 08:01) s. 155(1)", "s. 179(a), (f)", "s. 33" ], "sources": [ "bw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Government of Botswana's consolidated text as hosted by UNODC's SHERLOC database; the consolidation date is not stated. The official portal (botswanalaws.com) blocks automated access, so later amendments could not be checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code contains no offence of paying an adult for sex. The public-soliciting offences (ss. 155(1)(b), 179(f)) apply to any person.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 155(1)(b)", "s. 179(f)" ], "sources": [ "bw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Consolidation date unknown; see the note on selling." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in managing one, is an offence. So is knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel as tenant or occupier, or letting premises knowing they will be so used (s. 158). No specific penalty is set, so the general maximum of two years and/or a fine applies (s. 33).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 158", "s. 33" ], "sources": [ "bw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Consolidation date unknown. The August 2026 motion refers to s. 156 as \"keeping a brothel\"; in the code text read here, brothels are s. 158 and s. 156 is aiding prostitution for gain." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring any person to become a \"common prostitute\", or to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel, is an offence (s. 149). No term is specified, so the general two-year maximum applies (s. 33), and the court may add corporal punishment. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 155(1)(a)) and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain (s. 156) are also offences. A person who lives with or habitually accompanies a sex worker is presumed to live on the earnings (s. 155(2)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 149", "s. 155(1)(a), (2)", "s. 156", "s. 33" ], "sources": [ "bw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Consolidation date unknown; see the note on selling." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services as such. Soliciting is an offence only in a public place (ss. 155(1)(b), 179(f)). A third party who advertises a sex worker's services for gain could be prosecuted for aiding prostitution for gain (s. 156) or living on the earnings (s. 155(1)(a)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 155", "s. 156", "s. 179(f)" ], "sources": [ "bw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "A reading of the statutory text only; no prosecutions of advertisers or websites were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bw-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Chapter 08:01)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 149), living on the earnings and persistent soliciting (s. 155), aiding for gain (s. 156), brothels (s. 158), idle-and-disorderly soliciting (s. 179).", "provisions": [ "s. 33", "s. 149", "ss. 155–158", "s. 179" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "bw-decriminalisation-motion-2026", "title": "Private member's motion: Decriminalisation of Sex Work (G. Lekau MP)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-08-11", "summary": "The motion asks the National Assembly to resolve to request the Government to decriminalise sex work by repealing section 155 (living on the earnings of prostitution) and section 156 of the Penal Code, \"in order to protect human rights, curb gender-based violence, and strengthen public health interventions\". Notice was given on 29 July 2026 for 4 August 2026. The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana launched a nationwide prayer campaign against it. A motion of this kind requests government action; it does not itself amend the law. No debate outcome had been reported by 30 October 2026.", "sources": [ "bw-notice-2026", "bw-mmegi-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2026-08-04", "event": "A private member's motion asking the Government to decriminalise sex work by repealing ss. 155 and 156 of the Penal Code is scheduled in the National Assembly.", "sources": [ "bw-notice-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-11", "event": "The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana calls a nationwide prayer campaign to stop the motion.", "sources": [ "bw-mmegi-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bw-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Chapter 08:01 (consolidated text, Government of Botswana)", "publisher": "UNODC SHERLOC (copy of the Government of Botswana consolidation)", "url": "https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/bwa/penal_code_html/Botswana_Penal_Code.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bw-notice-2026", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Botswana National Assembly Notice Paper (Wednesday 29th July, 2026): Notice of a motion for Tuesday 4th August, 2026 — Decriminalisation of Sex Work", "publisher": "Parliament of Botswana", "url": "https://www.botswanaspeaks.gov.bw/media/Winter%20Session%20Notice%20Papers/NOTPAP%20-%20MOTIONS%20-%2004-08-26.pdf", "published": "2026-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bw-mmegi-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Churches launch fight against sex work motion", "publisher": "Mmegi", "url": "https://www.mmegi.bw/news/churches-launch-fight-against-sex-work-motion/news", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/botswana/" }, { "iso2": "BR", "name": "Brazil", "nativeName": "Brasil", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes, and the federal labour ministry lists \"profissional do sexo\" as an occupation (CBO 5198-05). The Penal Code criminalises inducing or facilitating prostitution (art. 228), maintaining an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs (art. 229) and profiting from another's prostitution (art. 230). Since the 2009 reform the Superior Court of Justice has held that a venue where adults sell sex without coercion or other exploitation is not covered by article 229.", "modelSources": [ "br-cp", "br-camara-cbo", "br-stj-2018" ], "summary": "Prostitution by adults is legal in Brazil and appears in the Brazilian Classification of Occupations as \"profissional do sexo\" (5198-05), but third-party involvement is largely criminalised. The Penal Code punishes inducing or attracting someone into prostitution or other sexual exploitation, facilitating it or preventing someone from leaving it (2 to 5 years); maintaining an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs (2 to 5 years); and profiting directly from another person's prostitution or being supported by them (1 to 4 years). In 2018 the Superior Court of Justice held that keeping a venue where adults sell sex freely, without exploitation, is not a crime under article 229. A 2025 bill in the Chamber of Deputies would make prostitution in the street a misdemeanour.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not a crime. The Ministry of Labour's Brazilian Classification of Occupations lists \"profissional do sexo\" (code 5198-05), describing people who seek clients, attend and accompany them and take part in sexual-health education activities.", "provisions": [ "CBO 5198-05" ], "sources": [ "br-cp", "br-camara-cbo", "br-cbo" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The CBO entry was read in a 2016 Chamber of Deputies document asking the ministry to remove it, which dates the entry to 2015; secondary sources date it to the CBO 2002 edition. The CBO search site requires a reCAPTCHA and the Planalto legislation portal blocked automated access, so neither primary text could be read directly." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a crime. Sexual acts with children and adolescents in prostitution or sexual exploitation are separate crimes.", "sources": [ "br-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Penal Code on the Planalto portal could not be opened (automated access blocked); based on the code's structure as reproduced in secondary sources." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Maintaining, on one's own account or for a third party, an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs, whether or not for profit, carries 2 to 5 years and a fine (art. 229, heading \"Casa de prostituição\"). The Superior Court of Justice held in 2018 that a venue where adults sell sex without violence, threat, fraud or restriction of their freedom is not covered.", "details": "Before Law 12.015 of 2009 the article punished maintaining a \"casa de prostituição ou lugar destinado a encontros para fim libidinoso\". The 2009 wording replaced this with an establishment \"em que ocorra exploração sexual\". In REsp 1.683.375/SP (Sixth Panel, decided 14 August 2018) the court treated sexual exploitation as an element of the offence and found the conduct atypical. Other STJ decisions have rejected the argument that social tolerance makes brothel keeping lawful, so the case law turns on whether exploitation is shown.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 229" ], "sources": [ "br-cp", "br-stj-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Neither the Planalto Penal Code page nor the STJ bulletin could be opened (both blocked automated access); text and holding confirmed through search results quoting them." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing or attracting someone into prostitution or other sexual exploitation, facilitating it, or preventing or hindering someone from leaving it carries 2 to 5 years (art. 228). Profiting from another's prostitution by sharing directly in the earnings or being supported by the person carries 1 to 4 years (art. 230), rising to 2 to 8 years with violence, serious threat or fraud.", "details": "Law 12.015 of 2009 rewrote articles 228 to 230. Law 13.344 of 2016 repealed the earlier international and internal trafficking offences (arts. 231 and 231-A) and moved trafficking to article 149-A.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 228, 230, 149-A" ], "sources": [ "br-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording taken from secondary reproductions of the compiled Penal Code; the Planalto portal blocked automated access." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No federal offence specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of a third party could amount to facilitating prostitution (art. 228) or support liability for an establishment (art. 229); advertising involving minors is separately criminalised.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 228-229" ], "sources": [ "br-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the general offences; platform liability under the Marco Civil da Internet and the 2025 Supreme Court rulings on it were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "br-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree-Law 2,848 of 1940), as amended by Law 12.015 of 2009 and Law 13.344 of 2016", "relevance": "Criminalises favouring prostitution (art. 228), maintaining an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs (art. 229) and rufianismo (art. 230).", "provisions": [ "arts. 228-230" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "br-pl-778-2025", "title": "PL 778/2025 (street prostitution as a misdemeanour)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2025-12-17", "next": { "what": "Constitution and Justice Committee, then the Chamber plenary and the Senate" }, "summary": "Bill by Deputy Kim Kataguiri to amend the Misdemeanours Act (Lei das Contravenções Penais) so that prostitution in public streets is punishable by 15 days to three months' imprisonment or a fine of 50 to 100 day-fines.", "sources": [ "br-camara-pl778" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-08-07", "event": "Law 12.015 rewrites the Penal Code's prostitution offences, replacing \"casa de prostituição\" with an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs.", "sources": [ "br-cp" ] }, { "date": "2018-08-14", "event": "Superior Court of Justice (REsp 1.683.375/SP) holds that keeping a venue where adults sell sex without exploitation is not a crime under article 229.", "sources": [ "br-stj-2018" ] }, { "date": "2025-12-17", "event": "Chamber of Deputies news agency reports PL 778/2025, which would make street prostitution a misdemeanour.", "sources": [ "br-camara-pl778" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "br-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto-Lei nº 2.848, de 7 de dezembro de 1940 (Código Penal), texto compilado", "titleEn": "Decree-Law No. 2,848 of 7 December 1940 (Penal Code), compiled text", "publisher": "Presidência da República (Planalto)", "url": "https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/decreto-lei/del2848compilado.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "br-cbo", "kind": "government", "title": "Classificação Brasileira de Ocupações (CBO): busca por código", "titleEn": "Brazilian Classification of Occupations: search by code", "publisher": "Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego", "url": "http://www.mtecbo.gov.br/cbosite/pages/pesquisas/BuscaPorCodigo.jsf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "br-camara-cbo", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Requerimento e Indicação (Do Sr. Flavinho): retirada da descrição da ocupação de profissional do sexo da Classificação Brasileira de Ocupações", "titleEn": "Request and recommendation by Deputy Flavinho to remove the sex-worker occupation from the Brazilian Classification of Occupations", "publisher": "Câmara dos Deputados", "url": "https://www.camara.leg.br/proposicoesWeb/prop_mostrarintegra?codteor=1476331", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "br-stj-2018", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Informativo de Jurisprudência n. 631: REsp 1.683.375-SP, Rel. Min. Maria Thereza de Assis Moura, julgado em 14/08/2018", "titleEn": "Case-law bulletin No. 631: Special Appeal 1.683.375-SP (brothel keeping and sexual exploitation)", "publisher": "Superior Tribunal de Justiça", "url": "https://processo.stj.jus.br/jurisprudencia/externo/informativo/?livre=%40CNOT%3D016750", "published": "2018-09-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "br-camara-pl778", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Projeto prevê prisão de até três meses ou multa para prostituição em via pública", "titleEn": "Bill provides for up to three months' imprisonment or a fine for prostitution on public streets", "publisher": "Agência Câmara de Notícias, Câmara dos Deputados", "url": "https://www.camara.leg.br/noticias/1158666-projeto-preve-prisao-de-ate-tres-meses-ou-multa-para-prostituicao-em-via-publica", "published": "2025-12-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brazil/" }, { "iso2": "BN", "name": "Brunei", "nativeName": "Negara Brunei Darussalam", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Brunei has two layers. For Muslims, the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 makes all sex outside marriage the offence of zina, so selling and buying sex are offences through that general provision. The civil Women and Girls Protection Act criminalises brothel-keeping, living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting on behalf of women, but not selling or buying as such.", "modelSources": [ "bn-spco2013", "bn-cap120" ], "summary": "Brunei regulates prostitution through civil and Syariah law. The Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120) punishes keeping a brothel or knowingly letting premises for one (one year and B$5,000; five years and B$20,000 on a repeat), and living on another person's prostitution or soliciting in public on a woman's behalf (five years and B$20,000, with possible whipping for men). The Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, fully in force since 3 April 2019, defines zina as intercourse between a man and a woman not validly married to each other; for Muslims proved guilty by confession or four witnesses the penalty is stoning to death if married, or 100 strokes and a year in prison if not. Acting as a procurer is a separate Syariah offence. In May 2019 the Sultan said a de facto moratorium on executions applies to the Order.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "For Muslims, selling sex is zina under the Syariah Penal Code Order (stoning to death if married, 100 strokes and one year if unmarried, where proved by confession or four witnesses; lesser penalties on other evidence). The civil Women and Girls Protection Act has no offence of selling sex itself.", "provisions": [ "ss. 68–69 Syariah Penal Code Order 2013", "Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)" ], "sources": [ "bn-spco2013", "bn-cap120", "bn-hrw2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a scanned Government Gazette copy hosted by the ICJ; parts of s. 69, including any provision on non-Muslims, are illegible in that copy. The Attorney General's Chambers PDFs returned errors. Civil soliciting offences in the Penal Code (Cap. 22) and the Miscellaneous Offences Act were not reviewed.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "For Muslims, paying for sex is zina, punishable as for the person selling. No civil offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Women and Girls Protection Act.", "provisions": [ "ss. 68–69 Syariah Penal Code Order 2013" ], "sources": [ "bn-spco2013", "bn-cap120" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether and how zina applies to non-Muslims could not be read in the copy reviewed; the civil Penal Code was not reviewed.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel, or knowingly permitting or letting premises to be used as one, is punishable with one year and a fine of B$5,000, and five years and B$20,000 on a second conviction. A brothel is a place used by two or more women or girls for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s. 2 Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)", "s. 6 Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)" ], "sources": [ "bn-cap120" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the 1984 Revised Edition, hosted by a third party; later amendments were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on another person's prostitution, or persistently soliciting in public on behalf of a woman or girl, carries five years and a fine of B$20,000, with possible whipping for men. Under the Syariah Order, acting as a procurer for a purpose contrary to Islamic law carries up to B$12,000, three years, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 5 Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)", "s. 205 Syariah Penal Code Order 2013" ], "sources": [ "bn-cap120", "bn-spco2013", "bn-tip2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Cap. 120 read in the 1984 Revised Edition; the US State Department reports in 2026 that s. 5 is still used, with the same maximum penalties." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising for others would fall under soliciting on behalf of a woman (Cap. 120 s. 5) or acting as a procurer under the Syariah Order, and abetting zina is itself an offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 5 Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)", "s. 73 Syariah Penal Code Order 2013", "s. 205 Syariah Penal Code Order 2013" ], "sources": [ "bn-cap120", "bn-spco2013" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from general provisions; broadcasting, internet and publications law was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bn-spco2013", "titleEn": "Syariah Penal Code Order 2013", "relevance": "Zina (sex outside marriage) and acting as a procurer; applies chiefly to Muslims.", "provisions": [ "s. 68", "s. 69", "s. 73", "s. 205" ], "inForce": "2019-04-03" }, { "sourceId": "bn-cap120", "titleEn": "Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120)", "relevance": "Brothels, living on the earnings of prostitution, soliciting on behalf of women, traffic in women and girls.", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 3", "s. 4", "s. 5", "s. 6" ], "inForce": "1973-04-19" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1973-04-19", "event": "The Women and Girls Protection Act comes into force, providing for the suppression of brothels.", "sources": [ "bn-cap120" ] }, { "date": "2013-10-22", "event": "The Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 is published in the Government Gazette.", "sources": [ "bn-spco2013" ] }, { "date": "2019-04-03", "event": "The Syariah Penal Code Order enters fully into force, including hadd punishments for zina.", "sources": [ "bn-hrw2019" ] }, { "date": "2019-05-05", "event": "The Sultan states that a de facto moratorium on executions also applies to cases under the Syariah Penal Code.", "sources": [ "bn-hrw2019" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bn-spco2013", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013 (Brunei Darussalam Government Gazette, 22 October 2013)", "publisher": "Government of Brunei Darussalam (copy hosted by the International Commission of Jurists)", "url": "https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Brunei-Syariah-Penal-Code-Order-2013-eng.pdf", "published": "2013-10-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bn-cap120", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Brunei, Chapter 120, Women and Girls Protection (Revised Edition 1984)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Brunei (copy hosted by The Warnath Group)", "url": "https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Women-and-Girls-Prosecution-Act-Chapter-120-Section-5.pdf", "published": "1984", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bn-tip2026", "kind": "government", "title": "2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Brunei", "publisher": "U.S. Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2026-trafficking-in-persons-report/brunei", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bn-hrw2019", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Brunei's Pernicious New Penal Code", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/05/22/bruneis-pernicious-new-penal-code", "published": "2019-05-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brunei/" }, { "iso2": "BG", "name": "Bulgaria", "nativeName": "България", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "There is no national offence of selling or buying sex between adults. The Criminal Code punishes inducing a person into prostitution and systematically providing premises for sexual acts (Article 155), and using a trafficking victim (Article 159c). The vagrancy-type offence in Article 329(1), long used against people who sell sex, was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2022.", "modelSources": [ "bg-nk" ], "summary": "In Bulgaria, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under national law. Article 155 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing another person into prostitution (one to three years and a fine) and systematically providing premises to different people for sexual intercourse or lewd acts (up to five years and a fine), with one to six years where done for gain. Using a person who is a trafficking victim for lewd acts carries three to ten years (Article 159c). Article 329(1), which punished able-bodied adults living for a long time on income obtained by \"impermissible or immoral\" means, was declared unconstitutional by Constitutional Court decision No. 13 of 2022. Several sexual-offence provisions, including those on minors who sell sex, were amended in 2026. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex as an adult is not an offence under national law. Article 329(1) of the Criminal Code, which punished adults living for a long time on income obtained by \"impermissible or immoral\" means, was declared unconstitutional in 2022 (decision No. 13 of 2022, State Gazette No. 79/2022).", "provisions": [ "чл. 329, ал. 1 НК (обявена за противоконституционна)" ], "sources": [ "bg-nk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Municipal public order ordinances may sanction street solicitation; these were not reviewed for this overview. The court decision is cited from the consolidated-text annotation, not from the court's own website." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Using a person who is a victim of trafficking in human beings for lewd acts is punishable by three to ten years and a fine; sexual acts with a minor aged 16 or over who sells sex carry one to three years.", "provisions": [ "чл. 159в НК", "чл. 154а НК" ], "sources": [ "bg-nk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Systematically providing premises to different people for sexual intercourse or lewd acts is punishable by up to five years and a fine; one to six years and a higher fine if done for gain.", "provisions": [ "чл. 155, ал. 2 и 3 НК" ], "sources": [ "bg-nk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing another person into prostitution, or procuring a person for lewd acts or intercourse, is punishable by one to three years and a fine; one to six years where done for gain, with further aggravated forms.", "provisions": [ "чл. 155, ал. 1 и 3 НК" ], "sources": [ "bg-nk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the Criminal Code. Advertising for a third party could amount to inducement under Article 155(1).", "provisions": [ "чл. 155 НК" ], "sources": [ "bg-nk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific criminal provision; advertising, media and e-commerce legislation was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bg-nk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1968, as amended)", "relevance": "Articles 155 and 159c cover procuring, premises and use of trafficking victims; Article 329(1) was struck down in 2022.", "provisions": [ "чл. 155", "чл. 159в", "чл. 329" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2022", "event": "Constitutional Court decision No. 13 of 2022 declares Article 329(1) of the Criminal Code unconstitutional (State Gazette No. 79/2022).", "sources": [ "bg-nk" ] }, { "date": "2026", "event": "Amendments to the Criminal Code (State Gazette Nos. 27 and 32 of 2026) revise sexual offences, including the prostitution-related provisions on minors.", "sources": [ "bg-nk" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bg-nk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Наказателен кодекс (последно изм. ДВ, бр. 32 от 2026 г.)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "Lex.bg (unofficial consolidated text of the State Gazette publications)", "url": "https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/1589654529", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "bg" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bulgaria/" }, { "iso2": "BF", "name": "Burkina Faso", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Prostitution is defined in the Penal Code but is not itself an offence, and buying is not an offence. Public soliciting 'by any means, including passive conduct' is (Article 533-20), and in 2026 a court applied it to adverts posted on WhatsApp. Procuring and brothel-keeping are criminalised. A new Penal Code adopted on 20 October 2026 had not been published when this entry was reviewed.", "modelSources": [ "bf-cp", "bf-minute-2026", "bf-burkina24-2026" ], "summary": "Burkina Faso's Penal Code (Law No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018) defines prostitution as habitually engaging in sexual acts with others for payment but does not punish it as such. Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, for paid sex carries one to three months and a fine of 250,000 to 600,000 CFA francs (Article 533-20). Procuring carries three to ten years (Article 533-22), and five to ten years when committed through an electronic network reaching the public (Article 533-24). Running a prostitution establishment, or providing premises or vehicles knowing they will be used for prostitution, carries five to ten years (Article 533-26). In July 2026 a Ouagadougou court fined 13 women for soliciting via WhatsApp and convicted five people who ran WhatsApp groups or let a villa for procuring. A new Penal Code was adopted on 20 October 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Prostitution is defined (Article 533-20, first paragraph) but not punished. Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, to induce sexual relations for payment or a promise of payment carries one to three months and a fine of 250,000 to 600,000 CFA francs (Article 533-20). Publicly soliciting people for debauchery by gestures or words carries two months to one year (Article 533-28).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-20", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-21", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-28" ], "sources": [ "bf-cp", "bf-minute-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The text read is the 2018 Code as published by the Police Academy; it was amended in 2019 (Law No. 044-2019/AN), which was not checked for these articles. The October 2026 Code may change them.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Penal Code. Habitually inciting to debauchery or favouring the corruption of minors carries two to five years (Article 533-19).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-19" ], "sources": [ "bf-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running or financing a prostitution establishment, tolerating prostitution in a place open to the public, or providing premises or vehicles knowing they will be used for prostitution carries five to ten years and 3 to 10 million CFA francs (Article 533-26). Habitually receiving sex workers in a hotel, bar or club carries two to five years (Article 533-27); tolerating habitual clandestine debauchery in private premises two months to two years (Article 533-29).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-26", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-27", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-29" ], "sources": [ "bf-cp", "bf-minute-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "In the July 2026 case a defendant who rented out a furnished villa knowing it was used for prostitution was convicted of procuring." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, receiving support from a person habitually engaged in it, or recruiting or pressuring someone into it carries three to ten years and 1 to 6 million CFA francs (Article 533-22). Acting as an intermediary or living with a sex worker without justifying one's resources is treated as procuring (Article 533-23).", "details": "Aggravated procuring (five to ten years and 1 to 10 million francs, Article 533-24) includes offences against several people or a vulnerable person, by a relative or official, with a weapon or violence, and 'through the use, for disseminating messages to an undetermined public, of an electronic communications network'. Procuring by an organised gang carries eleven to thirty years; with torture or barbaric acts, life imprisonment (Article 533-25).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-22", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-23", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-24", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-25" ], "sources": [ "bf-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No separate advertising offence exists, but soliciting 'by any means' covers online adverts. On 1 July 2026 the Ouagadougou II court gave 13 women three months suspended and a 500,000 CFA franc fine each for soliciting after they posted nude photos with phone numbers and rates on WhatsApp. Procuring committed through an electronic network addressed to the public is aggravated (Article 533-24).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-20", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-24" ], "sources": [ "bf-cp", "bf-minute-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The news report does not cite the articles applied; matching the conviction to Article 533-20 is an inference from the charge of soliciting." }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "People who run online spaces connecting clients with sex workers are prosecuted as procurers. In the July 2026 Ouagadougou case three men who administered WhatsApp groups linking clients with women offering sexual services were convicted of procuring and given three years suspended and a 1 million CFA franc fine each.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-22", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-23", "Code pénal 2018 art. 533-24" ], "sources": [ "bf-minute-2026", "bf-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on one news report of a first-instance judgment, open to appeal; the articles applied are not stated in the report. No case concerning a website or international platform was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bf-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018)", "relevance": "Section 2 of the chapter on morals (Articles 533-19 to 533-30) defines prostitution and criminalises soliciting, procuring and prostitution establishments.", "provisions": [ "art. 533-19–533-30" ], "inForce": "2018" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "bf-penal-code-2026", "title": "New Penal Code adopted by the Assemblée législative du peuple", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-10-20", "next": { "what": "Promulgation and publication in the Journal officiel" }, "summary": "The legislature unanimously adopted a revised 933-article Penal Code on 20 October 2026, reintroducing the death penalty for some offences, adding offences relating to information and communication technologies and reaffirming the criminalisation of homosexuality. Press reports do not mention the prostitution, soliciting or procuring articles, so whether Articles 533-19 to 533-30 change is not known.", "sources": [ "bf-burkina24-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-05-31", "event": "The National Assembly adopts Law No. 025-2018/AN, a new Penal Code with the soliciting, procuring and establishment offences in Articles 533-19 to 533-30.", "sources": [ "bf-cp" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-01", "event": "The Ouagadougou II court convicts 13 women of soliciting through WhatsApp and five people of procuring, including administrators of WhatsApp groups.", "sources": [ "bf-minute-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "event": "The Assemblée législative du peuple adopts a new Penal Code; its prostitution provisions were not reported.", "sources": [ "bf-burkina24-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bf-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 025-2018/AN du 31 mai 2018 portant Code pénal", "titleEn": "Law No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018 on the Penal Code", "publisher": "Académie de police du Burkina Faso", "url": "https://academiedepolice.bf/index.php/telechargement/category/38-codes?download=163%3Ala-loi-portant-code-penal", "published": "2018-05-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bf-minute-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "À la barre : 22 prévenus condamnés pour prostitution en ligne, proxénétisme et exercice illégal de professions", "titleEn": "In court: 22 defendants convicted of online prostitution, procuring and illegal practice of professions", "publisher": "Minute.bf", "url": "https://www.minute.bf/a-la-barre-22-prevenus-condamnes-pour-prostitution-en-ligne-proxenetisme-et-exercice-illegal-de-professions/", "published": "2026-07-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bf-burkina24-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Burkina Faso : Le nouveau Code pénal réintroduit la peine de mort pour certaines infractions", "titleEn": "Burkina Faso: the new Penal Code reintroduces the death penalty for some offences", "publisher": "Burkina24", "url": "https://burkina24.com/2026/10/21/burkina-faso-le-nouveau-code-penal-reintroduit-la-peine-de-mort-pour-certaines-infractions/", "published": "2026-10-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burkina-faso/" }, { "iso2": "BI", "name": "Burundi", "nativeName": "Burundi", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2017 Penal Code defines prostitution (Art. 561) but does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such. It punishes the person selling sex only for soliciting (racolage, Art. 571), and punishes incitement, procuring, brothel-keeping, profiting, assisting and letting premises (Arts. 562–569). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Burundi as illegal because of the soliciting offence.", "modelSources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "summary": "Burundi's Penal Code (Law No. 1/27 of 29 December 2017) defines prostitution as giving one's body to the pleasure of others and making a trade of it (Art. 561). Selling sex is not itself punished, but soliciting by a person who sells sex, by approaching clients or acting in public to attract them, carries one to six months and/or a fine of FBu 5,000–20,000 (Art. 571). Facilitating the prostitution of adults or recruiting a person into it carries one to five years (Arts. 562–563); running or financing a brothel two to five years (Art. 565); profiting from another's prostitution, even with consent, one to five years (Art. 566); assisting prostitution or soliciting, or acting as an intermediary, one to three years (Arts. 567–568); and letting premises for prostitution two to five years (Art. 569). No changes since 2017 were found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but racolage is: a person who sells sex and approaches clients, or does any act in public to attract clients, faces one to six months' penal servitude and/or a fine of FBu 5,000 to 20,000 (Art. 571). Obstructing prevention, assistance or rehabilitation work for people who sell sex is a separate offence (Art. 564).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 Art. 561", "Code pénal 2017 Art. 571" ], "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Official French text in the Bulletin Officiel du Burundi; English wording is our translation. Enforcement practice was not assessed.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No article of the 2017 Penal Code punishes a client for paying an adult for sex. Article 568 punishes intermediaries between people who sell sex and those who \"exploit or remunerate the prostitution of others\", but not the client as such.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 Art. 568" ], "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Adultery remains an offence for married persons under the Code; whether it is used against clients was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Directly or through an intermediary running, managing or knowingly financing a brothel (maison de prostitution) carries two to five years and a fine of FBu 100,000 to 1,000,000 (Art. 565). Knowingly letting or renting any building or premises for the prostitution of others carries two to five years and/or a fine of FBu 50,000 to 1,000,000 (Art. 569).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 Art. 565", "Code pénal 2017 Art. 569" ], "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Our translation of the official French text." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Exciting, facilitating or favouring the prostitution of persons over 21 carries one to five years (five to ten if under 21), as does recruiting or keeping a person, even consenting, for prostitution (Arts. 562–563). Profiting from or sharing another's earnings, even with consent, carries one to five years (Art. 566); assisting or protecting another's prostitution or soliciting, or acting as intermediary, one to three years (Arts. 567–568).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 Arts. 562–563", "Code pénal 2017 Arts. 566–568", "Code pénal 2017 Art. 570" ], "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Our translation of the official French text. Penalties double under Art. 570 for, among others, minors, non-consenting or vulnerable victims and organised groups." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No article specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Public acts to attract clients are racolage (Art. 571), assisting another's soliciting is an offence (Art. 567), and advertising by any means songs, writings, images or objects contrary to good morals is punishable by a fine (Art. 587).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 Art. 567", "Code pénal 2017 Art. 571", "Code pénal 2017 Art. 587" ], "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; whether online ads count as racolage or assistance has not been tested in any case found. Communications and cybercrime law was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "bi-cp-2017", "titleEn": "Law No. 1/27 of 29 December 2017 revising the Penal Code", "relevance": "Book II, Title VIII, Chapter II, Section 1 \"De la prostitution\": definition, incitement, procuring, facilitation and soliciting.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 561–571", "Art. 587" ], "inForce": "2017-12-29" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2017-12-29", "event": "The revised Penal Code (Law No. 1/27) is promulgated and enters into force, with the prostitution-related offences in Arts. 561–571.", "sources": [ "bi-cp-2017" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "bi-cp-2017", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n°1/27 du 29 décembre 2017 portant révision du Code pénal (Bulletin Officiel du Burundi n°12ter/2017)", "titleEn": "Law No. 1/27 of 29 December 2017 revising the Penal Code (Official Bulletin of Burundi No. 12ter/2017)", "publisher": "Republic of Burundi, amategeko.gov.bi", "url": "https://amategeko.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BOB_No12TER-2017-2.pdf", "published": "2017-12-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burundi/" }, { "iso2": "CV", "name": "Cabo Verde", "nativeName": "Cabo Verde", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "decriminalisation", "modelNote": "Borderline. No offence covers selling or buying sex between adults, and the procuring offence (lenocínio, Article 148) applies only where the person is a minor or an adult in a situation of particular vulnerability, such as extreme economic need, that the offender exploits. Organising consensual adult sex work is therefore not a crime as such, but sex work is not regulated as work either, so Cabo Verde fits the decriminalisation label only in the narrow sense of having no general sex-work offences.", "modelSources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ], "summary": "Cabo Verde's Penal Code (Decree-Legislative No. 4/2003, republished in full after its fourth amendment by Law No. 117/IX/2021) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Its lenocínio offence (Article 148) punishes anyone who promotes, encourages, arranges, negotiates or in any way facilitates the prostitution of a child under 16 (six to ten years) or of a 16- or 17-year-old (two to six years), and applies the latter penalty where the person is an adult of particular vulnerability, including extreme economic need, and the offender takes advantage of it. An adult who pays a person aged 10 to 18 for sexual activity faces four to ten years (Article 145-A). Trafficking for sexual exploitation carries four to ten years, and knowingly using a trafficking victim's services one to five years (Article 271-A). No brothel or advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling sex was found in the Penal Code. Engaging in explicit sexual acts in a public space is a general offence (Article 147-A: up to one year or a fine of up to 150 days), and sexually importuning another person, including by words or written proposals, is punishable under Article 145-B.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 145.º-B", "Código Penal art. 147.º-A" ], "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. An adult who, for payment or any other consideration, uses a person aged 10 to 18 in sexual activities or has sex with them faces four to ten years, six to twelve with penetration (Article 145-A). Knowingly using the services of a trafficking victim carries one to five years (Article 271-A(5)).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 145.º-A", "Código Penal art. 271.º-A(5)" ], "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence of running a brothel or managed venue was found. Organising or facilitating adult prostitution becomes lenocínio only where the person is particularly vulnerable, for example through physical or mental impairment or extreme economic need, and the organiser takes advantage of it: two to six years (Article 148(3)).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 148.º(3)" ], "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of a brothel offence was established by reading the republished Code; other laws (licensing, public order) were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Lenocínio covers anyone who promotes, motivates, instigates, favours, arranges, negotiates or in any way helps or facilitates prostitution or sexual acts of a child under 16 (six to ten years) or of a 16- or 17-year-old (two to six years), and an adult of particular vulnerability whose situation the offender exploits (two to six years) (Article 148). Trafficking for sexual exploitation carries four to ten years (Article 271-A).", "details": "Before 2021, Article 148(3) referred only to 'a person in a situation of extreme economic need'; Law No. 117/IX/2021 widened it to adults of particular vulnerability, 'notably' through reduced physical capacity, mental disorder, extreme economic need or equivalent vulnerability. Profiting from the prostitution of a consenting adult who is not in such a situation is not an offence under Article 148.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 148.º", "Código Penal art. 149.º", "Código Penal art. 271.º-A" ], "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021", "cv-cp-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found in the Penal Code. Advertising the services of a minor, or of an adult whose vulnerability is exploited, could fall under lenocínio as facilitating their prostitution (Article 148).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 148.º" ], "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Advertising, press and media laws were not checked; no case on advertising or websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cv-cp-2021", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree-Legislative No. 4/2003 of 18 November 2003), republished in full with Law No. 117/IX/2021 of 11 February 2021", "relevance": "Article 148 (lenocínio) limits the procuring offence to minors and vulnerable adults; Article 145-A punishes paying minors for sex; Article 271-A covers trafficking.", "provisions": [ "art. 145.º-A", "art. 148.º", "art. 271.º-A" ], "inForce": "2021" }, { "sourceId": "cv-cp-2015", "titleEn": "Decree-Legislative No. 4/2015 of 11 November 2015 amending the Penal Code (with republication)", "relevance": "Earlier republication of the Code, with Article 148(3) referring to persons in extreme economic need.", "provisions": [ "art. 148.º" ], "inForce": "2015" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2003-11-18", "event": "Decree-Legislative No. 4/2003 approves the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "cv-cp-2015" ] }, { "date": "2015-11-11", "event": "Decree-Legislative No. 4/2015 amends and republishes the Penal Code, adding an offence for adults who pay minors for sex (Article 145-A) and toughening penalties for child prostitution.", "sources": [ "cv-cp-2015" ] }, { "date": "2021-02-11", "event": "Law No. 117/IX/2021, the Code's fourth amendment, rewrites Article 148, raises the penalties for child prostitution and extends lenocínio to adults of particular vulnerability.", "sources": [ "cv-cp-2021" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cv-cp-2021", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 117/IX/2021, de 11 de fevereiro: procede à quarta alteração ao Código Penal (Boletim Oficial, I Série, n.º 15), com republicação", "titleEn": "Law No. 117/IX/2021 of 11 February 2021, fourth amendment to the Penal Code, with republication of the Code", "publisher": "Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde (Boletim Oficial)", "url": "https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/Download/3610", "published": "2021-02-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "cv-cp-2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto-legislativo n.º 4/2015, de 11 de novembro: altera o Código Penal (Boletim Oficial, I Série, n.º 69), com republicação", "titleEn": "Decree-Legislative No. 4/2015 of 11 November 2015 amending the Penal Code, with republication", "publisher": "Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde (Boletim Oficial)", "url": "https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/Download/2096", "published": "2015-11-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cabo-verde/" }, { "iso2": "KH", "name": "Cambodia", "nativeName": "កម្ពុជា", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence as such, but punishes soliciting in public (1–6 days and a small fine) and criminalises procuring, managing establishments of prostitution and providing premises. Buying sex from a minor is a crime. Human Rights Watch has documented police raids and detention of sex workers under the law.", "modelSources": [ "kh-law2008", "kh-hrw2010" ], "summary": "Cambodia's 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation defines prostitution as sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct with an unspecified person in exchange for anything of value. Selling sex is not itself an offence, but soliciting another in public for the purpose of prostitution is punished with one to six days' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000–10,000 riel. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence; buying sex from a minor carries two to fifteen years. Procuring prostitution, which includes drawing a financial profit from or assisting the prostitution of others, carries two to five years, as do managing or financing an establishment of prostitution and providing premises for it. Human Rights Watch reported in 2010 that the law was followed by police crackdowns and detention of sex workers in social affairs centres.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence as such, but a person who willingly solicits another in public for the purpose of prostituting himself or herself faces one to six days' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000–10,000 riel. Minors are exempt from punishment for soliciting.", "provisions": [ "Article 23 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008", "Article 24 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008" ], "sources": [ "kh-law2008", "kh-hrw2010" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in UNICEF's unofficial English translation (2008); the Khmer text was not compared. Enforcement practice is documented mainly in a 2010 report and may have changed.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the 2008 law. Purchasing child prostitution is punished with two to five years, or seven to fifteen years where the child is under 15.", "provisions": [ "Article 34 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008" ], "sources": [ "kh-law2008", "kh-hrw2010" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of a buyer offence confirmed from the translation and by Human Rights Watch (2010); the 2009 Criminal Code was not reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Managing, exploiting, operating or financing an establishment of prostitution, accepting or tolerating prostitution or client-seeking inside an establishment, and providing non-public premises knowing they will be used for prostitution each carry two to five years; seven to fifteen years where children are involved.", "provisions": [ "Articles 30–33 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008" ], "sources": [ "kh-law2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring prostitution, which covers drawing a financial profit from, assisting or protecting the prostitution of others, recruiting or inducing a person into it, and acting as an intermediary, carries two to five years; five to ten years in aggravated cases and longer where a minor is involved or torture is used.", "provisions": [ "Articles 25–29 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008" ], "sources": [ "kh-law2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence of advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising child prostitution as an intermediary is a specific offence (two to five years). Publishing advertisements for another person's sexual services could amount to assisting the prostitution of others or acting as an intermediary (Article 25), and public soliciting is an offence for the person selling sex.", "provisions": [ "Article 24 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008", "Article 25 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008", "Article 35 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008" ], "sources": [ "kh-law2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the procuring definition; whether online advertising counts as soliciting \"in public\" was not established. Telecommunications and cybercrime rules were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kh-law2008", "titleEn": "Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (Royal Kram NS/RKM/0208/005)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and criminalises public soliciting, procuring, management of prostitution establishments, provision of premises and purchase of child prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Articles 23–37" ], "inForce": "2008-02-15" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2008-02-15", "event": "The Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation is promulgated, replacing the 1996 trafficking law and adding the public-soliciting offence.", "sources": [ "kh-odc", "kh-hrw2010" ] }, { "date": "2010-07-19", "event": "Human Rights Watch publishes \"Off the Streets\", documenting arbitrary detention of sex workers following the 2008 law.", "sources": [ "kh-hrw2010" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kh-law2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (Royal Kram NS/RKM/0208/005) — unofficial translation by UNICEF, 3 March 2008", "publisher": "ASEAN Secretariat (hosted copy)", "url": "https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/C3_Law-on-Suppression.pdf", "published": "2008-02-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "kh-hrw2010", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Off the Streets: Arbitrary Detention and Other Abuses against Sex Workers in Cambodia", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/report/2010/07/19/streets/arbitrary-detention-and-other-abuses-against-sex-workers-cambodia", "published": "2010-07-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "kh-odc", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (Khmer and English versions, metadata)", "publisher": "Open Development Cambodia", "url": "https://data.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/dataset/law-on-suppression-of-human-trafficking-and-sexual-exploitation", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cambodia/" }, { "iso2": "CM", "name": "Cameroon", "nativeName": "Cameroun", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a specific offence: a person of either sex who habitually engages in sexual intercourse with another for gain faces six months to five years in prison (Section 343(1) of the 2016 Penal Code), and public soliciting carries the same penalty. Buying is not a specific offence. Procuring, sharing in the proceeds and running an establishment where prostitution is habitually practised are punished under Section 294.", "modelSources": [ "cm-pc2016-en", "cm-pc2016-fr" ], "summary": "Prostitution is prohibited in Cameroon under the Penal Code (Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016). A person of either sex who habitually engages in sexual intercourse with another for payment, and anyone who publicly solicits for prostitution by gestures, words, writing or any other means, faces six months to five years in prison and a fine of CFAF 20,000 to 500,000 (Section 343). There is no specific offence for the client. Procuring, aiding or facilitating another person's prostitution, sharing in its proceeds or being supported by a sex worker carries six months to five years, doubled where the offender owns or manages an establishment where prostitution is habitually practised (Section 294). The Code states that the sex worker is not an accessory to procuring.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person of either sex who habitually, for remuneration, engages in sexual acts with another is punishable by six months to five years in prison and a fine of CFAF 20,000 to 500,000 (Section 343(1)). The offence requires habit and payment; occasional paid sex is not covered by this section.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2016 s. 343(1)" ], "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-fr", "cm-pc2016-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read in the WIPO Lex copy of the bilingual official text (scanned, partly garbled OCR); the French wording was checked against the English. Enforcement practice was not assessed.", "mapLabel": "up to 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes buying sex an offence; Section 343(1) applies to the person who engages in sexual acts for remuneration. A married client may commit adultery (Section 361: two to six months or a fine), which can be prosecuted only on the complaint of the wronged spouse.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2016 s. 343", "Penal Code 2016 s. 361" ], "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-en", "cm-pc2016-fr" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Classification inferred from the absence of a client offence in the Code; whether clients are ever charged as accomplices to the Section 343 offence was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no stand-alone brothel-keeping offence, but owning, managing or being in charge of an establishment where prostitution is habitually practised is an aggravating circumstance of the procuring offence: the penalty of six months to five years is doubled and the court must order the establishment closed (Section 294(3)(a) and (6)). Allowing a child under 18 to live or work in such an establishment is a separate offence (Section 345).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2016 s. 294(3)(a)", "Penal Code 2016 s. 294(6)", "Penal Code 2016 s. 345" ], "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-en", "cm-pc2016-fr" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever procures, aids or facilitates another person's prostitution, shares even occasionally in its proceeds, or is supported by a person engaging in prostitution faces six months to five years and a fine of CFAF 20,000 to 1,000,000. A person living with a sex worker is presumed to be supported unless they show sufficient own resources. The penalty is doubled for coercion, fraud, weapons, venue owners, victims under 21 and parents or guardians. The sex worker is not an accessory (Section 294).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2016 s. 294" ], "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-en", "cm-pc2016-fr" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly soliciting persons of either sex for prostitution or debauchery by gestures, words, writing or any other means carries six months to five years (Section 343(2)), which on its wording reaches written and online offers. Drawing the public's attention to an occasion of immorality is punishable as public indecency (Section 264(b)). A site hosting such offers could be charged with aiding or facilitating prostitution (Section 294).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2016 s. 343(2)", "Penal Code 2016 s. 264(b)", "Penal Code 2016 s. 294(1)" ], "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-en", "cm-pc2016-fr" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services or on platform liability was found; the application of Sections 343(2) and 294 to online ads is an inference from their wording, not from case law. The 2010 cybercrime law was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cm-pc2016-fr", "titleEn": "Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code", "relevance": "Criminalises habitual prostitution and public soliciting (s. 343), procuring, living on and sharing in the earnings of prostitution and running an establishment of prostitution (s. 294), and corruption of youth (s. 344).", "provisions": [ "s. 264", "s. 294", "ss. 343–345", "s. 361" ], "inForce": "2016-07-12" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-07-12", "event": "Law No. 2016/007 enacts a new Penal Code, repealing earlier provisions to the contrary (s. 371), with the offences of prostitution and soliciting (s. 343) and procuring (s. 294).", "sources": [ "cm-pc2016-fr", "cm-pc2016-en" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cm-pc2016-fr", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2016/007 du 12 juillet 2016 portant Code pénal", "titleEn": "Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code", "publisher": "Présidence de la République du Cameroun", "url": "https://www.prc.cm/fr/actualites/actes/lois/1828-loi-n-2016-007-du-12-juillet-2016-portant-code-penal", "published": "2016-07-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cm-pc2016-en", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code (bilingual certified copy)", "publisher": "WIPO Lex", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/cm/cm014en.html", "published": "2016-07-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cameroon/" }, { "iso2": "CA", "name": "Canada", "nativeName": "Canada", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Since 6 December 2014 the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) makes buying sexual services an offence (s. 286.1 Criminal Code), along with receiving a material benefit, procuring and advertising other people's services. Selling is not an offence and sellers are immune for their own services (s. 286.5). It is a variant of the Nordic model: two seller-side offences survive in s. 213 (stopping or impeding traffic, and communicating next to school grounds, playgrounds or daycare centres).", "modelSources": [ "cc-286-1", "cc-286-5", "cc-213", "pcepa", "kloubakov-scc" ], "summary": "Criminal law is federal, so one regime applies across Canada. After the Supreme Court struck down the bawdy-house, living-on-the-avails and public-communication offences in Bedford (2013), Parliament enacted PCEPA in 2014. It criminalises obtaining sexual services for consideration, receiving a material benefit from someone else's sexual services, procuring, and knowingly advertising an offer of sexual services, but gives sellers immunity for their own services and their own advertising. The courts have upheld every challenged provision so far: R. v. N.S. (Ontario Court of Appeal, 2022), Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. AG (Ontario Superior Court, 2023) and R. v. Kloubakov (Supreme Court of Canada, 2025). The Alliance's appeal, which also challenges the purchase and advertising offences, is still pending before the Court of Appeal for Ontario.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling one's own sexual services is not an offence, and s. 286.5 bars prosecuting a seller as a party to the buyer's offence. Two narrow summary offences in s. 213 still apply to sellers: stopping or impeding traffic in a public place, and communicating to offer sexual services in a public place next to a school ground, playground or daycare centre.", "details": "Section 286.5(2) provides that no person shall be prosecuted for aiding, abetting, conspiring, attempting, being an accessory after the fact or counselling an offence under ss. 286.1 to 286.4 \"if the offence relates to the offering or provision of their own sexual services\". The immunity does not make the transaction lawful: the Ontario Superior Court wrote in 2023 that \"sex work is no longer legal, but sellers of their own sexual services are immune from prosecution\" (2023 ONSC 5197, para. 3), and the Court of Appeal for Ontario said in *R. v. Gallone* (2019 ONCA 663) that the immunity provisions do not legalise advertising one's own services. Section 213(1) (stopping a vehicle or impeding traffic or access to premises, for the purpose of offering, providing or obtaining sexual services) and s. 213(1.1) (communicating to offer or provide sexual services in or next to a school ground, playground or daycare centre) are summary-conviction offences. The general communicating offence that Bedford struck down (former s. 213(1)(c)) was repealed in 2014. Both s. 213 offences carry the general summary-conviction penalty: a fine of up to CAD 5,000, up to two years less a day, or both (s. 787(1)).", "provisions": [ "s. 286.5 Criminal Code", "s. 213(1), (1.1) Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "cc-286-5", "cc-213", "caswlr-onsc", "bedford-scc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "in public: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Obtaining, or communicating in any place to obtain, the sexual services of a person for consideration is a hybrid offence: up to 5 years on indictment, or up to two years less a day and a fine of up to CAD 5,000 on summary conviction. Mandatory minimum fines start at CAD 500 and double near parks, schools, religious institutions or places where minors are expected to be. From under-18s: up to 14 years, minimum 6 months.", "details": "Section 286.1(1) minimum fines: on indictment CAD 1,000 for a first offence and CAD 2,000 for each subsequent one (CAD 2,000 and 4,000 where the offence is committed in a public place, or a place open to public view, that is or is next to a park, the grounds of a school or religious institution, or another place where persons under 18 can reasonably be expected to be present); on summary conviction CAD 500 and 1,000 (CAD 1,000 and 2,000 in those places). Section 286.1(2) (obtaining sexual services of a person under 18) carries minimum imprisonment of 6 months for a first offence and 1 year for a subsequent one. Its maximum was raised from 10 to 14 years by s. 36 of the Protecting Victims Act (S.C. 2026, c. 19), in force 18 July 2026. The same Act added s. 718.4, which requires a court to impose less than a minimum term of imprisonment where the minimum would be cruel and unusual for that offender; it does not apply to the minimum fines. The purchase offence was among those challenged in the Canadian Alliance case and was upheld at first instance (see pending).", "provisions": [ "s. 286.1(1), (2) Criminal Code", "s. 718.4 Criminal Code", "s. 36 Protecting Victims Act, S.C. 2026, c. 19" ], "sources": [ "cc-286-1", "pva", "caswlr-onsc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The bawdy-house offences were repealed in 2019, so there is no brothel offence as such. Running a venue that sells other people's sexual services is still caught by the material-benefit offence, whose exceptions do not cover a \"commercial enterprise that offers sexual services for consideration\", and by procuring. A landlord who only rents premises to an independent sex worker commits neither offence.", "details": "Bedford declared s. 210 (keeping a common bawdy-house), as it related to prostitution, unconstitutional. PCEPA removed prostitution from the bawdy-house definition in 2014, and ss. 210 and 211 were repealed by S.C. 2019, c. 25, s. 73 (the consolidated text of s. 210 ends on 20 June 2019). Under s. 286.2(5)(e), the exceptions in s. 286.2(4) do not apply to a benefit received \"in the context of a commercial enterprise that offers sexual services for consideration\", and s. 286.2(6) makes that context an aggravating factor. In *R. v. Kloubakov* (2025 SCC 25) the Supreme Court held that the key question is whether a third party shares in the profits of another person's sex work. No factual exploitation or excessive profit is required. The Court said a \"commercial agency that recruits persons to sell sexual services, provides premises for transactions, advertises to potential purchasers, makes appointments, and collects agency fees\" engages liability for procuring. Excluded from \"commercial enterprise\" are: sellers working independently or cooperatively; third parties who provide security services to them under a cooperative arrangement; not-for-profit safe houses; and anyone who merely rents premises to an independent sex worker.", "provisions": [ "s. 286.2(5)(e), (6) Criminal Code", "s. 286.3 Criminal Code", "former s. 210 Criminal Code (repealed, S.C. 2019, c. 25, s. 73)" ], "sources": [ "cc-286-2", "cc-286-3", "cc-210", "kloubakov-scc", "bedford-scc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Sex workers may work together from the same indoor premises. The Supreme Court held in 2025 that people selling their own services, \"whether independently or cooperatively with others\", are outside the \"commercial enterprise\" exclusion, and that the immunity covers each seller's own services. The purchase by their clients remains an offence.", "details": "The Department of Justice's Technical Paper on Bill C-36 states that the only type of enterprise the commercial-enterprise wording cannot capture is \"one involving individuals who sell their own sexual services, whether independently or cooperatively\", from one or several locations. *Kloubakov* (2025 SCC 25) adopted the same reading and added that drivers, receptionists, bodyguards or managers providing security services to sellers under a cooperative arrangement are not part of a commercial enterprise. They are also outside the procuring offence unless they specifically intend to facilitate the purchase of sex. Under s. 286.2(4) such staff may be paid for goods or services, provided the payment is proportionate and they did not counsel or encourage the person to sell sex. In *R. v. N.S.* (2022 ONCA 160, paras. 70–85) the Court of Appeal for Ontario had already held that a cooperative of sex workers sharing security costs is not a commercial enterprise, which *Kloubakov* endorsed (para. 153).", "provisions": [ "s. 286.2(4), (5) Criminal Code", "s. 286.5 Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "kloubakov-scc", "doj-technical-paper", "cc-286-2", "ns-onca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a person to offer or provide sexual services for consideration, or recruiting, holding, concealing or harbouring them or controlling their movements in order to facilitate a purchase, carries up to 14 years. Knowingly receiving a material benefit derived from a purchase carries up to 10 years, subject to exceptions for non-exploitative relationships.", "details": "**Procuring (s. 286.3).** Indictable, up to 14 years; for a person under 18, a minimum of 5 years. *Kloubakov* requires a specific intent to induce a person to offer sexual services for purchase. Advising a sex worker on safe practices, or merely renting a room, is not procuring without more.\n\n**Material benefit (s. 286.2).** Hybrid; up to 10 years on indictment, or up to 14 years with a 2-year minimum where the services come from a person under 18. Living with or being habitually in the company of a seller is presumed, unless there is evidence to the contrary, to mean receiving a benefit (s. 286.2(3)). Under s. 286.2(4) the offence does not apply to a benefit received in a legitimate living arrangement, under a legal or moral obligation, for goods or services offered to the general public on the same terms, or for proportionate goods or services not offered to the public, provided the recipient did not counsel or encourage the sale. These exceptions fall away for anyone who used violence, intimidation or coercion, abused a position of trust, power or authority, supplied intoxicating substances, procured, or acted within a commercial enterprise (s. 286.2(5)). Sellers cannot be prosecuted for benefits from their own services (s. 286.5(1)(a)).\n\n**Courts.** *R. v. N.S.*, 2021 ONSC 2920 struck down ss. 286.2, 286.3 and 286.4; the Court of Appeal for Ontario reversed it (2022 ONCA 160) and the Supreme Court refused leave on 13 January 2023. The Supreme Court upheld ss. 286.2 and 286.3 against a s. 7 Charter challenge in *Kloubakov* (2025 SCC 25, 24 July 2025).", "provisions": [ "s. 286.2 Criminal Code", "s. 286.3 Criminal Code", "s. 286.5(1)(a) Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "cc-286-2", "cc-286-3", "cc-286-5", "kloubakov-scc", "ns-onca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly advertising an offer to provide sexual services for consideration is a hybrid offence, punishable by up to 5 years on indictment. A person cannot be prosecuted for advertising their own sexual services, but anyone who advertises someone else's, or helps place such an ad, can be. Courts have found that the offence limits freedom of expression but is justified under s. 1 of the Charter.", "details": "Section 286.4 was the first advertising offence of its kind in Canadian law (*Kloubakov*, para. 33). Immunity applies to \"the advertisement of their own sexual services\" (s. 286.5(1)(b)), and s. 286.5(2) extends it to aiding, abetting or conspiring in relation to one's own services. In *N.S.* (2022 ONCA 160, paras. 147–157) the Court of Appeal for Ontario held that any impairment of security of the person from the ban was trivial: sex workers continue to advertise in vaguer language and can communicate frankly with clients afterwards. The Crown conceded that s. 286.4 engages s. 2(b) of the Charter, and the court held it justified under s. 1. The Ontario Superior Court followed *N.S.* in 2023, calling it \"binding and dispositive\". In 2022 the House of Commons Justice Committee recommended repealing ss. 213 and 286.4 (Recommendation 3). The law has not been changed. Under s. 164 a judge may order the seizure and forfeiture of material \"used to advertise sexual services contrary to section 286.4\" (since 2026 part of the defined term \"illicit material\").", "provisions": [ "s. 286.4 Criminal Code", "s. 286.5(1)(b), (2) Criminal Code", "s. 164(1), (8) Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "cc-286-4", "cc-286-5", "cc-164", "ns-onca", "caswlr-onsc", "just-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A website or publisher that knowingly carries ads for other people's sexual services can be liable as a party to the s. 286.4 offence; the seller's own immunity does not cover them. A judge can also order the custodian of a computer system in Canada to delete such ads and identify who posted them. Evidence before the courts and Parliament is that advertising moved to sites hosted outside Canada.", "details": "The Department of Justice's Technical Paper says the advertising offence targets people who place ads in print media or on websites, and that \"publishers or website administrators could be held criminally liable as parties if they know of the existence of the advertisement and that the advertisement is in fact for the sale of sexual services\". The Ontario Superior Court (2023 ONSC 5197, para. 90) likewise said s. 286.4 \"catches, potentially, publishers and website administrators\". An agency that advertises the sexual services of the people it recruits can also be liable for procuring (*Kloubakov*).\n\n**Takedown.** Under s. 164.1 a judge who is satisfied that material advertising sexual services contrary to s. 286.4 is stored on and made available through a computer system within the court's jurisdiction may order its custodian to hand over a copy, stop making it available, and identify the poster. After a hearing the judge may order its deletion. The order works regardless of who posted the ad. It reaches only systems within the court's jurisdiction, and we found no other statutory notice-and-takedown duty for these ads.\n\n**Practice.** In *N.S.* the defence expert's evidence was that after PCEPA advertising \"migrated to off-shore locations\" and ads on third-party sites used coded language to avoid being taken down by site administrators. The Justice Committee heard in 2022 that Canadian sites had closed or raised their fees, and that sex workers were using foreign sites at higher cost. Police recorded 37 advertising incidents in 2025 and charged 3 people (see stats).", "provisions": [ "s. 286.4 Criminal Code", "s. 21 Criminal Code (parties to offences)", "s. 164.1 Criminal Code", "s. 286.3 Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "doj-technical-paper", "caswlr-onsc", "cc-164-1", "cc-286-4", "kloubakov-scc", "ns-onca", "just-2022", "statcan-35100177" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Party liability for platforms rests on the Justice Department's reading of the statute and on remarks in court rulings, not on a judgment about a website. We could not search CanLII (it blocks automated access) and found no reported conviction of an ad-site operator under s. 286.4. Statistics Canada does not break advertising charges down by type of accused." }, "street": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Communicating in public to sell sexual services is lawful except in or next to school grounds, playgrounds and daycare centres. Stopping vehicles or impeding traffic to offer, provide or obtain sexual services is an offence for sellers and buyers alike. Buyers commit the s. 286.1 offence wherever they communicate, with higher minimum fines near parks, schools and places where minors are expected.", "details": "Both s. 213 offences are summary-conviction offences. For s. 213, \"public place\" includes any place the public can access as of right or by invitation, and a motor vehicle in a public place or in public view. Statistics Canada found that between 2010 and 2019 police-reported stopping or communicating incidents fell by 95%, most of the fall coming before PCEPA. Fewer women were tried for these offences in the five years after PCEPA than in the five years before (−97%). The Justice Committee recommended repealing s. 213 in 2022. In 2025 police recorded 21 incidents of public communication to sell sexual services and 11 of impeding traffic (6 and 2 persons charged).", "provisions": [ "s. 213(1), (1.1), (2) Criminal Code", "s. 286.1(1)(a)(i), (b)(i) Criminal Code" ], "sources": [ "cc-213", "cc-286-1", "juristat-2021", "statcan-35100177", "just-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "There is no national registration or health-check regime for sex workers. Municipalities license related businesses under their own by-laws, without making the sale of sex lawful. Toronto, for example, licenses body-rub parlour owners, operators and body-rubbers and requires a medical certificate from licensed body-rubbers.", "details": "Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545 (Licensing) requires a licence from every person who owns or operates a body-rub parlour and from every other person who performs, offers or solicits a body-rub there (§ 545-2A(7), (8)). Applicants who will perform body-rubs must give the Medical Officer of Health a doctor's certificate that they are \"free from communicable diseases\", usually no more than once every three years (§ 545-333). A municipal licence does not displace the Criminal Code: purchasing, material-benefit and procuring offences still apply to sexual services provided in licensed premises.", "provisions": [ "Toronto Municipal Code ch. 545, § 545-2A(7)–(8), § 545-333" ], "sources": [ "toronto-545" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Only Toronto's by-law was checked. Other cities' licensing regimes (body-rub, holistic, escort or adult-entertainment licences) differ and were not reviewed." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no tax rule specific to sex work. Income from selling sexual services is taxable like other business income, and business expenses are deductible. The Ontario Superior Court noted in 2023 that sex workers must report income from all sources, legal or illegal, and can make Canada Pension Plan contributions as self-employed people.", "details": "In 2023 ONSC 5197 (para. 316) the court relied on *R. v. Brown*, 2012 TCC 251 (reporting income from all sources) and *Minister of National Revenue v. Eldridge* (Exch. Ct., 1964) (deducting expenses of an illegal business). It noted that s. 241 of the Income Tax Act restricts the Canada Revenue Agency's disclosure of taxpayer information to police. The court treated sex workers' lack of access to labour standards and workplace protections as a consequence of their working outside the formal economy, and held that this did not breach the Charter (paras. 313–316).", "provisions": [ "s. 241 Income Tax Act (taxpayer confidentiality)" ], "sources": [ "caswlr-onsc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Stated from the court's summary of the tax position. The Income Tax Act and CRA guidance were not checked directly for this entry." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Immigration regulations bar every temporary resident who is authorised to work from taking or extending a job with an employer who regularly offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage. Work permits are refused for such employers. Temporary residents without work authorisation may not work at all.", "details": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227): s. 183(1)(b) (temporary residents must not work unless authorised) and s. 183(1)(b.1) (no employment agreement with such an employer); s. 196.1(a) (the same rule for every foreign national); s. 200(3)(g.1) (no work permit if the person intends to work for such an employer); s. 203(2)(a) (no labour market impact assessment for such employers). Breaching a condition of stay can lead to removal proceedings. In 2022 the Justice Committee recommended repealing ss. 183(1)(b.1), 196.1(a), 200(3)(g.1) and 203(2)(a). In its view these rules \"unfairly put migrant sex workers at elevated risk of violence and danger by making them unable to report these incidents without fear of deportation\" (Recommendation 10). The regulations, current to 30 September 2026, still contain them.", "provisions": [ "s. 183(1)(b), (b.1) IRPR", "s. 196.1(a) IRPR", "s. 200(3)(g.1) IRPR", "s. 203(2)(a) IRPR" ], "sources": [ "irpr-183", "irpr-196-1", "irpr-200", "just-2022", "irpr-203" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "That a breach of these conditions can lead to removal follows from the general Immigration and Refugee Protection Act scheme, which was not reviewed in detail for this entry." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)", "relevance": "Part VIII 'Commodification of Sexual Activity' holds the purchase (286.1), material-benefit (286.2), procuring (286.3) and advertising (286.4) offences and the seller immunity (286.5). Section 213 holds the residual public-place offences, and ss. 164 and 164.1 the seizure and deletion orders for advertising material.", "provisions": [ "s. 213", "ss. 286.1–286.5", "ss. 164, 164.1" ] }, { "sourceId": "pcepa", "titleEn": "Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (S.C. 2014, c. 25)", "relevance": "Parliament's response to Bedford. It created ss. 286.1–286.5, repealed the living-on-the-avails offence (s. 212), replaced the general communicating offence with s. 213(1.1), and took prostitution out of the bawdy-house definition. Section 45.1 required a parliamentary review within five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 20 (ss. 286.1–286.5 Criminal Code)", "s. 45.1 (review)" ], "inForce": "2014-12-06" }, { "sourceId": "pva", "titleEn": "Protecting Victims Act (S.C. 2026, c. 19)", "relevance": "Raised the maximum for obtaining the sexual services of a person under 18 (s. 286.1(2)) from 10 to 14 years. It also rewrote the s. 164 seizure provisions around a single defined term, 'illicit material', which covers ads contrary to s. 286.4, and added s. 718.4 on minimum terms of imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "s. 18 (s. 164(8) Criminal Code)", "s. 36 (s. 286.1(2) Criminal Code)", "s. 63 (s. 718.4 Criminal Code)" ], "inForce": "2026-07-18" }, { "sourceId": "irpr-183", "titleEn": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)", "relevance": "Bars temporary residents and other foreign nationals from working for employers who regularly offer striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage, and bars work permits and labour market assessments for such employers.", "provisions": [ "s. 183(1)(b.1)", "s. 196.1(a)", "s. 200(3)(g.1)", "s. 203(2)(a)" ] }, { "sourceId": "toronto-545", "titleEn": "Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545 (Licensing)", "relevance": "Example of municipal licensing: licences for body-rub parlour owners, operators and body-rubbers, with a medical certificate requirement.", "provisions": [ "§ 545-2A(7)–(8)", "§ 545-333" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "caswlr-appeal-onca", "title": "Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Attorney General: appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario", "stage": "review", "updated": "2025-11-10", "summary": "A Charter challenge to ss. 213(1), 213(1.1), 286.1(1), 286.2(1), 286.3(1) and 286.4 under ss. 7, 2(b), 2(d) and 15. The Ontario Superior Court dismissed it on 18 September 2023 (2023 ONSC 5197): the purchase, communication, stopping-traffic and advertising offences limit expression but are justified under s. 1, and no provision breaches ss. 7, 2(d) or 15. On 24 July 2025 the Supreme Court in Kloubakov noted that the appeal, including the challenge to the purchase and advertising offences, was pending before the Court of Appeal for Ontario. It left the life and liberty arguments and the evidence on commercial third parties to that appeal. We found no appeal decision or hearing date as of 30 October 2026.", "sources": [ "caswlr-onsc", "kloubakov-scc", "conversation-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2013-12-20", "event": "Supreme Court of Canada, Canada (AG) v. Bedford, 2013 SCC 72: declares the bawdy-house offence (s. 210, as it relates to prostitution), living on the avails (s. 212(1)(j)) and public communication (s. 213(1)(c)) unconstitutional under s. 7 of the Charter, suspended for one year.", "sources": [ "bedford-scc" ] }, { "date": "2014-11-06", "event": "Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (S.C. 2014, c. 25) receives royal assent.", "sources": [ "pcepa" ] }, { "date": "2014-12-06", "event": "PCEPA comes into force 30 days after assent: buying, material benefit, procuring and third-party advertising become offences; sellers are immune for their own services.", "sources": [ "pcepa", "juristat-2021" ] }, { "date": "2019-06-21", "event": "The common bawdy-house offences (ss. 210 and 211) are repealed by S.C. 2019, c. 25.", "sources": [ "cc-210" ] }, { "date": "2021-06-21", "event": "Statistics Canada's Juristat compares sex-trade-related crime in the five years before and after PCEPA.", "sources": [ "juristat-2021" ] }, { "date": "2022-02-24", "event": "Court of Appeal for Ontario, R. v. N.S., 2022 ONCA 160: reverses a 2021 ruling that had struck down the material-benefit, procuring and advertising offences, and upholds them.", "sources": [ "ns-onca" ] }, { "date": "2022-06", "event": "House of Commons Justice Committee reports on its statutory review of PCEPA ('Preventing Harm in the Canadian Sex Industry'), recommending repeal of ss. 213 and 286.4 and of the immigration rules barring sex-industry work.", "sources": [ "just-2022" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-13", "event": "Supreme Court of Canada refuses leave to appeal in R. v. N.S.", "sources": [ "kloubakov-scc" ] }, { "date": "2023-09-18", "event": "Ontario Superior Court dismisses the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform's Charter challenge to PCEPA (2023 ONSC 5197); the applicants appeal.", "sources": [ "caswlr-onsc", "kloubakov-scc" ] }, { "date": "2025-07-24", "event": "Supreme Court of Canada, R. v. Kloubakov, 2025 SCC 25: unanimously upholds the material-benefit and procuring offences, interpreting them to allow cooperative work and hired security.", "sources": [ "kloubakov-scc" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-18", "event": "Protecting Victims Act (S.C. 2026, c. 19) in force: maximum for buying sexual services from a person under 18 raised to 14 years.", "sources": [ "pva", "cc-286-1" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Police-reported incidents of obtaining sexual services for consideration (s. 286.1(1), adults)", "value": "677 incidents; 352 persons charged", "year": "2025", "note": "Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, table 35-10-0177-01 (released 22 July 2026). 2024: 495 incidents, 268 charged; 2020: 286 incidents, 120 charged. Police-reported counts reflect enforcement activity and reporting practices, not the size of the market.", "sources": [ "statcan-35100177" ] }, { "label": "Police-reported incidents of advertising sexual services (s. 286.4)", "value": "37 incidents; 3 persons charged", "year": "2025", "note": "Same table. 2021: 44 incidents and 5 charged; 2024: 15 incidents and 2 charged. Advertising by sellers of their own services cannot be prosecuted, so these counts concern third parties.", "sources": [ "statcan-35100177" ] }, { "label": "Police-reported procuring incidents (s. 286.3(1), adults)", "value": "259 incidents; 70 persons charged", "year": "2025", "note": "Same table. Receiving a material benefit from an adult's services (s. 286.2(1)): 23 incidents, 7 charged. All offences in relation to sexual services: 1,200 incidents, 496 charged.", "sources": [ "statcan-35100177" ] }, { "label": "Men accused by police of obtaining sexual services from an adult", "value": "2,304 (92% charged)", "year": "2015–2019", "note": "Statistics Canada, Juristat (21 June 2021). About one in seven completed court cases for this offence ended in a guilty finding. For the advertising offence, 15 of 17 men and 12 of 16 women tried between 2014/2015 and 2018/2019 were found guilty.", "sources": [ "juristat-2021" ] }, { "label": "Homicide victims identified as sex trade workers", "value": "35 (2015–2019) vs 54 (2010–2014)", "year": "2010–2019", "note": "Statistics Canada Homicide Survey, as reported in the 2021 Juristat. The fall came while total homicides in Canada rose. The numbers are small and depend on police recording the victim's occupation.", "sources": [ "juristat-2021" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated, current to 2026-09-30, last amended 2026-07-18)", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-286-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 286.1: Obtaining sexual services for consideration", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-286.1.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-286-2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 286.2: Material benefit from sexual services", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-286.2.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-286-3", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 286.3: Procuring", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-286.3.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-286-4", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 286.4: Advertising sexual services", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-286.4.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-286-5", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 286.5: Immunity — material benefit and advertising", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-286.5.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-213", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 213: Offences in relation to offering, providing or obtaining sexual services for consideration", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-213.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-164", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 164: Warrant of seizure", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-164.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-164-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 164.1: Warrant of seizure — material on computer system", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-164.1.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cc-210", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 210 (keeping common bawdy-house), version from 2003-01-01 to 2019-06-20", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-210-20030101.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pcepa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (S.C. 2014, c. 25)", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2014_25/FullText.html", "published": "2014-11-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pva", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Protecting Victims Act (S.C. 2026, c. 19)", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2026_19/FullText.html", "published": "2026-06-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irpr-183", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), s. 183", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-183.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irpr-196-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), s. 196.1", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-196.1.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irpr-200", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), s. 200", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-200.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irpr-203", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), s. 203", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada, Justice Laws Website", "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-203.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "toronto-545", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing", "publisher": "City of Toronto", "url": "https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_545.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bedford-scc", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford, 2013 SCC 72, [2013] 3 S.C.R. 1101", "publisher": "Supreme Court of Canada", "url": "https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/13389/index.do", "published": "2013-12-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ns-onca", "kind": "case-law", "title": "R. v. N.S., 2022 ONCA 160", "publisher": "Court of Appeal for Ontario", "url": "https://www.ontariocourts.ca/decisions/2022/2022ONCA0160.htm", "published": "2022-02-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "caswlr-onsc", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Attorney General, 2023 ONSC 5197 (Reasons for Judgment, CV-21-659594)", "publisher": "Ontario Superior Court of Justice (signed reasons, copy hosted by POWER Ottawa)", "url": "https://www.powerottawa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CAFSWLR-v.-Attorney-General-Reasons-for-Judgment-CV-21-659594-signed.pdf", "published": "2023-09-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "kloubakov-scc", "kind": "case-law", "title": "R. v. Kloubakov, 2025 SCC 25", "publisher": "Supreme Court of Canada", "url": "https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/21132/index.do", "published": "2025-07-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doj-technical-paper", "kind": "government", "title": "Technical Paper: Bill C-36, Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act", "publisher": "Department of Justice Canada", "url": "https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/protect/p1.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "just-2022", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Preventing Harm in the Canadian Sex Industry: A Review of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, 44th Parl., 1st Sess., Report 4)", "publisher": "House of Commons of Canada", "url": "https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/JUST/Reports/RP11891316/justrp04/justrp04-e.pdf", "published": "2022-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "juristat-2021", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Crimes related to the sex trade: Before and after legislative changes in Canada (Juristat, 85-002-X)", "publisher": "Statistics Canada", "url": "https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00010-eng.htm", "published": "2021-06-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "statcan-35100177", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Table 35-10-0177-01: Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, Canada, provinces, territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Canadian Forces Military Police", "publisher": "Statistics Canada", "url": "https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3510017701", "published": "2026-07-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "conversation-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Sex work on trial: What the recently dismissed constitutional challenge means", "publisher": "The Conversation", "url": "https://theconversation.com/sex-work-on-trial-what-the-recently-dismissed-constitutional-challenge-means-267163", "published": "2025-11-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/canada/" }, { "iso2": "CF", "name": "Central African Republic", "nativeName": "République centrafricaine", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2010 Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence, but it punishes public soliciting for debauchery as a misdemeanour (Article 89) and public soliciting as a petty offence (Article 442), and criminalises procuring broadly (Articles 90–91). Because the seller can be prosecuted for soliciting, this sits close to the prohibition model in practice; enforcement was not checked.", "modelSources": [ "cf-cp2010", "cf-cp2010-ilga" ], "summary": "In the Central African Republic, prostitution itself is not an offence under the Penal Code (Law No. 10.001 of 6 January 2010), but publicly soliciting persons of either sex for debauchery by gestures, words, writing or any other means carries one month and a day to one year in prison or a fine (Article 89), and public soliciting is also listed as a fifth-class petty offence (Article 442). A person who habitually aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary is a procurer, punishable by one to five years (Article 90), and three to ten years where a minor, coercion, abuse of authority or deceit is involved (Article 91). There is no separate brothel offence and no client offence.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but publicly soliciting or attempting to solicit persons of either sex for debauchery, by gestures, words, writing or any other means, is punishable by one month and a day to one year in prison or a fine of CFAF 100,002 to 500,000 (Article 89). Public soliciting is also a fifth-class contravention (Article 442(2); fine of CFAF 20,001 to 100,000 and up to one month, Article 434).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2010 art. 89", "Code pénal 2010 art. 442(2)", "Code pénal 2010 art. 434" ], "sources": [ "cf-cp2010", "cf-cp2010-ilga" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Equipo Nizkor transcription of the Journal officiel special edition of 15 January 2010 and checked against a PDF copy hosted by ILGA; neither is the official gazette itself. No later amendment to these articles was found, but the absence of amendments was not confirmed.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes buying sex from an adult an offence, and the Code has no offence of adultery (adultery appears only as an excuse for violence). Habitually exciting, favouring or facilitating the debauchery of a person under 18 is punishable by three to ten years (Article 92).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2010 art. 92" ], "sources": [ "cf-cp2010" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from a full-text search of an unofficial transcription." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific offence of keeping a brothel, but running premises for others' prostitution falls within the procuring offence: habitually aiding, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution, sharing in its proceeds, or keeping a person for prostitution, punishable by one to five years and a fine of CFAF 100,002 to 1,000,000 (Article 90).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2010 art. 90" ], "sources": [ "cf-cp2010" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Classification inferred from the wording of Article 90; no case law found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer, punishable by one to five years and a fine of CFAF 100,002 to 1,000,000, is anyone who habitually and knowingly aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting; shares in its proceeds; lives with a sex worker without sufficient own resources; hires or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent; or acts as an intermediary (Article 90). Minors, coercion, abuse of authority or deceit raise this to three to ten years (Article 91).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2010 art. 90", "Code pénal 2010 art. 91" ], "sources": [ "cf-cp2010", "cf-cp2010-ilga" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found, but public soliciting for debauchery by \"writing or any other means\" is an offence (Article 89), which on its wording covers published offers, and a third party who habitually assists such soliciting is a procurer (Article 90(1)). Pornography is defined as representation offending public morals, but the offence in Article 111 concerns children only.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2010 art. 89", "Code pénal 2010 art. 90(1)", "Code pénal 2010 art. 111" ], "sources": [ "cf-cp2010" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying Articles 89 and 90 to online ads and ad sites is an inference from their wording, not from case law. Press and electronic communications laws (including a 2025 press law) were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cf-cp2010", "titleEn": "Law No. 10.001 of 6 January 2010 on the Central African Penal Code", "relevance": "Punishes public soliciting (art. 89, art. 442), procuring with aggravations (arts 90–91) and corruption of minors (art. 92); trafficking for the exploitation of prostitution is in art. 151.", "provisions": [ "arts 89–92", "art. 151", "art. 442" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2010-01-06", "event": "Law No. 10.001 on the Penal Code is signed in Bangui, repealing earlier contrary provisions (art. 447); it is published in a special edition of the Journal officiel on 15 January 2010.", "sources": [ "cf-cp2010", "cf-cp2010-ilga" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cf-cp2010", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 10.001 du 6 janvier 2010 portant Code pénal centrafricain (Journal officiel de la République centrafricaine, édition spéciale, 15 janvier 2010)", "titleEn": "Law No. 10.001 of 6 January 2010 on the Central African Penal Code", "publisher": "Equipo Nizkor (transcription of the Journal officiel)", "url": "https://derechos.org/intlaw/doc/caf1.html", "published": "2010-01-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cf-cp2010-ilga", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 10.001 portant Code pénal centrafricain (PDF)", "titleEn": "Law No. 10.001 on the Central African Penal Code (PDF copy)", "publisher": "ILGA World database", "url": "https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/CF%20-%20LEG%20-%20Penal%20Code%20(2010)%20-%20OR(fr).pdf", "published": "2010-01-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/central-african-republic/" }, { "iso2": "TD", "name": "Chad", "nativeName": "Tchad", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2017 Penal Code contains no offence of selling or buying sex and no offence of soliciting by the sex worker; it punishes anyone who aids, assists or protects another person's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, recruits or keeps a person for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary (Article 335). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Chad as illegal; that is not what the Code says, and enforcement practice was not checked.", "modelSources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "summary": "Chad's Penal Code (Law No. 001/PR/2017 of 8 May 2017, in force since 1 August 2017) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. Procuring is defined broadly: aiding, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution or soliciting, sharing in or receiving its proceeds, living with a sex worker without sufficient own resources, recruiting or keeping an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acting as an intermediary is punishable by six months to two years and a fine of CFAF 100,000 to 1,000,000 (Article 335), and by two to five years with aggravating factors (Article 336). The Code has no separate brothel-keeping offence. Exposing indecent posters or images in public places is a petty offence (Article 518).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No article of the 2017 Penal Code makes selling sex, or soliciting by the person selling, an offence. Prostitution appears only in the procuring offences (Articles 335–336), in the child-protection offence of letting a child live or work in a house where prostitution is practised (Article 364), and as forced prostitution in the crimes against humanity provisions.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 art. 335", "Code pénal 2017 art. 364" ], "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the droit-afrique.com consolidation of the Code hosted by FAOLEX (not the Official Journal); a full-text search found no other prostitution provision. Other laws, local regulations and police practice (e.g. arrests for public-order or vagrancy reasons) were not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes buying sex from an adult an offence. The Code has no general offence of adultery or of sex outside marriage; excitement or facilitation of the debauchery of a minor is punished separately (Article 363).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 art. 363" ], "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from a full-text search of an unofficial consolidation; the term adultery appears only as a mitigating excuse for violence, not as an offence." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific brothel-keeping offence, but running a venue for others' prostitution would fall under the broad procuring offence: aiding, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution in any way, sharing in its proceeds, or keeping a person for prostitution (Article 335, six months to two years). Allowing a child under 18 to live or work in a house where prostitution is practised is punishable by 15 days to six months (Article 364).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 art. 335", "Code pénal 2017 art. 364" ], "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Classification inferred from the wording of Article 335; no case law was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer, punishable by six months to two years and a fine of CFAF 100,000 to 1,000,000, is anyone who knowingly aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting; shares in its proceeds; lives with a sex worker without sufficient own resources; hires or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent; or acts as an intermediary (Article 335). Minors, coercion, weapons, family or authority links and officials raise it to two to five years (Article 336).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 art. 335", "Code pénal 2017 art. 336" ], "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Exposing posters or images contrary to decency in public places is a petty offence (fine of CFAF 2,000 to 20,000, up to 15 days; Article 518(15)). A third party who publishes or hosts a sex worker's offer could be charged with aiding or assisting prostitution or soliciting under Article 335; an advertisement placed by the sex worker for herself is not an offence as such.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2017 art. 518(15)", "Code pénal 2017 art. 335(a)" ], "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inferred from general provisions; no case law found. Chad's cybercrime and electronic communications laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "td-cp2017", "titleEn": "Law No. 001/PR/2017 of 8 May 2017 on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Defines procuring broadly and punishes it with aggravations (arts 335–336); protects children from debauchery and from living or working in places of prostitution (arts 363–364); petty offence of indecent public posters (art. 518(15)).", "provisions": [ "arts 335–336", "arts 363–364", "art. 518" ], "inForce": "2017-08-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2017-05-08", "event": "Law No. 001/PR/2017 on the Penal Code is promulgated, repealing earlier contrary provisions (art. 522); it enters into force on the first day of the third month after promulgation (art. 521).", "sources": [ "td-cp2017" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "td-cp2017", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Tchad – Code pénal 2017 (Loi n° 001/PR/2017 du 8 mai 2017 portant Code pénal)", "titleEn": "Chad – Penal Code 2017 (Law No. 001/PR/2017 of 8 May 2017)", "publisher": "droit-afrique.com, hosted by FAO (FAOLEX)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/cha213367.pdf", "published": "2017-05-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chad/" }, { "iso2": "CL", "name": "Chile", "nativeName": "Chile", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, and the Penal Code's prostitution offences concern minors and trafficking. The ban on organisation comes from the Sanitary Code, which prohibits grouping people engaged in sex trade in closed brothels or \"casas de tolerancia\" and has the Carabineros close such premises (art. 41). The ban is administrative rather than criminal, which makes Chile a mild case of abolitionism.", "modelSources": [ "cl-cs", "cl-bcn-2014" ], "summary": "In Chile, sex work by adults is not punished. Article 41 of the Sanitary Code (1968) provides that a health statistic is kept on people engaged in sex trade and that they may not be grouped in closed brothels or houses of tolerance; the Carabineros enforce the ban and close premises. Health checks under the 2007 regulation on sexually transmitted infections are voluntary, free and confidential. The Penal Code punishes promoting or facilitating the prostitution of minors and paying 14- to 17-year-olds for sex, and Law 20.507 of 2011 added trafficking and migrant-smuggling offences. Breaching police regulations on people engaged in sex trade remains a minor offence.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence for adults. Health checks for sex workers under Decree 206 of 2007 are voluntary and confidential, with health centres keeping a statistical count of the people in control. The Penal Code still lists, among minor offences (faltas), breaching police regulations concerning those who engage in sex trade (art. 495 no. 7).", "provisions": [ "Código Sanitario, art. 41", "Decreto 206 de 2007 (MINSAL)", "Código Penal, art. 495 n° 7" ], "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014", "cl-cs", "cl-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The consolidated codes on LeyChile could not be opened (the site refused automated access); described from a 2014 Library of Congress report prepared for the Senate and search results quoting article 41. Changes after 2014 may not be reflected." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Obtaining sexual services from a person aged 14 to 17 in exchange for money or any other benefit is punished with presidio menor in its maximum degree (art. 367 ter).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 367 ter" ], "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014", "cl-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Penal Code text taken from the 2014 Library of Congress report; later amendments to article 367 ter were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "The Sanitary Code prohibits grouping people engaged in sex trade in closed brothels or houses of tolerance (art. 41). The Carabineros enforce the ban and order and carry out the closure of premises, in addition to health-authority penalties; a closure can be lifted only by a civil judge at the owner's request.", "details": "Article 41 reads: \"Para las personas que se dedican al comercio sexual, se llevará una estadística sanitaria, no permitiéndose su agrupación en prostíbulos cerrados o casas de tolerancia.\" The Library of Congress describes the Sanitary Code's provisions as aimed solely at preventing the spread of venereal disease.", "provisions": [ "Código Sanitario, art. 41" ], "sources": [ "cl-cs", "cl-bcn-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "LeyChile could not be opened; wording confirmed from search results quoting the article and from the Library of Congress report." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no general offence of procuring adults. Promoting or facilitating the prostitution of minors to satisfy the desires of another carries presidio menor in its maximum degree, and presidio mayor where there is habituality, abuse of authority or trust, or deception (art. 367). Trafficking for sexual exploitation and facilitating cross-border movement for prostitution are covered by the offences added by Law 20.507 of 2011.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 367", "Ley 20.507 (Código Penal, Libro II, Título VIII, párrafo 5 bis)" ], "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014", "cl-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 2014 Library of Congress report; the exact current numbering and wording of the trafficking offences could not be checked on LeyChile." }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising a brothel would run into the Sanitary Code ban on brothels, and advertising involving minors would fall under the child-protection offences.", "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014", "cl-cs" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Media, consumer and platform rules were not reviewed; the absence of an advertising rule is unconfirmed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cl-cs", "titleEn": "Sanitary Code (DFL 725 of 1967)", "relevance": "Prohibits closed brothels and houses of tolerance and provides for their closure by the Carabineros.", "provisions": [ "arts. 39, 41" ] }, { "sourceId": "cl-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code", "relevance": "Offences on the prostitution of minors (arts. 367, 367 ter), trafficking (Law 20.507) and the minor offence on police regulations (art. 495 no. 7).", "provisions": [ "arts. 367, 367 ter, 495 n° 7" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2004", "event": "Law 19.927 rewrites article 367 of the Penal Code on the prostitution of minors and adds article 367 ter on paying 14- to 17-year-olds for sex.", "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014" ] }, { "date": "2007-05-08", "event": "Decree 206 of 2007, the regulation on sexually transmitted infections, enters into force, making sex workers' health checks voluntary and confidential.", "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014" ] }, { "date": "2011", "event": "Law 20.507 creates the offences of migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons and repeals article 367 bis.", "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Sex workers in voluntary sexual-health control", "value": "4,175 (4,058 women)", "year": "2014", "note": "Ministry of Health figure reported by the Library of Congress. Counts only people attending voluntary, confidential checks; not an estimate of the total number of people who sell sex.", "sources": [ "cl-bcn-2014" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "cl-cs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto con Fuerza de Ley 725, Código Sanitario", "titleEn": "Decree with Force of Law 725, Sanitary Code", "publisher": "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (LeyChile)", "url": "https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=5595", "published": "1968-01-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cl-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal", "titleEn": "Penal Code", "publisher": "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (LeyChile)", "url": "https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1984", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cl-bcn-2014", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Comercio sexual", "titleEn": "Sex trade (report for the Senate Human Rights Committee)", "publisher": "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile, Asesoría Técnica Parlamentaria", "url": "https://obtienearchivo.bcn.cl/obtienearchivo?id=repositorio/10221/20235/4/comercio+sexual_final_v5.pdf", "published": "2014-06-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chile/" }, { "iso2": "CN", "name": "China", "nativeName": "中国", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are both administrative offences under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, punished by the police with detention and fines rather than by the courts. Organising, forcing, inducing, harbouring and introducing prostitution are crimes under the Criminal Law. This entry covers mainland China; Hong Kong and Macau have their own legal systems and separate entries.", "modelSources": [ "cn-psapl-2025", "cn-criminal-law" ], "summary": "In mainland China both selling and buying sex are prohibited. Under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, as revised on 27 June 2025 and in force since 1 January 2026, the police may detain anyone who sells or buys sex for 10 to 15 days and fine them up to 5,000 yuan (up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan in minor cases); soliciting in public carries up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan. The revision also requires records of such public-order violations to be sealed. \"Custody and education\" (收容教育), a form of administrative detention for people who sold or bought sex, was abolished from 29 December 2019. Organising or forcing prostitution carries 5 to 10 years and up to life, and inducing, harbouring or introducing prostitution up to 5 years or more under the Criminal Law; posting prostitution solicitation information online can be prosecuted as illegal use of an information network.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is punished with 10 to 15 days' administrative detention and an optional fine of up to 5,000 yuan; in minor cases up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. Soliciting customers in a public place carries up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan. Knowingly selling sex while having a serious sexually transmitted disease is a crime (up to 5 years).", "details": "Article 78 of the revised law: \"卖淫、嫖娼的，处十日以上十五日以下拘留，可以并处五千元以下罚款；情节较轻的，处五日以下拘留或者一千元以下罚款。在公共场所拉客招嫖的，处五日以下拘留或者一千元以下罚款。\" Before 2026 the same rule was Article 66 of the 2005 law, with a lower fine (500 yuan) in minor cases. Under Article 136 of the revised law, records of violations of public-security administration must be sealed and not provided or disclosed except to state organs handling cases or units with a legal basis for inquiry. Criminal Law Article 360 covers selling or buying sex while knowingly having syphilis, gonorrhoea or another serious STI.", "provisions": [ "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第七十八条", "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第一百三十六条", "《刑法》第三百六十条" ], "sources": [ "cn-psapl-2025", "cn-criminal-law", "cn-xinhua-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 15 days" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Buying sex (嫖娼) is punished under the same article as selling: 10 to 15 days' administrative detention and an optional fine of up to 5,000 yuan, or up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan in minor cases.", "provisions": [ "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第七十八条" ], "sources": [ "cn-psapl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 15 days" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a place where others sell sex is the crime of harbouring (容留) prostitution, or organising prostitution where three or more people are managed or controlled. Staff of hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and taxi firms who use their business for prostitution are punished under the same articles, the person in charge more severely.", "details": "Criminal Law Articles 358, 359 and 361. Under the 2017 judicial interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate (法释〔2017〕13号), recruiting, hiring or gathering people and managing or controlling the prostitution of three or more is \"organising prostitution\", whether or not there is a fixed venue. Minor cases of harbouring are handled administratively under Article 79 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law (10 to 15 days and up to 5,000 yuan).", "provisions": [ "《刑法》第三百五十八条、第三百五十九条、第三百六十一条", "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第七十九条" ], "sources": [ "cn-criminal-law", "cn-spc-interpretation-2017", "cn-psapl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or forcing others into prostitution carries 5 to 10 years and, in serious cases, 10 years to life; assisting an organiser, for example by recruiting or transporting people, up to 5 years (5 to 10 if serious). Inducing, harbouring or introducing others into prostitution carries up to 5 years, or 5 years and more if serious, always with a fine. Minor cases are administrative offences.", "details": "Under the 2017 judicial interpretation, inducing anyone, or harbouring or introducing two or more people, or obtaining 10,000 yuan or more, meets the threshold for prosecution under Article 359; profit motive is not required. Fines must be at least twice the criminal proceeds. Article 79 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law covers inducing, harbouring or introducing prostitution below the criminal threshold.", "provisions": [ "《刑法》第三百五十八条", "《刑法》第三百五十九条", "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第七十九条" ], "sources": [ "cn-criminal-law", "cn-spc-interpretation-2017", "cn-psapl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publishing prostitution solicitation information online (招嫖违法信息) is prosecuted, in serious cases, as illegal use of an information network (up to 3 years), or as the more heavily punished crime of introducing prostitution where that is also made out. Spreading obscene information online is also an administrative offence.", "details": "The 2017 judicial interpretation (Article 8) directs that \"利用信息网络发布招嫖违法信息，情节严重的\" be punished under Criminal Law Article 287-1, which also covers setting up websites or communication groups for illegal activities and applies to organisations. Article 80 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law separately punishes spreading obscene information through information networks or telephones (10 to 15 days and up to 5,000 yuan).", "provisions": [ "《刑法》第二百八十七条之一", "法释〔2017〕13号 第八条", "《治安管理处罚法》（2025修订）第八十条" ], "sources": [ "cn-criminal-law", "cn-spc-interpretation-2017", "cn-psapl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cn-psapl-2025", "titleEn": "Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China (revised 2025)", "relevance": "Administrative detention and fines for selling and buying sex, public soliciting, and minor cases of inducing, harbouring or introducing prostitution; sealing of violation records.", "provisions": [ "第七十八条", "第七十九条", "第八十条", "第一百三十六条" ], "inForce": "2026-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "cn-criminal-law", "titleEn": "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China", "relevance": "Chapter VI, Section 8 criminalises organising, forcing, assisting, inducing, harbouring and introducing prostitution; Article 287-1 covers illegal use of information networks.", "provisions": [ "第二百八十七条之一", "第三百五十八条–第三百六十二条" ] }, { "sourceId": "cn-spc-interpretation-2017", "titleEn": "Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate on Criminal Cases of Organising, Forcing, Inducing, Harbouring and Introducing Prostitution (Fa Shi [2017] No. 13)", "relevance": "Sets thresholds for prosecution and for serious cases, and directs that online prostitution solicitation be prosecuted under Article 287-1.", "inForce": "2017-07-25" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2017-07-25", "event": "Judicial interpretation on prostitution crimes (Fa Shi [2017] No. 13) takes effect, including the rule on posting prostitution information online.", "sources": [ "cn-spc-interpretation-2017" ] }, { "date": "2019-12-29", "event": "NPC Standing Committee decision abolishing \"custody and education\" takes effect: Article 4(2) and (4) of the Standing Committee's earlier decision on strictly prohibiting prostitution are repealed and people then held are released.", "sources": [ "cn-xinhua-2019" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-27", "event": "Revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law adopted (Presidential Order No. 49); the prostitution provisions move to Articles 78–79.", "sources": [ "cn-psapl-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-01-01", "event": "Revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law takes effect, raising the fine for minor cases of selling or buying sex to up to 1,000 yuan and requiring violation records to be sealed.", "sources": [ "cn-psapl-2025", "cn-xinhua-2019" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cn-psapl-2025", "kind": "legislation", "title": "中华人民共和国治安管理处罚法（2025年6月27日修订）", "titleEn": "Public Security Administration Punishments Law (revised 27 June 2025)", "publisher": "人民网 (People's Daily Online), official text released by Xinhua", "url": "http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0227/c1001-40670930.html", "published": "2025-06-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "cn-criminal-law", "kind": "legislation", "title": "中华人民共和国刑法", "titleEn": "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (consolidated)", "publisher": "国家税务总局税收法规库 (State Taxation Administration law database)", "url": "https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5212248/content.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "cn-spc-interpretation-2017", "kind": "case-law", "title": "最高人民法院 最高人民检察院关于办理组织、强迫、引诱、容留、介绍卖淫刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释（法释〔2017〕13号）", "titleEn": "SPC and SPP Interpretation on criminal cases of organising, forcing, inducing, harbouring and introducing prostitution", "publisher": "最高人民法院 (Supreme People's Court)", "url": "https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/53752.html", "published": "2017-07-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "cn-xinhua-2019", "kind": "government", "title": "全国人大常委会通过废止有关收容教育法律规定和制度的决定", "titleEn": "NPC Standing Committee adopts decision abolishing the legal provisions and system of custody and education", "publisher": "新华网 (Xinhua)", "url": "http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2019-12/28/c_1125399152.htm", "published": "2019-12-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/china/" }, { "iso2": "CO", "name": "Colombia", "nativeName": "Colombia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "No criminal law punishes selling or buying sex between adults, and venues are lawful if they meet the National Police Code's sanitary and zoning conditions (Law 1801 of 2016, arts. 42-46). The Penal Code punishes inducing or coercing a person into prostitution for profit (arts. 213-214). The Constitutional Court calls prostitution a lawful but not promoted activity and has extended labour protection to sex workers (T-629/2010, T-594/2016). Congress has not passed a sex-work statute.", "modelSources": [ "co-cnp", "co-cp-213", "co-t629", "co-t594" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes in Colombia. The National Police and Coexistence Code (Law 1801 of 2016) states that prostitution as such does not trigger corrective measures, sets conditions for the establishments where it takes place (a sanitary certificate, condoms, no minors) and fines sex workers, clients and operators who break them, including working outside the zones and hours a municipality has set. The Penal Code punishes inducing another person into prostitution for profit or to satisfy the desires of another with 10 to 22 years. In T-629 of 2010 the Constitutional Court recognised an employment relationship between a sex worker and the bar where she worked, and in T-594 of 2016 it urged the Ministry of Labour to propose regulation. Bill 186 of 2023, to regulate sex work as formal employment, passed its first Senate debate in late 2024.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not a crime. Under the Police Code, prostitution as such does not give rise to corrective measures, but sex workers may be fined for working outside the zones and hours set by the municipality, without the required sanitary measures, or for sexual acts in public.", "details": "Article 42 of Law 1801 of 2016 says the exercise of prostitution as such does not lead to corrective measures for disturbing coexistence, because people in prostitution are especially vulnerable to trafficking, sexual exploitation and femicide. Article 44 lists conduct that sex workers must avoid, including working \"por fuera de las zonas u horarios asignados\" (outside the assigned zones or hours) and without the required health and protection measures, punishable by general fines (type 3 or 4) and temporary suspension of the activity. The Constitutional Court has described sex workers as subjects of special constitutional protection (T-594/2016).", "provisions": [ "Ley 1801 de 2016, arts. 42 y 44" ], "sources": [ "co-cnp", "co-t594" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "outside zones: fine" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a crime. The Police Code fines clients who mistreat or coerce sex workers or who buy services outside the conditions it sets for venues and zones.", "details": "Article 45 of Law 1801 of 2016 (as corrected by Decree 555 of 2017) lists conduct clients must avoid: disrespecting or assaulting sex workers, forcing them into acts against their will, and requesting or using their services in breach of the conditions in article 46. Each carries a general fine of type 4; the last may also lead to a community or educational programme.", "provisions": [ "Ley 1801 de 2016, art. 45" ], "sources": [ "co-cnp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "outside zones: fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Establishments where prostitution takes place are lawful if they meet the Police Code's conditions: a sanitary certificate from the health authority, condom provision, cooperation with inspections, dignified treatment of sex workers and no entry for minors. Breaches lead to fines and definitive suspension of the activity. Running a venue for adults is not itself a crime.", "details": "Article 43 of Law 1801 of 2016 sets the requirements; article 46 sanctions owners, managers and \"las personas que organizan la provisión de ese tipo de actividad\" (those who organise its provision) who break them or allow prostitution outside the zones and hours set by district or municipal rules. Criminal law reaches venues only where minors are involved (Penal Code art. 217). In T-594/2016 the Constitutional Court noted that the commercial activity of brothels is not penalised in Colombia, and in T-629/2010 it held that a bar employing a sex worker owed her labour protection.", "provisions": [ "Ley 1801 de 2016, arts. 43 y 46", "Código Penal, art. 217" ], "sources": [ "co-cnp", "co-cp-214", "co-t594", "co-t629" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing another person into prostitution for profit or to satisfy another's desires carries 10 to 22 years and a fine; coercing a person into prostitution carries 9 to 13 years. The Constitutional Court upheld the inducement offence in C-636 of 2009, holding that prostitution itself is not prohibited.", "details": "Article 213 (as amended by Law 1236 of 2008) punishes whoever \"con ánimo de lucrarse o para satisfacer los deseos de otro, induzca al comercio carnal o a la prostitución a otra persona\". Article 214 punishes constraining a person to prostitution. Article 216 increases both penalties, for example where the victim is under 14 or is taken abroad. Article 213-A punishes organising or facilitating the prostitution of anyone under 18 with 14 to 25 years. The offences turn on inducement or coercion; managing a venue that meets the Police Code conditions is treated as lawful (see brothels).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 213, 213-A, 214, 216" ], "sources": [ "co-cp-213", "co-cp-214", "co-c636" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No national statute was found that prohibits advertising adult sexual services as such. Using or facilitating any means of communication, including the internet, to offer or obtain sexual contact with people under 18 is a crime carrying 10 to 14 years.", "details": "Article 219-A of the Penal Code (as amended by Law 1329 of 2009) covers whoever \"utilice o facilite el correo tradicional, las redes globales de información, telefonía o cualquier medio de comunicación\" to obtain, request, offer or facilitate sexual contact with minors. An advertisement that induces a person into prostitution could in principle fall under article 213. Municipal rules on signage and the Police Code's zoning of venues may also restrict how venues present themselves; these were not reviewed.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, art. 219-A" ], "sources": [ "co-cp-214" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of an adult-advertising offence is based on a review of the Penal Code chapter on sexual exploitation and the Police Code; other laws (consumer protection, media regulation, municipal codes) were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "co-cp-213", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law 599 of 2000), chapter on sexual exploitation", "relevance": "Criminalises inducing (art. 213) and coercing (art. 214) a person into prostitution, and all prostitution-related conduct involving minors.", "provisions": [ "arts. 213-219-B" ] }, { "sourceId": "co-cnp", "titleEn": "National Code of Security and Citizen Coexistence (Law 1801 of 2016)", "relevance": "Regulates the exercise of prostitution: requirements for venues and administrative fines for sex workers, clients and operators.", "provisions": [ "arts. 42-46" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "co-pl-186-2023", "title": "Proyecto de Ley 186 de 2023 Senado (regulation of sex work)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2025-01-30", "summary": "Bill to recognise adults who sell sex voluntarily as workers, require fixed-term employment contracts with full benefits and social security, and set rules for clubs and other venues. According to the Senate press office it passed its first debate in the Seventh Committee in late 2024, with plenary debates expected in 2025. Its status after January 2025 could not be confirmed.", "sources": [ "co-senado-pl186" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-09-16", "event": "Constitutional Court judgment C-636/09 upholds the offence of inducement to prostitution, holding that the Constitution does not prohibit the exercise of prostitution.", "sources": [ "co-c636" ] }, { "date": "2010-08-13", "event": "Constitutional Court judgment T-629/10 recognises an employment relationship between a sex worker and a bar and orders compensation for her dismissal while pregnant.", "sources": [ "co-t629" ] }, { "date": "2016-07-29", "event": "Law 1801 of 2016, the National Police and Coexistence Code, is published, with articles 42-46 on the exercise of prostitution.", "sources": [ "co-cnp" ] }, { "date": "2016-10-31", "event": "Constitutional Court judgment T-594/16 protects two sex workers detained by Bogotá police and urges the Ministry of Labour to draft a regulation of sex work with sex workers' participation.", "sources": [ "co-t594" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "co-cp-213", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 599 de 2000, por la cual se expide el Código Penal (arts. 213 y 213-A)", "titleEn": "Law 599 of 2000 enacting the Penal Code (arts. 213 and 213-A)", "publisher": "Secretaría General del Senado de la República", "url": "http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0599_2000_pr007.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-cp-214", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 599 de 2000, por la cual se expide el Código Penal (arts. 214-219-B)", "titleEn": "Law 599 of 2000 enacting the Penal Code (arts. 214-219-B)", "publisher": "Secretaría General del Senado de la República", "url": "http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0599_2000_pr008.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-cnp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 1801 de 2016, por la cual se expide el Código Nacional de Seguridad y Convivencia Ciudadana", "titleEn": "Law 1801 of 2016 enacting the National Code of Security and Citizen Coexistence", "publisher": "Secretaría General del Senado de la República", "url": "http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_1801_2016_pr001.html", "published": "2016-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-t629", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Sentencia T-629/10", "titleEn": "Judgment T-629/10 (sex worker's labour rights)", "publisher": "Corte Constitucional de Colombia", "url": "https://www.corteconstitucional.gov.co/relatoria/2010/t-629-10.htm", "published": "2010-08-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-c636", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Sentencia C-636/09", "titleEn": "Judgment C-636/09 (constitutionality of the inducement-to-prostitution offence)", "publisher": "Corte Constitucional de Colombia", "url": "https://www.corteconstitucional.gov.co/relatoria/2009/C-636-09.htm", "published": "2009-09-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-t594", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Sentencia T-594/16", "titleEn": "Judgment T-594/16 (police treatment of sex workers in Bogotá)", "publisher": "Corte Constitucional de Colombia", "url": "https://www.corteconstitucional.gov.co/relatoria/2016/t-594-16.htm", "published": "2016-10-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "co-senado-pl186", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Protección de derechos para quienes ejercen actividades sexuales remuneradas", "titleEn": "Protection of rights for people who carry out paid sexual activities", "publisher": "Senado de la República de Colombia (Prensa Senado)", "url": "https://www.senado.gov.co/index.php/el-senado/noticias/6172-proteccion-de-derechos-para-quienes-ejercen-actividades-sexuales-remuneradas", "published": "2025-01-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/colombia/" }, { "iso2": "KM", "name": "Comoros", "nativeName": "Komori / Comores / جزر القمر", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The 2020 Penal Code has no offence of selling sex as such, but it prohibits fornication (zina), meaning sex outside marriage, with six months to two years' imprisonment and/or a fine (arts. 306–307), which covers both seller and client. Adultery is a separate offence (art. 305). Procuring and prostitution establishments are criminalised in terms taken from the French model (arts. 310–313).", "modelSources": [ "km-cp-2020" ], "summary": "In the Comoros, sex outside marriage is an offence: the Penal Code of 2020 (Law No. 20-038/AU, promulgated in February 2021) states that \"la fornication ou Zina est interdite\" and punishes it with six months to two years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Comorian francs (arts. 306–307). Procuring, including helping another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds or living with a sex worker, carries six months to three years (art. 310). Running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or similar place, carries the same penalties (art. 313). Publicly drawing attention to an occasion for debauchery or publishing an announcement of that kind is an offence (art. 233). In February 2026 ten people were tried in Moroni on charges including fornication, prostitution and procuring.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence of selling sex as such, but fornication (zina), sexual intercourse outside marriage, is prohibited and punishable by six months to two years and/or a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Comorian francs (arts. 306–307). Married persons are liable for adultery: three months to two years and/or a fine (art. 305).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2020 arts. 305–307" ], "sources": [ "km-cp-2020", "km-gazette-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text read in a droit-afrique.com copy of the code (archived 2023), not the official gazette. In the February 2026 Moroni case, defence counsel argued that the code \"ne contient aucun article parlant de la prostitution\"; the verdict was not found.", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No client-specific offence exists, but the fornication provisions apply to both participants: those guilty of fornication are punished by six months to two years and/or a fine (art. 307). An adulterer's partner is punished like the adulterer (art. 305).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2020 arts. 305–307" ], "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How often the fornication offence is charged against clients was not found. Proof requires confession, flagrante delicto or four male witnesses (art. 306).", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 2 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who, directly or through another, holds, manages, operates, directs, finances or helps finance a prostitution establishment, or who runs a hotel, boarding house, bar, restaurant, club, dance hall or other place open to the public and habitually tolerates prostitution or the seeking of clients there, is punished with the penalties of art. 310; they double for a repeat within ten years (art. 313).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2020 art. 313" ], "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial copy of the code." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who knowingly helps or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, knowingly lives with a person habitually engaged in prostitution, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acts as an intermediary: six months to three years and 50,000 to 500,000 Comorian francs (art. 310). Aggravated cases carry two to ten years and up to 1,000,000 francs (art. 311).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2020 arts. 310–311" ], "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Translated from the French; unofficial copy of the code." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who publicly draws attention to an occasion for debauchery, or publishes an announcement or correspondence of that kind in whatever terms, is punishable by one to two years and a fine of 150,000 to 550,000 Comorian francs (art. 233, by reference to art. 232). Helping or assisting another's prostitution or soliciting is also procuring (art. 310(a)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2020 arts. 232–233", "Penal Code 2020 art. 310(a)" ], "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Art. 233 is a general public-morals offence rather than a provision written for online ads; no case law on websites was found. The cybercrime chapter (art. 449 ff.) was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "km-cp-2020", "titleEn": "Law No. 20-038/AU of 29 December 2020 on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Prohibits fornication and adultery and criminalises procuring, prostitution establishments and public announcements of debauchery.", "provisions": [ "arts. 232–233", "arts. 305–307", "arts. 310–313" ], "inForce": "2021-02-16" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2020-12-29", "event": "The Assembly of the Union adopts Law No. 20-038/AU on a new Penal Code, including an explicit prohibition of fornication (zina).", "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ] }, { "date": "2021-02-16", "event": "The new Penal Code is promulgated by Decree No. 21-018/PR.", "sources": [ "km-cp-2020" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-10", "event": "Seven women of Malagasy origin and three men appear before the Moroni criminal court charged with fornication, prostitution, procuring and public-order offences; the defence argues the code has no prostitution offence.", "sources": [ "km-gazette-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "km-cp-2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal 2020 (Loi n° 20-038/AU du 29 décembre 2020)", "titleEn": "Penal Code 2020 (Law No. 20-038/AU of 29 December 2020)", "publisher": "droit-afrique.com (archived copy, Internet Archive)", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230609124926/https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Comores-Code-2020-penal.pdf", "published": "2020-12-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "km-gazette-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Justice : 10 individus poursuivis pour proxénétisme et prostitution", "titleEn": "Justice: 10 individuals prosecuted for procuring and prostitution", "publisher": "La Gazette des Comores", "url": "https://lagazettedescomores.com/soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9/justice-10-individus-poursuivis-pour-prox%C3%A9n%C3%A9tisme-et-prostitution-.html", "published": "2026-02-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/comoros/" }, { "iso2": "CR", "name": "Costa Rica", "nativeName": "Costa Rica", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code criminalises promoting the prostitution of others, inducing or keeping a person in it, or recruiting for it (Art. 169, two to five years), coercively living off a sex worker's earnings (Art. 171), and moving people within or across the country for prostitution (Art. 172), so organised and venue-based sex work is criminal for third parties.", "modelSources": [ "cr-cp", "cr-redtrasex-2020" ], "summary": "Prostitution itself is legal in Costa Rica: no law makes it an offence to sell sex, and paying an adult for sex is not a crime. What the Penal Code (Law 4573) punishes is third-party involvement. Anyone who promotes the prostitution of others, induces a person to engage or remain in it, or recruits for it faces two to five years (Art. 169, proxenetismo); four to ten years with aggravating factors such as a victim under 18, deception or violence (Art. 170). Coercively making a sex worker support you is punishable by two to eight years (Art. 171, rufianería), and promoting or facilitating a person's movement into, out of or within the country to carry out acts of prostitution is trafficking, six to ten years (Art. 172). Paying anyone under 18 for sexual acts carries two to ten years (Art. 160). In a 2023 case, a court convicted operators of nine bars of proxenetismo and trafficking.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. The 'vagrancy' offence in Law 3550, which covered women habitually found in places of prostitution, was largely struck down by the Constitutional Chamber in 1994; a sex workers' organisation reports that police still use it as a pretext for detentions. HIV testing is voluntary and no compulsory health checks apply to sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Ley 3550 contra la Vagancia, la Mendicidad y el Abandono, art. 2 (anulado en lo pertinente, Sala Constitucional, sentencia 7549-94)" ], "sources": [ "cr-redtrasex-2020", "cr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The vagrancy ruling and the HIV-law position come from an NGO legal mapping (2020) and were not checked against the judgment or the HIV law. Municipal rules on street soliciting were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Paying, or promising to pay, a person under 18 or a third party so that the minor performs sexual or erotic acts is punishable by four to ten years if the victim is under 13, three to eight years if aged 13–14 and two to six years if aged 15–17 (Art. 160).", "provisions": [ "Art. 160 Código Penal (reformado por Ley 8590 de 2007)" ], "sources": [ "cr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Checked against a consolidated copy current to about 2009; no later change making the purchase of sex from adults an offence was found, but the official consolidated text could not be read (see sources)." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel offence, but running premises where others sell sex is prosecuted as promoting their prostitution or keeping them in it (Art. 169, two to five years). In 2023 the San Carlos criminal court convicted four people of proxenetismo, criminal association and in two cases trafficking over a network of nine bars; their lawyer argued that judges read 'facilitating' as any act that makes prostitution easier.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 169 y 170 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "cr-cp", "cr-crhoy-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether simply renting rooms or running a bar where sex workers meet clients is prosecuted depends on case law that was not systematically reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting the prostitution of others, inducing someone to engage or remain in it, or recruiting for it: two to five years (Art. 169); four to ten with aggravating factors such as a minor victim, deception, violence or abuse of need (Art. 170). Coercively living off a sex worker's earnings: two to eight years (Art. 171). Moving a person into, out of or within the country for prostitution is trafficking, six to ten years, with no requirement of force (Art. 172).", "details": "Art. 169 (Proxenetismo), as worded by Law 7899 of 3 August 1999: 'Quien promueva la prostitución de personas de cualquier sexo o las induzca a ejercerla o las mantenga en ella o las reclute con ese propósito, será sancionado con la pena de prisión de dos a cinco años.' Art. 171 (Rufianería) requires that the offender 'coactivamente' makes the sex worker support them. In the version checked (Law 8720 of 2009), the trafficking offence in Art. 172 lists deception, violence and similar means only as aggravating circumstances (eight to sixteen years), not as elements of the basic offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169 Código Penal (Ley 7899 de 1999)", "Arts. 170 y 171 Código Penal (Ley 8590 de 2007)", "Art. 172 Código Penal (Ley 8720 de 2009)" ], "sources": [ "cr-cp", "cr-sinalevi" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording of Arts. 169–171 is consistent across a consolidated copy current to about 2009 and an NGO legal mapping from 2020. The official consolidated text on SINALEVI loads its content by script and could not be read, so amendments after 2009 (notably to the trafficking offence in Art. 172) were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for adult sexual services was found. A sex worker advertising their own services commits no offence on the text checked, but advertising on behalf of others can amount to 'promoting' their prostitution (Art. 169), and publicising a person's travel for prostitution can fall under the trafficking offence (Art. 172).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 169 y 172 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "cr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the Penal Code; advertising, media and telecommunications laws and any case law on online advertisements or platforms were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cr-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 4573, as amended)", "relevance": "Proxenetismo (Arts. 169–170), rufianería (Art. 171), trafficking (Art. 172) and paid sexual acts with minors (Art. 160).", "provisions": [ "Art. 160", "Arts. 169–172" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1999-08-03", "event": "Law 7899 against the sexual exploitation of minors gives the proxenetismo offence (Art. 169) its current wording.", "sources": [ "cr-cp" ] }, { "date": "2007-07-18", "event": "Law 8590 rewrites the aggravated proxenetismo, rufianería and paid-sex-with-minors offences (Arts. 160, 170, 171).", "sources": [ "cr-cp" ] }, { "date": "2023-06-26", "event": "The San Carlos criminal court convicts four people of proxenetismo, criminal association and trafficking over a network of nine bars (case '4 Stops').", "sources": [ "cr-crhoy-2023" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cr-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, Ley No. 4573 (texto con reformas)", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Law No. 4573 (text with amendments)", "publisher": "Organización de los Estados Americanos (copia del texto del SCIJ)", "url": "https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/codigo_penal_costa_rica.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cr-sinalevi", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, Ley No. 4573 – Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (SINALEVI)", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Law No. 4573 – official consolidated text (SINALEVI)", "publisher": "Procuraduría General de la República de Costa Rica", "url": "https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=5027¶m2=¶m3=1¶m4=", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cr-redtrasex-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Marco legal sobre el trabajo sexual y participación política de las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales en Costa Rica", "titleEn": "Legal framework on sex work and political participation of women sex workers in Costa Rica", "publisher": "RedTraSex / La Sala Costa Rica", "url": "https://redtrasex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mapeo_de_leyes_costa_rica_rts2020.pdf", "published": "2020-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cr-crhoy-2023", "kind": "news", "title": "31 años de cárcel por red de explotación sexual en Costa Rica", "titleEn": "31 years in prison for a sexual exploitation network in Costa Rica", "publisher": "CRHoy.com", "url": "https://crhoy.com/nacionales/31-anos-de-carcel-por-red-de-explotacion-sexual-en-costa-rica/", "published": "2023-07-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/costa-rica/" }, { "iso2": "CI", "name": "Côte d'Ivoire", "nativeName": "Côte d'Ivoire", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are not offences. Public soliciting is (Article 361), as are procuring, running or financing an establishment used for prostitution and knowingly making private premises available to sex workers (Articles 358 to 363). The soliciting offence is the main point at which sex workers themselves are criminalised.", "modelSources": [ "ci-cp", "ci-vbg" ], "summary": "Côte d'Ivoire's Penal Code (Law No. 2019-574 of 26 June 2019, amended by Law No. 2021-893 of 21 December 2021) does not make selling or buying sex an offence but criminalises almost everything around it. Publicly soliciting people for debauchery by any means carries fifteen days to three months and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs (Article 361). Procuring carries one to five years and 1 to 10 million francs (Article 358), doubled in aggravated cases (Article 359); running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or club, two to five years (Article 362); and knowingly letting private premises to sex workers for habitual use six months to two years (Article 363). Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement of that kind, carries one month to two years (Article 357).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence, but anyone who, by gestures, words, writings or any other means, publicly solicits or tries to solicit people of either sex in order to provoke them to debauchery faces fifteen days to three months and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs (Article 361).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2019 art. 361" ], "sources": [ "ci-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 361 was read in the Nanan consolidated text, not in the Journal officiel, which could not be opened.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Penal Code. Exciting, favouring or facilitating the debauchery or corruption of minors carries two to five years (Article 360).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2019 art. 360" ], "sources": [ "ci-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Nanan consolidated text." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Holding, managing, running or financing an establishment whose main or ancillary purpose is prostitution, or habitually tolerating prostitution or the seeking of clients in a hotel, bar, club or other place open to the public, carries two to five years and 1 to 10 million francs, with withdrawal of the licence (Article 362). Knowingly making private premises available to sex workers for habitual use carries six months to two years (Article 363).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2019 art. 362", "Code pénal 2019 art. 363" ], "sources": [ "ci-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Nanan consolidated text. Article 363 can reach a landlord who knowingly rents to a sex worker." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds and receives support from a person habitually engaged in it, lives with such a person without justifying their resources, recruits or keeps even a consenting adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary: one to five years and 1 to 10 million CFA francs (Article 358). Penalties double for a minor, coercion, a partner or parent, or several offenders (Article 359).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2019 art. 358", "Code pénal 2019 art. 359" ], "sources": [ "ci-vbg", "ci-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement or correspondence of that kind whatever its terms, carries one month to two years and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 CFA francs (Article 357(4)), doubled where a minor is targeted. Public soliciting by writings or any other means is a separate offence (Article 361), and helping another's soliciting is procuring (Article 358).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2019 art. 357(4)", "Code pénal 2019 art. 361", "Code pénal 2019 art. 358(1)" ], "sources": [ "ci-vbg", "ci-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article 357 also lets the court bar a convicted person from managing a press or publishing business. No case applying it to websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ci-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 2019-574 of 26 June 2019), as amended by Law No. 2021-893 of 21 December 2021", "relevance": "Section IV of Chapter X (Articles 357 to 363) covers advertising debauchery, procuring, soliciting and prostitution establishments.", "provisions": [ "art. 357–363" ], "inForce": "2019" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-06-26", "event": "Law No. 2019-574 adopts a new Penal Code, replacing the 1981 Code while keeping its procuring and soliciting offences.", "sources": [ "ci-cp" ] }, { "date": "2021-12-21", "event": "Law No. 2021-893 amends the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "ci-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ci-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2019-574 du 26 juin 2019 portant Code pénal, modifiée par la loi n° 2021-893 du 21 décembre 2021", "titleEn": "Law No. 2019-574 of 26 June 2019 on the Penal Code, as amended by Law No. 2021-893 of 21 December 2021 (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Nanan (consolidated legal database)", "url": "https://www.nanan.ai/textes/loi-n-2019-574-du-26-juin-2019-portant-code-penal-modifiee-par-la-loi-du-n-2021-893-du-21-decembre-2021", "published": "2019-06-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ci-vbg", "kind": "government", "title": "Recueil de textes juridiques relatifs aux violences basées sur le genre (VBG) en Côte d'Ivoire", "titleEn": "Compendium of legal texts on gender-based violence in Côte d'Ivoire", "publisher": "Ministère de la Femme, de la Famille et de l'Enfant", "url": "https://efemmes.gouv.ci/uploads/documents/RECUEIL_DE_TEXTES_DE_LOIS_VBG.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cote-d-ivoire/" }, { "iso2": "HR", "name": "Croatia", "nativeName": "Hrvatska", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a misdemeanour under Article 12 of the 1977 public order act. Buying is not an offence unless the buyer knew or should have known that the person was coerced (Article 157(2) Criminal Code). Organising, enabling and profiting from prostitution, and advertising another person's prostitution, are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "hr-ppjrm", "hr-kz" ], "summary": "Croatia penalises the person who sells sex rather than the buyer. Under the 1977 Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace, engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of EUR 20–100 or up to 30 days' imprisonment, and allowing premises to be used for prostitution or otherwise enabling it by EUR 300–2,000 or up to 30 days. Article 157 of the Criminal Code covers recruiting, organising or enabling prostitution for gain, buying sex from a person known to be coerced, and advertising another person's prostitution through public media. A 2015 amendment limited the advertising offence to the prostitution \"of another person\". In June 2024 the interior minister said a working group was drafting a new public order law; no draft had been published by October 2026 as far as could be checked.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution (\"tko se odaje prostituciji\") is a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of EUR 20–100 or up to 30 days' imprisonment. The provision is not limited to public places.", "details": "The fine range was converted from DEM to euro by NN 114/2022 with effect from the euro changeover (1 January 2023). The 2023 amendment (NN 47/2023), which raised most fines in the act, did not change Article 12.", "provisions": [ "čl. 12 Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira" ], "sources": [ "hr-ppjrm", "hr-nn-114-2022", "hr-nn-47-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 30 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Buying sexual services from a person whom the buyer knew, or should and could have known, was forced, deceived or otherwise coerced into providing them is a crime punishable by one to ten years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "čl. 157 st. 2 Kaznenog zakona" ], "sources": [ "hr-kz", "hr-kz-2011" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Allowing one's premises to be used for prostitution, or otherwise enabling or assisting it, is a misdemeanour (EUR 300–2,000 or up to 30 days). Organising or enabling another person's provision of sexual services for gain is a crime punishable by six months to five years.", "provisions": [ "čl. 7 Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira", "čl. 157 st. 1 Kaznenog zakona" ], "sources": [ "hr-ppjrm", "hr-nn-47-2023", "hr-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Luring, recruiting or inciting another person to provide sexual services, or organising or enabling it, for gain is punishable by six months to five years. Force, deception or abuse of a position of dependence raises the range to one to ten years. The person's consent, and whether they already sold sex, is irrelevant.", "provisions": [ "čl. 157 st. 1, 2 i 4 Kaznenog zakona" ], "sources": [ "hr-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising the prostitution of another person through public media \"and other similar means\" is a crime punishable by up to three years. Since a 2015 amendment the provision refers expressly to another person's prostitution, so people advertising their own services fall outside it.", "details": "The 2011 text read \"oglašava prostituciju\" (advertises prostitution). Article 46 of NN 56/2015 inserted \"druge osobe\" (of another person) after \"prostituciju\".", "provisions": [ "čl. 157 st. 3 Kaznenog zakona" ], "sources": [ "hr-kz", "hr-nn-56-2015", "hr-kz-2011" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether a website that hosts third-party ads counts as \"other similar means\" under Article 157(3), and how the provision interacts with the EU Digital Services Act, has not been checked against case law for this overview." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "hr-ppjrm", "titleEn": "Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (1977, as amended)", "relevance": "Makes selling sex (Art. 12) and providing premises for or enabling prostitution (Art. 7) misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "čl. 7", "čl. 12" ] }, { "sourceId": "hr-kz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (2011, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 157 criminalises procuring, buying from coerced persons and advertising another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "čl. 157" ] }, { "sourceId": "hr-nn-56-2015", "titleEn": "Act amending the Criminal Code (NN 56/2015)", "relevance": "Narrowed the advertising offence to advertising the prostitution of another person.", "provisions": [ "čl. 46" ], "inForce": "2015-05-30" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "hr-new-public-order-law", "title": "New law on public order and peace (Ministry of the Interior working group)", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2024-06-24", "summary": "In June 2024 Interior Minister Davor Božinović said an inter-ministerial working group was drafting a new public order law, which would go to the government and then to public consultation. Media reported that it would penalise buyers rather than sellers of sexual services; the minister declined to confirm this. No published draft was found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "hr-dnevnik-2024" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2015-05-30", "event": "Criminal Code amendment (NN 56/2015) enters into force, limiting the advertising offence to the prostitution \"of another person\".", "sources": [ "hr-nn-56-2015" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-01", "event": "Public order act fines converted to euro; selling sex becomes punishable by EUR 20–100.", "sources": [ "hr-nn-114-2022" ] }, { "date": "2023-05-11", "event": "Higher fines for most public order misdemeanours enter into force; premises/enabling offence rises to EUR 300–2,000, selling unchanged.", "sources": [ "hr-nn-47-2023" ] }, { "date": "2024-06-24", "event": "Interior minister confirms a working group is drafting a new public order law.", "sources": [ "hr-dnevnik-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "hr-ppjrm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira (pročišćeni tekst, NN 41/77 … 114/22, 47/23)", "titleEn": "Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (consolidated)", "publisher": "Zakon.hr (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.zakon.hr/z/279/Zakon-o-prekr%C5%A1ajima-protiv-javnog-reda-i-mira", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-nn-114-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o izmjenama Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira (NN 114/2022)", "titleEn": "Act amending the Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (euro conversion)", "publisher": "Narodne novine", "url": "https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2022_10_114_1706.html", "published": "2022-10-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-nn-47-2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o izmjenama Zakona o prekršajima protiv javnog reda i mira (NN 47/2023)", "titleEn": "Act amending the Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (higher fines)", "publisher": "Narodne novine", "url": "https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2023_05_47_806.html", "published": "2023-05-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-kz-2011", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kazneni zakon (NN 125/2011)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (original text)", "publisher": "Narodne novine", "url": "https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2011_11_125_2498.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-kz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kazneni zakon (pročišćeni tekst)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "Zakon.hr (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.zakon.hr/z/98/Kazneni-zakon", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-nn-56-2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Kaznenog zakona (NN 56/2015)", "titleEn": "Act amending the Criminal Code (2015)", "publisher": "Narodne novine", "url": "https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2015_05_56_1095.html", "published": "2015-05-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" }, { "id": "hr-dnevnik-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Hoće li Hrvatska dekriminalizirati prostituciju? \"Radi se novi zakon...\"", "titleEn": "Will Croatia decriminalise prostitution? \"A new law is being drafted\"", "publisher": "Dnevnik.hr (Hina)", "url": "https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/bozinovic-zakon-o-prekrsaju-protiv-javnog-reda-i-mira-je-zastario-radi-se-novi---855488.html", "published": "2024-06-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/croatia/" }, { "iso2": "CU", "name": "Cuba", "nativeName": "Cuba", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes. The 2022 Penal Code (Law 151) punishes inducing, cooperating in or promoting another's prostitution, running or financing any premises where it takes place, and profiting from it (Art. 364), with four to ten years. The 1987 code's 'dangerous state' regime, long used against sex workers, was not carried over, but police reportedly still issue warning letters.", "modelSources": [ "cu-cp-2022", "cu-jovencuba-2024", "cu-ddc-2024" ], "summary": "Cuba's 2022 Penal Code (Law 151, published in the Gaceta Oficial on 1 September 2022) does not make selling or buying sex between adults a crime. Its chapter on trafficking, procuring and other forms of sexual exploitation punishes, with four to ten years, anyone who induces another person to engage in prostitution or 'carnal commerce' or in any way cooperates in or promotes it, who owns, runs or finances premises where it takes place, or who profits from another's prostitution (Art. 364); eight to twenty years with aggravating factors, up to life if linked to transnational organised crime. Under the 1987 code, sex workers were prosecuted under the pre-criminal 'dangerous state' provisions; the new code provides only post-criminal security measures. Independent media report that police still keep sex workers on file through warning letters. No specific advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence under the 2022 Penal Code, which provides security measures only after a crime ('posdelictivas'), ending the pre-criminal 'dangerous state' (peligrosidad) regime under which sex workers were previously prosecuted. Independent outlets report continued police harassment and bribery, and warning letters that create a police record.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1.2 y 2.3 Código Penal (Ley 151/2022)" ], "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022", "cu-jovencuba-2024", "cu-ddc-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Police practice is documented only through testimony in independent media. The Diario de Cuba report (a Camagüey lawyer describing warning letters issued by the police vice department) returned HTTP 403 and is cited from search-result content only. No official data on warnings were found, and administrative (contravention) regulations were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the 2022 Penal Code. Using a person under 18 in prostitution is punishable by seven to fifteen years, and up to thirty years or life with aggravating factors (Art. 402).", "provisions": [ "Art. 402 Código Penal (Ley 151/2022)" ], "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, running, administering, operating or financing, directly or through a third party, wholly or partly, any premises, establishment or dwelling, or part of one, where prostitution or any other form of 'carnal commerce' takes place is punishable by four to ten years.", "provisions": [ "Art. 364.1 b) Código Penal (Ley 151/2022)" ], "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing another person, or in any way cooperating in or promoting their engaging in prostitution, and obtaining any benefit from another's prostitution, are punishable by four to ten years (Art. 364.1); eight to twenty years where, among other things, the offender works in tourism, public order or health, uses threats or coercion, or acts habitually (Art. 364.2). Trafficking requires coercive means (Art. 363).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 363 y 364 Código Penal (Ley 151/2022)" ], "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person can amount to 'cooperating in or promoting' their prostitution under Art. 364.1 a).", "provisions": [ "Art. 364.1 a) Código Penal (Ley 151/2022)" ], "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the Penal Code; regulations on internet content and the media were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cu-cp-2022", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law 151 of 2022)", "relevance": "Procuring and other forms of sexual exploitation (Art. 364), trafficking (Art. 363), using minors in prostitution (Art. 402); only post-criminal security measures.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 363–364", "Art. 402" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2022-09-01", "event": "The new Penal Code (Law 151) is published in the Gaceta Oficial, to enter into force ninety days later; it replaces the 1987 code and its pre-criminal 'dangerous state' measures.", "sources": [ "cu-cp-2022" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cu-cp-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 151/2022 «Código Penal» (Gaceta Oficial de la República de Cuba No. 93 Ordinaria, 1 de septiembre de 2022)", "titleEn": "Law 151/2022, Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 93, 1 September 2022)", "publisher": "Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular / Ministerio de Justicia", "url": "https://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/sites/default/files/documento/2022-09/goc-2022-o93_0.pdf", "published": "2022-09-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cu-jovencuba-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "«Ser puta y que te respeten, es complicado»: el trabajo sexual en Cuba", "titleEn": "'Being a whore and being respected is complicated': sex work in Cuba", "publisher": "La Joven Cuba", "url": "https://jovencuba.com/trabajo-sexual/", "published": "2024-03-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cu-ddc-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Trabajadoras sexuales en Camagüey: 'Ya la Policía no es el principal problema'", "titleEn": "Sex workers in Camagüey: 'The police are no longer the main problem'", "publisher": "Diario de Cuba", "url": "https://diariodecuba.com/cuba/1725724502_57026.html", "published": "2024-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cuba/" }, { "iso2": "CY", "name": "Cyprus", "nativeName": "Κύπρος / Kıbrıs", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sexual services between adults are not offences, but keeping or letting premises for a brothel, procuring and living on the earnings of prostitution are crimes under the colonial-era Criminal Code (Cap. 154), and persistent public soliciting is an offence. Since 2019 the anti-trafficking law also punishes anyone who uses the services of a victim of sexual exploitation. The European Parliament's 2021 comparative study classifies Cyprus as 'legal but unregulated'.", "modelSources": [ "cy-cap154", "cy-law-60-2014", "ep-2021-study" ], "summary": "In the Republic of Cyprus prostitution itself is not regulated or prohibited. The Criminal Code (Cap. 154) makes it a misdemeanour to keep or help manage a brothel or knowingly let premises for one (s. 156), to procure a woman into prostitution (s. 157, up to five years), and to knowingly live on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicit in a public place (s. 164, up to five years). Law 60(I)/2014 on trafficking and exploitation, amended in 2019, punishes anyone who requests, receives or uses the services of a victim of sexual exploitation with up to ten years or €50,000 (s. 17A). A 2020 opposition bill to criminalise buying has not been adopted. The law of the Republic is not applied in the northern part of the island.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Area not under the effective control of the Republic (north)", "note": "The Criminal Code and anti-trafficking law of the Republic are not applied in the north. The US State Department reports that nightclubs there are licensed by Turkish Cypriot authorities, that women working in them enter on 'hostess' visas, and that observers describe the clubs as functioning as brothels. The 2025 report counted 27 nightclubs employing 98 women as of March 2025. Low confidence: the report page could not be opened (HTTP 403); content and URL were confirmed through search results only, and no Turkish Cypriot legal text was reviewed.", "sources": [ "us-tip-2025-cyprus" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not an offence and is not regulated. The only provision aimed at sex workers themselves is the offence of persistently soliciting clients, or importuning any person for immoral purposes, in a public place (Cap. 154 s. 164(1)(b), misdemeanour, up to five years).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code Cap. 154 s. 164(1)(b)" ], "sources": [ "cy-cap154", "ep-2021-study" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "persistent soliciting: 5 yrs" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Since 2019 anyone who requests, receives or uses the work or services of a victim that are the object of sexual exploitation commits an offence punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment or a fine of up to €50,000 (Law 60(I)/2014 s. 17A).", "details": "Section 17A was inserted by Law 117(I)/2019. Unlike the general provision in s. 17 ('whoever can reasonably assume' that the services are the object of an offence), s. 17A contains no express knowledge requirement. 'Sexual exploitation' is defined broadly in s. 2 and includes introducing, pushing, recruiting, organising or directing a person into prostitution, so the provision can reach clients of anyone whose prostitution is organised by a third party. A 2020 bill to criminalise all purchases was not adopted (see pending).", "provisions": [ "Law 60(I)/2014 ss. 2, 17, 17A" ], "sources": [ "cy-law-60-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "No case law was reviewed on whether courts read a knowledge requirement into s. 17A." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel, a tenant or occupier knowingly allowing premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, and a landlord knowingly letting premises for that use are misdemeanours (Cap. 154 s. 156), punishable by up to two years or a fine under the general rule in s. 35. A landlord may end the lease after a tenant's conviction.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code Cap. 154 ss. 35, 156, 158" ], "sources": [ "cy-cap154" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether two sex workers sharing a flat count as a 'brothel' depends on the common-law definition, which was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a woman into common prostitution or to become an inmate of a brothel is punishable by up to five years (s. 157). Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution is punishable by up to five years (s. 164(1)(a)), with a presumption against anyone who lives with or controls a sex worker; s. 165 covers women who control another woman's prostitution for gain.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code Cap. 154 ss. 157, 164(1)(a), 164(3), 165", "Law 60(I)/2014 s. 9" ], "sources": [ "cy-cap154", "cy-law-60-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising adult sexual services was found in Cap. 154 or Law 60(I)/2014. Self-advertising is not addressed. A publisher or website knowingly taking a share of sex workers' earnings could fall under the living-on-earnings offence (s. 164(1)(a)), and organising or directing a person into prostitution counts as 'sexual exploitation' under Law 60(I)/2014.", "details": "No platform-specific legislation was identified; hosting services are subject to the EU Digital Services Act notice-and-action regime.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code Cap. 154 s. 164(1)(a)", "Law 60(I)/2014 s. 2" ], "sources": [ "cy-cap154", "cy-law-60-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Absence of an advertising offence is inferred from the texts reviewed; application of s. 164 to advertising sites is untested as far as found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cy-cap154", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Cap. 154", "relevance": "Brothel keeping, procuring, living on earnings and persistent soliciting offences.", "provisions": [ "ss. 156–158, 164, 165" ] }, { "sourceId": "cy-law-60-2014", "titleEn": "Law 60(I)/2014 on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons and the Protection of Victims", "relevance": "Trafficking for sexual exploitation (s. 9) and, since Law 117(I)/2019, the offence of using services of a victim of sexual exploitation (s. 17A). Last amended by Law 52(I)/2026.", "provisions": [ "ss. 2, 9, 17, 17A" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "akel-purchase-ban-bill-2020", "title": "AKEL bill to criminalise the purchase of sexual services", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2020-11", "summary": "In July 2020 the AKEL parliamentary group tabled a law proposal, modelled on the Nordic approach, to criminalise buying sexual services. No record was found of it being adopted; its status after the 2021 and 2026 parliamentary elections was not verified.", "sources": [ "cy-movements-archive-2020" ] }, { "id": "cap154-s97-dancer-repeal", "title": "Government bill repealing a Criminal Code provision describing dancers as 'prostitutes'", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-10-25", "summary": "In October 2026 the government tabled an amending bill to repeal what it called an anachronistic Criminal Code provision that labelled dancers as 'prostitutes', following an application to the European Court of Human Rights. This most likely concerns s. 97 of Cap. 154, which defines 'dancer' as 'a female prostitute or a woman who dances or sings for payment at a Muslim festival'; the news report does not give the section number.", "sources": [ "cy-news-dancers-2026", "cy-cap154" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2014", "event": "Law 60(I)/2014 on trafficking and exploitation of persons enacted; under s. 72 it prevails over the 2007 and 2012 trafficking laws.", "sources": [ "cy-law-60-2014" ] }, { "date": "2019", "event": "Law 117(I)/2019 inserts s. 17A into Law 60(I)/2014, criminalising the use of services of victims of sexual exploitation.", "sources": [ "cy-law-60-2014" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cy-cap154", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ο περί Ποινικού Κώδικα Νόμος – ΚΕΦ.154", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Cap. 154 (consolidated)", "publisher": "CyLaw (Cyprus Bar Association)", "url": "https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/0_154/full.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "cy-law-60-2014", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ο περί της Πρόληψης και της Καταπολέμησης της Εμπορίας και Εκμετάλλευσης Προσώπων και της Προστασίας των Θυμάτων Νόμος του 2014 – 60(I)/2014", "titleEn": "Law 60(I)/2014 on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons and the Protection of Victims (consolidated, incl. 117(I)/2019 and 52(I)/2026)", "publisher": "CyLaw (Cyprus Bar Association)", "url": "https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/2014_1_60/full.html", "published": "2014", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "ep-2021-study", "kind": "parliament", "title": "The differing EU Member States' regulations on prostitution and their cross-border implications on women's rights", "publisher": "European Parliament, Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs", "url": "https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/695394/IPOL_STU(2021)695394_EN.pdf", "published": "2021-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cy-movements-archive-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Σεξεργασία ως Εργασία: Ενάντια στην Πρόταση Νόμου για Ποινικοποίηση Αγοράς Σεξουαλικών Υπηρεσιών", "titleEn": "Sex work as work: against the law proposal to criminalise the purchase of sexual services", "publisher": "Cyprus Movements Archive (Συσπείρωση Ατάκτων)", "url": "https://movementsarchive.org/doku.php?id=el%3Adigital%3Asispirosiatakton%3Asexwork", "published": "2020-11-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "cy-news-dancers-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Ξηλώνουν νόμο που βάφτιζε «πόρνες» τις χορεύτριες", "titleEn": "Law that branded dancers 'prostitutes' to be scrapped", "publisher": "CyprusNews.eu", "url": "https://cyprusnews.eu/onlycy/xilonoun-nomo-pou-vaftize-pornes-tis-choreftries/", "published": "2026-10-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "us-tip-2025-cyprus", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Cyprus", "publisher": "US Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cyprus/", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cyprus/" }, { "iso2": "CZ", "name": "Czechia", "nativeName": "Česko", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences and no statute regulates prostitution. The Criminal Code punishes procuring, including profiting from another person's prostitution (§ 189), and prostitution near schools and places for children (§ 190). Brothels are not licensable and prostitution is expressly excluded from the trade licensing regime. Municipalities may ban the public offering of sexual services by ordinance. Since 2025–2026 the courts treat the income as taxable self-employment income.", "modelSources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-zivnost", "cz-obce", "cz-nss-2025", "cz-us-1155-26" ], "summary": "Czechia does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults and has no law regulating prostitution: there is no registration, licence or health-check regime, and the Trade Licensing Act excludes sexual services from licensable trades. The criminal law targets third parties: procuring and profiting from another person's prostitution (§ 189 Criminal Code), prostitution near schools (§ 190) and trafficking (§ 168). Municipalities, including Prague, ban offering sexual services in public spaces. Regulation bills, the last two from the City of Prague in 2013–2014, lapsed. In 2025 the Supreme Administrative Court held that income from voluntary prostitution is taxable, and in 2026 the Constitutional Court rejected the taxpayer's two complaints in that case. A first-instance court discontinued the procuring prosecution of the operators of the ad site Sex.cz in August 2026.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Prague (Hlavní město Praha)", "note": "Ordinance No. 20/2007 Coll. of the City of Prague, in force since 1 January 2008 and still listed in the city's register of public-order regulations, bans offering and providing sexual services in public spaces across the whole city; it replaced a 1993 ordinance. A citywide ban is possible because Pl. ÚS 69/04 held that a municipality may ban offering prostitution in all its public spaces. Ordinance No. 11/2005 Coll. of the City of Prague, also still listed, bans offering erotic performances or erotic services. Other municipalities have similar ordinances; their number was not verified for this profile.", "sources": [ "cz-praha-1993", "cz-praha-poradek", "cz-us-pl-69-04", "cz-mv-ozv" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not an offence and is not regulated by statute. Two limits apply: prostitution near a school, school facility or other place intended for children is a criminal offence for the sex worker herself (§ 190(1) Criminal Code, up to two years), and municipal ordinances may ban offering sexual services in public spaces (administrative fine).", "details": "- The Criminal Code contains no offence of prostitution as such. The Supreme Administrative Court (22 Afs 24/2025-48, para 33) and the Constitutional Court (Pl. ÚS 69/04; II. ÚS 1155/26, para 20) state that voluntary prostitution by an adult is not unlawful in Czechia and that the law punishes only accompanying conduct (trafficking, rape, sexual coercion, procuring).\n- **§ 190(1) Criminal Code** (*Prostituce ohrožující mravní vývoj dětí*): \"Kdo provozuje prostituci v blízkosti školy, školského nebo jiného obdobného zařízení nebo místa, které je vyhrazeno nebo určeno pro pobyt nebo návštěvu dětí\" – up to two years' imprisonment; six months to five years if committed in at least two such places or repeatedly (§ 190(3)). The Ministry of Justice recorded no convictions under § 190 in 2024.\n- Public offering: see *street*.", "provisions": [ "§ 190 trestního zákoníku (č. 40/2009 Sb.)" ], "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-nss-2025", "cz-us-1155-26", "cz-us-pl-69-04", "cz-mv-thb-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "near schools: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Paying or offering a child (under 18) for sexual acts is a criminal offence under § 202 Criminal Code, both for the person who offers the payment and for the person who takes part in the act.", "details": "- **§ 202 Criminal Code** (*Svádění k pohlavnímu styku*): offering, promising or giving a child or another person payment, an advantage or benefit for sexual intercourse with a child or comparable conduct (para 1), or taking part in such conduct where payment was offered (para 2): up to two years; six months to five years if the child is under 15 or in other aggravated cases (para 3). In the Criminal Code a child is a person under 18.\n- No national provision penalises buying from an adult. Some municipal public-order ordinances have also banned using (*využívání*) street prostitution in public spaces, which makes it an administrative offence for the client there (Ministry of the Interior guidance).", "provisions": [ "§ 202 trestního zákoníku" ], "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-mv-ozv" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Status describes national law. Local ordinances that ban using street prostitution in public spaces were not surveyed, so how many municipalities expose clients to an administrative fine is not known." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no licence for brothels. Running premises where others sell sex and taking a share of their earnings or repeated payments for enabling it is procuring (§ 189 Criminal Code). The express 1922 statutory ban on brothels was repealed with effect from 1 January 2024 as obsolete, which left § 189 as the operative rule. Sexual services are mostly provided in private flats ('privates') and as escort services, and police monitor nightclubs.", "details": "- **Act No. 241/1922 Coll.** on combating venereal diseases abolished brothels from 22 August 1922 and prohibited establishing new ones (§ 14), as the Ministry of the Interior summarised it. The act was repealed by **Act No. 276/2023 Coll.** on the repeal of obsolete legislation (item 1032), in force 1 January 2024.\n- **§ 189(1)** covers anyone who \"kořistí z prostituce provozované jiným\". According to case law cited by the Constitutional Court in 2024, when it rejected a Sex.cz defendant's complaint against the seizure of his assets, profiting does not require that the offender demanded or enforced a benefit; repeatedly accepting payment for *enabling* prostitution is enough (as reported by Česká justice).\n- The Ministry of the Interior's 2024 trafficking report notes that sexual services are mostly provided in so-called private flats (\"privates\") or as escort services, and that police monitor nightclubs.", "provisions": [ "§ 189 trestního zákoníku", "§ 1 bod 1032 zákona č. 276/2023 Sb." ], "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-276-2023", "cz-mv-ozv", "cz-cj-2024", "cz-mv-thb-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision addresses sex workers who share a flat. Independent workers splitting costs are not committing an offence as such, but if one organises the others' work, recruits them or takes a share of their earnings or repeated payments for enabling their work, § 189 can apply to her.", "details": "- The line is drawn by the elements of **§ 189(1)**: inducing, arranging, hiring, enticing or seducing another to prostitution, or profiting from prostitution carried on by another.\n- Case law cited by the Constitutional Court in 2024 holds that repeated acceptance of payment for enabling prostitution can amount to profiting; no Czech ruling specifically on co-working sex workers was found for this profile.", "provisions": [ "§ 189 trestního zákoníku" ], "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-cj-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from the wording of § 189 and the case law on 'profiting'; no decision on shared premises among sex workers was located." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (kuplířství, § 189 Criminal Code) covers inducing, arranging, hiring, enticing or seducing another person into prostitution and profiting from prostitution carried on by another. Basic penalty: six months to four years; two to eight years for substantial gain or as an organised group; five to 12 years for grievous bodily harm and 8 to 15 years if death is caused. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is punished separately under § 168.", "details": "- **§ 189(1)** wording: \"Kdo jiného přiměje, zjedná, najme, zláká nebo svede k provozování prostituce, nebo kdo kořistí z prostituce provozované jiným\" – six months to four years, a ban on activity or forfeiture.\n- **§ 189(2)–(4)**: two to eight years (substantial gain, organised group); five to twelve years or forfeiture of property (grievous bodily harm); eight to fifteen years (death).\n- **§ 168** (trafficking in human beings): for adults, requires violence, threats, deception or abuse of error, distress or dependence; for children no means are required. Two to ten years, rising to five to twelve years where committed with the intent that the victim be used for prostitution (§ 168(3)(d)).\n- Enforcement figures: see *stats*.", "provisions": [ "§ 189 trestního zákoníku", "§ 168 trestního zákoníku" ], "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-mv-thb-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No law bans advertising sexual services, and sex workers advertise their own services online. Limits come from general law: arranging or advertising another person's services for a share of the income can be procuring (§ 189); advertisements must not breach good morals or contain elements of pornography (§ 2(3) Advertising Regulation Act); and public offering in the street can be banned by municipal ordinance.", "details": "- **Act No. 40/1995 Coll.** on the regulation of advertising, § 2(3): advertising must not be contrary to good morals and in particular must not threaten morality in a generally unacceptable way, degrade human dignity, or contain elements of pornography, violence or fear. It has no rule specific to sexual services.\n- **Third-party advertising:** the Sex.cz case (see *platforms*) tests where selling advertising space ends and procuring begins. In August 2026 the Municipal Court in Prague held, at first instance and not finally, that selling ad space for a fixed fee is not procuring.\n- **Street offering:** see *street*.", "provisions": [ "§ 2 odst. 3 zákona č. 40/1995 Sb.", "§ 189 trestního zákoníku", "§ 10 písm. a) zákona č. 128/2000 Sb." ], "sources": [ "cz-reklama", "cz-tz", "cz-lupa-2026", "cz-obce" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No statute addresses ad sites for sexual services. Operators risk prosecution for procuring if they profit from the advertisers' prostitution: police seized 49 sites in the Sex.cz case in 2023 and its operators were indicted, but in August 2026 the Municipal Court in Prague discontinued the prosecution of eight people and the company, holding that selling ad space for a fixed fee is not procuring. That decision was not final when reported. Hosting liability follows the EU Digital Services Act.", "details": "- **Sex.cz / EOL.cz case:** in the second half of 2023 the National Centre Against Organised Crime (NCOZ) investigated a group that ran websites offering paid sexual services, on suspicion of profiting from the advertised persons' prostitution; 49 websites were seized as instruments of crime under § 79a(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, and thousands of advertisers moved to smaller sites or stopped advertising (Ministry of the Interior, 2024 report). A Constitutional Court order reported in July 2024 rejected one defendant's complaint against the seizure of his assets, noting evidence that the operators went beyond plain advertising (they discussed ad content with advertisers, checked how many women worked in venues and verified advertisers).\n- In August 2026 the **Municipal Court in Prague** discontinued the prosecution of eight people and the company EOL.cz: a fixed advertising fee independent of the advertisers' income is not profiting from prostitution, the operators did not organise or control prostitution, and criminal law is a last resort. The prosecution of the founder was suspended on health grounds. The prosecutor could file a complaint with the High Court in Prague; the outcome was not verified.\n- **Intermediary liability:** Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA) applies directly from 17 February 2024; the Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) is to be the Digital Services Coordinator once a Digital Economy Act is adopted; in May 2025 the European Commission referred Czechia to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to designate and empower one. Act No. 480/2004 Coll., § 5, still contains the national hosting-liability rule (knowledge and prompt removal).", "provisions": [ "§ 189 trestního zákoníku", "§ 5 zákona č. 480/2004 Sb.", "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065" ], "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024", "cz-cj-2024", "cz-lupa-2026", "cz-info-2026", "eu-dsa", "ec-dsc", "cz-ctu-dsa", "cz-480-2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The August 2026 discontinuance is reported by the news media only (the court decision itself was not available to us) and was not final; a higher court could take a different view of § 189. Whether the prosecutor filed a complaint, and any ruling of the High Court in Prague, could not be confirmed as of 30 October 2026. Whether the Digital Economy Act designating ČTÚ had been enacted by then was not confirmed either: the latest text found is a government bill of November 2025." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Municipalities may, by generally binding ordinance under § 10(a) of the Municipalities Act, ban offering sexual services in all or some public spaces, or allow it only in defined places. Prague bans it citywide. A breach is an administrative offence with a fine of up to CZK 100,000. Prostitution near schools and places for children is a criminal offence (§ 190).", "details": "- **§ 10(a) Act No. 128/2000 Coll.**: a municipality may lay down which activities that could disturb public order or be contrary to good morals may be carried on only in places and at times set by ordinance, or ban them in some public spaces.\n- **Pl. ÚS 69/04** (8 March 2007, Ústí nad Labem): the Constitutional Court held that a municipality may choose not to regulate, to ban offering prostitution in all public spaces, or to define spaces where it may or may not be offered.\n- **Sanction:** § 4(2) and (3) of Act No. 251/2016 Coll. on certain offences: breaching a municipal ordinance is an offence with a fine of up to CZK 100,000 (before 1 July 2017, § 46(2) of the old Offences Act, then up to CZK 30,000).\n- The 2024 trafficking report says street prostitution has declined for a long time and is found mainly in specific places in the Ústí and South Bohemian regions.", "provisions": [ "§ 10 písm. a) zákona č. 128/2000 Sb.", "§ 4 odst. 2 a 3 zákona č. 251/2016 Sb.", "§ 190 trestního zákoníku" ], "sources": [ "cz-obce", "cz-prestupky", "cz-us-pl-69-04", "cz-mv-ozv", "cz-mv-thb-2024", "cz-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no registration, licence, permit or mandatory health check for sex workers. Prostitution cannot be licensed as a trade: § 3(3)(p) of the Trade Licensing Act excludes 'offering or providing services aimed directly at satisfying sexual needs'. Article 6 of the 1950 UN Convention, to which Czechia is a party, obliges states to abolish special registration of persons in prostitution; governments cited it against regulation bills.", "details": "- **§ 3(3)(p) Act No. 455/1991 Coll.**: \"nabízení nebo poskytování služeb směřujících bezprostředně k uspokojování sexuálních potřeb\" is not a trade (*živnost*).\n- **1950 Convention:** Czechoslovakia acceded on 14 March 1958; Czechia succeeded on 30 December 1993. The Convention was never promulgated in the Collection of Laws, so it is not part of the legal order under Art. 10 of the Constitution, but the courts use it to interpret ambiguous law (Pl. ÚS 69/04; NSS 22 Afs 24/2025-48, para 22). In 2005 the government proposed denouncing it to allow a regulation law; the Chamber of Deputies rejected the denunciation on 20 October 2005.", "provisions": [ "§ 3 odst. 3 písm. p) zákona č. 455/1991 Sb." ], "sources": [ "cz-zivnost", "un-1950", "cz-nss-2025", "cz-psp-1081" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income from voluntary prostitution is taxable. The Supreme Administrative Court held so in 22 Afs 24/2025-48 (6 October 2025), and the Constitutional Court rejected the taxpayer's complaints in II. ÚS 1155/26 (31 August 2026) and II. ÚS 2549/26 (9 September 2026). The Constitutional Court classed the income as income from an independent profession under § 7(2) of the Income Tax Act, which needs no trade licence. Neither the 1950 Convention nor § 189 bars taxation.", "details": "- **Facts:** the tax office noticed that the taxpayer regularly exchanged large sums of euros and deposited them without filing returns; tax for 2013 and 2014 was finally assessed at CZK 922,599 and CZK 913,998 (2012 was time-barred).\n- **NSS 22 Afs 24/2025-48:** the Income Tax Act taxes all income unless it is excluded or exempt, and it neither excludes nor exempts income from prostitution; the 1950 Convention does not prohibit taxation; voluntary prostitution is not a crime, so the income is not proceeds of crime; the tax authority does not become a procurer by taxing.\n- **II. ÚS 1155/26** (judge-rapporteur Jiří Přibáň): the income is income from an independent profession that is neither a trade nor a business, under § 7(2) of the Income Tax Act. The Court cites letter *b*, the wording until 2013; from 1 January 2014 (Act No. 344/2013 Coll.) and in the current text it is letter *c*, which the tax authority applied. \"Zdanění není morální schválení ani státní akreditace dané činnosti\" (para 20). The complaint was against the Regional Court's judgment of 25 March 2026 (65 Af 4/2024-98), bound by the NSS ruling.\n- **II. ÚS 2549/26** (judge-rapporteur Veronika Křesťanová): no legitimate expectation of non-taxation arose from politicians' statements; complaint against NSS 22 Afs 67/2026-53 of 21 August 2026 rejected as manifestly unfounded.\n- Social and health insurance consequences of the § 7 classification were not addressed in these decisions.", "provisions": [ "§ 7 odst. 2 zákona č. 586/1992 Sb." ], "sources": [ "cz-nss-2025", "cz-us-1155-26", "cz-us-2549-26", "cz-zdp", "cz-ctk-2026", "cz-zo-344-2013" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "migrants": { "status": "varies", "summary": "No immigration rule addresses prostitution. EU citizens are in the same position as Czech nationals. Police report that women from Asia, Ukraine, Latin America and Africa travel to Czechia for limited periods on tourist visas, often first repaying travel debts to people who pushed them into prostitution; trafficking (§ 168) and procuring (§ 189) are the provisions used against third parties.", "details": "- The Ministry of the Interior's 2024 status report on trafficking describes the pattern of time-limited stays on tourist visas and debt repayment, and states that in almost all investigated cases the prostitution was voluntary.\n- Whether third-country nationals can lawfully earn income from prostitution under their residence status was not verified for this profile.", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024", "cz-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Residence and work-authorisation rules for third-country nationals who sell sex were not checked against the Foreigners' Residence Act." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cz-tz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Act No. 40/2009 Coll.)", "relevance": "Defines procuring (§ 189), prostitution near schools (§ 190), trafficking (§ 168) and paying children for sexual acts (§ 202).", "provisions": [ "§ 168", "§ 189", "§ 190", "§ 202" ], "inForce": "2010-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "cz-obce", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act (Act No. 128/2000 Coll.)", "relevance": "§ 10(a) lets municipalities ban or confine activities contrary to public order or good morals in public spaces; the legal basis for local bans on offering sexual services.", "provisions": [ "§ 10 písm. a)" ], "inForce": "2000-11-12" }, { "sourceId": "cz-prestupky", "titleEn": "Act No. 251/2016 Coll. on certain offences", "relevance": "§ 4(2)–(3): breaching a municipal ordinance is an offence punishable by a fine of up to CZK 100,000.", "provisions": [ "§ 4" ], "inForce": "2017-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "cz-zivnost", "titleEn": "Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.)", "relevance": "§ 3(3)(p) excludes offering or providing services aimed directly at satisfying sexual needs from licensable trades.", "provisions": [ "§ 3 odst. 3 písm. p)" ], "inForce": "1992-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "cz-zdp", "titleEn": "Income Tax Act (Act No. 586/1992 Coll.)", "relevance": "Taxes all income not excluded or exempt; the courts held in 2025–2026 that income from voluntary prostitution is taxable as income from an independent profession (§ 7(2)).", "provisions": [ "§ 7 odst. 2" ], "inForce": "1993-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "cz-reklama", "titleEn": "Advertising Regulation Act (Act No. 40/1995 Coll.)", "relevance": "§ 2(3) bars advertising contrary to good morals or containing elements of pornography; there is no rule specific to sexual services.", "provisions": [ "§ 2 odst. 3" ] }, { "sourceId": "cz-276-2023", "titleEn": "Act No. 276/2023 Coll. on the repeal of obsolete legislation", "relevance": "Repealed Act No. 241/1922 Coll. on combating venereal diseases, including its § 14 ban on brothels, from 1 January 2024.", "provisions": [ "§ 1 bod 1032" ], "inForce": "2024-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "eu-dsa", "titleEn": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act)", "relevance": "Directly applicable rules on hosting liability and notice-and-action for ad platforms; the Czech Telecommunication Office is the intended national Digital Services Coordinator, but its designation awaits a Digital Economy Act.", "inForce": "2024-02-17" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "sex-cz-procuring-case", "title": "Prosecution of the operators of Sex.cz / EOL.cz for procuring", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-08", "next": { "what": "Decision of the High Court in Prague if the prosecutor's complaint against the discontinuance is pursued" }, "summary": "In August 2026 the Municipal Court in Prague discontinued, at first instance and not finally, the prosecution of eight people and the company EOL.cz, holding that selling ad space to sex workers for a fixed fee is not procuring under § 189. The outcome will set the practical rules for adult ad platforms in Czechia.", "sources": [ "cz-lupa-2026", "cz-info-2026", "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1922-08-22", "event": "Act No. 241/1922 Coll. on combating venereal diseases abolishes brothels and prohibits establishing new ones (§ 14).", "sources": [ "cz-mv-ozv" ] }, { "date": "1958-03-14", "event": "Czechoslovakia accedes to the 1950 UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.", "sources": [ "un-1950" ] }, { "date": "1993-12-30", "event": "Czechia notifies its succession to the 1950 Convention.", "sources": [ "un-1950" ] }, { "date": "2005-10-20", "event": "The Chamber of Deputies rejects the government's proposal to denounce the 1950 Convention, which was meant to clear the way for a regulation law with registration.", "sources": [ "cz-psp-1081", "cz-nss-2025" ] }, { "date": "2007-03-08", "event": "Constitutional Court judgment Pl. ÚS 69/04 (Ústí nad Labem): municipalities may ban offering prostitution in all public spaces or define where it may be offered.", "sources": [ "cz-us-pl-69-04" ] }, { "date": "2008-01-01", "event": "Prague Ordinance No. 20/2007 Coll. bans offering and providing sexual services in public spaces across the whole city.", "sources": [ "cz-praha-1993" ] }, { "date": "2010-01-01", "event": "The new Criminal Code takes effect, with procuring in § 189 and the new offence of prostitution endangering the moral development of children in § 190.", "sources": [ "cz-tz", "cz-mv-verejne" ] }, { "date": "2013-07-08", "event": "The Prague City Assembly submits a bill on the regulation of prostitution (Chamber print 1108); the government disagrees and the bill lapses at the end of the term.", "sources": [ "cz-psp-1108" ] }, { "date": "2014-01-30", "event": "Prague resubmits a regulation bill (Chamber print 115) with licensed venues, permit cards and health checks; the government disagrees, the Chamber passes it at first reading on 18 June 2014, the petitions committee recommends rejection and the bill lapses at the end of the term in 2017.", "sources": [ "cz-psp-115" ] }, { "date": "2023", "event": "In the Sex.cz investigation, the organised-crime police seize 49 websites advertising sexual services as instruments of alleged procuring.", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024-01-01", "event": "Act No. 276/2023 Coll. repeals the 1922 venereal diseases act, including its brothel ban, as obsolete.", "sources": [ "cz-276-2023" ] }, { "date": "2024-02-17", "event": "The EU Digital Services Act becomes fully applicable. Czechia has not yet designated its Digital Services Coordinator by law: the Czech Telecommunication Office is to take the role under a pending Digital Economy Act, and in May 2025 the European Commission referred Czechia to the Court of Justice of the EU over the delay.", "sources": [ "cz-ctu-dsa", "ec-dsc" ] }, { "date": "2025-10-06", "event": "Supreme Administrative Court judgment 22 Afs 24/2025-48: income from voluntary prostitution is taxable; neither the 1950 Convention nor § 189 prevents taxation.", "sources": [ "cz-nss-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-04", "event": "The Municipal Court in Prague discontinues, not finally, the procuring prosecution of eight people and the company behind Sex.cz, holding that selling ad space for a fixed fee is not procuring.", "sources": [ "cz-lupa-2026", "cz-info-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-31", "event": "Constitutional Court order II. ÚS 1155/26 rejects the taxpayer's complaint and classes income from prostitution as income from an independent profession under § 7(2) of the Income Tax Act.", "sources": [ "cz-us-1155-26" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-09", "event": "Constitutional Court order II. ÚS 2549/26 rejects the second complaint, on legitimate expectation, against NSS judgment 22 Afs 67/2026-53.", "sources": [ "cz-us-2549-26" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Procuring (§ 189) offences registered by police", "value": "46", "year": "2024", "note": "Police-recorded offences (74 in 2023, 67 in 2022). 36 cases were solved and 32 persons prosecuted in 2024 (12 men, 19 women, 1 legal entity). Recorded crime, not a measure of prevalence.", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] }, { "label": "Persons convicted of procuring (§ 189)", "value": "34", "year": "2024", "note": "Ministry of Justice statistics as reported in the Interior Ministry's trafficking report; 30 suspended and 3 unconditional prison sentences.", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] }, { "label": "Persons convicted of prostitution near schools or places for children (§ 190)", "value": "0", "year": "2024", "note": "Ministry of Justice statistics as reported in the Interior Ministry's trafficking report.", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] }, { "label": "Websites seized in the Sex.cz procuring investigation", "value": "49", "year": "2023", "note": "Seized under § 79a(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code as instruments of alleged crime; the first-instance court discontinued the prosecution in August 2026 (not final).", "sources": [ "cz-mv-thb-2024" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "cz-tz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník", "titleEn": "Act No. 40/2009 Coll., Criminal Code (consolidated text, version in force from 1 January 2026)", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40#p189", "published": "2009-01-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-tz-esbirka", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, official electronic Collection of Laws (e-Sbírka)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnitra ČR – e-Sbírka", "url": "https://e-sbirka.gov.cz/sb/2009/40", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-zivnost", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 455/1991 Sb., o živnostenském podnikání (živnostenský zákon)", "titleEn": "Trade Licensing Act", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1991-455#p3-3-p", "published": "1991-10-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-obce", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 128/2000 Sb., o obcích (obecní zřízení)", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2000-128#p10", "published": "2000-04-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-prestupky", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 251/2016 Sb., o některých přestupcích", "titleEn": "Act on Certain Offences", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2016-251#p4", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-reklama", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 40/1995 Sb., o regulaci reklamy", "titleEn": "Advertising Regulation Act", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1995-40#p2", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-zdp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 586/1992 Sb., o daních z příjmů", "titleEn": "Income Tax Act", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1992-586#p7", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-zo-344-2013", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákonné opatření Senátu č. 344/2013 Sb., o změně daňových zákonů v souvislosti s rekodifikací soukromého práva a o změně některých zákonů", "titleEn": "Senate statutory measure No. 344/2013 Coll. (tax amendments; § 7(2) of the Income Tax Act re-lettered from 1 January 2014)", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-344", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-480-2004", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 480/2004 Sb., o některých službách informační společnosti", "titleEn": "Act on Certain Information Society Services", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2004-480#p5", "published": "2004-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-276-2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 276/2023 Sb., o zrušení obsoletních právních předpisů", "titleEn": "Act on the repeal of obsolete legislation", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2023-276", "published": "2023-07-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-nss-2025", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Rozsudek Nejvyššího správního soudu ze dne 6. 10. 2025, čj. 22 Afs 24/2025-48", "titleEn": "Supreme Administrative Court judgment 22 Afs 24/2025-48 (taxation of income from prostitution)", "publisher": "Nejvyšší správní soud", "url": "https://vyhledavac.nssoud.cz/DokumentOriginal/Index/745817", "published": "2025-10-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-us-1155-26", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Usnesení Ústavního soudu sp. zn. II. ÚS 1155/26 ze dne 31. 8. 2026", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court order II. ÚS 1155/26 (taxation of income from prostitution)", "publisher": "Ústavní soud – NALUS", "url": "https://nalus.usoud.cz/Search/GetText.aspx?sz=2-1155-26_1", "published": "2026-08-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-us-2549-26", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Usnesení Ústavního soudu sp. zn. II. ÚS 2549/26 ze dne 9. 9. 2026", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court order II. ÚS 2549/26 (legitimate expectation of non-taxation)", "publisher": "Ústavní soud – NALUS", "url": "https://nalus.usoud.cz/Search/GetText.aspx?sz=2-2549-26_1", "published": "2026-09-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-us-pl-69-04", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Nález Ústavního soudu sp. zn. Pl. ÚS 69/04 ze dne 8. 3. 2007 (č. 161/2007 Sb.)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court judgment Pl. ÚS 69/04 (Ústí nad Labem public-order ordinance)", "publisher": "Ústavní soud – NALUS", "url": "https://nalus.usoud.cz/Search/GetText.aspx?sz=Pl-69-04", "published": "2007-03-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-mv-ozv", "kind": "government", "title": "Prostituce a obecně závazné vyhlášky obcí", "titleEn": "Prostitution and municipal ordinances (Ministry of the Interior guidance, archived)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnitra ČR", "url": "https://archiv.mv.gov.cz/mvcren/docDetail.aspx?docType=ART&docid=10110", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-mv-verejne", "kind": "government", "title": "Veřejné nabízení a poskytování sexuálních služeb", "titleEn": "Public offering and provision of sexual services (Ministry of the Interior, archived)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnitra ČR", "url": "https://archiv.mv.gov.cz/clanek/verejne-nabizeni-a-poskytovani-sexualnich-sluzeb.aspx", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-praha-1993", "kind": "government", "title": "Vyhláška č. 2/1993 Sb. hl. m. Prahy", "titleEn": "Prague Ordinance No. 2/1993 (register entry: repealed 1 January 2008 by Ordinance No. 20/2007)", "publisher": "Hlavní město Praha", "url": "https://praha.eu/w/vyhlaska_cislo_2_ze_dne_28_01_1993_191216", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-praha-poradek", "kind": "government", "title": "I. Veřejný pořádek", "titleEn": "City of Prague register of public-order regulations in force", "publisher": "Hlavní město Praha", "url": "https://praha.eu/w/verejny_poradek_2566251", "published": "2026-07-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-psp-1081", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Sněmovní tisk 1081 – Úmluva o potlačování a zrušení obchodu s lidmi – výpověď (4. volební období)", "titleEn": "Chamber print 1081: denunciation of the 1950 Convention (rejected 20 October 2005)", "publisher": "Poslanecká sněmovna Parlamentu ČR", "url": "https://www.psp.cz/sqw/historie.sqw?o=4&t=1081", "published": "2005-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-psp-1108", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Sněmovní tisk 1108 – Návrh zákona o regulaci prostituce (6. volební období)", "titleEn": "Chamber print 1108: bill on the regulation of prostitution (City of Prague, 2013)", "publisher": "Poslanecká sněmovna Parlamentu ČR", "url": "https://www.psp.cz/sqw/historie.sqw?o=6&t=1108", "published": "2013-07-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-psp-115", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Sněmovní tisk 115 – Návrh zákona o regulaci prostituce (7. volební období)", "titleEn": "Chamber print 115: bill on the regulation of prostitution (City of Prague, 2014)", "publisher": "Poslanecká sněmovna Parlamentu ČR", "url": "https://www.psp.cz/sqw/historie.sqw?o=7&t=115", "published": "2014-01-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-mv-thb-2024", "kind": "government", "title": "2024 Status Report on Trafficking in Human Beings in the Czech Republic", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnitra ČR", "url": "https://archiv.mv.gov.cz/soubor/zprava-osl-za-rok-2024-eng-final-pdf.aspx", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cz-ctu-dsa", "kind": "government", "title": "Digitální služby – Online zprostředkovatelské služby (DSA)", "titleEn": "Digital services: online intermediary services (DSA)", "publisher": "Český telekomunikační úřad", "url": "https://ctu.gov.cz/digitalni-sluzby-rozcestnik", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-ctk-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Příjmy z dobrovolné prostituce podléhají zdanění, potvrdil ÚS", "titleEn": "Income from voluntary prostitution is taxable, Constitutional Court confirms", "publisher": "ČTK / České noviny", "url": "https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/prijmy-z-dobrovolne-prostituce-podlehaji-zdaneni-potvrdil-us/2890263", "published": "2026-10-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-cj-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Osobně kontrolovali počet dívek. ÚS odmítl stížnost obviněného v kauze webu inzerujícího sex", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court rejects a Sex.cz defendant's complaint against asset seizure", "publisher": "Česká justice", "url": "https://www.ceska-justice.cz/2024/07/osobne-kontrolovali-pocet-divek-us-odmitl-stiznost-obvineneho-v-kauze-webu-inzerujiciho-sex/", "published": "2024-07-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-lupa-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Inzerce není kuplířství. Soud smetl ze stolu žalobu kolem erotických webů Sex.cz", "titleEn": "Advertising is not procuring: court throws out the Sex.cz indictment", "publisher": "Lupa.cz", "url": "https://www.lupa.cz/aktuality/inzerce-neni-kuplirstvi-soud-smetl-ze-stolu-zalobu-kolem-erotickych-webu-sex-cz/", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-info-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Sex.cz nebylo kuplířství. Soud zastavil trestní stíhání provozovatelů", "titleEn": "Sex.cz was not procuring: court discontinues the operators' prosecution", "publisher": "INFO.CZ", "url": "https://www.info.cz/zpravodajstvi-a-komentare/sex-cz-kuplirstvi-soud", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "un-1950", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (status of treaty)", "publisher": "United Nations Treaty Collection", "url": "https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=VII-11-a&chapter=7&clang=_en", "published": "1949-12-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "eu-dsa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act)", "publisher": "EUR-Lex", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj", "published": "2022-10-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ec-dsc", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Digital Services Coordinators", "publisher": "European Commission", "url": "https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/dsa-dscs", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/czechia/" }, { "iso2": "CD", "name": "Democratic Republic of the Congo", "nativeName": "République démocratique du Congo", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Decree of 30 January 1940, as amended) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults, but punishes recruiting a person into prostitution even with their consent, keeping a house of prostitution, living off a sex worker's earnings and any other habitual exploitation of another's prostitution (Article 174 b, as renumbered by Law 06/018 of 2006).", "modelSources": [ "cd-cp2004", "cd-loi2006" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Penal Code targets third parties. Since the 2006 sexual violence law, Article 174 b punishes with three months to five years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Congolese francs anyone who recruits, entices or leads away a person over 18 into prostitution to satisfy another's passions, even with that person's consent, anyone who keeps a house of debauchery or prostitution, the souteneur who lives wholly or partly off a person whose prostitution he exploits, and anyone who habitually exploits another's prostitution in any other way. Forced prostitution is a separate offence (Article 174 c). Encouraging the debauchery of people under 18 is punished under Article 172. Exhibiting or advertising writings or images contrary to public morals is an offence (Article 175).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex, or soliciting for it, an offence for an adult. The prostitution provisions (Articles 172 and 174 b to 174 c) are aimed at those who recruit, exploit or force others, and at the corruption of minors.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal Livre II arts. 172, 174 b, 174 c" ], "sources": [ "cd-cp2004", "cd-loi2006" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 2004 official consolidation and the 2006 amending law; later amendments and provincial or municipal public-order measures, which may be used against street-based sex workers, were not checked. Police practice was not assessed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no offence of paying an adult for sex. Clients can be liable under the sexual violence provisions where the person is under 18 or has not consented, and under Article 174 c where the person was forced.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal Livre II arts. 170, 172, 174 c" ], "sources": [ "cd-cp2004", "cd-loi2006" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether the general adultery offence of the Penal Code is used against clients was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a house of debauchery or prostitution (\"quiconque aura tenu une maison de débauche ou de prostitution\") is punishable by three months to five years of penal servitude and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 constant Congolese francs (Article 174 b, 2°). The provision has the same wording in the 2004 consolidation, when it followed Article 174.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal Livre II art. 174 b, 2°" ], "sources": [ "cd-loi2006", "cd-cp2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The two-column layout of the 2006 Journal officiel mixes the text of Article 174 b with neighbouring articles; the wording quoted was checked against the 2004 consolidation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Article 174 b punishes with three months to five years and a fine anyone who, to satisfy another's passions, recruits, entices or leads away a person over 18 into prostitution, even with consent; the souteneur, who lives wholly or partly off a person whose prostitution he exploits; and anyone who habitually exploits another's prostitution in any other way. Forcing a person into sexual acts for gain is forced prostitution (Article 174 c).", "details": "Before 2006 the recruitment offence applied to persons over 21 (\"âgée ou apparemment âgée de plus de vingt et un ans\") and the fine was expressed in zaïres. Law 06/018 lowered the threshold to 18 and introduced the offences of forced prostitution (art. 174 c), sexual harassment (174 d) and sexual slavery (174 e). Encouraging the debauchery or corruption of persons under 18 for the passions of another carries three months to five years (art. 172).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal Livre II art. 174 b, 1°, 3°, 4°", "Code pénal Livre II art. 174 c", "Code pénal Livre II art. 172" ], "sources": [ "cd-loi2006", "cd-cp2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the official Journal officiel texts of 2004 and 2006 hosted by legal-tools.org and FAOLEX." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Exhibiting, selling or distributing writings, images or objects contrary to public morals, or announcing them by any means of publicity with a view to trade, carries eight days to one year and a fine (Article 175). An advertisement placed by a third party for another person could also fall under the recruitment or exploitation limbs of Article 174 b.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal Livre II arts. 175–177", "Code pénal Livre II art. 174 b" ], "sources": [ "cd-cp2004", "cd-loi2006" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case law found. Article 177 excludes liability where the acts cannot corrupt morals. The 2023 Digital Code and press laws were not opened." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cd-cp2004", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree of 30 January 1940, as amended to 2004), official consolidation", "relevance": "Book II, Title VI: offences against family order and public morals, including the procuring, brothel and public-morals offences.", "provisions": [ "arts. 172–177" ], "inForce": "1940-01-30" }, { "sourceId": "cd-loi2006", "titleEn": "Law No. 06/018 of 20 July 2006 amending and supplementing the Penal Code", "relevance": "Rewrote the sexual violence section, renumbered the procuring and brothel offences as Article 174 b with an 18-year threshold, and added forced prostitution (174 c) and sexual slavery (174 e).", "provisions": [ "arts. 172, 174 b–174 e" ], "inForce": "2006-08-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1940-01-30", "event": "Decree adopting the Congolese Penal Code, including offences of keeping a brothel and living off prostitution.", "sources": [ "cd-cp2004" ] }, { "date": "2006-07-20", "event": "Law No. 06/018 on sexual violence amends the Penal Code, setting out the procuring and brothel offences in Article 174 b and adding forced prostitution; published in the Journal officiel on 1 August 2006.", "sources": [ "cd-loi2006" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cd-cp2004", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal congolais, Décret du 30 janvier 1940 tel que modifié et complété à ce jour (Journal officiel, numéro spécial, 30 novembre 2004)", "titleEn": "Congolese Penal Code, Decree of 30 January 1940 as amended (Official Journal special issue, 30 November 2004)", "publisher": "Journal officiel de la République démocratique du Congo (copy on ICC Legal Tools)", "url": "https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/6e09fe/pdf", "published": "2004-11-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cd-loi2006", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 06/018 du 20 juillet 2006 modifiant et complétant le Décret du 30 janvier 1940 portant Code pénal congolais (Journal officiel n° 15, 1er août 2006)", "titleEn": "Law No. 06/018 of 20 July 2006 amending and supplementing the Penal Code", "publisher": "Journal officiel de la République démocratique du Congo (copy on FAOLEX)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/cng210037.pdf", "published": "2006-08-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/" }, { "iso2": "DK", "name": "Denmark", "nativeName": "Danmark", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Running a business in which others sell sex (rufferi), otherwise exploiting another person's prostitution, acting as an intermediary for gain and renting hotel rooms for prostitution are criminal under § 233 of the Penal Code. Buying sex from someone under 18 is an offence.", "modelSources": [ "dk-strl-2025", "dk-jm-2022" ], "summary": "In Denmark adults may sell and buy sex. The Penal Code targets third parties: § 233 punishes running a business in which another person has sex with customers for payment (up to four years), otherwise exploiting another person's prostitution or promoting it as an intermediary for gain (fine or up to three years), and renting hotel rooms for prostitution. The provisions took their current form in 2013. There is no specific advertising offence; a 2022 Ministry of Justice working group concluded that paid advertising of prostitution is in principle covered by the intermediary offence but has long not been prosecuted. A government working group on the living conditions of people who sell sex reported in February 2026 without recommendations.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex as an adult is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions punish those who run, exploit or mediate the prostitution of others, not the person selling.", "details": "The 2022 working group report notes that the purpose of the procuring provision is not to reach the person who sells their own services but whoever profits from the services of others.", "provisions": [ "§ 233 straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "dk-strl-2025", "dk-jm-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Having sexual intercourse or another sexual act with a person under 18 for payment or a promise of payment is punishable by a fine or up to two years.", "provisions": [ "§ 224(2) straffeloven", "§ 225 straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "dk-strl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a business in which another person has sex with customers for payment is procuring (rufferi), punishable by up to four years. Renting out a hotel room for commercial prostitution carries a fine or up to one year.", "details": "Since the 2013 reform the offence is defined by running a business in which another person sells sex, not by the type of venue. According to the 2022 Ministry of Justice report it applies whether or not the operator made or intended to make a profit.", "provisions": [ "§ 233(1) straffeloven", "§ 233(3) straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "dk-strl-2025", "dk-lov-633-2013", "dk-jm-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Otherwise exploiting another person's commercial prostitution, or promoting it by acting as an intermediary for gain or repeatedly, is punishable by a fine or up to three years. Inducing someone into prostitution by deception or other improper means carries a fine or up to two years.", "provisions": [ "§ 233(2) straffeloven", "§ 233 a straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "dk-strl-2025", "dk-lov-633-2013" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no specific offence of advertising sexual services, and sex workers advertise in print and online media. Media that publish such adverts for payment could in principle be prosecuted as intermediaries under § 233(2), but a long-standing practice has been not to prosecute them.", "details": "The Ministry of Justice working group on digital sexual offences (June 2022) concluded that sugar-dating services and paid advertising of prostitution in print or electronic media can fall under § 233(2), second sentence (intermediary activity), and that independent mediation of contact between a seller and a customer through online advertising seems to be the core area of that provision. It noted the practice of not prosecuting media that carry prostitution adverts, said that prosecuting them was a political choice, and suggested that if the practice is to continue the provision should be considered for repeal. It recommended that any change of practice be made by law and apply only to future conduct.", "provisions": [ "§ 233(2) second sentence straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "dk-jm-2022", "dk-strl-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "We found no later legislation acting on the 2022 working group's analysis, but did not confirm the current prosecution practice directly with the prosecution service." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "dk-strl-2025", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Consolidated Act No. 1294 of 7 November 2025)", "relevance": "§ 233 (procuring, exploitation, intermediaries, hotel rooms), § 233 a (inducement) and § 224 (paid sex with persons under 18).", "provisions": [ "§ 224", "§ 225", "§ 233", "§ 233 a" ] }, { "sourceId": "dk-lov-633-2013", "titleEn": "Act No. 633 of 12 June 2013 amending the Penal Code (sexual offences)", "relevance": "Replaced § 233 with the current procuring provisions and added § 233 a.", "provisions": [ "§ 1 no. 23" ], "inForce": "2013-07-01" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "working-group-living-conditions-2026", "title": "Working group on the living conditions of people who sell sex", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-02-09", "summary": "Set up by the previous government, the working group published its final report on 9 February 2026. Its six main conclusions include that unclear legislation makes protection difficult and creates confusion about rights, and that contact with authorities is marked by barriers. The report made no legislative proposals, and the June 2026 government platform of the new four-party government does not mention prostitution.", "sources": [ "dk-rsu-2026", "dk-stm-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2013-07-01", "event": "Act No. 633/2013 in force: § 233 rewritten to cover any business in which others sell sex, plus exploitation and intermediary activity; § 233 a added.", "sources": [ "dk-lov-633-2013" ] }, { "date": "2022-06", "event": "Ministry of Justice working group on digital sexual offences concluded that paid advertising of prostitution can fall under the intermediary offence in § 233(2).", "sources": [ "dk-jm-2022" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-09", "event": "Government working group published its report on the living conditions of people who sell sex.", "sources": [ "dk-rsu-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "dk-strl-2025", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Bekendtgørelse af straffeloven (LBK nr 1294 af 07/11/2025)", "titleEn": "Consolidated Penal Code", "publisher": "Retsinformation (Civilstyrelsen)", "url": "https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2025/1294", "published": "2025-11-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "da" }, { "id": "dk-lov-633-2013", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lov om ændring af straffeloven, retsplejeloven, lov om tilhold, opholdsforbud og bortvisning og lov om restaurationsvirksomhed og alkoholbevilling m.v. (Seksualforbrydelser) (LOV nr 633 af 12/06/2013)", "titleEn": "Act amending the Penal Code and other acts (sexual offences)", "publisher": "Retsinformation (Civilstyrelsen)", "url": "https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2013/633", "published": "2013-06-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "da" }, { "id": "dk-jm-2022", "kind": "government", "title": "Rapport fra arbejdsgruppen om digitale krænkelser", "titleEn": "Report of the working group on digital sexual offences", "publisher": "Justitsministeriet", "url": "https://www.justitsministeriet.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rapport-fra-arbejdsgruppen-om-digitale-kraenkelser1.pdf", "published": "2022-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "da" }, { "id": "dk-rsu-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Rapport samler viden om livet for personer, der sælger sex", "titleEn": "Report gathers knowledge about the lives of people who sell sex", "publisher": "Rådet for Socialt Udsatte", "url": "https://udsatte.dk/viden/rapport-samler-viden-om-livet-personer-saelger-sex", "published": "2026-02-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "da" }, { "id": "dk-stm-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Det politiske grundlag for firkløverregeringen", "titleEn": "Political platform of the four-party government", "publisher": "Statsministeriet", "url": "https://stm.dk/statsministeriet/publikationer/det-politiske-grundlag-for-firkloeverregeringen/", "published": "2026-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "da" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/denmark/" }, { "iso2": "DJ", "name": "Djibouti", "nativeName": "Djibouti / جيبوتي", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code of 1995 follows the French model: prostitution itself is not an offence, while proxénétisme in a broad sense (aiding, protecting or profiting from the prostitution of another) and running a prostitution establishment are délits. Public soliciting is a fifth-class contravention (Article R. 5-10°). Some secondary sources describe prostitution in Djibouti as prohibited; the Code's text does not penalise selling or buying as such.", "modelSources": [ "dj-cp1995" ], "summary": "In Djibouti, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves, but the Penal Code (Law No. 59/AN/94 of 5 January 1995) criminalises almost everything around them. Proxénétisme, defined as aiding, assisting or protecting the prostitution of another, profiting from it or recruiting a person into it, carries five years and a fine of 10 million francs (Article 394), and acts treated as procuring include providing premises (Article 395). Running, managing or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a venue open to the public, carries ten years (Article 399). Publicly soliciting persons \"by gesture, words, writings or any other means\" to incite them to debauchery is punished with a 50,000-franc fine and one month's imprisonment, with confiscation of the proceeds of prostitution (Articles R. 5-10° and R. 6).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Prostitution itself is not an offence. Publicly soliciting persons of either sex by gesture, words, writings or any other means in order to incite them to debauchery (racolage) is a fifth-class contravention punished with a fine of 50,000 francs and one month's imprisonment, and the proceeds of prostitution may be confiscated.", "details": "Article R. 5-10° (Book V, contraventions): « Par geste, paroles, écrits ou par tous autres moyens, procéder publiquement au racolage de personnes de l'un ou l'autre sexe en vue de les provoquer à la débauche. » The complementary penalty in Article R. 6 is « la confiscation du produit de la prostitution ».", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. R. 5-10°", "Code pénal art. R. 6" ], "sources": [ "dj-cp1995" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a copy of the Code (with Book V on contraventions) hosted by policehumanrightsresources.org; it is not dated as a consolidated text, so later amendments could be missing. Translation of the French by the editors.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes paying for sex with an adult an offence. The soliciting contravention (Article R. 5-10°) is worded neutrally and could in principle apply to anyone who publicly solicits another to debauchery.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. R. 5-10°" ], "sources": [ "dj-cp1995" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Same caveat on the version of the Code." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, managing, operating or financing a prostitution establishment, directly or through an intermediary, or habitually tolerating prostitution or the seeking of clients in a venue open to the public, carries ten years and a fine of 25 million francs (Article 399), plus closure and loss of licences (Articles 412–413). Making private premises available to, or selling them to, persons known to prostitute themselves there is treated as procuring (Article 395).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 395", "Code pénal art. 399", "Code pénal arts. 412–413" ], "sources": [ "dj-cp1995" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 395(4) as worded would also reach sex workers who share or rent premises together." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Proxénétisme, by any means, is aiding, assisting or protecting the prostitution of another; profiting from it or receiving support from a person who habitually prostitutes; or recruiting or pressuring a person into prostitution: five years and 10 million francs (Article 394). Acting as intermediary, or being unable to justify one's income while living with sex workers, is treated as procuring (Article 395). Aggravated forms carry ten to twenty years (Articles 396–398).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 394–398", "Loi n° 133/AN/16/7ème L" ], "sources": [ "dj-cp1995", "dj-trafficking2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 2016 anti-trafficking law lists the exploitation of the prostitution of others as a form of exploitation for the purposes of trafficking." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly soliciting by writings or any other means is the racolage contravention (Article R. 5-10°). Publicly inciting others by words, writings or any other means of communication to practices contrary to good morals carries one year and 200,000 francs (Article 353). A website or intermediary that carries sex-work advertisements risks liability for aiding or assisting the prostitution of another (Article 394(1)).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. R. 5-10°", "Code pénal art. 353", "Code pénal art. 394" ], "sources": [ "dj-cp1995" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No provision names advertising of sexual services; the classification is inferred from the general wording, and no case law was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "dj-cp1995", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Law No. 59/AN/94 of 5 January 1995, with Book V on contraventions", "relevance": "Book II, Title II, Chapter V, Section II (proxénétisme and related offences) and Section IV of the chapter on morals; Book V sets the soliciting contravention.", "provisions": [ "arts. 353–354", "arts. 394–402", "arts. 410–414", "art. R. 5-10°" ], "inForce": "1995" }, { "sourceId": "dj-trafficking2016", "titleEn": "Law No. 133/AN/16/7th L on combating trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants", "relevance": "Defines trafficking, including for the exploitation of the prostitution of others, and makes the victim's consent irrelevant.", "inForce": "2016" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1995-01-05", "event": "Law No. 59/AN/94 enacts the Penal Code, whose proxénétisme provisions closely follow the wording of the French Code pénal.", "sources": [ "dj-cp1995", "dj-trafficking2016" ] }, { "date": "2016", "event": "Law No. 133/AN/16/7th L on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants is promulgated.", "sources": [ "dj-trafficking2016" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "dj-cp1995", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal (Loi n° 59/AN/94 du 5 janvier 1995), avec le Livre V « Les contraventions »", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 59/AN/94 of 5 January 1995), with Book V on contraventions", "publisher": "Police and Human Rights Resources (reproduction of the official text)", "url": "https://policehumanrightsresources.org/content/uploads/2016/07/Penal-Code-Djibouti.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "dj-trafficking2016", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 133/AN/16/7ème L portant sur la lutte contre la traite des personnes et le trafic illicite des migrants", "titleEn": "Law No. 133/AN/16/7th L on combating trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants", "publisher": "Présidence de la République de Djibouti (printout hosted by the Warnath Group)", "url": "https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Djibouti-Law-No.-133.pdf", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/djibouti/" }, { "iso2": "DM", "name": "Dominica", "nativeName": "Commonwealth of Dominica", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 1998 (Act No. 1 of 1998) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 18), brothel-keeping (s. 24), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 25), and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 26). The 2016 amendment did not change these sections.", "modelSources": [ "dm-soa98", "dm-soa16" ], "summary": "In Dominica, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Sexual Offences Act 1998 penalises the activities around them. Procuring another person for prostitution or to become an inmate of a brothel carries fourteen years. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries a $5,000 fine and five years on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries the same; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years. The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 left these provisions unchanged. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. A person who 'in any place solicits for immoral purposes' is liable on summary conviction to a $5,000 fine and five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 25(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act 1998" ], "sources": [ "dm-soa98" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the 1998 Act is a scan; its text was read by OCR. The Small Offences Act (Chap. 10:39) was not checked, and how courts read 'immoral purposes' was not researched.", "mapLabel": "immoral soliciting: 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found in the Sexual Offences Act 1998 or its 2016 amendment. The soliciting offence in s. 25(1)(b) is not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 25(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act 1998" ], "sources": [ "dm-soa98", "dm-soa16" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the 1998 Act is a scan; its text was read by OCR." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing, or acting or assisting in the management of a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used carry a $5,000 fine and five years on summary conviction.", "provisions": [ "s. 24 Sexual Offences Act 1998" ], "sources": [ "dm-soa98" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the 1998 Act is a scan; its text was read by OCR." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring another for prostitution, whether or not that person is already a sex worker, or to become an inmate of a brothel, carries fourteen years. Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries a $5,000 fine and five years, with a presumption against anyone who lives with or controls a sex worker; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 18(c)-(d) Sexual Offences Act 1998", "s. 25(1)(a) and (3) Sexual Offences Act 1998", "s. 26 Sexual Offences Act 1998" ], "sources": [ "dm-soa98" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the 1998 Act is a scan; its text was read by OCR. The fourteen-year maximum for s. 18(c)-(d) is read from the penalty list at the end of s. 18." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 25(1)(b) applies 'in any place', and a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 25 Sexual Offences Act 1998" ], "sources": [ "dm-soa98" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "dm-soa98", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 1998 (Act No. 1 of 1998)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 18), suppression of brothels (s. 24), living on earnings and soliciting (s. 25) and aiding prostitution for gain (s. 26).", "provisions": [ "s. 18", "s. 24", "s. 25", "s. 26" ] }, { "sourceId": "dm-soa16", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016)", "relevance": "Amends the 1998 Act (rape, grooming, child offences); it does not amend the prostitution and brothel provisions in ss. 18 and 24-26." } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-11-24", "event": "Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 gazetted; it revises rape and child-protection provisions but leaves the prostitution and brothel sections of the 1998 Act unchanged.", "sources": [ "dm-soa16" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "dm-soa98", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1998 (Act No. 1 of 1998)", "publisher": "Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica", "url": "https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dm-soa16", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016)", "publisher": "Commonwealth of Dominica (copy hosted by the ECLAC Gender Equality Observatory)", "url": "https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/2016_sexualoffencesamendmentact_dma.pdf", "published": "2016-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominica/" }, { "iso2": "DO", "name": "Dominican Republic", "nativeName": "República Dominicana", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences; the new Penal Code (Law 74-25, in force since 3 August 2026) even defines prostitution neutrally as a sexual relationship between adults for payment (Art. 178). Procuring is defined broadly and covers helping, protecting, sharing earnings, intermediation, housing people for prostitution and running establishments (Arts. 176–177).", "modelSources": [ "do-cp-2025", "do-diariolibre-2026" ], "summary": "Selling sex and paying an adult for sex are legal in the Dominican Republic; organising it is not. On 3 August 2026 the 1884 Penal Code was replaced by Law 74-25, as amended by Law 44-26. The new code defines prostitution as any sexual relationship between adults for payment or a promise of it (Art. 178) and punishes procuring with two to five years and a fine (Art. 176). Procuring includes helping, protecting or covering for another adult's prostitution, sharing their earnings, hiring someone for prostitution, intermediating between sex workers and clients, and housing people for prostitution. Aggravated procuring, five to ten years (Art. 177), covers among others the use of a communications network reaching an indeterminate public and running an establishment where adults sell sex or seek clients. From 5 November 2026 companies can be criminally liable for these offences.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. The new Penal Code defines prostitution as 'any sexual relationship between adults in exchange for remuneration or a promise of economic remuneration' (Art. 178) solely for the purposes of the procuring offences; it creates no offence for the person who sells sex.", "provisions": [ "Art. 178 Código Penal (Ley 74-25)" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a republication of the official consolidated edition; municipal rules and police practice were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Paying for sexual services is procuring only where the payer 'obtains a benefit in return', i.e. acts as a profit-making intermediary (Art. 176(8)). Paying or promising to pay a child or adolescent for sexual acts is commercial sexual exploitation, punishable by ten to twenty years (Arts. 179–180).", "provisions": [ "Art. 176 núm. 8 Código Penal (Ley 74-25)", "Arts. 179 y 180 núm. 2 Código Penal (Ley 74-25)" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 2003 trafficking law (Law 137-03), which the new code did not repeal, was not reviewed for a client offence." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running, using or financing a commercial establishment for procuring, or agreeing that adults sell sex or look for clients inside an establishment or its annexes, is aggravated procuring: five to ten years and a fine of ten to twenty public-sector minimum wages (Art. 177). Housing or keeping people for prostitution is basic procuring (Art. 176(6)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 176 núm. 6 Código Penal (Ley 74-25, modificado por Ley 44-26)", "Art. 177 núms. 9–11 Código Penal (Ley 74-25, modificado por Ley 44-26)" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Numbering follows the text as amended by Law 44-26; the original Art. 177 listed twelve circumstances." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring, 'engaging in intervening for profit to encourage, favour or induce the prostitution of another person', carries two to five years and a fine of nine to fifteen public-sector minimum wages (Art. 176). It includes helping, protecting or covering for another adult's prostitution, sharing their earnings, hiring someone for prostitution and intermediating between sex workers and clients. Aggravated forms carry five to ten years (Art. 177).", "details": "Art. 176, as amended by Law 44-26 (G.O. 11254, 5 August 2026), lists eight circumstances: (1) helping, assisting, protecting or covering for the prostitution of another adult; (2) obtaining any benefit from another's prostitution by sharing their income or receiving payments in whole or part; (3) hiring, employing, taking, diverting or training a person for prostitution; (4) acting as intermediary between two people so that one engages in prostitution and the other benefits; (5) obstructing public prevention, control or rehabilitation work against prostitution; (6) housing or keeping people for prostitution; (7) acting as intermediary in any capacity between sex workers and those who solicit them; (8) paying for these services where a benefit is obtained in return. Law 44-26 raised the maximum from three to five years and removed 'obligar' (forcing) from the definition. Aggravating circumstances in Art. 177 include two or more victims, victims induced abroad, offenders who are relatives or public officials, groups of offenders and recidivists.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 176–178 Código Penal (Ley 74-25, modificado por Ley 44-26)" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025", "do-diariolibre-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law under the new code yet; the text was read from a law firm's republication of the official consolidated edition because the official portal could not be searched." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence targets advertising as such and a sex worker's own advertisement is not an offence. Advertising on behalf of others can be intermediation between sex workers and clients (Art. 176(4) and (7)), and committing procuring 'by means of or with the help of a communications network that allows messages to be disseminated to an indeterminate public' makes it aggravated procuring, five to ten years (Art. 177(6)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 176 núms. 4 y 7 Código Penal (Ley 74-25)", "Art. 177 núm. 6 Código Penal (Ley 74-25, modificado por Ley 44-26)" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025", "do-diariolibre-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How courts will apply the communications-network aggravation to ad sites is untested." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Legal persons can be held criminally liable for procuring and the other offences in Arts. 176–182 under the general corporate-liability rules (Art. 183, with Arts. 8–11), where the offence results from failures of direction, control or supervision. Those general rules take effect on 5 November 2026, three months after Law 44-26 was published.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 8–11 y 183 Código Penal (Ley 74-25, modificado por Ley 44-26)", "Art. 31 Ley 44-26" ], "sources": [ "do-cp-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether an ad platform hosting third-party listings would be treated as an intermediary under Art. 176 has not been tested." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "do-cp-2025", "titleEn": "Organic Law 74-25 establishing the Penal Code, as amended by Law 44-26", "relevance": "Replaces the 1884 Penal Code; defines prostitution (Art. 178), procuring (Art. 176), aggravated procuring including via communications networks and establishments (Art. 177), and corporate liability (Art. 183).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 8–11", "Arts. 176–183", "Arts. 391–393" ], "inForce": "2026-08-03" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "do-corporate-liability", "title": "Corporate criminal liability under the new Penal Code takes effect", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "date": "2026-11-05", "what": "Arts. 8–11 of Law 74-25 (corporate criminal liability, applied to procuring by Art. 183) enter into force" }, "summary": "Law 44-26 deferred the general rules on criminal liability of legal persons by three months from its publication on 5 August 2026, so companies, including any running venues or ad services, can be prosecuted for procuring from 5 November 2026.", "sources": [ "do-cp-2025", "do-diariolibre-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2025-08-03", "event": "Law 74-25 instituting a new Penal Code is promulgated (Gaceta Oficial 11208, 5 August 2025), with entry into force set twelve months later.", "sources": [ "do-cp-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-27", "event": "Law 44-26 amends the new code before it takes effect, raising the maximum for basic procuring from three to five years and dropping 'forcing' from the procuring definition.", "sources": [ "do-cp-2025", "do-diariolibre-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-03", "event": "The new Penal Code enters into force, repealing the 1884 code as regards the offences it defines.", "sources": [ "do-diariolibre-2026", "do-cp-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "do-cp-2025", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley núm. 74-25, Orgánica que instituye el Código Penal de la República Dominicana, con las modificaciones incorporadas por la Ley núm. 44-26 (edición especial de la Gaceta Oficial, Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo)", "titleEn": "Organic Law No. 74-25 establishing the Penal Code, with the amendments of Law No. 44-26 (special edition of the Official Gazette)", "publisher": "Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo (republicado por Stern & Comas)", "url": "https://www.sclawyer.com.do/base-de-datos/ley-74-25-nuevo-codigo-penal-?lang=en", "published": "2026-08-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "do-diariolibre-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Nuevo Código Penal: las 43 modificaciones que transforman la justicia en República Dominicana", "titleEn": "New Penal Code: the 43 amendments transforming justice in the Dominican Republic", "publisher": "Diario Libre", "url": "https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/justicia/2026/08/02/nuevo-codigo-penal-las-43-modificaciones-que-transforman-justicia-rd/3617663", "published": "2026-08-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominican-republic/" }, { "iso2": "EC", "name": "Ecuador", "nativeName": "Ecuador", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, and venues are licensed: the Ministry of Government issues an annual operating permit to \"centros de tolerancia\" as category 1 establishments, which also need a sanitary permit from the national health regulator (ARCSA), a municipal licence and land-use clearance. The Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP) has no general procuring offence; it punishes sexual exploitation, forced prostitution and trafficking.", "modelSources": [ "ec-paf", "ec-paf-categorias", "ec-coip" ], "summary": "Ecuador treats prostitution by adults as lawful and regulates the venues where it takes place. Under Ministerial Agreement 0069 of 2019, \"centros de tolerancia\" are category 1 establishments that need an annual operating permit from the Ministry of Government through the provincial police intendancies, on presentation of a sanitary permit from ARCSA, a municipal licence, land-use and fire permits; the ministry lists an annual fee of USD 539.56 for this category. The penal code (COIP) does not punish selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes selling, lending, profiting from or exchanging another person for sexual acts (sexual exploitation, 13 to 16 years), forcing or inducing someone against their will into sexual acts (forced prostitution) and trafficking. In October 2026 the National Assembly passed a reform raising trafficking penalties.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence under the COIP. The penal code treats brothels (\"prostíbulos\") as lawful adult venues: it punishes inciting, taking or allowing children into them.", "provisions": [ "COIP, art. 169" ], "sources": [ "ec-coip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Health-check or registration requirements for sex workers and municipal ordinances on street work were not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with a victim of sexual exploitation or with minors fall under the exploitation and sexual-offence provisions.", "provisions": [ "COIP, arts. 100-101" ], "sources": [ "ec-coip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the COIP as last modified in February 2021; later reforms were not consolidated in the text checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "\"Centros de tolerancia\" are category 1 establishments that need a Permiso Anual de Funcionamiento from the Ministry of Government, issued through the police intendancies and valid for one fiscal year. Requirements include a sanitary permit from ARCSA (required for category 1 only), a municipal licence, land-use and fire permits, an inspection report and an annual fee of USD 539.56.", "details": "The legal basis cited by the ministry is Ministerial Agreement No. 0069, published in Official Register No. 475 on 25 April 2019, whose article 7 defines the permit. The ministry's procedure page describes an online application through its SITMINT system.", "provisions": [ "Acuerdo Ministerial No. 0069 (R.O. 475, 2019), art. 7" ], "sources": [ "ec-paf", "ec-paf-categorias" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no general offence of procuring. Selling, lending, profiting from or exchanging another person to carry out sexual acts, for one's own or a third party's benefit, is sexual exploitation (13 to 16 years; 16 to 19 if the victim is vulnerable). Forcing, imposing, promoting or inducing someone against their will into sexual acts is forced prostitution (13 to 16 years).", "details": "Article 100 punishes whoever, \"en beneficio propio o de terceros, venda, preste, aproveche o dé en intercambio a otra para ejecutar uno o más actos de naturaleza sexual\". Article 101 requires that the act be against the person's will and that one of the listed circumstances apply (exploiting vulnerability, violence, threats, a family or trust relationship). Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence (art. 91). How courts draw the line between a licensed venue's commercial relationship with sex workers and \"aprovechar\" another person under article 100 was not checked.", "provisions": [ "COIP, arts. 91, 100, 101" ], "sources": [ "ec-coip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text checked in the COIP as last modified on 17 February 2021; later reforms (including the 2023 trafficking law) may have changed related articles." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Organising, promoting or offering sex tourism and child sexual-abuse material are offences, and the October 2026 trafficking reform adds prevention duties in the digital environment, including detection of deceptive offers.", "provisions": [ "COIP, art. 102" ], "sources": [ "ec-coip", "ec-universo-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Media and communication law and platform rules were not reviewed; the absence of an adult-advertising rule is unconfirmed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ec-coip", "titleEn": "Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP, 2014)", "relevance": "Sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, sex tourism and trafficking offences; no offence for adults selling or buying sex.", "provisions": [ "arts. 91, 100-102, 169" ] }, { "sourceId": "ec-paf", "titleEn": "Ministerial Agreement No. 0069 on the annual operating permit (2019)", "relevance": "Classifies \"centros de tolerancia\" as category 1 establishments requiring an annual operating permit.", "provisions": [ "art. 7" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ec-trata-reform-2026", "title": "Reform of the Organic Law against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants and the COIP", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-10-20", "next": { "what": "Presidential sanction or veto" }, "summary": "Passed unanimously by the National Assembly in second debate on 20 October 2026. It raises trafficking penalties to 19-22 years in the basic case and up to 35 years if the victim dies, creates an offence of forced marriage, and requires preventive measures in the digital environment, including detection of deceptive offers and an anonymous online reporting line. Whether it has been sanctioned and published was not confirmed.", "sources": [ "ec-universo-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-04-25", "event": "Ministerial Agreement No. 0069 on the annual operating permit, covering \"centros de tolerancia\" as category 1, published in the Official Register.", "sources": [ "ec-paf" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "event": "National Assembly passes a reform of the trafficking law and the COIP raising trafficking penalties.", "sources": [ "ec-universo-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ec-coip", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Orgánico Integral Penal, COIP (última modificación 17 de febrero de 2021)", "titleEn": "Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (as last modified 17 February 2021)", "publisher": "Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador (consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ec-paf", "kind": "government", "title": "Permiso Anual de Funcionamiento", "titleEn": "Annual Operating Permit", "publisher": "Ministerio de Gobierno del Ecuador", "url": "https://www.ministeriodegobierno.gob.ec/permiso-anual-de-funcionamiento/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ec-paf-categorias", "kind": "government", "title": "Emisión de permisos de funcionamiento a establecimientos categoría 1, 2, 3 y 8: centros de diversión para mayores de edad, centros de tolerancia, licorerías, depósitos de bebidas alcohólicas, pensiones, residenciales y moteles", "titleEn": "Issuing operating permits to category 1, 2, 3 and 8 establishments, including centros de tolerancia", "publisher": "Ministerio de Gobierno del Ecuador", "url": "https://www.ministeriodegobierno.gob.ec/emision-de-permisos-de-funcionamiento-a-establecimientos-categoria-1-23-y-8-centros-de-diversion-para-mayores-de-edad-centros-de-tolerancia-licorerias-depositos-de-bebidas-alcoholicas-pensiones-2/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ec-universo-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Asamblea aprueba reformas a la ley contra la trata de personas que endurecen penas y tipifican el delito de matrimonio forzoso", "titleEn": "Assembly approves reforms to the anti-trafficking law that toughen penalties and create the offence of forced marriage", "publisher": "El Universo", "url": "https://www.eluniverso.com/politica/asamblea-nacional/asamblea-aprueba-reformas-ley-contra-trata-personas-endurece-penas-tipifica-delito-matrimonio-forzoso-nota/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ecuador/" }, { "iso2": "EG", "name": "Egypt", "nativeName": "مصر", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution makes the habitual practice of prostitution or \"debauchery\" (fujur) an offence, alongside procuring, brothel-keeping and advertising. The Act contains no offence for the client.", "modelSources": [ "eg-law10", "eg-escwa" ], "summary": "Egypt prohibits prostitution under Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, enacted when Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Habitually practising prostitution or debauchery is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine (Article 9(c)), and a person caught may be sent for a medical examination. Inciting, assisting or facilitating prostitution, opening or managing a place for it, exploiting another's prostitution and advertising an invitation to it are all offences, with closure of premises. The Act does not penalise the client. In 2025 prosecutors also used Article 25 of the 2018 Cybercrime Law and charges of \"inciting debauchery\" against social-media content creators.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who habitually practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine of 25 to 300 Egyptian pounds (Article 9(c)). A person caught may be sent for a medical examination, and the court may order placement in a special reformatory after the sentence, for up to three years; this is mandatory for a repeat offence.", "details": "According to Court of Cassation case law, the offence requires engaging in sex with people without distinction, on a habitual basis, and covers male as well as female prostitution. Working or habitually residing in a place used for prostitution, knowing it, is a separate offence of up to one year (Article 13).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 9(c)", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 13" ], "sources": [ "eg-law10", "eg-cassation", "eg-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 1961 Official Gazette text; later amendments to the fine amounts, if any, were not checked. Case law is taken from a digest of Court of Cassation principles, not from judgments opened individually.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Law No. 10 of 1961 contains no offence of paying for sex; its offences target the person who habitually practises prostitution and third parties.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961" ], "sources": [ "eg-law10" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether clients are prosecuted under other provisions (for example adultery of a married person on the spouse's complaint) was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Opening or managing a place for debauchery or prostitution, or helping to manage it, carries one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds, with closure and confiscation (Article 8). Renting out premises run for prostitution, or habitually facilitating it in furnished rooms or places open to the public, carries three months to three years (Article 9). A place habitually used for others' prostitution is a brothel even if one person works there (Article 10).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 8", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 9(a)–(b)", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 10" ], "sources": [ "eg-law10" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting, assisting or facilitating a person's prostitution, or employing, enticing or luring a person for it, is punishable by one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds (Article 1). Helping a woman to practise prostitution, even financially, or exploiting a person's prostitution by any means carries six months to three years (Article 6). Coercion, deceit and minors aggravate the penalties.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 1", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 2", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 6" ], "sources": [ "eg-law10" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Announcing by any means of advertisement an invitation that entices to debauchery or prostitution, or draws attention to it, is punishable by up to three years and/or a fine of up to 100 pounds (Article 14).", "details": "Online content is also prosecuted under Law No. 175 of 2018 on Combating Information Technology Crimes. In a 2025 campaign against TikTok creators, prosecutors used Article 25 (\"violating family principles or values\") and charges of \"inciting debauchery\"; Human Rights Watch counted at least 29 people arrested or prosecuted between late July and late August 2025.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 14", "Law No. 175/2018 art. 25" ], "sources": [ "eg-law10", "eg-hrw-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The text of Law No. 175 of 2018 itself was not opened; its use is reported by Human Rights Watch." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "eg-law10", "titleEn": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic", "relevance": "The core statute: habitual prostitution, procuring, brothels, exploitation and advertising.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1–14" ], "inForce": "1961-03-14" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1961-03-14", "event": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution is published in the Official Gazette (No. 62) and enters into force in the Egyptian region; it repeals Law No. 68 of 1951.", "sources": [ "eg-law10" ] }, { "date": "2025-07", "event": "Authorities begin a campaign of arrests and prosecutions of social-media content creators on charges including violating family values and inciting debauchery.", "sources": [ "eg-hrw-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "eg-law10", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قرار رئيس الجمهورية العربية المتحدة بالقانون رقم 10 لسنة 1961 في شأن مكافحة الدعارة في الجمهورية العربية المتحدة", "titleEn": "Decree-Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic (Official Gazette No. 62, 14 March 1961)", "publisher": "Manshurat Qanuniya (scan of the Official Gazette)", "url": "https://manshurat.org/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/014408.pdf", "published": "1961-03-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "eg-cassation", "kind": "case-law", "title": "محكمة النقض — مبادئ: دعارة", "titleEn": "Court of Cassation — principles on prostitution (digest)", "publisher": "Bawabat Misr lil-Qanun wal-Qada (laweg.net)", "url": "https://www.laweg.net/Default.aspx?action=LawEg&Type=4&PFIID=13119&PPFIID=13837", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "eg-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Egypt — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/egypt.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "eg-hrw-2025", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Egypt: Mass Crackdown Targets Online Content Creators", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/10/egypt-mass-crackdown-targets-online-content-creators", "published": "2025-09-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/egypt/" }, { "iso2": "SV", "name": "El Salvador", "nativeName": "El Salvador", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Classified on the statute's wording: selling is not an offence, but Art. 170-A of the Penal Code, added in 2003, punishes 'the mere demand or solicitation of prostitution services' with four to eight years, without limiting it to minors, and 'the mere offer of the prostitution services of another' with the same penalty. The reform was framed around child sexual exploitation, and no case law applying the demand clause to clients of adults was found, so actual enforcement may be closer to an abolitionist regime.", "modelSources": [ "sv-cp" ], "summary": "El Salvador's Penal Code does not make selling sex an offence, but its wording on buying is unusually broad. Art. 170-A, added by Legislative Decree 210 of 2003, punishes 'the mere offer of the prostitution services of another' and 'the mere demand or solicitation of prostitution services' with four to eight years' imprisonment each. Read literally, the second paragraph covers any client, adults included; the reform was presented as a measure against the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and no court decision applying it to clients of adults was found. Coercing a person, or abusing their state of need, to make them engage or stay in prostitution carries six to ten years (Art. 170). Because offering another person's services is itself an offence, third-party advertising of sexual services is criminal.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling one's own sexual services is not a criminal offence; the Penal Code's prostitution offences target those who coerce others into prostitution (Art. 170), offer the services of another person, or demand prostitution services (Art. 170-A).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 170 y 170-A Código Penal (D.L. 1030/1997)" ], "sources": [ "sv-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Municipal ordinances and the Ley Marco para la Convivencia Ciudadana y Contravenciones Administrativas were not reviewed for administrative offences on street soliciting." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Art. 170-A, second paragraph: 'the mere demand or solicitation of prostitution services' is punishable by four to eight years' imprisonment. The provision is not limited to minors. Paying or promising to pay a person under 18 for sexual or erotic acts is a separate offence carrying three to eight years (Art. 169-A).", "details": "Art. 170-A (Oferta y demanda de prostitución ajena) reads: 'La mera oferta u ofrecimiento de servicios de prostitución ajena será sancionado con prisión de cuatro a ocho años. La mera demanda o solicitud de servicios de prostitución, será sancionado con la misma pena del inciso anterior.' It was added by Legislative Decree 210 of 25 November 2003 (Diario Oficial No. 4, Volume 362, 8 January 2004).", "provisions": [ "Art. 170-A inc. 2 Código Penal", "Art. 169-A Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "sv-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory text is clear, but the 2003 reform was aimed at child sexual exploitation and no case law or prosecution data on adult clients was found; secondary sources often describe paying for sex with adults as unpunished in practice.", "mapLabel": "up to 8 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence is aimed at adult venues as such (the premises offence in Art. 169 concerns minors), but a venue that offers the sexual services of the people working there commits the Art. 170-A offence of offering 'the prostitution services of another' (four to eight years).", "provisions": [ "Art. 170-A inc. 1 Código Penal", "Art. 169 inc. 2 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "sv-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Application to venues is an inference from the text of Art. 170-A; no case law was reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing a person, through coercion or abuse of their state of need, to engage or remain in prostitution carries six to ten years, eight to twelve if the victim is under 18, with up to a third more where the offender exploits a relationship of superiority (Art. 170). Offering another person's prostitution services is punishable by four to eight years (Art. 170-A).", "provisions": [ "Art. 170 Código Penal (reformado por D.L. 210/2003)", "Art. 170-A inc. 1 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "sv-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Consolidated text published by the Legislative Assembly, with amendments indexed up to March 2023." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising another person's sexual services is the 'mere offer of the prostitution services of another', punishable by four to eight years (Art. 170-A). Self-advertising by a sex worker is not expressly covered by that paragraph, but an advertisement inviting clients to solicit services sits close to the demand offence in the same article.", "provisions": [ "Art. 170-A Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "sv-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law on online advertisements or on the liability of websites hosting them was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sv-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Legislative Decree 1030 of 1997, as amended)", "relevance": "Art. 170 (coercion into prostitution) and Art. 170-A (offer of the prostitution services of another; demand for prostitution services), both in the wording of Legislative Decree 210 of 2003.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169-A", "Art. 170", "Art. 170-A" ], "inForce": "1998-04-20" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1997-06-10", "event": "The current Penal Code (Legislative Decree 1030 of 26 April 1997) is published in the Diario Oficial.", "sources": [ "sv-cp" ] }, { "date": "2004-01-08", "event": "Legislative Decree 210 of 25 November 2003 is published, rewriting Art. 170 and adding Art. 170-A on the offer of others' prostitution services and the demand for prostitution services.", "sources": [ "sv-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sv-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, Decreto Legislativo N.° 1030 (texto con índice legislativo)", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Legislative Decree No. 1030 (consolidated text with legislative index)", "publisher": "Asamblea Legislativa de la República de El Salvador", "url": "https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/decretos/A2598AEF-FBC2-4D3E-A855-2C12EA7A4D52.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/el-salvador/" }, { "iso2": "ER", "name": "Eritrea", "nativeName": "ኤርትራ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code of 2015 has no offence of selling or buying sex. Procuring, promoting or aiding the prostitution of another for gain is a petty offence (Article 314), and trafficking women or young persons into prostitution, even with consent, or keeping them in a disorderly house is a serious offence (Article 315). How far the 2015 Code is applied in practice is uncertain (see notes).", "modelSources": [ "er-pc2015" ], "summary": "Eritrea's Penal Code of 2015 does not make selling or buying sex an offence. A person who, for gain, procures, promotes or aids the prostitution of another commits a Class 1 petty offence punishable by six to twelve months' imprisonment or a fine of 20,001–50,000 nakfa (Article 314). Trafficking women, infants or young persons into prostitution, even with their consent, or keeping them in a disorderly house to let them out to prostitution, carries five to seven years (Article 315), with heavier penalties for aggravated and organised forms (Articles 316–318). Adultery by a married person and their partner is a petty offence (Article 323). The government publishes no crime statistics and enforcement could not be assessed.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the 2015 Penal Code makes selling sex an offence. General petty offences apply to sexual acts in public (Article 312) and to sexual intercourse by or with a married person outside the marriage (adultery, Article 323, one to six months or a fine).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2015 art. 312", "Penal Code 2015 art. 323" ], "sources": [ "er-pc2015", "er-tip2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the 2015 English edition published by the Ministry of Justice (Refworld copy via the Internet Archive). The US State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report describes the 2015 Code as not yet formally implemented; that page returned HTTP 403 and the statement was confirmed only from a search-result extract, so which code courts apply in practice was not verified." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the 2015 Penal Code makes paying for sex an offence. A married client, or a client who knows the other person is married, may commit adultery, a Class 2 petty offence (Article 323).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2015 art. 323" ], "sources": [ "er-pc2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Same caveat as for selling on whether the 2015 Code is applied in practice." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel falls under procuring, promoting or aiding the prostitution of another for gain, a Class 1 petty offence of six to twelve months' imprisonment or a fine (Article 314). Keeping women or young persons in a disorderly house to let them out to prostitution, for gain or to gratify others, is a serious offence of five to seven years (Article 315(b)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2015 art. 314", "Penal Code 2015 art. 315" ], "sources": [ "er-pc2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Code has no brothel-specific offence; the classification applies Article 314's general wording. Implementation caveat as above." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who, for gain, procures, promotes or aids the prostitution of another person commits a Class 1 petty offence: six to twelve months or 20,001–50,000 nakfa (Article 314). Inducing women, infants or young persons into prostitution, even with consent, is trafficking with five to seven years (Article 315), seven to ten years when aggravated (Article 316). The trafficking provisions do not cover adult men.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2015 arts. 314–318" ], "sources": [ "er-pc2015", "er-tip2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The US State Department reported no anti-trafficking prosecutions in the 2025 reporting period. Implementation caveat as above." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically addresses advertising sexual services. Advertising the prostitution of another for gain would fall within \"promotes or aids\" in Article 314 (petty offence). Publicly distributing or displaying obscene or grossly indecent material is a Class 1 petty offence (Article 313). A person advertising only their own services is not covered by a specific offence.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 2015 art. 313", "Penal Code 2015 art. 314" ], "sources": [ "er-pc2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case law or guidance found. Eritrea's media and internet environment is under tight state control, which was not examined here." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "er-pc2015", "titleEn": "Penal Code of the State of Eritrea 2015", "relevance": "Replaced the Transitional Penal Code (the 1957 Ethiopian code adopted by Proclamation No. 3/1991); Articles 312–318 cover public indecency, obscenity, prostitution and trafficking in women and young persons.", "provisions": [ "arts. 312–318", "art. 323" ], "inForce": "2015" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1991", "event": "Proclamation No. 3/1991 adopts the 1957 Ethiopian Penal Code, with amendments, as the Transitional Penal Code of Eritrea.", "sources": [ "er-pc2015" ] }, { "date": "2015-05-15", "event": "The Ministry of Justice publishes the new Penal Code of the State of Eritrea, which makes procuring for gain a petty offence and trafficking into prostitution a serious offence.", "sources": [ "er-pc2015" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "er-pc2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code of the State of Eritrea 2015", "publisher": "Ministry of Justice of Eritrea (Refworld copy, Internet Archive snapshot of 2015-09-18)", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20150918231843/https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/55a51ccc4.pdf", "published": "2015-05-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "er-tip2025", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Eritrea", "publisher": "US Department of State (via ecoi.net)", "url": "https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2130572.html", "published": "2025-09-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "er-tip2026", "kind": "government", "title": "2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Eritrea", "publisher": "US Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2026-trafficking-in-persons-report/eritrea", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eritrea/" }, { "iso2": "EE", "name": "Estonia", "nativeName": "Eesti", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Procuring (kupeldamine), which includes arranging meetings between a sex worker and a client, owning or managing a brothel and renting premises for one, is a crime, and the Advertising Act bans advertising sexual services, including prostitution.", "modelSources": [ "ee-kars", "ee-reks" ], "summary": "In Estonia adults may sell and buy sex. The Penal Code criminalises procuring: arranging meetings between a person engaged in prostitution and a client, owning or managing a brothel, assisting prostitution there, renting premises for a brothel, or influencing someone to start or continue prostitution, with a fine or up to five years. Buying sex from a person under 18 carries up to five years. The Advertising Act prohibits advertising sexual services, including prostitution, and advertising that facilitates mediation of prostitution; whoever commissions, produces or publishes such an advert commits a misdemeanour, with fines of up to EUR 400,000 for companies.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex as an adult is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution offences target procurers, traffickers and buyers of sex from minors, not the person selling.", "provisions": [ "§ 133² KarS" ], "sources": [ "ee-kars" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Sexual intercourse or another sexual act with a person under 18 in exchange for money or any other benefit is punishable by up to five years, and up to eight years if the person is under 14.", "provisions": [ "§ 145¹ KarS" ], "sources": [ "ee-kars" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning or managing a brothel, assisting prostitution in one, or renting premises for keeping a brothel is procuring, punishable by a fine or up to five years. Repeat offences or those committed for large proprietary gain carry one to five years; legal persons can be fined.", "provisions": [ "§ 133² KarS" ], "sources": [ "ee-kars" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Arranging a meeting between a person engaged in prostitution and a client, or influencing someone to begin or continue prostitution, is procuring where the conduct does not amount to trafficking. It carries a fine or up to five years.", "provisions": [ "§ 133² KarS", "§ 133 KarS" ], "sources": [ "ee-kars" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Advertising services offered for sexual gratification, including prostitution, or advertising that refers to such services, is prohibited, as is advertising that facilitates mediation of prostitution. Commissioning, producing or publishing such an advert is a misdemeanour: up to 300 fine units for individuals and up to EUR 400,000 for legal persons.", "details": "The ban is in § 25 of the Advertising Act and the sanction in § 34, which applies to whoever commissions, produces or publishes (avalikustamine) the advert, so a website publishing such ads is within its scope. Out-of-court proceedings are handled by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA). The misdemeanour is a penal offence in Estonian law (väärtegu); it is classed here as administrative because it is a fine imposed by an authority rather than a crime.", "provisions": [ "§ 25 RekS", "§ 34 RekS", "§ 36 RekS" ], "sources": [ "ee-reks" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "We did not find enforcement statistics on prostitution adverts." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ee-kars", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Karistusseadustik)", "relevance": "§ 133² (procuring, brothels), § 133 (trafficking) and § 145¹ (buying sex from a minor).", "provisions": [ "§ 133", "§ 133²", "§ 145¹" ], "inForce": "2002-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "ee-reks", "titleEn": "Advertising Act (Reklaamiseadus)", "relevance": "§ 25 bans advertising of sexual services, including prostitution; § 34 sets the misdemeanour fines.", "provisions": [ "§ 25", "§ 34" ], "inForce": "2008-11-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2002-09-01", "event": "The Penal Code (Karistusseadustik) entered into force.", "sources": [ "ee-kars" ] }, { "date": "2008-11-01", "event": "The Advertising Act, including the ban on advertising sexual services, entered into force.", "sources": [ "ee-reks" ] }, { "date": "2012-04-14", "event": "§ 268¹ of the Penal Code (facilitation of prostitution) repealed; procuring is covered by § 133².", "sources": [ "ee-kars" ] }, { "date": "2023-11-01", "event": "Maximum Advertising Act fine for legal persons raised to EUR 400,000.", "sources": [ "ee-reks" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ee-kars", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Karistusseadustik (terviktekst, RT I, 09.07.2026, 28)", "titleEn": "Penal Code (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Riigi Teataja", "url": "https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/109072026028", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "et" }, { "id": "ee-reks", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Reklaamiseadus (terviktekst, RT I, 06.03.2026, 8)", "titleEn": "Advertising Act (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Riigi Teataja", "url": "https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/106032026008", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "et" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/estonia/" }, { "iso2": "SZ", "name": "Eswatini", "nativeName": "eSwatini", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Neither the Crimes Act 1889 nor the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 2018 expressly makes selling or buying sex an offence. The SODV Act criminalises third parties: commercial sexual exploitation, promoting it, procuring, benefiting from or living on the earnings, and brothels. The 1889 Act's soliciting and loitering offences remain, and sex worker advocates say they are the ones used against sex workers.", "modelSources": [ "sz-sodv", "sz-crimes", "sz-salc-2019" ], "summary": "In Eswatini the exchange of sex for money is not itself a crime, but almost everything around it is. The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018 punishes commercial sexual exploitation (s. 13, up to 20 years) and promoting it, including by publishing information (s. 14). It also punishes procuring (s. 15), benefiting from or living on the earnings of another's prostitution (ss. 16–17) and keeping a brothel (s. 18, up to 15 years). The colonial Crimes Act 1889 still punishes soliciting \"by words, signs, cards or in any other way\" (s. 47) and loitering in public for prostitution (s. 49(1)(e)), with the burden on the accused to show another purpose. A 2019 legal-rights guide by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and local groups says the loitering offence is the one often used against sex workers.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Loitering in any thoroughfare or public place \"for the purpose of prostitution or solicitation\" carries a fine of up to E100 or six months (Crimes Act s. 49(1)(e)), and the accused must prove another purpose. Soliciting immoral acts \"by words, signs, cards or in any other way\" carries a fine of E600 or two years (s. 47(a)).", "details": "Swazi (traditional) courts also have jurisdiction over the loitering offence (s. 49(2)). The Southern Africa Litigation Centre's 2019 guide says the exchange of sex for money \"is not a criminal offence\". It describes the loitering offence as often used against sex workers and criticises the reverse onus. A man who solicits in a public place for immoral purposes faces up to three years and whipping (s. 48(1)(b)).", "provisions": [ "Crimes Act 1889 s. 47(a)", "s. 48(1)(b)", "s. 49(1)(e), (2)" ], "sources": [ "sz-crimes", "sz-salc-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Crimes Act was read from EswatiniLII's version as at 1 December 1998, through the Internet Archive's copy because EswatiniLII blocks automated access. The SODV Act 2018 repealed only the Girls' and Women's Protection Act 1920 but takes precedence over inconsistent laws; whether any Crimes Act provision has been treated as superseded was not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no client offence as such. The Southern Africa Litigation Centre reads the SODV Act as criminalising neither sex workers nor clients, but third parties who benefit. The loitering and soliciting offences in the Crimes Act (ss. 47, 49) can apply to anyone.", "details": "Section 13(2)(b) of the SODV Act defines commercial sexual exploitation to include a person who, for a reward to that person or anyone else, \"makes available, offers or engages the person\" for sexual acts. The word \"engages\" could arguably be read to reach a client; no ruling on this was found.", "provisions": [ "SODV Act 2018 s. 13(2)", "Crimes Act 1889 ss. 47, 49" ], "sources": [ "sz-sodv", "sz-salc-2019", "sz-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The SODV text read is an unsigned assent copy, not a gazetted version. The client question rests on one NGO reading plus the statutory wording." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, controlling or managing a brothel, or assisting in its management, carries a fine of up to E50,000 and/or up to 15 years (SODV Act s. 18). Section 19 deems others to keep a brothel, including residents, landlords who knowingly let premises and anyone found there who refuses to name the keeper. Residents and keepers' spouses are sentenced at the court's discretion (s. 18(2)). The Crimes Act 1889 also has a brothel offence (s. 32, up to three years).", "provisions": [ "SODV Act 2018 ss. 18–21", "Crimes Act 1889 ss. 31–33" ], "sources": [ "sz-sodv", "sz-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "SODV text from an unsigned assent copy hosted by an NGO; the government's own PDF (gov.sz) could not be reached." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "For reward, inviting or inducing a person to allow sexual acts with others, offering or engaging them for that purpose, or facilitating such acts is \"commercial sexual exploitation\": up to E100,000 and/or 20 years (SODV Act s. 13). Procuring a person to engage in prostitution carries up to 15 years (s. 15). So does receiving any reward from sexual acts by another person (s. 16). Living wholly or partly on such rewards carries up to 10 years (s. 17).", "provisions": [ "SODV Act 2018 ss. 13, 15–17", "Crimes Act 1889 s. 48" ], "sources": [ "sz-sodv", "sz-salc-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "SODV text from an unsigned assent copy; section numbers match those cited in the 2019 SALC guide." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Printing or publishing \"in any manner\" information intended to promote or facilitate commercial sexual exploitation carries a fine of up to E50,000 or up to 10 years (SODV Act s. 14(a)). Commercial sexual exploitation is defined broadly enough to cover arranging paid sex for others, so third-party adverts and ad platforms are exposed. A sex worker's own advert could fall under the 1889 offence of soliciting immoral acts \"by words, signs, cards or in any other way\" (Crimes Act s. 47(a)).", "provisions": [ "SODV Act 2018 s. 14(a)", "Crimes Act 1889 s. 47(a)" ], "sources": [ "sz-sodv", "sz-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "A reading of the statutory texts; no prosecutions of publishers, websites or individual advertisers were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sz-sodv", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 2018 (Act No. 15 of 2018)", "relevance": "Part III (\"Commercial Sexual Activities\"): commercial sexual exploitation, promotion, procuring, benefiting, living on the earnings and brothels; repeals the Girls' and Women's Protection Act 1920.", "provisions": [ "ss. 13–21", "s. 196" ] }, { "sourceId": "sz-crimes", "titleEn": "Crimes Act, 1889", "relevance": "Part V: brothels, procuration, soliciting by words, signs or cards, male persons living on earnings, and loitering for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ss. 31–50" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1903-08-01", "event": "Part V of the Crimes Act 1889 (immorality and offences in public places) commences in Swaziland.", "sources": [ "sz-crimes" ] }, { "date": "2018", "event": "The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act creates new third-party prostitution offences and repeals the Girls' and Women's Protection Act 1920.", "sources": [ "sz-sodv" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sz-crimes", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act, 1889 (Act 6 of 1889; version as at 1 December 1998)", "publisher": "EswatiniLII", "url": "https://eswatinilii.org/akn/sz/act/1889/6/eng@1998-12-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sz-sodv", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 2018", "publisher": "Copy hosted by Eswatini Minorities (assent copy)", "url": "https://eswatiniminorities.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/THE-SEXUAL-OFFENCES-AND-DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE-ACT-2018-1.pdf", "published": "2018", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sz-salc-2019", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Know your rights: Sex work and the law in Eswatini", "publisher": "Southern Africa Litigation Centre, COSPE, FSEJ and Voice of Our Voices", "url": "https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SALC-Sex-workers-rights-pamphlet_eSwatini-draft-5_POLICE.pdf", "published": "2019", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eswatini/" }, { "iso2": "ET", "name": "Ethiopia", "nativeName": "ኢትዮጵያ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No provision of the Criminal Code 2004 makes selling or buying sex as such an offence. Living on the prostitution of another and keeping a brothel are crimes (Article 634), and public soliciting, prostitution that is a nuisance to neighbours and advertising for debauchery are petty offences punished by fine or short arrest (Articles 846–847).", "modelSources": [ "et-cc2004", "et-irb2016" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Ethiopia. The Criminal Code of 2004 (Proclamation No. 414/2004) punishes anyone who, for gain, makes a profession of or lives by procuring or on the prostitution of another, or maintains a brothel as landlord or keeper, with simple imprisonment and a fine (Article 634); trafficking and inducing women or minors into prostitution, even with consent, carries up to five years (Article 635). Its petty-offence book punishes improper soliciting in public, prostitution that is a nuisance to the neighbourhood, and publicly advertising that debauchery may be had at a particular place with a fine or arrest (Articles 846–847). Sources from 2014–2016 describe these provisions as rarely enforced, with periodic street sweeps in Addis Ababa.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Under the petty-offence book, a person who in the street or a public place incites another to sexual intercourse by improper soliciting, or who by engaging in prostitution is a nuisance to the occupiers of a dwelling or the neighbourhood, is punishable with a fine or arrest of up to one month (Article 846).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code 2004 art. 846" ], "sources": [ "et-cc2004", "et-irb2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Petty offences are part of the Criminal Code (Book on petty offences). A 2016 Canadian IRB review found reports of street sweeps around major events in Addis Ababa but no documented prosecutions of sex workers.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes paying for sex an offence. A client who molests a person in public or incites another to intercourse by improper soliciting in a public place falls under the general petty offence of Article 846, which is not specific to clients.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code 2004 art. 846" ], "sources": [ "et-cc2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Maintaining a brothel as a landlord or keeper is punishable with simple imprisonment and a fine (Article 634). Keeping a woman or minor in a brothel to let her out to prostitution, for gain or to gratify another, carries rigorous imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to 10,000 birr (Article 635(b)). Juridical persons can be liable (Article 638).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code 2004 art. 634", "Criminal Code 2004 art. 635", "Criminal Code 2004 art. 638" ], "sources": [ "et-cc2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever, for gain, makes a profession of or lives by procuring or on the prostitution of another is punishable with simple imprisonment and a fine (Article 634). Inducing women or minors into prostitution, even with their consent, carries up to five years (Article 635), rising to three to ten years where the victim is a minor, a relative or dependant, or force, fraud or abuse of distress is used (Article 636). Organising such procurement is a separate offence (Article 637).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code 2004 arts. 634–637" ], "sources": [ "et-cc2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever, to encourage debauchery or satisfy the sexual urge of others, publicly advertises by any means that debauchery may be enjoyed at a particular place is punishable with a fine or arrest (Article 847, a petty offence). Making known how obscene objects may be procured is a crime of at least six months' simple imprisonment (Article 640(1)(b)).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code 2004 art. 847", "Criminal Code 2004 art. 640" ], "sources": [ "et-cc2004" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law was found on whether Article 847 or Article 634 has been applied to websites carrying sex-work advertisements; the classification rests on the statutory text." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "et-cc2004", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Proclamation No. 414/2004", "relevance": "Book V, Title IV, Section III (exploitation of the immorality of others) covers procuring, brothels and trafficking into prostitution; the petty-offence book covers public soliciting and advertising for debauchery.", "provisions": [ "arts. 634–638", "arts. 639–643", "arts. 846–847" ], "inForce": "2005-05-09" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2005-05-09", "event": "The Criminal Code (Proclamation No. 414/2004) comes into force, replacing the 1957 Penal Code.", "sources": [ "et-cc2004" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "et-cc2004", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Criminal Code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Proclamation No. 414/2004", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (reproduction of the Federal Negarit Gazeta text)", "url": "https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/et/et011en.html", "published": "2005", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "et-irb2016", "kind": "government", "title": "Ethiopia: Treatment of sex workers by society and authorities, including arrest, prosecution and conviction (2014–June 2016) [ETH105548.E]", "publisher": "Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Research Directorate (via ecoi.net)", "url": "https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/1396626.html", "published": "2016-07-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ethiopia/" }, { "iso2": "FJ", "name": "Fiji", "nativeName": "Matanitu Tugalala o Viti", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Borderline. The Crimes Act 2009 does not make the exchange of sex for money in private an offence as such, but s. 231 makes it an offence to loiter in public to offer sex for payment, to solicit 'by any communication whatsoever', and, for clients, to seek or use a sex worker's services in a public place or to make arrangements to use them 'by any communication whatsoever'. Because almost any way of agreeing a transaction is covered for both parties, the file classifies Fiji as prohibition.", "modelSources": [ "fj-crimes-s231" ], "summary": "In Fiji the Crimes Act 2009 (Part 13, Prostitution Offences) criminalises the arrangements around selling and buying sex rather than the private act itself. Section 231 penalises loitering in public to offer sex for payment, soliciting for an immoral purpose in public or 'by any communication whatsoever', and, on the client side, seeking or using a sex worker's services in a public place or arranging to use them by any communication (fine of FJ$500, then up to three months or FJ$1,000). Keeping or managing a brothel and letting premises for one carries up to five years or FJ$10,000 (s. 233); living on the earnings of prostitution carries six months (s. 230); procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' carries two years (s. 217).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not named as an offence, but loitering in a public place to offer sex for payment, soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, and soliciting for an immoral purpose 'by any communication whatsoever' are summary offences: a fine of FJ$500 for a first offence, then up to three months' imprisonment or FJ$1,000, or both. Persistently soliciting in public is a separate offence under s. 230(1)(b).", "details": "Persistently soliciting or offering a person for immoral purposes in a public place (s. 230(1)(b)) carries imprisonment for 6 months.", "provisions": [ "s. 231(1)(a), (b) and (f) Crimes Act 2009", "s. 230(1)(b) Crimes Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s231", "fj-crimes-s230" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Status 'illegal' reflects that s. 231(1)(f) reaches offers made by any means of communication; the private act itself is not an offence. How courts read 'immoral purpose' and 'any communication' was not researched.", "mapLabel": "FJD 500 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A client commits a summary offence by seeking or using the services of a sex worker in a public place, or by making arrangements with a sex worker, or with a person offering a sex worker's services, to use them 'by any communication whatsoever' (fine of FJ$500, then up to three months or FJ$1,000, or both).", "provisions": [ "s. 231(1)(c), (d) and (e) Crimes Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s231" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The penalty amounts were substituted by Act 31 of 2016 (the 2009 Gazette text used penalty units).", "mapLabel": "FJD 500 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in managing, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be used as a brothel are summary offences punishable by up to five years' imprisonment or a FJ$10,000 fine, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 233 Crimes Act 2009", "s. 232 Crimes Act 2009 (search warrant for suspected premises)" ], "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s233" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries six months' imprisonment, with a presumption against anyone who lives with or habitually accompanies a sex worker or controls their movements. Procuring or attempting to procure any person to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home or Fiji to work in a brothel, carries two years; consent is no defence.", "provisions": [ "s. 230(1)(a) and (2) Crimes Act 2009", "s. 217(1)(b)-(d) and (2) Crimes Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s230", "fj-crimes-s217" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no advertising-specific offence, but soliciting for an immoral purpose 'by any communication whatsoever' (s. 231(1)(f)) and arranging a sex worker's services 'by any communication whatsoever' (s. 231(1)(e)) appear wide enough to cover a sex worker's own online or telephone advertising and the clients who answer it. A site that publishes others' ads could also face the brothel or living-on-earnings offences if it profits from them.", "provisions": [ "s. 231(1)(e) and (f) Crimes Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s231" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the statutory wording; no case law, prosecution data or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found. The Online Safety Act 2018 and Cybercrime Act 2021 were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "fj-crimes-s231", "titleEn": "Crimes Act 2009 (originally Crimes Decree 2009, No. 44 of 2009), consolidated on laws.gov.fj", "relevance": "Part 13 (Prostitution Offences) contains the procuration, living-on-earnings, soliciting and brothel offences (ss. 217, 230, 231, 233).", "provisions": [ "s. 217", "s. 230", "s. 231", "s. 233" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-11-05", "event": "Crimes Decree 2009 published in the Government Gazette, replacing the Penal Code and introducing offences for clients who seek sex workers' services in public or arrange them by any communication.", "sources": [ "fj-crimes-gazette" ] }, { "date": "2016-12-01", "event": "Act 31 of 2016 amends ss. 231 and 233, setting the soliciting fines at FJ$500 / FJ$1,000 and the brothel fine at FJ$10,000.", "sources": [ "fj-crimes-s231", "fj-crimes-s233" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "fj-crimes-s231", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2009, s. 231 Loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution (consolidated, last updated 8 August 2026)", "publisher": "Laws of Fiji (laws.gov.fj), Government of Fiji", "url": "https://www.laws.gov.fj/api/retrieve_html/LOF.CAP17.CRAFJ09.S231", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fj-crimes-s230", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2009, s. 230 Person living on earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting (consolidated)", "publisher": "Laws of Fiji (laws.gov.fj), Government of Fiji", "url": "https://www.laws.gov.fj/api/retrieve_html/LOF.CAP17.CRAFJ09.S230", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fj-crimes-s233", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2009, s. 233 Brothels (consolidated)", "publisher": "Laws of Fiji (laws.gov.fj), Government of Fiji", "url": "https://www.laws.gov.fj/api/retrieve_html/LOF.CAP17.CRAFJ09.S233", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fj-crimes-s217", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2009, s. 217 Procuration for unlawful purposes (consolidated)", "publisher": "Laws of Fiji (laws.gov.fj), Government of Fiji", "url": "https://www.laws.gov.fj/api/retrieve_html/LOF.CAP17.CRAFJ09.S217", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fj-crimes-gazette", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Decree 2009 (Decree No. 44 of 2009), Republic of Fiji Islands Government Gazette Vol. 10 No. 95, 5 November 2009", "publisher": "Government of Fiji (copy hosted by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption)", "url": "https://www.ficac.org.fj/assets/pdf/Crimes%20Act%20of%202009.pdf", "published": "2009-11-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/fiji/" }, { "iso2": "FI", "name": "Finland", "nativeName": "Suomi / Finland", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults in private are legal, while procuring, including arranging premises and marketing someone's services for gain, is criminal. Two features make Finland a partial case: buying from a victim of procuring or trafficking has been an offence since 2006, and both buying and offering paid sex in a public place are prohibited under the Public Order Act.", "modelSources": [ "fi-rl", "fi-jl", "fi-rl-743-2006" ], "summary": "In Finland adults may sell and buy sex in private. The Public Order Act prohibits buying sexual services and offering them for payment in a public place, sanctioned with a petty fine. Since 2006 it has been an offence to buy sex from a person who is the victim of procuring or trafficking, including where the buyer had reason to suspect it. Procuring (paritus) for financial gain, which includes arranging a room for paid sex and marketing someone's services by passing on contact details, carries up to three years, and aggravated procuring up to six. Chapter 20 of the Criminal Code was renumbered by the sexual offences reform in force on 1 January 2023.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is legal in private. Offering sexual services for payment in a public place is prohibited by the Public Order Act and sanctioned with a petty fine (rikesakko).", "details": "A petty fine is the lightest penal sanction in Finnish law and is imposed by the police under the Act on Petty Fine Offences (986/2016). For offering or buying sexual services in breach of § 7(1) of the Public Order Act, that Act sets the petty fine at EUR 100.", "provisions": [ "§ 7 järjestyslaki 612/2003", "§ 16 järjestyslaki 612/2003" ], "sources": [ "fi-jl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "in public: €100 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is legal in private, but an offence in a public place (petty fine) and an offence if the seller is a victim of procuring or trafficking (fine or up to six months), including where the buyer had reason to suspect this. Paying for a sexual act with someone under 18 carries up to two years.", "details": "The offence of exploiting a person subject to sex trade (seksikaupan kohteena olevan henkilön hyväksikäyttö) in chapter 20, section 8 of the Criminal Code covers payment that induces a victim of procuring, aggravated procuring, trafficking or aggravated trafficking to engage in sexual intercourse or a comparable act. Section 9 covers offering payment for a sexual act with a person under 18. Both were renumbered by Act 723/2022. Buying sexual services in a public place in breach of § 7(1) of the Public Order Act carries a petty fine of EUR 100 under the Act on Petty Fine Offences (986/2016).", "provisions": [ "RL 20:8", "RL 20:9", "§ 7 järjestyslaki 612/2003" ], "sources": [ "fi-rl", "fi-jl", "fi-rl-723-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "in public: €100 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Arranging a room or other space for paid sex in order to obtain financial benefit is procuring, punishable by a fine or up to three years. Accommodating a person who sells sex as an established part of one's business, and thereby substantially promoting it, is also covered.", "provisions": [ "RL 20:10(1) items 1 and 2", "RL 20:11" ], "sources": [ "fi-rl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring for financial gain, by arranging premises, accommodating as part of a business, marketing, otherwise exploiting or enticing someone into selling sex, carries a fine or up to three years. Aggravated procuring, for example for considerable financial gain or in a particularly methodical way, carries four months to six years.", "provisions": [ "RL 20:10", "RL 20:11" ], "sources": [ "fi-rl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A sex worker advertising their own services is not a specific offence. A third party who, to obtain financial benefit, markets someone's paid sex by passing on contact details or otherwise, knowing that this substantially promotes it, commits procuring.", "details": "Chapter 20, section 10(1) item 3 of the Criminal Code is the provision most relevant to paid advertising and contact platforms; it requires both the aim of financial benefit and knowledge that the activity substantially promotes the paid sexual act.", "provisions": [ "RL 20:10(1) item 3" ], "sources": [ "fi-rl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The procuring provision was verified. That no separate advertising ban applies to sex workers themselves is based on our reading of the Criminal Code and the Public Order Act; we did not review case law on ad platforms." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "fi-rl", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (39/1889), chapter 20 on sexual offences", "relevance": "Sections 8 and 9 (buying from victims of procuring or trafficking, and from under-18s) and sections 10 and 11 (procuring and aggravated procuring).", "provisions": [ "20:8", "20:9", "20:10", "20:11" ] }, { "sourceId": "fi-jl", "titleEn": "Public Order Act (612/2003)", "relevance": "Prohibits buying sexual services and offering them for payment in a public place; violations are petty fine offences.", "provisions": [ "§ 7", "§ 16" ] }, { "sourceId": "fi-rl-743-2006", "titleEn": "Act 743/2006 amending chapters 1 and 20 of the Criminal Code", "relevance": "Introduced the offence of exploiting a person subject to sex trade, i.e. buying from a victim of procuring or trafficking.", "inForce": "2006-10-01" }, { "sourceId": "fi-rl-723-2022", "titleEn": "Act 723/2022 amending the Criminal Code (sexual offences reform)", "relevance": "Rewrote chapter 20 and renumbered the purchase and procuring offences as sections 8 to 11.", "inForce": "2023-01-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2006-10-01", "event": "Buying sex from a victim of procuring or trafficking became an offence (Act 743/2006).", "sources": [ "fi-rl-743-2006" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-01", "event": "Sexual offences reform (Act 723/2022) in force; the purchase and procuring offences moved to chapter 20, sections 8 to 11.", "sources": [ "fi-rl-723-2022" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "fi-rl", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Rikoslaki 39/1889 (ajantasainen)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "Finlex (oikeusministeriö)", "url": "https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/1889/39", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fi" }, { "id": "fi-jl", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Järjestyslaki 612/2003 (ajantasainen)", "titleEn": "Public Order Act (consolidated)", "publisher": "Finlex (oikeusministeriö)", "url": "https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2003/612", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fi" }, { "id": "fi-rl-743-2006", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laki rikoslain 1 ja 20 luvun muuttamisesta 743/2006", "titleEn": "Act amending chapters 1 and 20 of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Finlex (oikeusministeriö)", "url": "https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2006/743", "published": "2006-08-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fi" }, { "id": "fi-rl-723-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laki rikoslain muuttamisesta 723/2022", "titleEn": "Act amending the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Finlex (oikeusministeriö)", "url": "https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2022/723", "published": "2022-07-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fi" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/finland/" }, { "iso2": "FR", "name": "France", "nativeName": "France", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "France describes its own policy as abolitionist. Since loi n° 2016-444 of 13 April 2016, buying sexual relations is an offence (Code pénal art. 611-1, 225-12-1), selling is not (passive soliciting was repealed), and procuring and running premises remain crimes. That combination is the 'Nordic model' in comparative research. The law treats people who sell sex as victims and adds a state-funded exit programme (parcours de sortie).", "modelSources": [ "lf-loi-2016-444", "lf-cp-611-1", "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "cc-2018-761" ], "summary": "Prostitution itself is legal in France, but buying sexual relations has been an offence since April 2016: a fifth-class contravention (fine up to €1,500, €3,750 for a repeat offence; 5 years' prison where the seller is a minor or vulnerable, rising to 7 years with aggravating factors and 10 years for a child under 15). Procuring is defined broadly: it covers anyone who helps, protects or profits from another person's prostitution, including by posting ads; running or providing premises for prostitution is also a crime. The 2016 law repealed the soliciting offence and created an exit programme. The Conseil constitutionnel (2019) and the ECHR (2024) upheld the ban on buying. Police recorded 1,442 buyer offences in 2025, 64% of them in Paris. A bill passed by the Assemblée nationale on 13 October 2026, now before the Sénat, would add an offence of online sexual exploitation.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Prostitution itself is not an offence for the person who sells sex. Loi n° 2016-444 repealed the offence of public soliciting, including passive soliciting (former art. 225-10-1 Code pénal, created in 2003), and treats people who sell sex as victims of the 'prostitution system', with access to an exit programme.", "details": "The offence of *racolage public* (\"le fait, par tout moyen, y compris par une attitude même passive, de procéder publiquement au racolage d'autrui\", 2 months' imprisonment and €3,750) was inserted into the Code pénal as art. 225-10-1 by art. 50 of loi n° 2003-239 of 18 March 2003 and repealed by art. 15 of loi n° 2016-444. The 2016 law also created the *parcours de sortie de la prostitution et d'insertion sociale et professionnelle* (art. L. 121-9 Code de l'action sociale et des familles, inserted by art. 5 of the law): approved associations support the person, the prefect may grant a temporary residence permit to foreign nationals, and a monthly integration allowance (AFIS) is paid to those not eligible for other minimum benefits. The programme is voluntary; prostitution remains lawful whether or not a person joins it.\n\nFrench case law defines prostitution as submitting, for payment, to physical contact of any kind to satisfy another person's sexual needs (Cour de cassation, criminal chamber, 27 March 1996, restated on 18 May 2022). Webcam services without physical contact therefore fall outside 'prostitution' under current law.", "provisions": [ "Art. 15 loi n° 2016-444 (repeal of art. 225-10-1 Code pénal)", "Art. L. 121-9 Code de l'action sociale et des familles" ], "sources": [ "lf-loi-2016-444", "lf-loi-2003-239", "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "cass-2022-caming" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting, accepting or obtaining sexual relations from a person who engages in prostitution in exchange for payment or a benefit is a fifth-class contravention (fine up to €1,500); a repeat offence is a délit with a €3,750 fine. Buying from a minor or a particularly vulnerable person carries 5 years and €75,000, raised to 7 years and €100,000 with aggravating factors such as contact through an online ad, and to 10 years and €150,000 for a child under 15.", "details": "Art. 611-1 Code pénal (in force since 15 April 2016) covers the act \"de solliciter, d'accepter ou d'obtenir des relations de nature sexuelle d'une personne qui se livre à la prostitution, y compris de façon occasionnelle\" in exchange for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of one. Contraventions are criminal offences in French law, tried by the police court. Art. 225-12-1 makes repeat offending a délit (€3,750 fine) and sets 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 where the seller is a minor or shows a particular vulnerability apparent or known to the buyer (wording since loi n° 2021-478 of 21 April 2021). Art. 225-12-2 raises those penalties to 7 years and €100,000 where the buying is habitual or involves several people, where the person was contacted through messages sent to an undetermined public over a communications network, where the buyer abuses authority, or where he endangers the person or uses violence; and to 10 years and €150,000 for a child under 15, unless the acts are prosecuted as rape or sexual assault. Since loi n° 2021-478, paid sexual penetration of a child under 15 is rape whatever the age difference. The *stage de sensibilisation à la lutte contre l'achat d'actes sexuels* was introduced by art. 21 of the 2016 law and organised by décret n° 2016-1709 of 12 December 2016; it is used both as a complementary penalty and as an alternative to prosecution.\n\nThe Conseil constitutionnel upheld art. 611-1 and the first paragraph of art. 225-12-1 on 1 February 2019 (décision n° 2018-761 QPC), finding that criminalising demand, to deprive procuring of its profits and fight trafficking, was not a manifestly inappropriate means, struck a balance with personal liberty that was not manifestly unbalanced, and carried penalties that were not manifestly disproportionate. In *M.A. and Others v. France* (25 July 2024, applications 63664/19 and others), a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights unanimously found no violation of Article 8, while saying the authorities must keep a \"general and absolute\" ban under constant review.\n\nEnforcement is concentrated: in 2025, 64% of the 1,442 buyer offences recorded by the police and gendarmerie (*verbalisations*, reports passed to prosecutors rather than fines) were recorded in Paris, and 22 départements recorded none (see stats).", "provisions": [ "Art. 611-1 Code pénal", "Art. 225-12-1 Code pénal", "Art. 225-12-2 Code pénal", "Art. 20 loi n° 2016-444", "Art. 21 loi n° 2016-444 (awareness course)" ], "sources": [ "lf-cp-611-1", "lf-cp-225-12-1", "lf-cp-225-12-2", "codes-droit-cp", "lf-loi-2016-444", "an-ta-716-2016", "cc-2018-761", "cc-2018-761-site", "echr-ma-france", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article text checked against codes.droit.org (built from Légifrance data, last change 2026-08-26) because Légifrance could not be opened for automated checks on 2026-10-30; Légifrance remains the canonical source. The 2016 law's article numbers were checked against the Assemblée nationale's final adopted text.", "mapLabel": "€1,500 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Holding, managing, running, directing or financing a 'prostitution establishment' is punished by 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000. The same penalty applies to operators of premises open to the public who habitually tolerate prostitution there, and to anyone who provides non-public premises or vehicles knowing they will be used for prostitution.", "details": "Art. 225-10 Code pénal, items 1° to 4°. Legal persons can also be held criminally liable (art. 225-12). Convictions for *tenue d'un lieu de prostitution* are few: 239 between 2017 and 2024, between 15 (2019) and 41 (2023) a year, according to the Justice Ministry's criminal-records statistics published by the national observatory on violence against women.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-10 Code pénal", "Art. 225-12 Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "codes-droit-cp", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article text checked against codes.droit.org (built from Légifrance data, last change 2026-08-26) because Légifrance could not be opened for automated checks on 2026-10-30; Légifrance remains the canonical source." }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no exception for sex workers who work together. Making premises available to a person knowing they will be used for prostitution is an offence under art. 225-10 3°, and helping or assisting another person's prostitution is procuring under art. 225-5 1°. Both can in principle reach a sex worker who shares or sublets a flat to another.", "details": "Neither art. 225-5 nor art. 225-10 exempts sex workers themselves; art. 225-5 applies to \"quiconque, de quelque manière que ce soit\". Whether two people who work from the same flat are actually prosecuted depends on the facts (who rents, who profits, who organises), and this profile does not cite case law on co-working sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-5 1° Code pénal", "Art. 225-10 3° Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "codes-droit-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "This is a reading of the statute's text. It is not based on reported prosecutions of sex workers who share premises, which were not verified for this profile. Article text checked against codes.droit.org (built from Légifrance data, last change 2026-08-26) because Légifrance could not be opened for automated checks on 2026-10-30; Légifrance remains the canonical source." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (proxénétisme) covers helping, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution, profiting from it or receiving money from someone who habitually engages in it, and recruiting or pressuring someone into it: 7 years and €150,000. Acting as an intermediary and certain related conduct count as procuring. Aggravating factors, including using an electronic network to reach an undetermined public, raise the penalty to 10 years and €1.5 million.", "details": "Art. 225-5 defines procuring; art. 225-6 lists conduct treated as procuring (acting as an intermediary between a person who engages in prostitution and someone who exploits or pays for it, providing a procurer with fictitious income, being unable to justify one's lifestyle while living with or in habitual contact with people who engage in prostitution, obstructing prevention or assistance work). Art. 225-7 sets 10 years and €1,500,000 for aggravated procuring, including where it is committed against a minor or a vulnerable person, against several people, with coercion, or (10°) \"grâce à l'utilisation, pour la diffusion de messages à destination d'un public non déterminé, d'un réseau de communication électronique\". Higher tiers: art. 225-7-1 (minor under 15: 20 years and €3,000,000), art. 225-8 (organised gang), art. 225-9 (torture or acts of barbarity: life). Income received from people who habitually engage in prostitution is also taxable (see tax).\n\nBecause prostitution requires physical contact under case law, the Cour de cassation held on 18 May 2022 (n° 21-82.283) that operators of paid live-webcam ('caming') sites cannot be prosecuted for procuring. Judges, it said, cannot widen the definition beyond what the legislature has provided.\n\nThe 2019 inter-inspectorate evaluation noted that the electronic-network aggravation does not cover private social-media channels. Convictions for aggravated procuring rose from 443 in 2017 to 755 in 2024 (provisional), while those for simple procuring stayed between 72 and 102 a year.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-5 Code pénal", "Art. 225-6 Code pénal", "Art. 225-7 Code pénal", "Art. 225-7-1 Code pénal", "Art. 225-8 Code pénal", "Art. 225-9 Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "codes-droit-cp", "cass-2022-caming", "igas-evaluation-2019", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article text checked against codes.droit.org (built from Légifrance data, last change 2026-08-26) because Légifrance could not be opened for automated checks on 2026-10-30; Légifrance remains the canonical source." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision of the Code pénal's procuring section specifically bans advertising prostitution, and since the 2016 repeal of soliciting a sex worker's own ad is not an offence. A third party who writes, posts or publishes ads for someone else's prostitution can be prosecuted for procuring (aiding or profiting), with the electronic-network aggravation when the ad is online.", "details": "The procuring offences in art. 225-5 to 225-12 Code pénal contain no stand-alone advertising offence. Third-party advertising is instead reached through art. 225-5 1° (aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution), art. 225-5 2° (profiting from it) and the aggravating circumstance in art. 225-7 10° (use of an electronic communications network to send messages to an undetermined public).\n\nExample: the national observatory on violence against women reports a judgment of the Bobigny criminal court of 8 December 2025. A man convicted of aggravated procuring of two minors had, among other acts, provided flats, created and posted prostitution ads on Sexmodel, supplied SIM cards and organised transport.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-5 1° and 2° Code pénal", "Art. 225-7 10° Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "codes-droit-cp", "lf-loi-2016-444", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statement that no specific advertising offence exists is based on a review of the Code pénal's procuring section and the 2016 law, not on an exhaustive search of all French legislation (for example media or consumer law). It is not established how far a sex worker's self-placed ad on a paid platform exposes the platform rather than the worker. Article text checked against codes.droit.org (built from Légifrance data, last change 2026-08-26) because Légifrance could not be opened for automated checks on 2026-10-30; Légifrance remains the canonical source." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Sites that profit from or facilitate prostitution ads risk prosecution for procuring: in 2018 the Paris prosecutor opened a judicial investigation for aggravated procuring into Vivastreet's erotic-ads sections. Hosting providers must help fight content constituting procuring and report notified procuring activity to the authorities (LCEN art. 6), alongside the DSA. Paid webcam sites are not procuring under 2022 case law.", "details": "**Hosting duties.** Art. 1 of loi n° 2016-444 added the procuring offences (art. 225-5 and 225-6 Code pénal) to the list of content that hosting providers must help combat under art. 6 of the LCEN (loi n° 2004-575). In the current version (part IV.A, in force since 26 August 2026), hosting providers must \"informer promptement les autorités compétentes\" of such illegal activities reported to them; failure is punishable by one year's imprisonment and €250,000. Part IV.C penalises failure to notify the authorities as required by Article 18 of the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065). The 2019 evaluation found the reporting mechanisms of little use (178 procuring or trafficking reports to the police platform PHAROS in 2018 out of about 163,000). It also noted that the original bill would have let the administration have procuring sites blocked, which was dropped.\n\n**Ad sites.** In late May 2018 the Paris prosecutor opened a judicial investigation against persons unknown for aggravated procuring concerning Vivastreet's 'Sans lendemain', 'Erotica' and 'Erotica gay' sections; the site then suspended its dating section. The outcome of that investigation was not found for this profile.\n\n**Webcam and remote content.** The Cour de cassation held on 18 May 2022 that caming involves no physical contact and so is not prostitution; the sites offering it cannot be prosecuted for procuring. The 'loi intégrale' bill (n° 3106) at committee stage (Art. 25) would have reversed this by making it procuring to help, or act as an intermediary for, remote paid sexual acts, and by fining buyers of such acts. A government amendment adopted in the Assemblée on 7 October 2026 replaced that wording with a new offence of online sexual exploitation, limited to recruitment by coercion or abuse (see pending).", "provisions": [ "Art. 6 IV loi n° 2004-575 (LCEN)", "Art. 225-5 and 225-7 10° Code pénal", "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA)" ], "sources": [ "lf-lcen-art6", "lf-loi-2016-444", "igas-evaluation-2019", "franceinfo-vivastreet-2018", "cass-2022-caming", "an-amdt-1274", "an-tc-3190" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Vivastreet investigation is sourced from news reporting and its outcome is unknown. The adopted text of the loi intégrale (T.A. n° 356) was not yet published in full text when this profile was written; Art. 25 is described from the adopted government amendment n° 1274. The current wording of LCEN art. 6 (part IV, the version dated 26 August 2026, and its penalties) could not be re-checked on Légifrance on 2026-10-30; the 2016 hosting duties are confirmed by the 2019 evaluation." }, "street": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Street-based selling and soliciting are no longer offences at national level since the 2016 repeal of racolage. Buying on the street is an offence; the 2019 evaluation found the buying offence was sometimes enforced to deal with public-order problems in particular areas. The 2019 government evaluation found that some cities kept municipal orders on the use of public space that specifically target prostitution.", "details": "The inter-inspectorate evaluation (IGA, IGAS, IGJ; dated December 2019, published 2020) observed that in some cities it visited the 2016 law had no effect on municipal orders (*arrêtés municipaux*) regulating the use of the public highway, some of which target prostitution, and considered them contrary to the spirit of the law. It also reported that buyer fines were sometimes used to deal with public-order problems in particular areas, and that the measure had probably contributed to a decline in street prostitution, especially in Paris, and to a shift to less visible indoor and online-arranged work.", "provisions": [ "Art. 15 loi n° 2016-444", "Art. 611-1 Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lf-loi-2016-444", "igas-evaluation-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No current national inventory of municipal orders aimed at street prostitution was found; the IGAS finding dates from 2019." }, "registration": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no registration, licensing or mandatory health-check regime for sex workers. The state's administrative engagement runs through the voluntary exit programme: a prefect decides on entry after an opinion from the departmental commission, for 6 months renewable up to 24 months.", "details": "The *commissions départementales de lutte contre la prostitution, le proxénétisme et la traite des êtres humains aux fins d'exploitation sexuelle* (CDLP), created under art. 5 of the 2016 law, give opinions on entry into and renewal of the exit programme; the prefect decides. On 31 December 2025, 921 people were in an exit programme (96% women), and 30 départements had none in progress. In 2025, 14 commissions held no meeting. Since December 2025 the commissions have been renamed (*commissions départementales de lutte contre la prostitution, l'exploitation sexuelle et la traite des êtres humains à des fins d'exploitation sexuelle*) and include child-protection services, according to the national observatory.", "provisions": [ "Art. L. 121-9 Code de l'action sociale et des familles" ], "sources": [ "lf-loi-2016-444", "onvf-lettre-24", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of a registration regime is inferred from the legislation reviewed; no single provision states it. The December 2025 renaming of the commissions is reported only in the national observatory's foreword; the implementing décret was not located, and the observatory's own text still uses the old name." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income from prostitution is taxable as non-commercial profits (bénéfices non commerciaux, art. 92 Code général des impôts), according to the tax administration's official guidance and Conseil d'État case law. Tax owed by people who leave prostitution to retrain is to be remitted, and people in an exit programme are presumed to meet the hardship condition for remission.", "details": "BOFiP BOI-BNC-CHAMP-10-10-20-40 (version of 28 June 2023), § 580, citing CE, 4 May 1979, n° 9337. The same paragraph refers to people retraining through the programme in art. L. 121-9 CASF and to the presumption of *gêne et indigence* under art. L. 247 1° Livre des procédures fiscales. § 590 states that money received from people who habitually engage in prostitution is taxable for the recipient, who cannot argue that the activity is criminal (CE, 5 November 1980, n° 13222).", "provisions": [ "Art. 92 Code général des impôts", "Art. L. 247 Livre des procédures fiscales", "BOI-BNC-CHAMP-10-10-20-40 § 580-590" ], "sources": [ "bofip-bnc-prostitution" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Social-security registration (for example as self-employed) was not verified for this profile." }, "migrants": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence for foreign nationals either, but general immigration rules apply. Foreign nationals in an exit programme may receive a temporary residence permit of at least six months without having to cooperate with a prosecution, and those who file a complaint for procuring or trafficking are entitled to a temporary residence card unless they pose a public-order threat.", "details": "The 2019 evaluation describes both residence routes (then art. L. 316-1-1 and L. 316-1 of the CESEDA). According to the national observatory, about 80% of people supported in exit programmes by the Amicale du Nid between 2017 and 2025 came from sub-Saharan Africa. The 2019 evaluation describes street prostitution as almost entirely foreign, mainly Nigerian, Romanian, Bulgarian and Hungarian, as well as Chinese networks in Paris.", "provisions": [ "CESEDA, residence provisions for victims of procuring and trafficking (former art. L. 316-1 and L. 316-1-1)" ], "sources": [ "igas-evaluation-2019", "onvf-lettre-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The CESEDA was recodified in 2021; the current article numbers of these residence provisions were not verified for this profile. The loi intégrale bill adopted at first reading on 13 October 2026 contains further residence provisions for victims whose final wording was not available." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lf-loi-2016-444", "titleEn": "Act no. 2016-444 of 13 April 2016 to strengthen the fight against the prostitution system and support prostituted persons", "relevance": "Created the offence of buying sexual relations, repealed soliciting, created the exit programme and departmental commissions, and added procuring to the LCEN content duties for hosting providers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1 (LCEN)", "Art. 5 (exit programme)", "Art. 15 (repeal of soliciting)", "Art. 20 (art. 611-1 Code pénal)", "Art. 21 (awareness course)", "Art. 22 (evaluation report)" ], "inForce": "2016-04-15" }, { "sourceId": "lf-cp-611-1", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, art. 611-1: recourse to prostitution", "relevance": "The basic offence of buying sexual relations, a fifth-class contravention.", "provisions": [ "Art. 611-1 Code pénal" ], "inForce": "2016-04-15" }, { "sourceId": "lf-cp-225-12-1", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, art. 225-12-1: repeat and aggravated recourse to prostitution", "relevance": "Makes repeat buying a délit and punishes buying from minors or vulnerable persons with 5 years' imprisonment (raised to 7 or 10 years by art. 225-12-2).", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-12-1 Code pénal" ], "inForce": "2021-04-23" }, { "sourceId": "lf-cp-225-12-2", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, art. 225-12-2: aggravated recourse to prostitution of a minor or vulnerable person", "relevance": "Raises the penalty for buying from a minor or vulnerable person to 7 years and €100,000 with aggravating factors (including contact through an online ad) and to 10 years and €150,000 for a child under 15.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-12-2 Code pénal" ], "inForce": "2021-04-23" }, { "sourceId": "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Book II, Title II, Chapter V, Section 2: procuring and related offences", "relevance": "Defines procuring broadly, criminalises running or providing premises for prostitution, and contains the aggravation for online advertising.", "provisions": [ "Art. 225-5 to 225-12 Code pénal" ] }, { "sourceId": "lf-lcen-art6", "titleEn": "Act no. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy (LCEN), art. 6", "relevance": "Obliges hosting providers to help combat content constituting procuring and to inform the authorities promptly of reported activity.", "provisions": [ "Art. 6 IV.A and IV.C" ], "inForce": "2026-08-26" }, { "sourceId": "lf-loi-2003-239", "titleEn": "Act no. 2003-239 of 18 March 2003 on internal security", "relevance": "Created the offence of public soliciting, including passive soliciting (art. 225-10-1 Code pénal), repealed in 2016.", "provisions": [ "Art. 50" ], "inForce": "2003-03-19" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "loi-integrale-vss", "title": "Proposition de loi apportant une réponse intégrale au phénomène des violences sexuelles et sexistes contre les femmes et les enfants (n° 3106, 'loi intégrale')", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-10-13", "next": { "what": "First reading in the Sénat (text n° 45, 2026-2027); accelerated procedure, so a joint committee (CMP) may follow" }, "summary": "Broad bill on sexual violence, adopted unanimously by the Assemblée nationale at first reading on 13 October 2026. As filed and as amended in committee, Art. 25 would have made it procuring to help, or act as an intermediary for, remote paid sexual acts (targeting platforms such as OnlyFans and MYM) and created a contravention for buying them (new art. 611-2). Government amendment n° 1274, adopted on 7 October 2026, rewrote Art. 25: it now creates an offence of online sexual exploitation (new art. 225-4-9-1 ff.), meaning recruiting, transporting or housing a person by coercion, abuse of authority or abuse of vulnerability (the circumstances of the trafficking offence, not required where the victim is a minor) so that sexual images or videos of them are made and spread online (7 years and €150,000; more for minors and aggravated forms). It also punishes knowingly viewing such content habitually or for payment (3 years and €45,000). In the committee text, other articles concern buying sex from 15–17-year-olds (treated as rape or sexual assault), a responsibility course that courts must impose on convicted buyers unless they give specific reasons not to, and a new aggravation for murdering a person in prostitution.", "sources": [ "an-ppl-3106", "an-tc-3190", "an-amdt-1274", "an-loi-integrale-adoption", "senat-dossier-ppl26-045", "lcp-art25-seance" ] }, { "id": "exploitation-sexuelle-en-ligne", "title": "Proposition de loi visant à lutter contre l'exploitation sexuelle en ligne (Sénat n° 133, AN n° 2462)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-02-10", "next": { "what": "Examination by the Assemblée nationale's law committee; its wording was taken over in Art. 25 of the loi intégrale" }, "summary": "Senator Marie Mercier's bill, first titled as banning the purchase of personalised virtual sexual services and fighting online procuring, was narrowed in the Sénat to a new offence of online sexual exploitation (art. 225-4-9-1 to 225-4-9-9 Code pénal), including an offence of knowingly viewing such content habitually or for payment. The Sénat adopted it on 10 February 2026 under the accelerated procedure; it has been with the Assemblée nationale's law committee since then.", "sources": [ "senat-tas25-054", "an-dossier-2462" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2003-03-18", "event": "Loi n° 2003-239 on internal security creates the offence of public soliciting, including passive soliciting (art. 225-10-1 Code pénal).", "sources": [ "lf-loi-2003-239" ] }, { "date": "2016-04-13", "event": "Loi n° 2016-444 criminalises buying sexual relations, repeals soliciting and creates the exit programme; the buying offence enters into force on 15 April 2016.", "sources": [ "lf-loi-2016-444", "lf-cp-611-1" ] }, { "date": "2016-12-12", "event": "Décret n° 2016-1709 organises the awareness course on combating the purchase of sexual acts.", "sources": [ "echr-ma-france" ] }, { "date": "2018-05", "event": "The Paris prosecutor opens a judicial investigation for aggravated procuring concerning Vivastreet's erotic-ads sections; the site suspends its dating section in June.", "sources": [ "franceinfo-vivastreet-2018" ] }, { "date": "2019-02-01", "event": "The Conseil constitutionnel declares art. 611-1 and the first paragraph of art. 225-12-1 compatible with the Constitution (décision n° 2018-761 QPC).", "sources": [ "cc-2018-761" ] }, { "date": "2020-06-22", "event": "Publication of the IGA–IGAS–IGJ evaluation of the 2016 law (dated December 2019), with 28 recommendations.", "sources": [ "igas-evaluation-2019" ] }, { "date": "2022-05-18", "event": "The Cour de cassation holds that paid webcam sexual services involve no physical contact, are not prostitution, and cannot ground a procuring prosecution of the sites.", "sources": [ "cass-2022-caming" ] }, { "date": "2024-07-25", "event": "European Court of Human Rights, M.A. and Others v. France: no violation of Article 8 by the criminalisation of buying sexual acts (Chamber, unanimous).", "sources": [ "echr-ma-france" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-10", "event": "The Sénat adopts a bill creating an offence of online sexual exploitation; it is sent to the Assemblée nationale as n° 2462.", "sources": [ "senat-tas25-054", "an-dossier-2462" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "event": "The Assemblée nationale adopts government amendment n° 1274 rewriting Art. 25 of the loi intégrale: the extension of procuring to remote paid sexual acts is replaced by an online sexual exploitation offence.", "sources": [ "an-amdt-1274", "lcp-art25-seance" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "event": "The Assemblée nationale adopts the loi intégrale on sexual and sexist violence at first reading; it is sent to the Sénat.", "sources": [ "an-loi-integrale-adoption", "senat-dossier-ppl26-045" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Buyer offences recorded by police and gendarmerie (purchase from an adult)", "value": "1,442", "year": "2025", "note": "Provisional OCRTEH police and gendarmerie data, France including overseas collectivities. 64% (930) were issued in Paris; 22 départements recorded none. Up 26% from 1,146 in 2024. The Lettre's headline figure reads 1,440 while its text gives 1,442. Counts police offence reports (verbalisations) passed to prosecutors, not fines imposed; the 2019 evaluation counts the same series as procedures.", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27", "igas-evaluation-2019" ] }, { "label": "Buyer offences recorded since the 2016 law", "value": "11,491", "year": "2016–2025", "note": "Sum of annual police and gendarmerie verbalisations from 586 (2016, part year) to 1,442 (2025); 2025 was the highest year, ahead of 1,422 in 2017. Provisional OCRTEH data.", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27" ] }, { "label": "Convictions for recourse to prostitution (non-aggravated)", "value": "269", "year": "2024", "note": "Final convictions entered in the national criminal record where buying was the main offence, France excluding overseas collectivities; 2024 data provisional, down 31% from 392 in 2023. Far fewer than recorded offences: in 2024 prosecutors used alternatives to prosecution for 461 people and dropped 127 cases as not worth prosecuting, and the prosecution rate fell from 77% (2017) to 48%.", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27" ] }, { "label": "Convictions for aggravated procuring", "value": "755", "year": "2024", "note": "Main offence, final convictions in the national criminal record (provisional); up from 443 in 2017. Simple procuring: 76 convictions in 2024.", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27" ] }, { "label": "People in an exit programme (parcours de sortie)", "value": "921", "year": "2025", "note": "On 31 December 2025, 96% women; 2,547 people have entered the programme since 2017. Administrative data (DGCS/SDFE).", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27" ] }, { "label": "Official estimate of people who sell sex", "value": "40,000", "year": "2022", "note": "Estimate by the police central office against trafficking (OCRTEH), cited by the national observatory, which counts them as 'victims of prostitution'. Its method is not published in the source.", "sources": [ "onvf-lettre-27" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "lf-loi-2016-444", "kind": "legislation", "title": "LOI n° 2016-444 du 13 avril 2016 visant à renforcer la lutte contre le système prostitutionnel et à accompagner les personnes prostituées", "titleEn": "Act no. 2016-444 of 13 April 2016 to strengthen the fight against the prostitution system and support prostituted persons", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000032396046", "published": "2016-04-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-cp-611-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal, Article 611-1", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, article 611-1", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000032398661", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-cp-225-12-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal, Article 225-12-1", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, article 225-12-1", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000043409275", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-cp-225-12-2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal, Article 225-12-2", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, article 225-12-2", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000043409260", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "codes-droit-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal (édition du 2026-10-20, dernière modification 2026-08-26)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, consolidated edition of 20 October 2026 (last amended 26 August 2026)", "publisher": "droit.org (from Légifrance API data)", "url": "https://codes.droit.org/PDF/Code%20p%C3%A9nal.pdf", "published": "2026-10-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-cp-proxenetisme", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal, Section 2 : Du proxénétisme et des infractions qui en résultent (Articles 225-5 à 225-12)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, section 2: procuring and related offences (articles 225-5 to 225-12)", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006070719/LEGISCTA000006165301/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-loi-2003-239", "kind": "legislation", "title": "LOI n° 2003-239 du 18 mars 2003 pour la sécurité intérieure", "titleEn": "Act no. 2003-239 of 18 March 2003 on internal security", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000412199", "published": "2003-03-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lf-lcen-art6", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2004-575 du 21 juin 2004 pour la confiance dans l'économie numérique, Article 6", "titleEn": "Act no. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy, article 6", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/article_lc/LEGIARTI000045292730", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cc-2018-761", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Décision n° 2018-761 QPC du 1er février 2019", "titleEn": "Constitutional Council decision no. 2018-761 QPC of 1 February 2019", "publisher": "Conseil constitutionnel (via Légifrance)", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000038087452", "published": "2019-02-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cc-2018-761-site", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Décision n° 2018-761 QPC du 1er février 2019", "titleEn": "Constitutional Council decision no. 2018-761 QPC of 1 February 2019 (Council's own website)", "publisher": "Conseil constitutionnel", "url": "https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/decision/2019/2018761QPC.htm", "published": "2019-02-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "an-ta-716-2016", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Texte adopté n° 716 - Proposition de loi visant à renforcer la lutte contre le système prostitutionnel et à accompagner les personnes prostituées (lecture définitive)", "titleEn": "Final adopted text of the bill that became Act no. 2016-444", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/ta/ta0716.asp", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cass-2022-caming", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Cour de cassation, criminelle, Chambre criminelle, 18 mai 2022, 21-82.283, Publié au bulletin", "titleEn": "Court of Cassation, criminal chamber, 18 May 2022, no. 21-82.283", "publisher": "Légifrance", "url": "https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/juri/id/JURITEXT000045823016", "published": "2022-05-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "echr-ma-france", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Criminalisation of the purchase of sexual acts (Law no. 2016-444): no violation of Article 8 of the Convention (M.A. and Others v. France, press release ECHR 190 (2024))", "publisher": "European Court of Human Rights", "url": "https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf/?library=ECHR&id=003-8007995-11178092&filename=Judgment+M.A.+and+Others+v.+France+-+Criminalisation+of+the+purchase+of+sexual+acts+is+not+a+violation+of+the+Convention.pdf", "published": "2024-07-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "an-ppl-3106", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Proposition de loi apportant une réponse intégrale au phénomène des violences sexuelles et sexistes contre les femmes et les enfants, n° 3106", "titleEn": "Bill providing a comprehensive response to sexual and sexist violence against women and children, no. 3106", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/textes/l17b3106_proposition-loi", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "an-tc-3190", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Texte de la commission spéciale n° 3190 rectifié sur la proposition de loi apportant une réponse intégrale au phénomène des violences sexuelles et sexistes contre les femmes et les enfants", "titleEn": "Special committee text no. 3190 (corrected) on the comprehensive sexual-violence bill", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/textes/l17b3190_texte-adopte-commission", "published": "2026-09-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "an-amdt-1274", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Amendement n° 1274 (Rect) du Gouvernement à l'article 25 (texte n° 3190)", "titleEn": "Government amendment no. 1274 to article 25 of bill no. 3190", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/amendements/3190/AN/1274", "published": "2026-09-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "an-loi-integrale-adoption", "kind": "parliament", "title": "« Loi intégrale » contre les violences sexuelles et sexistes : adoption des propositions de loi en première lecture", "titleEn": "'Comprehensive law' against sexual and sexist violence: bills adopted at first reading", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/actualites-accueil-hub/loi-integrale-contre-les-violences-sexuelles-et-sexistes-adoption-des-propositions-de-loi-en-premiere-lecture", "published": "2026-10-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "senat-dossier-ppl26-045", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Dossier législatif : Proposition de loi apportant une réponse intégrale au phénomène des violences sexuelles et sexistes contre les femmes et les enfants", "titleEn": "Legislative file: comprehensive sexual-violence bill", "publisher": "Sénat", "url": "https://www.senat.fr/dossier-legislatif/ppl26-045.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "senat-tas25-054", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Proposition de loi visant à lutter contre l'exploitation sexuelle en ligne, texte adopté n° 54 (2025-2026)", "titleEn": "Bill to combat online sexual exploitation, text adopted no. 54 (2025-2026)", "publisher": "Sénat", "url": "https://www.senat.fr/leg/tas25-054.html", "published": "2026-02-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "an-dossier-2462", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Proposition de loi visant à prohiber l'achat de services sexuels virtuels personnalisés et à lutter contre le proxénétisme en ligne - Dossier législatif", "titleEn": "Legislative file: bill on online sexual exploitation (no. 2462)", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale", "url": "https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/dossiers/DLR5L17N53198", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lcp-art25-seance", "kind": "news", "title": "Contenus sexuels en ligne: Onlyfans et Mym finalement épargnés par la loi intégrale", "titleEn": "Online sexual content: OnlyFans and MYM spared by the comprehensive law after all", "publisher": "LCP", "url": "https://lcp.fr/actualites/contenus-sexuels-en-ligne-onlyfans-et-mym-finalement-epargnes-par-la-loi-integrale", "published": "2026-10-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "igas-evaluation-2019", "kind": "government", "title": "Évaluation de la loi du 13 avril 2016 visant à renforcer la lutte contre le système prostitutionnel et à accompagner les personnes prostituées", "titleEn": "Evaluation of the Act of 13 April 2016 (IGA, IGAS, IGJ)", "publisher": "Inspection générale des affaires sociales", "url": "https://igas.gouv.fr/sites/igas/files/2024-04/%C3%89valuation%20de%20la%20loi%20du%2013%20avril%202016%20visant%20%C3%A0%20renforcer%20la%20lutte%20contre%20le%20syst%C3%A8me%20prostitutionnel%20et%20%C3%A0%20accompagner%20les%20personnes%20prostitu%C3%A9es.pdf", "published": "2020-06-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "onvf-lettre-24", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Lettre de l'Observatoire national des violences faites aux femmes n° 24 : Le système prostitutionnel", "titleEn": "National Observatory on Violence against Women, Letter no. 24: the prostitution system", "publisher": "MIPROF / Observatoire national des violences faites aux femmes", "url": "https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lettre%2024%20de%20l'Observatoire%20national%20des%20violences%20faites%20aux%20femmes_syst%C3%A8me%20prostitutionnel_VF.pdf", "published": "2025-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "onvf-lettre-27", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Lettre de l'Observatoire national des violences faites aux femmes n° 27 : Le système prostitutionnel en France", "titleEn": "National Observatory on Violence against Women, Letter no. 27: the prostitution system in France", "publisher": "MIPROF / Observatoire national des violences faites aux femmes", "url": "https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2026-04/Lettre%2027_syst%C3%A8me%20prostitutionnel_Observatoire%20national%20des%20violences%20faites%20aux%20femmes_web_V0409.pdf", "published": "2026-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "bofip-bnc-prostitution", "kind": "government", "title": "BNC - Champ d'application - Activités et revenus imposables - Professions ou activités dont la classification fiscale des revenus a donné lieu à des solutions législatives, jurisprudentielles ou administratives (BOI-BNC-CHAMP-10-10-20-40-20230628)", "titleEn": "Official tax guidance on non-commercial profits: classification of particular activities", "publisher": "Direction générale des Finances publiques (BOFiP-Impôts)", "url": "https://bofip.impots.gouv.fr/bofip/2824-PGP.html/identifiant=BOI-BNC-CHAMP-10-10-20-40-20230628", "published": "2023-06-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "franceinfo-vivastreet-2018", "kind": "news", "title": "Le site Vivastreet suspend sa rubrique \"rencontres\" après le lancement d'une enquête pour proxénétisme", "titleEn": "Vivastreet suspends its dating section after a procuring investigation is opened", "publisher": "franceinfo", "url": "https://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/prostitution/le-site-vivastreet-suspend-sa-rubrique-rencontres_2809871.html", "published": "2018-06-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/france/" }, { "iso2": "GA", "name": "Gabon", "nativeName": "République gabonaise", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Law No. 006/2020) does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but criminalises procuring very broadly (Article 260), public soliciting (Article 263) and publicly drawing attention to an \"occasion de débauche\" (Article 212). In a 2025 Libreville case the women in an online network were convicted under the public-morals article, so in practice selling is not free of criminal risk.", "modelSources": [ "ga-cp2020", "ga-union-2025" ], "summary": "Gabon follows the French-derived abolitionist pattern. The Penal Code, rewritten by Law No. 006/2020 of 30 June 2020, has no offence of selling or buying sex between adults, but anyone who aids, protects or profits from another person's prostitution, recruits or keeps a person for it, or acts as intermediary commits procuring, punishable by up to ten years and a fine of up to 20 million CFA francs (Article 260). Public soliciting carries up to two years (Article 263), and publicly drawing attention to an occasion for debauchery or publishing an advertisement of that kind carries up to two years (Article 212). In September 2025 a Libreville court convicted the two organisers of a WhatsApp-based network of procuring and the 13 women involved of an offence against public morals. A bill tabled in October 2026 would raise the Article 212 penalties.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No article makes selling sex as such an offence. Publicly soliciting persons of either sex, on the public highway or by gestures, words, writing or any other means, with a view to provoking debauchery is punishable by up to two years and a fine of up to 2 million francs (Article 263). Public-morals offences under Article 212 have also been applied to women selling sex.", "details": "Article 263: \"Quiconque a, sur la voie publique, toute attitude de nature à provoquer à la débauche ou par gestes, paroles, écrits ou par tous autres moyens, procédé publiquement au racolage de personnes de l'un ou l'autre sexe, en vue de provoquer à la débauche, est puni d'un emprisonnement de deux ans au plus et d'une amende de 2.000.000 de francs au plus.\" In the case reported by L'Union in September 2025, 13 women recruited through WhatsApp groups received three-month suspended sentences for an offence against public morals.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 263", "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 212" ], "sources": [ "ga-cp2020", "ga-union-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code penalises paying for sex with an adult. The procuring offence covers those who \"remunerate\" another person's prostitution only where they act as, or deal with, an intermediary, and the trafficking and child-protection offences apply in their own terms.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 260" ], "sources": [ "ga-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the consolidated text on the Journal Officiel site; the absence of a client offence is inferred from the text, not from a court ruling." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel-keeping article in the 2020 code, but running a venue falls within procuring: knowingly aiding, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution, profiting from it, or keeping a person, even an adult and with consent, for prostitution is punishable by up to ten years and a fine of up to 20 million francs (Article 260).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 260" ], "sources": [ "ga-cp2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The pre-2019 code had a specific offence of financing or managing an establishment of prostitution; no equivalent article was found in the 2020 text, so the classification rests on Article 260." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring covers aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution or soliciting, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, recruiting, training or keeping a person even with consent, living with a person who habitually sells sex without sufficient means of one's own, and acting as intermediary. Penalty: up to ten years and 20 million francs; 15 years if a minor is involved or in an organised gang; 30 years with torture.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 260", "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 34-2" ], "sources": [ "ga-cp2020", "ga-union-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement or correspondence of that kind in whatever terms, is punishable by up to two years and/or a fine of up to 2 million francs (Article 212(3)). Soliciting \"by writing or any other means\" is also an offence (Article 263), and a platform or group organiser that helps another's prostitution can be charged with procuring (Article 260).", "details": "Article 212(3) punishes whoever has \"attiré publiquement l'attention sur une occasion de débauche ou a publié une annonce ou une correspondance de ce genre, quels qu'en soient les termes\". In the 2025 Libreville case the two men who ran WhatsApp groups (some with up to 13,000 members, according to L'Union) used to offer women were convicted of procuring and sentenced to 12 months, four of them to be served.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 212", "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 263", "Code pénal (Law No. 006/2020) art. 260" ], "sources": [ "ga-cp2020", "ga-union-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ga-cp2020", "titleEn": "Law No. 006/2020 of 30 June 2020 amending Law No. 042/2018 of 5 July 2019 on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Replaces the 2019 Penal Code; contains the procuring, soliciting, public-morals and trafficking offences.", "provisions": [ "art. 212", "art. 225", "art. 260", "art. 263" ], "inForce": "2020-06-30" }, { "sourceId": "ga-loi2021", "titleEn": "Law No. 005/2021 of 6 September 2021 amending certain provisions of Law No. 006/2020 on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Amended the aggravating circumstances for sexual offences and offences against morals (Article 261); did not change the procuring or soliciting articles.", "provisions": [ "art. 261" ], "inForce": "2021-09-06" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ga-art212-bill-2026", "title": "Private member's bill amending Law No. 006/2020 (Article 212, offences against public morals)", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2026-10-16", "summary": "Presented to the National Assembly's law commission in October 2026 by deputy Béni Ngoua Mbina. It would raise the maximum penalty for offences against public morals under Article 212, which also covers advertising occasions for debauchery, to five years and 10 million francs, and add offences for same-sex relations and their promotion or advertising. No vote had been reported.", "sources": [ "ga-gabonreview-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-07-05", "event": "Law No. 042/2018 adopts a new Penal Code, replacing the 1963 code.", "sources": [ "ga-cp2020" ] }, { "date": "2020-06-30", "event": "Law No. 006/2020 replaces the 2019 Penal Code, including the procuring (Article 260) and soliciting (Article 263) offences in their current form.", "sources": [ "ga-cp2020" ] }, { "date": "2021-09-06", "event": "Law No. 005/2021 amends the aggravating circumstances for sexual offences and offences against morals.", "sources": [ "ga-loi2021" ] }, { "date": "2025-09-01", "event": "The Libreville court of first instance convicts two organisers of a WhatsApp-based prostitution network of procuring and 13 women of an offence against public morals.", "sources": [ "ga-union-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "event": "A bill raising the penalties of Article 212 (public morals) and adding offences on same-sex relations is presented to the National Assembly's law commission.", "sources": [ "ga-gabonreview-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ga-cp2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n°006/2020 du 30 juin 2020 portant modification de la loi n°042/2018 du 05 juillet 2019 portant Code Pénal de la République Gabonaise", "titleEn": "Law No. 006/2020 of 30 June 2020 amending Law No. 042/2018 of 5 July 2019 on the Penal Code of the Gabonese Republic", "publisher": "Journal Officiel de la République Gabonaise", "url": "https://journal-officiel.ga/code-penal", "published": "2020-06-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ga-loi2021", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi N° 005/2021 du 06/09/2021 portant modification de certaines dispositions de la loi n°006/2020 du 30 juin 2020 portant Code Pénal de la République Gabonaise", "titleEn": "Law No. 005/2021 of 6 September 2021 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code", "publisher": "Journal Officiel de la République Gabonaise", "url": "https://journal-officiel.ga/17697-005-2021/", "published": "2021-09-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ga-union-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Placement et proxénétisme : des peines de 12 et 3 mois pour les auteurs", "titleEn": "Placement and procuring: sentences of 12 and 3 months for the perpetrators", "publisher": "L'Union (Sonapresse)", "url": "https://www.union.sonapresse.com/index.php/fr/placement-et-proxenetisme-des-peines-de-12-et-3-mois-pour-les-auteurs", "published": "2025-09-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ga-gabonreview-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Code pénal & homosexualité : au Gabon, un député propose jusqu'à 10 millions de francs d'amende", "titleEn": "Penal Code and homosexuality: in Gabon, a deputy proposes fines of up to 10 million francs", "publisher": "Gabonreview", "url": "https://www.gabonreview.com/code-penal-homosexualite-au-gabon-un-depute-propose-jusqua-10-millions-de-francs-damende/", "published": "2026-10-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/gabon/" }, { "iso2": "GE", "name": "Georgia", "nativeName": "საქართველო", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 172³ of the Code of Administrative Offences (warning or small fine). The provision does not define prostitution or say whether it covers the buyer; in practice it is applied to people who sell sex. Facilitating prostitution, providing premises for it and involving a person in it by threats or deceit are crimes. The Constitutional Court upheld Article 172³ on 2 April 2026.", "modelSources": [ "ge-aoc", "ge-cc", "ge-constcourt-1354", "ge-gegelia-2022" ], "summary": "In Georgia prostitution is an administrative offence: Article 172³ of the Code of Administrative Offences provides for a warning or a fine of up to half the minimum wage unit, and up to one unit for a repeat within a year, with trafficking victims and people drawn in by the crime of involvement in prostitution exempt. Buying is not expressly penalised. The Criminal Code punishes persuading a person into prostitution or other non-violent facilitation (fine or up to two years), providing a place or dwelling for prostitution (fine or two to four years) and involving a person by threats, blackmail, deceit or violence (two to twenty years depending on aggravation). On 2 April 2026 the Constitutional Court rejected a sex worker's challenge to Article 172³ brought in 2018.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a warning or a fine of up to half the minimum wage unit; a repeat within one year of a penalty brings a fine of half to one unit. Trafficking victims and people involved in prostitution through the crime in Article 253 of the Criminal Code are exempt. The Constitutional Court upheld the provision in April 2026.", "details": "Article 172³ (*პროსტიტუცია*). The Constitutional Court's second board rejected claim No. 1354 (*S.M. v. Parliament of Georgia*), brought by an adult sex worker who argued that the ban disproportionately restricts the right to free development of personality (Article 12 of the Constitution); the decision of 2 April 2026 cites public health and the prevention of trafficking, and carries a dissent by Judge Teimuraz Tughushi. The fine is expressed in Soviet-era 'minimum wage' units; the amount in lari was not verified.", "provisions": [ "Art. 172³ საქართველოს ადმინისტრაციულ სამართალდარღვევათა კოდექსი" ], "sources": [ "ge-aoc", "ge-constcourt-1354" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision expressly penalises paying for sex with an adult. Article 172³ does not define prostitution, so commentators note it could in principle reach the buyer, but in practice only the seller is fined.", "provisions": [ "Art. 172³ საქართველოს ადმინისტრაციულ სამართალდარღვევათა კოდექსი" ], "sources": [ "ge-aoc", "ge-gegelia-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Enforcement practice rests on an academic article (Gegelia, 2022); we found no official statistics on who is fined." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Providing a place or dwelling for prostitution is a crime punishable by a fine or two to four years, four to seven if committed by a group, repeatedly, against a pregnant woman or a dependant, and longer where minors are involved. Legal persons can be fined, deprived of the right to operate or liquidated.", "provisions": [ "Art. 254(2)-(5) საქართველოს სისხლის სამართლის კოდექსი" ], "sources": [ "ge-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Persuading a person to engage in prostitution, or any other non-violent act that facilitates a person's participation in it, carries a fine or up to two years. Involving a person in prostitution by threatening to destroy property, blackmail or deceit carries two to five years, by violence four to ten, with longer terms for aggravated forms and fifteen to twenty years or life where the offender knew the victim was a minor.", "provisions": [ "Art. 253 საქართველოს სისხლის სამართლის კოდექსი", "Art. 254(1) საქართველოს სისხლის სამართლის კოდექსი" ], "sources": [ "ge-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No provision specifically banning adverts for sexual services was found. The Law on Advertising regulates 'sex-related products' (no radio or television advertising, nor on front pages and magazine covers) but does not mention prostitution. A third party placing adverts could fall under Article 254(1) of the Criminal Code as a non-violent act facilitating prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 8¹ რეკლამის შესახებ კანონი", "Art. 254(1) საქართველოს სისხლის სამართლის კოდექსი" ], "sources": [ "ge-adv", "ge-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying Article 254(1) to adverts or ad sites is our reading; no case law or enforcement practice was found. The person selling sex commits the Article 172³ offence regardless of advertising." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ge-aoc", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia", "relevance": "Article 172³ makes prostitution an administrative offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 172³" ] }, { "sourceId": "ge-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Georgia", "relevance": "Article 253 (involving a person in prostitution by threats, deceit or violence) and Article 254 (facilitating prostitution, providing premises).", "provisions": [ "Art. 253", "Art. 254" ] }, { "sourceId": "ge-adv", "titleEn": "Law of Georgia on Advertising", "relevance": "Restricts advertising of sex-related products; no prostitution-specific rule.", "provisions": [ "Art. 8¹" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-10-03", "event": "A sex worker filed constitutional claim No. 1354 challenging Article 172³ of the Code of Administrative Offences.", "sources": [ "ge-constcourt-1354" ] }, { "date": "2019-10-24", "event": "Constitutional Court admitted claim No. 1354 in part for consideration on the merits; the hearing was held on 13 November 2019.", "sources": [ "ge-constcourt-1354" ] }, { "date": "2026-04-02", "event": "Constitutional Court (second board) rejected claim No. 1354, upholding the administrative ban on prostitution; one judge dissented.", "sources": [ "ge-constcourt-1354" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ge-aoc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "საქართველოს ადმინისტრაციულ სამართალდარღვევათა კოდექსი (კონსოლიდირებული ვერსია)", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia (latest consolidated version)", "publisher": "სსიპ \"საქართველოს საკანონმდებლო მაცნე\" (Legislative Herald of Georgia)", "url": "https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/28216", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ka" }, { "id": "ge-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "საქართველოს სისხლის სამართლის კოდექსი (კონსოლიდირებული ვერსია)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Georgia (latest consolidated version)", "publisher": "სსიპ \"საქართველოს საკანონმდებლო მაცნე\" (Legislative Herald of Georgia)", "url": "https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ka" }, { "id": "ge-adv", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law of Georgia on Advertising (consolidated English translation)", "publisher": "Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne)", "url": "https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/31840", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ge-constcourt-1354", "kind": "case-law", "title": "ს.მ. საქართველოს პარლამენტის წინააღმდეგ, №2/2/1354 გადაწყვეტილება, 2026 წლის 2 აპრილი", "titleEn": "S.M. v. Parliament of Georgia, Constitutional Court decision No. 2/2/1354 of 2 April 2026", "publisher": "საქართველოს საკონსტიტუციო სასამართლო (Constitutional Court of Georgia)", "url": "https://www.constcourt.ge/ka/judicial-acts?legal=19492", "published": "2026-04-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ka" }, { "id": "ge-gegelia-2022", "kind": "academic", "title": "Georgian Regime of Regulation of Prostitution and its Watchdogs", "publisher": "Tamar Gegelia (Caucasus University), journal of the Constitutional Court of Georgia", "url": "https://constcourt.ge/files/4/5)%20Gegelia%20ENG%202022.pdf", "published": "2022", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/georgia/" }, { "iso2": "DE", "name": "Germany", "nativeName": "Deutschland", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are legal, contracts for sexual services are enforceable since the Prostitution Act 2002, and brothels, escort agencies and other 'prostitution businesses' operate under a federal permit regime (ProstSchG 2017). Sex workers must register in person. Criminal law targets exploitation, pimping, trafficking and buying from trafficking victims. A sex-purchase ban is being debated but no bill exists (October 2026).", "modelSources": [ "prostg", "prostschg", "stgb-180a", "stgb-181a", "stgb-232a" ], "summary": "Germany treats prostitution as a legal, regulated activity. The Prostitution Act (2002) made agreements for sexual services legally enforceable and allowed employment with social insurance. The Prostitutes Protection Act (ProstSchG, in force 1 July 2017) added compulsory registration and health counselling for sex workers, a permit system for brothels and agencies, a condom duty and a ban on certain advertising. Street work is restricted locally through Land ordinances. The government's evaluation (2025) found the law's aims partly achieved; an expert commission is due to present legislative proposals at the end of November 2026, while senior CDU politicians call for a Nordic-model ban on buying sex. A separate bill (2026) would rewrite the criminal offences on exploitation and trafficking.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Länder and municipalities (restricted zones)", "note": "Under Art. 297 EGStGB each Land government may ban prostitution by ordinance in whole municipalities of up to 50,000 inhabitants, in parts of municipalities of over 20,000 inhabitants, and on public streets and places (and places visible from them) regardless of size, optionally by time of day. The result is a patchwork of 'Sperrbezirke'. Munich, for example, has 27 restricted zones and bans street soliciting outside a few designated zones and hours. Länder may also limit the territorial validity of the registration certificate (§ 5(3) ProstSchG).", "sources": [ "egstgb-297", "muenchen-sperrbezirk", "prostschg" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sexual services is legal for adults (18+). Before starting, a sex worker must register in person with the competent authority and attend a health counselling session; working without registration is an administrative offence (fine up to EUR 1,000). Agreements for paid sexual services create an enforceable claim to the agreed fee.", "details": "- **Legal status of the contract:** § 1 ProstG makes an agreement for sexual acts against a previously agreed fee a legally effective claim; the claim cannot be assigned (§ 2 ProstG).\n- **Registration:** § 3 ProstSchG requires registration before starting work, whether self-employed or employed; the certificate (*Anmeldebescheinigung*) must be refused for under-18s and in cases of indications of coercion or exploitation (§ 5(2)). See the `registration` topic.\n- **Condom duty:** § 32(1) ProstSchG obliges both sex workers and clients to ensure condoms are used during intercourse, but only the client's breach is sanctioned (§ 33(1) no. 3).\n- **Restricted zones:** selling in a zone banned by a Land ordinance is an administrative offence (§ 120 OWiG) and, if persistent, a crime (§ 184f StGB). See `street`.", "provisions": [ "§§ 1–2 ProstG", "§§ 3, 5, 10 ProstSchG", "§ 33(1) no. 1, (3) ProstSchG" ], "sources": [ "prostg", "prostschg", "prostschg-33" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sexual services from an adult is legal. Clients must ensure a condom is used (fine up to EUR 50,000). It is a crime to pay for sex with a victim of trafficking or forced prostitution while exploiting their predicament, including where the client recklessly fails to recognise it, and to pay for sex with anyone under 18.", "details": "- **Condom duty:** § 32(1) ProstSchG; a client who fails to ensure a condom is used commits an administrative offence (§ 33(1) no. 3), the highest fine bracket in the Act (EUR 50,000, § 33(3)).\n- **Clients of trafficking victims:** § 232a(6) StGB punishes paying for sexual acts with a victim of trafficking or forced prostitution while exploiting their personal or economic predicament or helplessness linked to being in a foreign country (3 months to 5 years). If the client at least recklessly (*leichtfertig*) fails to recognise these circumstances, the penalty is up to 3 years or a fine. A client who voluntarily reports the trafficking or forced-prostitution offence committed against that person, before it is discovered, is exempt.\n- **Minors:** an adult who pays for sexual acts with a person under 18 commits an offence under § 182(2) StGB (up to 5 years or a fine); the 2026 bill would replace it with § 181a StGB-E, dropping the offender age limit and adding a reckless variant.\n- **Pending:** the 2026 trafficking bill would move the client offence for victims of forced prostitution and sexual exploitation into a new § 181 StGB, drop the exemption for clients who report the offence, and cover clients of trafficking victims under a new general offence that requires knowledge (§ 232a StGB-E). A Nordic-model purchase ban is being debated but no bill exists (see `pending`).", "provisions": [ "§ 32(1), § 33(1) no. 3 ProstSchG", "§ 232a(6) StGB", "§ 182(2) StGB" ], "sources": [ "prostschg-32", "prostschg-33", "stgb-232a", "stgb-182", "btd-21-6584" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Running a brothel, escort agency, prostitution vehicle or sex event requires a permit (§ 12 ProstSchG) with a business concept, reliability checks and minimum standards for rooms. Operating without a permit can be fined up to EUR 10,000. Keeping sex workers in personal or economic dependence in such a business is a crime (§ 180a StGB). About 2,260 businesses held permits at the end of 2025.", "details": "- **Scope:** a *Prostitutionsgewerbe* is any commercial offer of services connected with the sexual services of at least one other person, or of premises for them: a prostitution venue, vehicle, event or agency (§ 2(3)–(7) ProstSchG).\n- **Permit:** § 12; mandatory refusal if the applicant is under 18 or unreliable (§§ 14–15); a permit must also be refused where there are indications that the type of business is incompatible with sexual self-determination or encourages exploitation, where minimum standards are not met, or where the concept or location conflicts with the public interest or a restricted-zone ordinance (§ 14(2)). According to the Bundestag's research service, the explanatory memorandum treats so-called '(rape) gang-bang' events and flat-rate brothels as typically not permittable.\n- **Operator duties:** minimum room standards (§ 18), health and safety (§ 24), no under-18s, coerced persons or unregistered workers (§ 25), no instructions on whether or how sexual services are provided and no grossly disproportionate charges (§ 26, also § 3 ProstG), checking registration certificates (§ 27), records (§ 28).\n- **Sanctions:** operating without a permit, letting barred persons work, or breaching orders are fines up to EUR 10,000 (§ 33(2), (3)). Commercially running a business in which sex workers are kept in personal or economic dependence is punishable by up to 3 years or a fine (§ 180a(1) StGB).\n- **Building law:** the evaluation found that ProstSchG and planning law are not well aligned; zoning rules can exclude venues regardless of a permit.", "provisions": [ "§§ 2, 12–18, 24–28 ProstSchG", "§ 33(2) no. 1, (3) ProstSchG", "§ 180a StGB" ], "sources": [ "prostschg", "prostschg-33", "stgb-180a", "wd7-031-20", "kfn-summary", "destatis-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "A sex worker working alone in her own flat needs only personal registration. Once someone rents rooms out specifically for prostitution, steers their use and profits from others' work, the flat is a 'prostitution venue' needing a permit. North Rhine-Westphalia's guidance says equal co-tenants who work independently and only share rent are not a business, but a partnership or one worker running the flat is.", "details": "The federal Act defines a prostitution business by reference to the sexual services of *at least one other person* (§ 2(3) ProstSchG), so sole working is outside the permit regime. Where the line falls for groups is left to Land enforcement guidance. The NRW circular of 25 March 2020 (RL ProstSchG-Gewerbe, no. 2.4.3.1) treats a flat as a prostitution venue where a landlord or main tenant deliberately provides it for prostitution, controls its use and draws an economic benefit; co-tenants with equal rights who work independently and only share the rent are not a business, but a civil-law partnership (GbR) of sex workers is, as is a flat where one worker organises the operation for the others. Other Länder may apply their own guidance.", "provisions": [ "§ 2(3)–(4) ProstSchG", "§ 12 ProstSchG" ], "sources": [ "prostschg", "nrw-rl-prostschg-gewerbe" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the federal definition plus one Land's administrative guideline (NRW, 2020); practice in other Länder was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from another person's prostitution is lawful in a permitted business. Criminal law covers exploitative or controlling pimping (6 months to 5 years), commercially arranging encounters in a way that impairs the worker's independence (up to 3 years), exploitation in a business, and trafficking and forced prostitution (generally up to 10 years, up to 15 in aggravated cases of forced prostitution).", "details": "- **§ 181a StGB (*Zuhälterei*):** (1) exploiting a person in prostitution, or for gain supervising her work, setting place, time, extent or conditions, or keeping her from leaving it, where the offender maintains a relationship beyond a single occasion: 6 months to 5 years; (2) commercially promoting another's prostitution by arranging sexual contacts and thereby impairing her personal or economic independence, with such a relationship: up to 3 years or a fine.\n- **§ 180a StGB:** commercially running a business where sex workers are kept in dependence; providing housing for prostitution to under-18s, or to adults combined with pressuring or exploiting them.\n- **§ 232 StGB (trafficking)** and **§ 232a StGB (forced prostitution):** recruiting, transporting or inducing a person into prostitution by exploiting a predicament or helplessness abroad, or any person under 21 regardless of means; § 233a covers exploitation through deprivation of liberty.\n- **Pending reform (BT-Drs. 21/6584):** the government bill would merge §§ 180a and 181a into a new § 180 StGB-E 'Exploitation in prostitution' (keeping dependence, taking a substantial part of earnings, grossly disproportionate charges, dictating services), drop the relationship requirement and drop the 'promoting' variant of § 181a(2) without a direct successor, move forced prostitution to § 179 StGB-E, create a separate offence for under-18s (§ 180a StGB-E) and repeal § 233a StGB.", "provisions": [ "§ 180a StGB", "§ 181a StGB", "§§ 232, 232a, 233a StGB", "§ 38(2) StGB" ], "sources": [ "stgb-180a", "stgb-181a", "stgb-232", "stgb-232a", "btd-21-6584", "stgb-233a", "stgb-38" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Advertising sexual services is legal in principle. § 32(3) ProstSchG bans ads that refer to sex without a condom or with pregnant women, even in veiled form, or that by their presentation, content or medium concretely endanger the public, especially youth protection. Breaches can be fined up to EUR 10,000 and the material confiscated. Grossly offensive ads are also an offence under § 119 OWiG.", "details": "- **History:** until 30 June 2017, § 120(1) no. 2 OWiG prohibited advertising opportunities for paid sexual acts in general. In 2006 the Federal Court of Justice (BGH, I ZR 241/03, *Kontaktanzeigen*) read it narrowly after the Prostitution Act: an ad was only unlawful if it concretely endangered the public, particularly minors. The ProstSchG deleted the provision and replaced it with the targeted ban in § 32(3).\n- **Current ban (§ 32(3) ProstSchG):** applies to anyone who, by distributing content (§ 11(3) StGB), offers, announces or promotes an opportunity for sexual services (1) with a reference to intercourse without a condom, (2) in a way likely to concretely impair public interests, especially youth protection, or (3) with a reference to intercourse with pregnant women. Making content publicly accessible counts as distribution (sentence 2).\n- **Sanctions:** § 33(2) no. 14 ProstSchG (intent or negligence), fine up to EUR 10,000; objects may be confiscated (§ 33a).\n- **General rule:** § 119(1) no. 2 OWiG fines grossly offensive public offers of opportunities for sexual acts (paid or not), up to EUR 10,000.", "provisions": [ "§ 32(3) ProstSchG", "§ 33(2) no. 14, (3) ProstSchG", "§ 33a ProstSchG", "§ 119 OWiG" ], "sources": [ "prostschg-32", "prostschg-33", "owig-119", "owig-120", "wd7-031-20", "bgh-kontaktanzeigen" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No statute targets ad platforms specifically. On the statute's wording, a site that makes a non-compliant ad publicly accessible could be fined up to EUR 10,000, subject to the DSA hosting rules; no such fine has been reported. NRW guidance treats sites that broker sex workers to clients and profit indirectly, e.g. from ads, as agencies needing a permit. The 2025 evaluation recommended considering platform regulation; the expert commission has made them a focus.", "details": "- **Advertising offence:** § 32(3) sentence 2 ProstSchG equates making content publicly accessible with distributing it, and § 33(2) no. 14 expressly covers sentence 2. On its wording, a platform operator who makes a banned ad (e.g. offering sex without a condom) publicly accessible can commit the administrative offence; no reported fine against a platform was found.\n- **Hosting liability:** the EU Digital Services Act applies directly; in Germany it is enforced under the Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz, with the Bundesnetzagentur as competent authority and the youth-media bodies of the Länder for JMStV measures (§ 12 DDG). Hosting providers are in principle liable only once they know of illegal content and fail to act expeditiously (Art. 6 DSA).\n- **Permit as an agency:** a *Prostitutionsvermittlung* (arranging another person's sexual services outside the operator's own venue, § 2(7) ProstSchG) needs a permit. North Rhine-Westphalia's 2020 enforcement circular says internet platforms run to broker sex workers to clients, especially escort services, are permit-requiring agencies where the operator draws even an indirect economic benefit, for example from advertising, while also stating that brokering requires active mediation by the operator. Whether a pure classified-ad board is an agency is therefore unsettled.\n- **Criminal procuring:** § 181a(2) StGB (commercially arranging encounters) requires impairing the worker's independence and a continuing relationship with her, so it does not readily reach a neutral ad site.\n- **Policy direction:** the KFN evaluation (2025) recommended considering regulation of 'prostitution platforms' because initiation is moving online. The Prostituiertenschutz-Kommission names digital initiation and platform regulation as a focus and includes a platform-regulation expert; its legislative proposals are due at the end of November 2026. The 2026 trafficking bill's explanatory memorandum cites inducing a victim to produce sexual videos for platforms such as OnlyFans as covered by the new § 179 StGB-E.", "provisions": [ "§ 32(3) sentence 2 ProstSchG", "§ 33(2) no. 14 ProstSchG", "§ 2(3) no. 4, (7) ProstSchG", "§ 12 DDG", "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA)" ], "sources": [ "prostschg-32", "prostschg-33", "prostschg", "nrw-rl-prostschg-gewerbe", "ddg-12", "dsa", "kfn-summary", "bmbfsfj-commission", "btd-21-6584", "stgb-181a" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How the advertising ban and the agency permit apply to ad platforms has not, as far as found, been settled by a court; the agency reading rests on one Land's administrative guideline (NRW, 2020)." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Street prostitution is legal where no local ban applies. Land governments may ban prostitution in whole towns of up to 50,000 inhabitants, in parts of towns over 20,000 and on public streets regardless of size, also by time of day (Art. 297 EGStGB). A breach is an administrative offence (§ 120 OWiG); persistent breach is a crime punishable by up to 6 months or a fine (§ 184f StGB), which a 2026 bill would abolish.", "details": "- **Ordinances (*Sperrgebietsverordnungen*):** issued by Land governments or delegated authorities for the protection of young people or public decency (Art. 297(1) EGStGB). Confining sex workers' residence to particular streets ('Kasernierung') is prohibited (Art. 297(3)).\n- **Example:** the Upper Bavaria government's ordinance for Munich (4 December 2003) sets 27 restricted zones and bans soliciting on public streets, at stations, on public transport and in parks across the city, except in listed solicitation zones, some only between 20:00 or 22:00 and 06:00.\n- **Sanctions:** § 120 OWiG sets no amount, so the general ceiling of EUR 1,000 applies (§ 17(1) OWiG). § 184f StGB requires persistent breach; the 2026 government bill (BT-Drs. 21/6584) would repeal it, leaving breaches of restricted zones an administrative offence under § 120 OWiG only. § 184g StGB separately punishes prostitution near schools or in buildings where minors live in a way that morally endangers them (up to 1 year or a fine).\n- **Nuisance:** § 119(1) no. 1 OWiG (offering opportunities for sexual acts in public in a way likely to harass others, fine up to EUR 1,000) and orders under § 11(3) ProstSchG can also be used.", "provisions": [ "Art. 297 EGStGB", "§ 120 OWiG", "§ 17(1) OWiG", "§ 184f StGB", "§ 184g StGB" ], "sources": [ "egstgb-297", "owig-120", "owig-17", "owig-119", "stgb-184f", "btd-21-6584", "stgb-184g", "muenchen-sperrbezirk", "prostschg" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Sex workers must register in person before starting work and receive a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung), optionally also an alias certificate, to carry while working. It is valid two years (one year under 21) and nationwide unless a Land rules otherwise. Health counselling, not a medical examination, is required before registration and then yearly (every six months under 21). Registration data are passed to the tax office.", "details": "- **Procedure (§§ 3–7 ProstSchG):** two photos, name, date and place of birth, nationality, residence and planned places of work; ID document; proof of health counselling within the previous three months; an information and counselling interview on rights, health, social insurance, support services and tax. Changes must be reported within 14 days.\n- **Refusal (§ 5(2)):** under 18; within six weeks before giving birth; under 21 with indications that third parties are pushing the person into prostitution; indications of coercion or exploitation.\n- **Validity (§ 5(4)–(7)):** 2 years from age 21, 1 year below; alias certificate on request; certificate must be carried while working.\n- **Health counselling (§ 10):** by the public health service; at least every 12 months (every 6 months under 21); confidential, with an opportunity to disclose coercion.\n- **Data:** the authority must notify the competent tax office of each registration with name, date and place of birth and address (§ 34(8)).\n- **Sanctions:** failing to register, fine up to EUR 1,000 (§ 33(1) no. 1).\n- **Evaluation findings (KFN 2025):** only part of the population of sex workers registers, mainly for fear of disclosure and concerns about data security; some are excluded for immigration-law reasons; authorities rarely identify trafficking victims during registration.", "provisions": [ "§§ 3–7, 10, 11 ProstSchG", "§ 34(8) ProstSchG", "§ 33(1) no. 1 ProstSchG" ], "sources": [ "prostschg", "prostschg-33", "kfn-summary" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income from prostitution is taxable: the Federal Fiscal Court held in 2013 that self-employed sex workers earn business income, so income tax, VAT (subject to the small-business threshold) and trade tax can apply. Several Länder use the 'Düsseldorf procedure', in which business operators collect a flat daily advance payment from each worker and pass it to the tax office. Employment with social insurance is possible under the Prostitution Act.", "details": "- **Characterisation:** BFH Grand Senate, decision of 20 February 2013, GrS 1/12: self-employed sex workers earn income from a trade or business (*Gewerbebetrieb*), overruling the 1964 view.\n- **Düsseldorfer Verfahren:** a non-statutory advance-payment arrangement. According to the NRW information sheet, it applies only to self-employed sex workers working through a prostitution business (brothel, appointment flat or escort service) whose operator has an agreement with the tax office; the operator collects a fixed daily rate per working day regardless of earnings, remits it monthly and issues a certificate so the payments are credited against the worker's actual income tax and VAT; the worker must still file returns. It is used in some Länder, including NRW; amounts and participation vary by Land.\n- **Registration link:** the ProstSchG requires registration authorities to inform the tax office (§ 34(8)). The KFN evaluation criticised that tax-collection interests shaped parts of the Act.\n- **Social insurance:** § 3(2) ProstG provides that a limited right of instruction does not prevent an employment relationship under social-insurance law.\n- **Local taxes:** some municipalities levy an entertainment tax (*Vergnügungssteuer*) on prostitution.", "provisions": [ "§ 15 EStG (per BFH GrS 1/12)", "§ 34(8) ProstSchG", "§ 3 ProstG" ], "sources": [ "bfh-grs-1-12", "nrw-tax-leaflet", "prostschg", "prostg", "kfn-summary" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Düsseldorf procedure has no statutory basis and no official list of participating Länder or current daily rates was found; the NRW information sheet consulted predates 2025 changes to small-business VAT thresholds, so no thresholds are given here." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "EU citizens can register and work on the same terms as Germans. Non-EU nationals without free-movement rights must prove at registration that their residence status allows employment or self-employment; otherwise they cannot register lawfully. Most registered sex workers are foreign nationals: at the end of 2025, 82% were non-German, led by Romanians (35%), Bulgarians (11%) and Spaniards (9%).", "details": "§ 4(2) ProstSchG requires non-free-movement foreign nationals to show that they are entitled to take up employment or self-employment. The KFN evaluation found that some people who sell sex are excluded from registration, and from the support offered through it, for immigration-law reasons, contrary to the Act's aims.", "provisions": [ "§ 4(2) ProstSchG" ], "sources": [ "prostschg", "kfn-summary", "destatis-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "prostg", "titleEn": "Act Regulating the Legal Situation of Prostitutes (Prostitution Act)", "relevance": "Made agreements for paid sexual services legally enforceable, excluded third-party instructions on whether and how services are provided, and opened social-insurance employment to sex workers.", "provisions": [ "§ 1", "§ 2", "§ 3" ], "inForce": "2002-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "prostschg", "titleEn": "Act on the Protection of Persons Working in Prostitution (Prostitutes Protection Act)", "relevance": "Core regulatory law: registration and health counselling for sex workers, permits and duties for prostitution businesses, condom duty, advertising ban, fines, statistics and the evaluation clause.", "provisions": [ "§§ 3–11", "§§ 12–28", "§ 32", "§ 33", "§ 34(8)", "§ 38" ], "inForce": "2017-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "stgb-180a", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, § 180a: exploitation of prostitutes", "relevance": "Criminalises running a business in which sex workers are kept in personal or economic dependence, and providing housing for prostitution to under-18s or combined with pressure or exploitation; the 2026 government bill would replace it.", "provisions": [ "§ 180a StGB" ] }, { "sourceId": "stgb-181a", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, § 181a: pimping", "relevance": "Criminalises exploitative and controlling pimping (§ 181a), which the 2026 government bill would fold, together with § 180a, into a new 'exploitation in prostitution' offence (§ 180 StGB-E).", "provisions": [ "§ 181a StGB" ] }, { "sourceId": "stgb-232a", "titleEn": "Criminal Code: trafficking, forced prostitution and clients of victims", "relevance": "Trafficking (§ 232), forced prostitution (§ 232a(1)–(5)) and the offence for clients of trafficking or forced-prostitution victims, including reckless clients (§ 232a(6)).", "provisions": [ "§ 232 StGB", "§ 232a StGB", "§ 233a StGB" ] }, { "sourceId": "egstgb-297", "titleEn": "Introductory Act to the Criminal Code, Art. 297 (prohibition of prostitution)", "relevance": "Empowers Land governments to issue restricted-zone ordinances banning prostitution in places or at times, the basis for local street-work bans enforced through § 120 OWiG and § 184f StGB.", "provisions": [ "Art. 297 EGStGB" ] }, { "sourceId": "owig-119", "titleEn": "Administrative Offences Act, § 119 (grossly offensive and harassing acts)", "relevance": "Fines grossly offensive public offers of opportunities for sexual acts; together with § 120 OWiG (restricted zones) the remaining OWiG rules on prostitution after the 2017 repeal of the general advertising ban.", "provisions": [ "§ 119 OWiG", "§ 120 OWiG" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "prostituiertenschutz-kommission", "title": "Expert commission on improving the protection of sex workers (Prostituiertenschutz-Kommission)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "date": "2026-11", "what": "Legislative proposals due at the end of November 2026; non-legislative proposals and final report due end of May 2027." }, "summary": "Set up by Family Minister Karin Prien under the 2025 coalition agreement and first convened on 24 November 2025, chaired by Tillmann Bartsch, who led the KFN evaluation. It is to propose legislative and non-legislative options for the federal, Land and municipal levels, building on the evaluation, and will also consider other models including the Nordic model. Its stated focuses include digital initiation of prostitution and platform regulation, minors and young adults, and hearing affected people.", "sources": [ "bmbfsfj-commission", "zdf-2025-11-24" ] }, { "id": "trafficking-reform-2024-1712", "title": "Bill to strengthen criminal prosecution of trafficking and sexual exploitation and transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1712 (BT-Drs. 21/6584)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-09-23", "next": { "what": "Report of the Legal Affairs Committee and second/third reading in the Bundestag; no date published as of 30 October 2026." }, "summary": "Government bill introduced on 22 June 2026 (first reading 26 June, expert hearing 23 September 2026). It rewrites §§ 180–182 and 232–233a StGB: forced prostitution moves to § 179, §§ 180a/181a are replaced by a new 'exploitation in prostitution' offence (§ 180), the client offence moves to § 181, and a new § 232a criminalises knowingly using the services of trafficking victims in any sector. It also repeals § 184f StGB (persistent breach of a restricted zone) and § 233a StGB. The EU transposition deadline of 15 July 2026 has passed. The bill states it does not pre-empt the expert commission.", "sources": [ "btd-21-6584", "bt-hearing-2026-09" ] }, { "id": "sex-purchase-ban-debate", "title": "Proposals for a Nordic-model ban on buying sex", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2025-11-06", "summary": "In November 2025 Bundestag President Julia Klöckner called Germany the 'Puff Europas' and demanded a ban on buying sex; Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) backed a criminal ban for clients, saying Germany must no longer be 'the brothel of Europe'. The CDU/CSU group had tabled a motion for a purchase ban in February 2024 (BT-Drs. 20/10384) while in opposition. No government bill exists; the coalition agreement instead provides for the expert commission, which is also examining the Nordic model.", "sources": [ "zdf-2025-11-06", "btd-20-10384", "bmbfsfj-commission" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2002-01-01", "event": "Prostitution Act enters into force: agreements for paid sexual services become legally enforceable.", "sources": [ "prostg" ] }, { "date": "2006-07-13", "event": "Federal Court of Justice (I ZR 241/03) rules that newspaper contact ads by sex workers are not generally unlawful; the advertising ban requires a concrete danger, especially to minors.", "sources": [ "bgh-kontaktanzeigen" ] }, { "date": "2013-02-20", "event": "Federal Fiscal Court Grand Senate (GrS 1/12) holds that self-employed sex workers earn business income, making them liable to trade tax.", "sources": [ "bfh-grs-1-12" ] }, { "date": "2017-07-01", "event": "Prostitutes Protection Act enters into force (registration, health counselling, permits, condom duty, targeted advertising ban); the general advertising ban in § 120(1) no. 2 OWiG is deleted.", "sources": [ "prostschg", "wd7-031-20" ] }, { "date": "2024-02-20", "event": "CDU/CSU parliamentary group, then in opposition, tables a motion to criminalise buying sex (BT-Drs. 20/10384).", "sources": [ "btd-20-10384" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-24", "event": "Government submits the KFN evaluation of the Prostitutes Protection Act to the Bundestag, with 64 recommendations.", "sources": [ "bmbfsfj-evaluation", "bmbfsfj-commission" ] }, { "date": "2025-11-06", "event": "Health Minister Nina Warken backs Bundestag President Julia Klöckner's call for a ban on buying sex.", "sources": [ "zdf-2025-11-06" ] }, { "date": "2025-11-24", "event": "Expert commission on the protection of sex workers holds its first meeting.", "sources": [ "bmbfsfj-commission", "zdf-2025-11-24" ] }, { "date": "2026-06-22", "event": "Government trafficking and sexual-exploitation bill (BT-Drs. 21/6584) introduced in the Bundestag; first reading on 26 June.", "sources": [ "btd-21-6584", "bt-hearing-2026-09" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-21", "event": "Destatis reports about 32,500 registered sex workers at the end of 2025 (+0.7%).", "sources": [ "destatis-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-23", "event": "Bundestag Legal Affairs Committee holds an expert hearing on the trafficking bill.", "sources": [ "bt-hearing-2026-09" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Validly registered sex workers", "value": "32,474", "year": "2025", "note": "Registrations under the ProstSchG at 31 December 2025 (2024: about 32,300; 2019: 40,400). Registered workers only; unregistered workers are not counted and there is no official estimate of the total population. Gender is not recorded.", "sources": [ "destatis-topic", "destatis-2026" ] }, { "label": "Prostitution businesses with a permit", "value": "about 2,260", "year": "2025", "note": "At 31 December 2025; 93% venues such as brothels, 5% agencies, 2% vehicles and events. Unlicensed businesses are not counted.", "sources": [ "destatis-2026" ] }, { "label": "Share of registered sex workers without German citizenship", "value": "82%", "year": "2025", "note": "Romanian 35%, Bulgarian 11%, Spanish 9%, German 18%; registered workers only.", "sources": [ "destatis-2026" ] }, { "label": "Completed police investigations for trafficking for sexual exploitation", "value": "391 (574 victims)", "year": "2025", "note": "BKA national situation report: completed investigations, up 7.4% on 2024 and a ten-year high. Largely detected through police checks, so the figures reflect enforcement activity and understate the true extent.", "sources": [ "bka-2025" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "prostg", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Gesetz zur Regelung der Rechtsverhältnisse der Prostituierten (Prostitutionsgesetz – ProstG)", "titleEn": "Prostitution Act", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostg/BJNR398310001.html", "published": "2001-12-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "prostschg", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Gesetz zum Schutz von in der Prostitution tätigen Personen (Prostituiertenschutzgesetz – ProstSchG)", "titleEn": "Prostitutes Protection Act", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostschg/BJNR237210016.html", "published": "2016-10-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "prostschg-32", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 32 ProstSchG – Kondompflicht; Werbeverbot", "titleEn": "Section 32 Prostitutes Protection Act – condom duty; advertising ban", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostschg/__32.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "prostschg-33", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 33 ProstSchG – Bußgeldvorschriften", "titleEn": "Section 33 Prostitutes Protection Act – administrative fines", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostschg/__33.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-180a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 180a StGB – Ausbeutung von Prostituierten", "titleEn": "Section 180a Criminal Code – exploitation of prostitutes", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__180a.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-181a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 181a StGB – Zuhälterei", "titleEn": "Section 181a Criminal Code – pimping", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__181a.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-38", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 38 StGB – Dauer der Freiheitsstrafe", "titleEn": "Section 38 Criminal Code – duration of imprisonment", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__38.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-182", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 182 StGB – Sexueller Missbrauch von Jugendlichen", "titleEn": "Section 182 Criminal Code – sexual abuse of juveniles", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__182.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-184f", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 184f StGB – Ausübung der verbotenen Prostitution", "titleEn": "Section 184f Criminal Code – prohibited prostitution", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__184f.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-184g", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 184g StGB – Jugendgefährdende Prostitution", "titleEn": "Section 184g Criminal Code – prostitution endangering young people", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__184g.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-232", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 232 StGB – Menschenhandel", "titleEn": "Section 232 Criminal Code – trafficking in human beings", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__232.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-232a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 232a StGB – Zwangsprostitution", "titleEn": "Section 232a Criminal Code – forced prostitution", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__232a.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "stgb-233a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 233a StGB – Ausbeutung unter Ausnutzung einer Freiheitsberaubung", "titleEn": "Section 233a Criminal Code – exploitation involving deprivation of liberty", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__233a.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "egstgb-297", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Art. 297 EGStGB – Verbot der Prostitution", "titleEn": "Art. 297 Introductory Act to the Criminal Code – prohibition of prostitution", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgbeg/art_297.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "owig-17", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 17 OWiG – Höhe der Geldbuße", "titleEn": "Section 17 Administrative Offences Act – amount of fine", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/__17.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "owig-119", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 119 OWiG – Grob anstößige und belästigende Handlungen", "titleEn": "Section 119 Administrative Offences Act – grossly offensive and harassing acts", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/__119.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "owig-120", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 120 OWiG – Verbotene Ausübung der Prostitution", "titleEn": "Section 120 Administrative Offences Act – prohibited prostitution", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/__120.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ddg-12", "kind": "legislation", "title": "§ 12 Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz (DDG) – Zuständige Behörden", "titleEn": "Section 12 Digital Services Act (German implementing act) – competent authorities", "publisher": "Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ddg/__12.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "dsa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Verordnung (EU) 2022/2065 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 19. Oktober 2022 über einen Binnenmarkt für digitale Dienste (Gesetz über digitale Dienste)", "titleEn": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act)", "publisher": "Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union / EUR-Lex", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj", "published": "2022-10-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "muenchen-sperrbezirk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Rechtsverordnung der Regierung von Oberbayern über das Verbot der Prostitution zum Schutze des öffentlichen Anstandes und der Jugend in München", "titleEn": "Upper Bavaria government ordinance banning prostitution in parts of Munich (restricted-zone ordinance)", "publisher": "Landeshauptstadt München – Stadtrecht", "url": "https://stadt.muenchen.de/rathaus/stadtrecht/vorschrift/A15/version1/0.html", "published": "2003-12-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bfh-grs-1-12", "kind": "case-law", "title": "BFH, Beschluss des Großen Senats vom 20.02.2013 – GrS 1/12", "titleEn": "Federal Fiscal Court, Grand Senate decision of 20 February 2013 – GrS 1/12", "publisher": "Bundesfinanzhof", "url": "https://www.bundesfinanzhof.de/en/entscheidungen/entscheidungen-online/decision-detail/STRE201310105/", "published": "2013-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bgh-kontaktanzeigen", "kind": "news", "title": "Bundesgerichtshof: Kontaktanzeigen Prostituierter in Zeitungen wettbewerbsrechtlich zulässig", "titleEn": "Federal Court of Justice: sex workers' contact ads in newspapers permissible under competition law (BGH I ZR 241/03)", "publisher": "Wettbewerbszentrale", "url": "https://www.wettbewerbszentrale.de/bundesgerichtshof-kontaktanzeigen-prostituierter-in-zeitungen-wettbewerbsrechtlich-zulaessig-14-07-2006/", "published": "2006-07-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "btd-21-6584", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung: Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Stärkung der strafrechtlichen Verfolgung des Menschenhandels und der sexuellen Ausbeutung sowie zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2024/1712 (Drucksache 21/6584)", "titleEn": "Government bill to strengthen criminal prosecution of trafficking and sexual exploitation and transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1712", "publisher": "Deutscher Bundestag", "url": "https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/065/2106584.pdf", "published": "2026-06-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bt-hearing-2026-09", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Anhörung zur Verfolgung von Menschenhandel und sexueller Ausbeutung", "titleEn": "Hearing on the prosecution of trafficking and sexual exploitation", "publisher": "Deutscher Bundestag", "url": "https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2026/kw39-pa-recht-1200754", "published": "2026-09-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "btd-20-10384", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Antrag der Fraktion der CDU/CSU: Menschenunwürdige Zustände in der Prostitution beenden – Sexkauf bestrafen (Drucksache 20/10384)", "titleEn": "CDU/CSU group motion: end inhumane conditions in prostitution – penalise buying sex", "publisher": "Deutscher Bundestag", "url": "https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/103/2010384.pdf", "published": "2024-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "wd7-031-20", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Kurzinformation: Rechtsfragen zur Prostitution (WD 7 - 3000 - 031/20)", "titleEn": "Bundestag Research Services briefing: legal questions on prostitution", "publisher": "Deutscher Bundestag – Wissenschaftliche Dienste", "url": "https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/691780/WD-7-031-20-pdf.pdf", "published": "2020-03-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bmbfsfj-evaluation", "kind": "government", "title": "Evaluation des Gesetzes zur Regulierung des Prostitutionsgewerbes sowie zum Schutz von in der Prostitution tätigen Personen (Prostituiertenschutzgesetz – ProstSchG)", "titleEn": "Evaluation of the Prostitutes Protection Act (KFN final report and government statement)", "publisher": "Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend", "url": "https://www.bmbfsfj.bund.de/bmbfsfj/service/publikationen/evaluation-des-gesetzes-zur-regulierung-des-prostitutionsgewerbes-sowie-zum-schutz-von-in-der-prostitution-taetigen-personen-prostituiertenschutzgesetz-prostschg--266228", "published": "2025-06-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "kfn-summary", "kind": "government", "title": "Zentrale Ergebnisse der Evaluation des Gesetzes zur Regulierung des Prostitutionsgewerbes sowie zum Schutz von in der Prostitution tätigen Personen (Prostituiertenschutzgesetz – ProstSchG)", "titleEn": "Key findings of the evaluation of the Prostitutes Protection Act (KFN summary)", "publisher": "Kriminologisches Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen / BMBFSFJ", "url": "https://www.bmbfsfj.bund.de/resource/blob/276632/b9a6eb00836838acf147ef50439c9f93/zusammenfassung-der-evaluation-zum-prostschg-data.pdf", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bmbfsfj-commission", "kind": "government", "title": "Evaluation und Prostituiertenschutz-Kommission", "titleEn": "Evaluation and the expert commission on the protection of prostitutes", "publisher": "Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend", "url": "https://www.bmbfsfj.bund.de/bmbfsfj/themen/gleichstellung/frauen-vor-gewalt-schuetzen/prostituiertenschutzgesetz/evaluation-und-prostituiertenschutz-kommission-186940", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "nrw-rl-prostschg-gewerbe", "kind": "government", "title": "Richtlinie zum Vollzug des Prostituiertenschutzgesetzes gegenüber dem Prostitutionsgewerbe (RL ProstSchG-Gewerbe), Runderlass vom 25. März 2020", "titleEn": "North Rhine-Westphalia circular on enforcing the Prostitutes Protection Act against prostitution businesses", "publisher": "Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitalisierung und Energie NRW (copy hosted by Kreis Kleve)", "url": "https://www.kreis-kleve.de/system/files/2024-03/richtlinie_zum_vollzug_des_prostschg_25.03.2020.pdf", "published": "2020-03-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "nrw-tax-leaflet", "kind": "government", "title": "Besteuerung der Prostitution – Informationen für Prostituierte", "titleEn": "Taxation of prostitution – information for sex workers (North Rhine-Westphalia)", "publisher": "Ministerium für Kinder, Jugend, Familie, Gleichstellung, Flucht und Integration NRW", "url": "https://www.mkjfgfi.nrw/system/files/media/document/file/info_finanz_prostschg.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "destatis-2026", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Rund 32 500 angemeldete Prostituierte zum Jahresende 2025 (Pressemitteilung Nr. 301)", "titleEn": "Around 32,500 registered prostitutes at the end of 2025 (press release no. 301)", "publisher": "Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis)", "url": "https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2026/08/PD26_301_228.html", "published": "2026-08-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "destatis-topic", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Prostituiertenschutz", "titleEn": "Prostitute protection statistics", "publisher": "Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis)", "url": "https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Soziales/Prostituiertenschutz/_inhalt.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "bka-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Fallzahlen im Bereich der sexuellen Ausbeutung und der Arbeitsausbeutung erreichen 2025 neuen Höchststand", "titleEn": "Case numbers for sexual and labour exploitation reach a new high in 2025 (Bundeslagebild Menschenhandel und Ausbeutung 2025)", "publisher": "Bundeskriminalamt", "url": "https://www.bka.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/DE/Kurzmeldungen/260730_BLB_Menschenhandel2025.html", "published": "2026-07-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "zdf-2025-11-06", "kind": "news", "title": "Prostitution: Warken und Klöckner fordern Sexkaufverbot", "titleEn": "Prostitution: Warken and Klöckner call for a ban on buying sex", "publisher": "ZDFheute", "url": "https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/prostitution-warken-kloeckner-verbot-nordisches-modell-100.html", "published": "2025-11-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "zdf-2025-11-24", "kind": "news", "title": "Expertenkommission zum Schutz von Prostituierten eingesetzt", "titleEn": "Expert commission on the protection of prostitutes set up", "publisher": "ZDFheute", "url": "https://www.zdfheute.de/panorama/prostitution-expertenkommission-schutz-gesetz-100.html", "published": "2025-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/germany/" }, { "iso2": "GH", "name": "Ghana", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It criminalises persistent public soliciting (s. 276), soliciting for clients or for other immoral purposes (s. 275), living on or controlling prostitution (s. 274), keeping a brothel (s. 277) and procuration (s. 107). Because sex workers are routinely arrested, many sources describe prostitution in Ghana as simply illegal.", "modelSources": [ "gh-act29", "gh-unaids-2022" ], "summary": "Ghana inherited a British-style framework in the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29). Exchanging sex for money is not itself an offence, but a person who persistently solicits or importunes in or within sight of a public place for prostitution commits an offence, punishable by a fine for a first offence and as a misdemeanour after that. Living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker for gain, soliciting clients for a sex worker, keeping or letting premises as a brothel and procuring a person to become a sex worker are all misdemeanours. In practice police raids target sex workers and venues, often as anti-trafficking operations, and sex worker groups report arrests and abuse. No reform bill was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. A person who persistently solicits or importunes in a public place or in sight of one for the purpose of prostitution commits an offence: a fine for a first offence and a misdemeanour for a second or later one (s. 276). A prosecution needs the consent of a superior police officer, though arrest and remand do not.", "details": "Section 279 defines prostitution as including a person offering their body commonly for acts of lewdness for payment, even without ordinary sexual connection.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 276", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 279" ], "sources": [ "gh-act29" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the WIPO Lex copy of the Act as amended to 2003, which gives the first-offence fine as ¢500,000 (old cedis); later sources give the cap as 25 penalty units. The official Judicial Service e-library and the Ghana Legal Information Institute (GhaLII) copies could not be opened. The section numbering in that copy's table of contents (275 for keeping a brothel, 276 for offences by prostitutes) differs from its body text, which is used here.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex was found in Act 29. A client who persistently solicits in or near a public place may fall under the general offence of soliciting for immoral purposes (s. 275(b)), and sex with a child under 16 is defilement whatever the consent (s. 101).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 275", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 101" ], "sources": [ "gh-act29" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether s. 275(b) is used against clients in practice was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel, and an owner, tenant or landlord knowingly letting premises be used as one, is a misdemeanour (s. 277). A brothel is any premises, room or set of rooms kept for prostitution (s. 279). Letting a child under 16 live in or frequent a brothel is a separate misdemeanour (s. 273).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 277", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 273", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 279" ], "sources": [ "gh-act29", "gh-gbc-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the WIPO Lex copy amended to 2003. The definition covers any premises kept for prostitution, so on its face it could reach two sex workers sharing a room; no case law on that was checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution, or controlling, directing or influencing a sex worker's movements for gain, is a misdemeanour (s. 274); a person habitually living with a sex worker is presumed to live on the earnings. Soliciting in public to obtain clients for a sex worker (s. 275) and procuring a person to become a sex worker in Ghana or abroad or to join a brothel (s. 107) are also misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 274", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 275", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 107" ], "sources": [ "gh-act29" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the WIPO Lex copy amended to 2003. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence under the Human Trafficking Act 2005 (Act 694), which was not opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. Soliciting to obtain clients for a sex worker is an offence only in or within sight of a public place (s. 275). Publishing, selling, distributing or advertising obscene matter is a misdemeanour (ss. 280–281), and displaying indecent matter visible from a public place is fined (s. 282).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) s. 275", "Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) ss. 280–282" ], "sources": [ "gh-act29" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inferred from general provisions. Whether online adverts count as public soliciting, and whether a website hosting them could be treated as living on earnings or soliciting for clients, was not found in any source. The Electronic Communications and Cybersecurity Acts were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gh-act29", "titleEn": "Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)", "relevance": "Chapter 7 (offences against public morals) covers brothels, living on earnings, soliciting, obscenity and its definitions; s. 107 covers procuration.", "provisions": [ "s. 107", "ss. 273–277", "s. 279", "ss. 280–282" ], "inForce": "1960" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1960", "event": "The Criminal Code 1960 (Act 29), later renamed the Criminal Offences Act, is enacted with offences on brothels, living on earnings, soliciting and procuration.", "sources": [ "gh-act29" ] }, { "date": "2025-04-16", "event": "Police in Ayamfuri, Central Region, arrest 42 people at two brothels in an operation on drugs and prostitution; some of the 32 foreign women arrested say they were trafficked.", "sources": [ "gh-gbc-2025" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "HIV prevalence among female sex workers", "value": "6.9%", "year": "2020", "note": "Estimate quoted by UNAIDS; survey-based, not a count of the sex worker population.", "sources": [ "gh-unaids-2022" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "gh-act29", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) (as amended up to 2003)", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (copy of the Ghanaian text)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/gh/gh010en.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gh-gbc-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "C/R: Police arrest 42 persons for drug peddling and prostitution", "publisher": "Ghana Broadcasting Corporation", "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/police-arrest-42/2025/", "published": "2025-04-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gh-unaids-2022", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "UNAIDS Solidarity Fund helps female sex workers in Ghana", "publisher": "UNAIDS", "url": "https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2022/february/20220204_sex-workers-ghana", "published": "2022-02-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ghana/" }, { "iso2": "GR", "name": "Greece", "nativeName": "Ελλάδα", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Law 2734/1999 makes selling sex legal only for holders of a personal certificate who work from premises licensed by the municipality, with compulsory health checks. Working outside that system is itself a criminal offence, and third parties may not run or profit from other people's prostitution. Comparative studies classify Greece as 'legal and regulated', while noting that only a few licensed premises operate and most of the market is outside the licensing system.", "modelSources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999", "ep-2021-study" ], "summary": "Greece regulates prostitution under Law 2734/1999. A person may sell sexual services only with a certificate (age 18+, unmarried, widowed or divorced, no infectious disease, no listed convictions) and a personal municipal licence for specific premises, and must undergo a medical check every 15 days. Unlicensed work, renting premises to uncertified persons and group premises are criminal offences. Buying is not an offence, except knowingly having sex with a trafficking victim (Penal Code art. 323A(6)). Procuring and profiting from another person's prostitution are crimes under art. 349 of the 2019 Penal Code. A review of Law 2734/1999 was announced in the 2021–2025 gender-equality action plan; no bill was found by October 2026.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Municipalities (licensing of premises)", "model": "regulation", "note": "Under art. 3 of Law 2734/1999 the mayor or community president issues the premises licence after a favourable opinion of a committee chaired by the first-instance public prosecutor. Each municipality sets the number of licences according to local conditions, may designate areas where none are allowed, and its council may widen the statutory 200 m exclusion zone around churches, schools, hospitals, squares, playgrounds and similar sites. In practice very few licences exist, so availability of legal premises differs sharply from place to place.", "sources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999-art3", "ep-2021-study" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Legal only with a professional certificate and a licence for specific premises, plus compulsory medical checks every 15 days. Selling without a certificate or medical checks, or in unlicensed premises, is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment and a fine.", "details": "Art. 1 of Law 2734/1999 lists the conditions for the certificate: at least 18 years old; unmarried, widowed or divorced; free of sexually transmitted and other infectious diseases; no mental illness or drug use; no conviction for listed offences (e.g. homicide, procuring, trafficking, robbery, drug offences); lawful residence for foreign nationals. The certificate is valid for three years and was issued by the prefectural authority in the 1999 text (prefectures were replaced by regions in 2011). Art. 2 requires a medical examination every 15 days, recorded in a health booklet. Art. 5 makes it a criminal offence to provide services without a certificate or medical checks, or from premises without a licence; it also punishes publicly pestering people with lewd gestures or remarks that invite sexual contact (up to three months).", "provisions": [ "Law 2734/1999 arts. 1, 2, 5" ], "sources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Cited from the Lawspot reproduction of the law as published in 1999; it shows no amendments, but the official consolidated text with any later amendments could not be opened (e-nomothesia.gr returned 403, kodiko.gr is paywalled)." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sexual services from an adult is not an offence. A client who knowingly performs a sexual act with a trafficking victim commits an offence punishable by at least three years' imprisonment and a fine (Penal Code art. 323A(6)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Law 4619/2019) art. 323A(6)" ], "sources": [ "gr-pc-323a", "gr-law-2734-1999" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Only individual licensed premises are lawful. The licence is personal to the certified sex worker, valid for two years, one per building, at least 200 m from churches, schools, hospitals and similar sites. Group premises are banned; the holder may let up to two other certified persons use the premises at different hours. Unlicensed premises are closed and sealed.", "details": "Art. 3 of Law 2734/1999 requires the written consent of the owner (and, in a block of flats, of all co-owners and tenants). Art. 4 bans 'group professional association' on premises, allows up to two further certified persons after a written declaration to the police, and forbids a second licence in the same building. Art. 5 punishes operating unlicensed premises and renting premises to persons without a certificate (up to two years and a fine). Art. 6 allows suspension of the licence for one to three months (up to six on repeat) and closure and sealing of unlicensed premises by the mayor. A third-party operator who profits from others' prostitution falls under the procuring offence in Penal Code art. 349(3).", "provisions": [ "Law 2734/1999 arts. 3, 4, 5, 6", "Penal Code art. 349(3)" ], "sources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999", "gr-law-2734-1999-art3", "gr-pc-349" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Later amendments to Law 2734/1999 could not be ruled out from an official consolidated text (see selling)." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who, professionally or for profit, promotes, pushes or forces another person into prostitution, or exploits the income from another's prostitution, is punishable by at least 18 months' imprisonment and a fine (art. 349(3)), outside the cases covered by the trafficking offence in art. 323A.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Law 4619/2019) art. 349(3)", "Penal Code art. 323A" ], "sources": [ "gr-pc-349", "gr-pc-323a" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No specific offence of advertising adult sexual services was found in Law 2734/1999 or the Penal Code. Advertising unlicensed services documents an offence under art. 5 of Law 2734/1999, and third parties who profit from others' prostitution, including through ads, risk prosecution for procuring under art. 349(3).", "details": "Greek police cases involving online ads are typically prosecuted as procuring (μαστροπεία) or trafficking rather than under any advertising provision. No legislation specific to ad platforms was identified; hosting services fall under the general EU Digital Services Act notice-and-action rules.", "provisions": [ "Law 2734/1999 art. 5", "Penal Code art. 349(3)" ], "sources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999", "gr-pc-349" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Absence of an advertising offence is inferred from the texts reviewed; no case law on ad sites was located." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gr-law-2734-1999", "titleEn": "Law 2734/1999 on persons who provide sexual services for payment and other provisions", "relevance": "Certificate, health checks, premises licensing, criminal and administrative sanctions for prostitution outside the system.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1–6" ], "inForce": "1999-08-05" }, { "sourceId": "gr-pc-349", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law 4619/2019), art. 349 Procuring", "relevance": "Criminalises professional or profit-driven promotion of, or living off, another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 349" ] }, { "sourceId": "gr-pc-323a", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law 4619/2019), art. 323A Trafficking in human beings", "relevance": "Trafficking offence, including the client offence of knowingly having a sexual act with a trafficking victim (para. 6).", "provisions": [ "art. 323A(5)", "art. 323A(6)" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "review-law-2734-1999", "title": "Review of Law 2734/1999 (National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2021–2025, Action 1.4.3)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2021-11", "summary": "The government's gender-equality action plan for 2021–2025 lists a re-examination of Law 2734/1999 under Action 1.4.3 (trafficking, prostitution and survival sex) and states that a working group at the Ministry of Citizen Protection had reached a first conclusion. No resulting bill was found by October 2026.", "sources": [ "gr-esdif-2021-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1999-08-05", "event": "Law 2734/1999 published (Government Gazette A 161), replacing the prostitution chapter of Law 1193/1981.", "sources": [ "gr-law-2734-1999" ] }, { "date": "2019-06-11", "event": "New Penal Code (Law 4619/2019) published; art. 349(3) now covers procuring of any person (the former text referred to women) and exploiting the income from another's prostitution.", "sources": [ "gr-pc-4619", "gr-pc-349", "gr-pc-349-old" ] }, { "date": "2021-11", "event": "National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2021–2025 announces a review of Law 2734/1999.", "sources": [ "gr-esdif-2021-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gr-law-2734-1999", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Νόμος 2734/1999 – Εκδιδόμενα με αμοιβή πρόσωπα και άλλες διατάξεις (ΦΕΚ Α' 161/05.08.1999)", "titleEn": "Law 2734/1999 – Persons who provide sexual services for payment and other provisions", "publisher": "Lawspot.gr (reproduction of the Government Gazette text)", "url": "https://www.lawspot.gr/nomikes-plirofories/nomothesia/nomos-2734-1999", "published": "1999-08-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-law-2734-1999-art3", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Άρθρο 3 – Νόμος 2734/1999 – Εγκατάσταση προσώπων εκδιδομένων με αμοιβή", "titleEn": "Article 3 of Law 2734/1999 – Premises of persons providing sexual services for payment", "publisher": "Lawspot.gr (reproduction of the Government Gazette text)", "url": "https://www.lawspot.gr/nomikes-plirofories/nomothesia/n-2734-1999/arthro-3-nomos-2734-1999-egkatastasi-prosopon-ekdidomenon", "published": "1999-08-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-pc-349", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Άρθρο 349 – Ποινικός Κώδικας (Νόμος 4619/2019) – Μαστροπεία", "titleEn": "Article 349 of the Penal Code (Law 4619/2019) – Procuring", "publisher": "Lawspot.gr (reproduction of the Government Gazette text)", "url": "https://www.lawspot.gr/node/264817", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-pc-323a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Άρθρο 323Α – Ποινικός Κώδικας (Νόμος 4619/2019) – Εμπορία ανθρώπων", "titleEn": "Article 323A of the Penal Code (Law 4619/2019) – Trafficking in human beings", "publisher": "Lawspot.gr (reproduction of the Government Gazette text)", "url": "https://www.lawspot.gr/nomothesia/n-4619-2019/arthro-323a-poinikos-kodikas-nomos-4619-2019-emporia/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-pc-4619", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Νόμος 4619/2019 – Κύρωση του Ποινικού Κώδικα (ΦΕΚ Α' 95/11.06.2019), κωδικοποιημένος", "titleEn": "Law 4619/2019 – Ratification of the Penal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "Taxheaven.gr (consolidated reproduction)", "url": "https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/4619/2019", "published": "2019-06-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-pc-349-old", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Άρθρο 349 – Ποινικός Κώδικας (Π.Δ. 283/1985) – Μαστροπεία", "titleEn": "Article 349 of the former Penal Code (P.D. 283/1985) – Procuring", "publisher": "Lawspot.gr (reproduction of the Government Gazette text)", "url": "https://www.lawspot.gr/nomikes-plirofories/nomothesia/poinikos-kodikas/arthro-349-poinikos-kodikas-mastropeia", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "gr-esdif-2021-2025", "kind": "government", "title": "Εθνικό Σχέδιο Δράσης για την Ισότητα των Φύλων 2021-2025", "titleEn": "National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2021–2025", "publisher": "General Secretariat for Demography, Family Policy and Gender Equality", "url": "https://isotita.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94%CE%99%CE%A6-2021-2025.pdf", "published": "2021-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "el" }, { "id": "ep-2021-study", "kind": "parliament", "title": "The differing EU Member States' regulations on prostitution and their cross-border implications on women's rights", "publisher": "European Parliament, Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs", "url": "https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/695394/IPOL_STU(2021)695394_EN.pdf", "published": "2021-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/greece/" }, { "iso2": "GD", "name": "Grenada", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Borderline. The Criminal Code does not make an isolated private sale of sex an offence, but since the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 it penalises anyone who 'in any place loiters about or solicits any person for the purposes of prostitution' (s. 137(29)) and a tenant or occupier who 'uses such premises for prostitution of himself' (s. 188B(c), up to ten years). Because offering sex anywhere and selling from premises one occupies are both offences, the file classifies Grenada as prohibition.", "modelSources": [ "gd-cca2012", "gd-cc" ], "summary": "In Grenada, the Criminal Code (Cap. 72A) as amended in 2012 makes it an offence to loiter about or solicit any person 'in any place' for the purposes of prostitution (up to three months or a $1,000 fine, or both) and, with a ten-year maximum on indictment, to keep or manage a brothel, to let or permit premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution, or, as tenant or occupier, to use premises 'for prostitution of himself'. Procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain also carry up to ten years. No offence aimed at clients or at advertising was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who 'in any place loiters about or solicits any person for the purposes of prostitution' is liable to up to three months' imprisonment or a $1,000 fine, or both. A tenant, lessee or occupier who uses premises for their own prostitution commits the brothel offence (up to ten years on indictment).", "provisions": [ "s. 137(1)(a) and (29) Criminal Code, Cap. 72A, as substituted by Act 29 of 2012", "s. 188B(c) Criminal Code, Cap. 72A, inserted by Act 29 of 2012" ], "sources": [ "gd-cca2012", "gd-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The consolidation on laws.gov.gd lists amendments up to 2007; the 2012 amending Act was read separately. Later amendments other than Act 34 of 2013 (which does not touch these sections) were not found. The 2012 Act substitutes paragraph (29) of s. 137, while the consolidation shows the older soliciting offence as paragraph (30); the penalty in s. 137(1)(a) covers paragraphs (28) to (30).", "mapLabel": "up to 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying for sex was found. The soliciting offence in s. 137(29) ('solicits any person for the purposes of prostitution') is not limited to sellers and could reach a client who solicits.", "provisions": [ "s. 137(29) Criminal Code, Cap. 72A" ], "sources": [ "gd-cca2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The consolidation on laws.gov.gd lists amendments up to 2007; the 2012 amending Act was read separately. Later amendments other than Act 34 of 2013 (which does not touch these sections) were not found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or acting as or assisting the person in charge of one; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution, or using them for their own prostitution; and a lessor or landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used each carry up to ten years on indictment.", "provisions": [ "s. 188B Criminal Code, Cap. 72A, inserted by Act 29 of 2012" ], "sources": [ "gd-cca2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring any person to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home or Grenada to frequent a brothel, carries up to ten years on indictment. A person who for gain controls a sex worker's movements so as to aid, abet or compel their prostitution ('trading in prostitution') also faces up to ten years.", "provisions": [ "s. 188(1)(b)-(d) Criminal Code, Cap. 72A, as substituted by Act 29 of 2012", "s. 188A Criminal Code, Cap. 72A, inserted by Act 29 of 2012" ], "sources": [ "gd-cca2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "No separate 'living on the earnings' offence was found in the consolidated Code or the 2012 Act." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 137(29) applies 'in any place' and to soliciting 'any person', which may be wide enough to cover a sex worker's own advertising; a site that profits from others' ads could face s. 188A.", "provisions": [ "s. 137(29) Criminal Code, Cap. 72A", "s. 188A Criminal Code, Cap. 72A" ], "sources": [ "gd-cca2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability. Whether 'solicits' covers published advertisements has not been tested in any case found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gd-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Chapter 72A (consolidated to Act No. 15 of 2007)", "relevance": "Petty offences in s. 137, including the soliciting paragraph, and the original procuration offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 137", "s. 188" ] }, { "sourceId": "gd-cca2012", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 (Act No. 29 of 2012)", "relevance": "Substitutes s. 137(29) (soliciting in any place) and s. 188 (procuration) and inserts s. 188A (trading in prostitution), s. 188B (keeping brothel) and definitions of prostitution (ss. 204A-204B).", "provisions": [ "s. 137(29)", "s. 188", "s. 188A", "s. 188B", "s. 204A" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012", "event": "Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 makes the procuration offence gender-neutral, extends soliciting for prostitution to 'any place' and inserts the brothel and trading-in-prostitution offences with ten-year maxima.", "sources": [ "gd-cca2012" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gd-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, Chapter 72A, Laws of Grenada (as amended to Act No. 15 of 2007)", "publisher": "Government of Grenada, laws.gov.gd", "url": "https://laws.gov.gd/index.php/chapters/c-39a-75d/1107-cap72a-criminal-code/download", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gd-cca2012", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2012 (Act No. 29 of 2012)", "publisher": "Government of Grenada, laws.gov.gd", "url": "https://laws.gov.gd/index.php/acts/704-act-no-29-of-2012-criminal-code-amendment-act/download", "published": "2012", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/grenada/" }, { "iso2": "GT", "name": "Guatemala", "nativeName": "Guatemala", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Since Decreto 9-2009 the Penal Code criminalises the exploitation of an adult through promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution (Art. 191) and paying a third person in exchange for a sexual act with an adult (Art. 193 Bis), so third-party organisation is criminal. The 2009 reform also removed prostitution from the Penal Code's list of 'dangerous states'.", "modelSources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009", "gt-redtrasex-2020" ], "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence in Guatemala, and paying an adult directly for sex is not penalised. Decreto 9-2009, the Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons, rewrote the Penal Code: exploiting an adult by promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution carries five to ten years and a fine of Q50,000–100,000 (Art. 191), and anyone who gives or promises a benefit to a third person in exchange for a sexual act with an adult faces three to five years (Art. 193 Bis). Trafficking (Art. 202 Ter) covers recruiting, transporting or receiving people for 'the prostitution of others', and the victim's consent is never taken into account. No offence aimed specifically at advertising adult sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not a criminal offence. A sex workers' organisation reports that the 2009 reform removed the last reference to prostitution as a 'dangerous state' from the Penal Code, and that a 2012 HIV regulation ended the duty to show police a health booklet, although some departments reportedly still ask for it.", "sources": [ "gt-redtrasex-2020", "gt-dto-9-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of a selling offence was checked against the 2009 reform text; the health-code and police-practice points come from an NGO report (2020) and were not checked against the regulations themselves." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying an adult directly for sex is not an offence. Giving or promising a benefit to a third person in exchange for a sexual act with an adult is punishable by three to five years (Art. 193 Bis), and paying for the activities of a trafficking victim by six to eight years (Art. 202 Quáter). Any paid sexual act with a minor carries five to eight years (Art. 193).", "details": "Art. 193 Bis (Remuneración por la promoción, facilitación o favorecimiento de prostitución) punishes whoever, 'a cambio de cualquier acto sexual con una persona mayor de edad, brinde o prometa a tercera persona un beneficio económico' (in exchange for a sexual act with an adult, gives or promises a third person a benefit). In practice this reaches a client who pays a venue or intermediary rather than the sex worker.", "provisions": [ "Art. 193 Código Penal (Decreto 17-73), reformado por Art. 38 Decreto 9-2009", "Art. 193 Bis Código Penal, adicionado por Art. 39 Decreto 9-2009", "Art. 202 Quáter Código Penal, adicionado por Art. 48 Decreto 9-2009" ], "sources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Text taken from the decree as enacted (UNODC SHERLOC copy); later amendments to these articles were not found but not exhaustively checked.", "mapLabel": "via third party: 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a venue where others sell sex falls under Art. 191: the exploitation of an adult through promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution carries five to ten years and a fine of Q50,000–100,000, increased by a third where there is violence or abuse of authority (Art. 192). Clients who pay the venue commit the Art. 193 Bis offence.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 191, 192 y 193 Bis Código Penal (Decreto 17-73), según Decreto 9-2009" ], "sources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Art. 191 turns on 'explotación', which the article does not define; how courts treat venues where adults work voluntarily was not researched." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Exploiting an adult by promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution is punishable by five to ten years and a fine of Q50,000–100,000 (Art. 191). Recruiting, transporting, holding or receiving a person for 'the prostitution of others' is trafficking, punishable by eight to eighteen years, and the victim's consent is never taken into account (Art. 202 Ter).", "provisions": [ "Art. 191 Código Penal, reformado por Art. 36 Decreto 9-2009", "Art. 202 Ter Código Penal, adicionado por Art. 47 Decreto 9-2009" ], "sources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for adult sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of a third party could amount to 'promoting' their prostitution under Art. 191; the advertising offences added in 2009 (Arts. 195 Bis, 195 Quáter) concern minors.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 191, 195 Bis y 195 Quáter Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the 2009 reform; media, telecommunications and municipal rules were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gt-dto-9-2009", "titleEn": "Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (Decree 9-2009)", "relevance": "Rewrote the Penal Code's prostitution offences: exploitation through promoting prostitution (Art. 191), paying a third person for sex with an adult (Art. 193 Bis), trafficking with consent irrelevant (Art. 202 Ter).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 36–39, 47–48" ], "inForce": "2009" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009", "event": "Decree 9-2009 rewrites the Penal Code's sexual-exploitation chapter, adding the offence of paying a third person for sex with an adult and a trafficking offence in which consent is irrelevant.", "sources": [ "gt-dto-9-2009" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gt-dto-9-2009", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto 9-2009, Ley contra la Violencia Sexual, Explotación y Trata de Personas (Artículos 35–49)", "titleEn": "Decree 9-2009, Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (Articles 35–49)", "publisher": "UNODC SHERLOC (texto del Congreso de la República de Guatemala)", "url": "https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/es/legislation/gtm/decreto_9_-_2009_ley_contra_la_violencia_sexual_exploitacion_y_trata_de_personas/titulo_iii/articulo_35_-_49/articulo_35_-_49.html", "published": "2009", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "gt-redtrasex-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Marco legal sobre el trabajo sexual y participación política de las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales en Guatemala", "titleEn": "Legal framework on sex work and political participation of women sex workers in Guatemala", "publisher": "RedTraSex / Organización Mujeres en Superación (OMES)", "url": "https://redtrasex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mapeo_de_leyes_guatemala_rts2020.pdf", "published": "2020-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guatemala/" }, { "iso2": "GN", "name": "Guinea", "nativeName": "Guinée", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under the 2016 Penal Code, and no soliciting offence aimed at sex workers was found. Procuring in all its forms, running a prostitution establishment and knowingly providing premises or vehicles for prostitution are criminalised (Articles 346 to 352), which matches the abolitionist model.", "modelSources": [ "gn-cp", "gn-guinee7-2025" ], "summary": "Guinea's Penal Code (Law No. L/2016/059/AN of 26 October 2016) does not punish selling or buying sex between adults; a legal consultant interviewed in 2025 confirmed that individual prostitution is not an offence. Procuring, defined as favouring or profiting from another person's prostitution, carries two to five years and a fine of 2 to 10 million Guinean francs (Article 347), seven years for aggravated forms (Article 348) and seven to ten years in an organised gang (Article 349). Running or financing a prostitution establishment, tolerating prostitution in a place open to the public, or knowingly providing premises or vehicles for prostitution carries five to ten years (Article 351). No specific soliciting or advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code contains no offence of selling sex and no soliciting offence for the person selling. Public sexual acts can fall under the general offence of public indecency (Articles 275 and 276: three months to two years and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 Guinean francs).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2016 art. 275", "Code pénal 2016 art. 276" ], "sources": [ "gn-cp", "gn-guinee7-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a transcription of the 2016 Code; whether later amendments touched these articles was not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Penal Code; a legal consultant interviewed by Guinee7 in 2025 described paying for sex as unpunished.", "sources": [ "gn-cp", "gn-guinee7-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a transcription of the 2016 Code; later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Holding, managing, running or financing a prostitution establishment; habitually accepting or tolerating prostitution or the seeking of clients in any establishment open to the public; or knowingly selling or providing private premises or vehicles of any kind to people who will use them for prostitution carries five to ten years and a fine of 10 to 50 million Guinean francs (Article 351). Attempt is punishable (Article 352).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2016 art. 351", "Code pénal 2016 art. 352" ], "sources": [ "gn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The premises limb can catch a landlord who knowingly rents a flat to a sex worker." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds or receives support from a person habitually engaged in it, lives with such a person without justifying their own resources, recruits or keeps even a consenting adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary: two to five years and 2 to 10 million Guinean francs (Article 347).", "details": "Aggravating circumstances (a minor, coercion, a weapon, a person with authority over the victim, an official involved in fighting prostitution) raise the penalty to seven years and 15 million francs (Article 348); an organised gang to seven to ten years (Article 349); torture or barbaric acts to ten to twenty years of criminal imprisonment (Article 350).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2016 art. 346", "Code pénal 2016 art. 347", "Code pénal 2016 art. 348", "Code pénal 2016 art. 349", "Code pénal 2016 art. 350" ], "sources": [ "gn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. Advertising one's own services is not identified as an offence, but a third party who knowingly aids, assists or protects another person's prostitution or soliciting commits procuring (Article 347(1)), which can cover publishing ads for others.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2016 art. 347(1)" ], "sources": [ "gn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "This is a reading of the statutory text; no case or guidance on advertising or websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gn-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. L/2016/059/AN of 26 October 2016)", "relevance": "Section VII (Articles 346 to 352) criminalises procuring, prostitution establishments and the provision of premises or vehicles for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 346–352" ], "inForce": "2016" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-10-26", "event": "Law No. L/2016/059/AN adopts a new Penal Code, with procuring and brothel offences in Articles 346 to 352.", "sources": [ "gn-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gn-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi L/2016/059/AN du 26 octobre 2016 portant Code pénal", "titleEn": "Law L/2016/059/AN of 26 October 2016 on the Penal Code", "publisher": "Droit guinéen (full-text transcription)", "url": "https://droitguineen.com/lois/code-l-2016-059-an-code-penal", "published": "2016-10-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "gn-guinee7-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Prostitution, proxénétisme, tenue vestimentaire : ce que disent les lois guinéennes", "titleEn": "Prostitution, procuring, dress: what Guinean law says", "publisher": "Guinee7.com", "url": "https://www.guinee7.com/2025/05/05/prostitution-proxenetisme-tenue-vestimentaire-ce-que-disent-les-lois-guineennes/", "published": "2025-05-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea/" }, { "iso2": "GW", "name": "Guinea-Bissau", "nativeName": "Guiné-Bissau", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The 1993 Penal Code punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, promotes, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution (Article 136). That single offence covers brothel-keeping and other third-party involvement, so the framework is abolitionist.", "modelSources": [ "gw-cp", "gw-wb-2019" ], "summary": "Guinea-Bissau's Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 4/93 of 13 October 1993) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Its prostitution offence, 'exploitation of a third party's sexual activity' (Article 136), punishes anyone who, with intent to profit or as a way of life, promotes, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person engaging in prostitution or significant sexual acts, with up to three years in prison or a fine. Two to ten years apply where the offender exploits the victim's abandonment or economic need, uses violence, serious threats or coercion, or moves the victim abroad. Law No. 12/2011 on trafficking in persons covers subjecting a person to prostitution by threat, deception, coercion or abuse of authority. No specific provision on advertising was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex an offence for an adult. Publicly importuning another person with sexual acts falls under the general offence of sexual exhibitionism (Article 135: up to three years or a fine).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 135" ], "sources": [ "gw-cp", "gw-wb-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 1993 Code as transcribed by Equipo Nizkor and a 2019 World Bank compilation of the law in force. Later amendments to the Code were not checked in full." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found. Sexual acts with children are covered by the sexual abuse offences (Article 134).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 134" ], "sources": [ "gw-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Later amendments to the Code were not checked in full." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence names brothels as such, but running premises where others sell sex is covered by Article 136, which punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, promotes, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution: up to three years or a fine.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 136" ], "sources": [ "gw-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law applying Article 136 to venues was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting, facilitating or contributing to another's prostitution with intent to profit or as a way of life carries up to three years or a fine (Article 136(1)); attempt is punishable. Exploiting abandonment or economic need, using violence, serious threats or coercion, or moving the victim abroad carries two to ten years (Article 136(2)).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 136", "Lei n.º 12/2011" ], "sources": [ "gw-cp", "gw-wb-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. A person advertising their own services commits no identified offence; a third party who does so for profit or as a livelihood could fall under Article 136 as facilitating another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 136" ], "sources": [ "gw-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "This is a reading of the statutory text; no case or guidance on advertising or websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gw-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 4/93 of 13 October 1993)", "relevance": "Article 136 criminalises exploiting another person's prostitution for profit or as a way of life; no offence applies to selling or buying.", "provisions": [ "art. 135", "art. 136" ], "inForce": "1993" }, { "sourceId": "gw-wb-2019", "titleEn": "Law No. 12/2011 of 6 July 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in persons (reproduced in a World Bank compilation)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and sexual exploitation and criminalises trafficking for sexual exploitation.", "inForce": "2011" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1993-10-13", "event": "Decree-Law No. 4/93 adopts Guinea-Bissau's first Penal Code, replacing the Portuguese colonial code.", "sources": [ "gw-cp" ] }, { "date": "2011-07-06", "event": "Law No. 12/2011 on trafficking in persons is adopted, defining prostitution and sexual exploitation.", "sources": [ "gw-wb-2019" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gw-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal (Decreto-Lei n.º 4/93, de 13 de Outubro)", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 4/93 of 13 October 1993)", "publisher": "Equipo Nizkor (transcription of the Boletim Oficial text)", "url": "https://www.derechos.org/intlaw/doc/gnb1.html", "published": "1993-10-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "gw-wb-2019", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Formação em violência baseada no género: Legislação anexa — Guiné-Bissau", "titleEn": "Training on gender-based violence: annexed legislation — Guinea-Bissau", "publisher": "World Bank", "url": "https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/215511630345368083/pdf/Annex.pdf", "published": "2019-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea-bissau/" }, { "iso2": "GY", "name": "Guyana", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Guyana's colonial-era statutes do not make selling sex itself an offence, but they criminalise almost everything around it: loitering or importuning in public for prostitution, keeping or letting premises for a brothel, a man living on the earnings of prostitution, and procuring a woman to become a \"common prostitute\" (the statute's term). Because public soliciting by the seller is an offence, the regime sits at the prohibitionist edge of abolitionism; buying is not an offence.", "modelSources": [ "gy-sjoa", "gy-cloa" ], "summary": "Selling sex is not in itself an offence in Guyana, but the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act punishes anyone who loiters about or importunes people in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution, with a fine or up to 18 months on first conviction and three years on a second. The same Act punishes keeping or managing a brothel and knowingly letting premises for one, and makes a man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution liable to imprisonment and, on a repeat conviction, to whipping or flogging. The Criminal Law (Offences) Act punishes procuring a woman to become a \"common prostitute\" (the statute's term) or a brothel inmate with up to ten years, and keeping a common bawdy house with two. Paying for sex is not an offence.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but loitering about or importuning any person in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution is a summary offence: a fine of GYD 15,000 to 30,000 or 18 months on first conviction, three years on a second.", "provisions": [ "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02, s. 166(c)" ], "sources": [ "gy-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "How the police apply this and other public-order provisions in practice was not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 18 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision in the two main penal statutes makes paying an adult for sex an offence. Section 166(b) punishes a man who persistently solicits or importunes in a public place for immoral purposes, which could reach kerb-crawling.", "provisions": [ "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02, s. 166(b)" ], "sources": [ "gy-sjoa", "gy-cloa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether s. 166(b) is applied to clients was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel, knowingly permitting premises to be used as one, and letting premises knowing they will be used as one are summary offences (fine or 18 months; three years on a second conviction). Keeping a common bawdy house is also a misdemeanour carrying two years under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.", "details": "\"Brothel\" includes \"a common ill-governed or disorderly house\" (Cap. 8:02, s. 165(4)). Magistrates may issue warrants to enter suspected premises by force at any hour. The statute does not define a brothel by the number of people selling sex, so whether two sex workers sharing premises count as a brothel was not determined here.", "provisions": [ "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02, s. 165", "Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:01, s. 356" ], "sources": [ "gy-sjoa", "gy-cloa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure a woman to become a \"common prostitute\" (the statute's term), or to leave Guyana or her usual home to become a brothel inmate, is a misdemeanour carrying ten years. A man who knowingly lives wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution faces a fine or 18 months, then three years plus liability to whipping or flogging.", "details": "A man who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker and has no visible means of subsistence is presumed to be living on the earnings of prostitution unless he satisfies the court otherwise (Cap. 8:02, s. 168). Both the procuring and the earnings offences are written for female victims and male offenders.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:01, s. 73", "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02, ss. 166(a), 167, 168" ], "sources": [ "gy-cloa", "gy-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Public soliciting for prostitution is an offence, and the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act separately punishes circulating obscene objects; advertising a brothel could also support the brothel offences.", "provisions": [ "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02, ss. 157, 165, 166" ], "sources": [ "gy-sjoa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the general offences; online advertising, cybercrime and telecommunications law were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gy-sjoa", "titleEn": "Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02", "relevance": "Brothel keeping, letting premises for a brothel, living on earnings and public soliciting for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ss. 165-168" ] }, { "sourceId": "gy-cloa", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:01", "relevance": "Procuring women into prostitution or brothels, and keeping a common bawdy house.", "provisions": [ "s. 73", "s. 356" ] }, { "sourceId": "gy-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 2010 (Act No. 7 of 2010), Cap. 8:03", "relevance": "Repealed and replaced the older sexual offences in the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, including several procuring provisions.", "inForce": "2010" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2010", "event": "The Sexual Offences Act 2010 repeals sections 7, 55 to 72, 73(a), 74 to 77A and 83 to 89 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, leaving the rest of section 73 on procuring women into prostitution in force.", "sources": [ "gy-soa", "gy-cloa" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gy-sjoa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Guyana, Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02", "publisher": "Laws of Guyana (copy published by the Organization of American States, MESICIC)", "url": "https://www.oas.org/juridico/pdfs/mesicic4_guy_summ.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gy-cloa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Guyana, Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01 (L.R.O. 1/2012)", "publisher": "Laws of Guyana (copy published by FAOLEX, Food and Agriculture Organization)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/guy204765.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gy-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Guyana, Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03 (Act 7 of 2010)", "publisher": "Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Guyana", "url": "https://dpp.gy/sites/default/files/Sexual%20Offences%20Act.pdf.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guyana/" }, { "iso2": "HT", "name": "Haiti", "nativeName": "Haïti / Ayiti", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Low confidence. No offence of selling or buying sex between adults was found. The 1835 Penal Code addresses only the debauchery of young people under 18, and the 2014 trafficking law covers exploiting others' prostitution by coercive means. The 2020 Penal Code, adopted by decree, punishes procuring but not prostitution; whether it is in force is contested after repeated postponements, so the classification rests on it.", "modelSources": [ "ht-cp-1835", "ht-traite-2014", "ht-nouvelliste-2020", "ht-nouvelliste-2025" ], "summary": "Haitian law does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence, but which penal code applies is itself uncertain. The 1835 Penal Code, as amended by a 2005 decree, punishes habitually inciting or facilitating the debauchery of people under 18, not adult prostitution. A new Penal Code, adopted by presidential decree in 2020, punishes procuring but not prostitution; its entry into force has been postponed several times, and Haitian media disagree on whether it took effect on 24 June 2025. The 2014 law against trafficking in persons makes it a crime, seven to fifteen years, to recruit or house a person by coercive or fraudulent means for the exploitation of their prostitution, and punishes anyone who knowingly obtains sexual services from a trafficking victim. No specific advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling sex was found in the 1835 Penal Code, and the 2020 code, according to its press coverage, does not punish prostitution. A Haitian lawyer quoted in a 2022 legal explainer nevertheless says adult prostitution is not recognised and can be treated as an offence against public decency.", "provisions": [ "Art. 283 Code pénal de 1835 (outrage public à la pudeur)" ], "sources": [ "ht-cp-1835", "ht-odelpa-2022", "ht-nouvelliste-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The text of the 2020 code itself was not opened; the 1835 code was consulted through WIPO Lex. Enforcement practice was not researched." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence on the texts checked. Anyone who obtains or tries to obtain sexual services from a person knowing that they are a trafficking victim commits a crime punishable by imprisonment ('réclusion') and a fine of 50,000–100,000 gourdes (2014 trafficking law, Art. 12).", "provisions": [ "Art. 12 al. 2 Loi CL/2014-0010 sur la lutte contre la traite des personnes" ], "sources": [ "ht-traite-2014", "ht-odelpa-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 2020 Penal Code reportedly adds an offence of paying minors for sex; its client provisions for adults were not verified." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed at venues employing adults was found in the 1835 code. Housing or receiving a person by threats, force, fraud, deception or abuse of vulnerability for the exploitation of their prostitution is trafficking (seven to fifteen years), and the 2020 code, if in force, punishes those who assist or profit from another's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1.1.1 et art. 12 Loi CL/2014-0010" ], "sources": [ "ht-traite-2014", "ht-nouvelliste-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Brothel-specific provisions of the 2020 code and their article numbers could not be verified, and the code's legal status is contested." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Under the 2014 trafficking law, recruiting, transporting, housing or receiving a person by coercion, fraud or abuse of vulnerability for 'the exploitation of the prostitution of others or procuring' is a crime punishable by seven to fifteen years and a fine of 200,000–1,500,000 gourdes; consent is invalid where those means were used. The 2020 code punishes helping, protecting, profiting from, recruiting for or pressuring someone into prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1.1.1 et 12 Loi CL/2014-0010", "Art. 281 Code pénal de 1835 (décret du 6 juillet 2005), mineurs" ], "sources": [ "ht-traite-2014", "ht-nouvelliste-2020", "ht-cp-1835" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether non-coercive procuring of adults is an offence depends on whether the 2020 code is in force. The 1835 provision on inciting the debauchery of young people (numbered 281 or 282 depending on the edition) concerns only people under 18 since the 2005 decree." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for sexual services was found in the texts checked. Advertising that forms part of recruiting a person by coercive or fraudulent means for exploitation would fall under the 2014 trafficking law.", "sources": [ "ht-traite-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a provision; the 2020 Penal Code's text and media laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ht-traite-2014", "titleEn": "Law CL/2014-0010 on combating trafficking in persons", "relevance": "Defines exploitation to include the exploitation of others' prostitution and procuring, and punishes clients of known trafficking victims.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1.1.1", "Art. 12" ], "inForce": "2014-06-02" }, { "sourceId": "ht-cp-1835", "titleEn": "Penal Code (1835, as amended)", "relevance": "Punishes inciting or facilitating the debauchery of young people under 18; contains no adult prostitution offence. To be replaced by the 2020 code once that takes effect.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 281–283" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ht-penal-code-2020", "title": "Entry into force of the 2020 Penal Code", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2025-07-09", "summary": "The Penal Code adopted by decree in March 2020 punishes procuring but not prostitution. Its entry into force was postponed several times, the last scheduled date being 24 June 2025; one broadcaster reported that it took effect that day, while Le Nouvelliste wrote in July 2025 that it had still not entered into force.", "sources": [ "ht-nouvelliste-2020", "ht-nouvelliste-2025", "ht-rtm-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2014-06-02", "event": "The law against trafficking in persons (CL/2014-0010) is published in Le Moniteur, covering exploitation of others' prostitution by coercive means.", "sources": [ "ht-traite-2014" ] }, { "date": "2020", "event": "A new Penal Code adopted by presidential decree (dated 1 March 2020) is published; it punishes procuring but not prostitution, with entry into force deferred by 24 months.", "sources": [ "ht-nouvelliste-2020", "ht-rtm-2025" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-24", "event": "Scheduled entry into force of the 2020 Penal Code after a further twelve-month postponement; reports conflict on whether it took effect.", "sources": [ "ht-rtm-2025", "ht-nouvelliste-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ht-cp-1835", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal de Haïti", "titleEn": "Penal Code of Haiti", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (Organisation Mondiale de la Propriété Intellectuelle)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/7928", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ht-traite-2014", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi No CL/2014-0010 sur la lutte contre la traite des personnes (Le Moniteur No. 103, 2 juin 2014)", "titleEn": "Law No. CL/2014-0010 on combating trafficking in persons (Official Journal No. 103, 2 June 2014)", "publisher": "Le Moniteur, Journal officiel de la République d'Haïti (copie CEPAL)", "url": "https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/2014_loisurlaluttecontrelatraite_hti.pdf", "published": "2014-06-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ht-odelpa-2022", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Que dit la législation haïtienne sur la profession du sexe ?", "titleEn": "What does Haitian legislation say about sex work?", "publisher": "ODELPA", "url": "https://www.odelpa.org/post/que-dit-la-l%C3%A9gislation-ha%C3%AFtienne-sur-la-profession-du-sexe", "published": "2022-09-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ht-nouvelliste-2020", "kind": "news", "title": "Nouveau Code pénal : la prostitution n'est pas punie, le proxénétisme, oui", "titleEn": "New Penal Code: prostitution is not punished, procuring is", "publisher": "Le Nouvelliste", "url": "https://lenouvelliste.com/article/219558/nouveau-code-penal-la-prostitution-nest-pas-punie-le-proxenetisme-oui", "published": "2020-08-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ht-nouvelliste-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Le nouveau Code pénal haïtien est-il dans l'impasse ?", "titleEn": "Is the new Haitian Penal Code at an impasse?", "publisher": "Le Nouvelliste", "url": "https://lenouvelliste.com/article/257937/le-nouveau-code-penal-haitien-est-il-dans-limpasse", "published": "2025-07-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ht-rtm-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Haïti sous le joug du nouveau Code pénal : le silence coupable du CPT", "titleEn": "Haiti under the new Penal Code: the CPT's culpable silence", "publisher": "Radio Télé Monopole", "url": "https://radiotelemonopole.com/2025/06/24/haiti-sous-le-joug-du-nouveau-code-penal-le-silence-coupable-du-cpt/", "published": "2025-06-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/haiti/" }, { "iso2": "HN", "name": "Honduras", "nativeName": "Honduras", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Borderline. Selling and buying are not crimes. The Police and Social Coexistence Law (2001) declares exploiting the prostitution of another 'even with their consent' and keeping a brothel punishable, but only by reference to Arts. 148 and 149 of the 1983 Penal Code, which the 2019 Penal Code repealed. The 2019 Code punishes the sexual exploitation of adults only where it is forced (Art. 258), so non-coercive third-party involvement has no clearly applicable penalty.", "modelSources": [ "hn-cp-2019", "hn-lpcs" ], "summary": "Honduras does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults. The 2019 Penal Code (Decree 130-2017) defines sexual exploitation as using people in prostitution or other sexual activities for a price (Art. 257), but punishes it for adults only when it is forced through violence, intimidation, deception, abuse of a position or other means that override the victim's will: five to eight years and a fine (Art. 258). Exploiting minors is punished whatever the means. The 2001 Police and Social Coexistence Law still says that exploiting another's prostitution and keeping a brothel are to be punished under articles of the 1983 Code that no longer exist, lets municipalities regulate prostitution 'without registration of any kind', and lists 'itinerant prostitutes' among the people treated as vagrants. No offence aimed at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not a crime. Municipalities, with the health and interior ministries, may regulate prostitution to protect health, order and security, 'without registration of any kind' (Art. 85 Police Law). Art. 99 of the same law lists 'prostitutas ambulantes' (itinerant prostitutes) among the people considered and sanctioned as vagrants.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 85 y 99 Ley de Policía y de Convivencia Social (Decreto 226-2001)" ], "sources": [ "hn-lpcs", "hn-cp-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Police Law was read from an OCR of the Tribunal Superior de Cuentas copy marked 'actualizada-07'; later amendments and municipal ordinances (a Tegucigalpa ordinance on closed venues is reported by a sex workers' organisation) were not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the 2019 Penal Code. Promoting, favouring or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a person under 18, or knowingly benefiting from it, is punishable by six to eight years (Art. 259).", "provisions": [ "Art. 259 Código Penal (Decreto 130-2017)" ], "sources": [ "hn-cp-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Law against Trafficking in Persons (Decree 59-2012) was not reviewed for a client offence." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Police Law says that keeping, running, financing or knowingly renting premises for a brothel is to be punished under Art. 149 of the old Penal Code (Art. 87), but the 2019 Penal Code repealed that code and has no equivalent offence for adults outside forced exploitation (Art. 258). The Police Law also lists the supervision of 'casas de prostitución' among police functions.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 4 y 87 Ley de Policía y de Convivencia Social", "Arts. 258 y 634 Código Penal (Decreto 130-2017)" ], "sources": [ "hn-lpcs", "hn-cp-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether courts treat the Police Law's references to repealed articles as still enforceable, or apply other offences to venues, was not established; amendments to the 2019 Code after publication were searched for but not found." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting, favouring or facilitating the forced sexual exploitation of an adult, through violence, intimidation, deception, abuse of a position or any means that overrides the victim's will, is punishable by five to eight years and a fine of 100–500 day-units (Art. 258), aggravated by up to a third for organised groups or endangered victims (Art. 260). Trafficking for forced sexual exploitation is a separate crime (Art. 219).", "details": "The 1983 Code punished 'proxenetismo' (Art. 148). In the 2019 Code, sexual exploitation is defined in Art. 257 and punished for adults only in its forced form. The Police Law (Art. 86) still provides that anyone who exploits another's prostitution 'aun con el consentimiento de tal persona' (even with that person's consent) is to be punished under Art. 148 of the old code.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 219, 257, 258 y 260 Código Penal (Decreto 130-2017)", "Art. 86 Ley de Policía y de Convivencia Social" ], "sources": [ "hn-cp-2019", "hn-lpcs" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the code as published in La Gaceta No. 34,940 of 10 May 2019; later reforms (2026 reforms touched other articles) were not found to amend Arts. 257–260." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for adult sexual services was found in the 2019 Penal Code. Advertising that promotes or facilitates forced exploitation, or the exploitation of minors, falls under Arts. 258 and 259.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 258 y 259 Código Penal (Decreto 130-2017)" ], "sources": [ "hn-cp-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; media, telecommunications and municipal rules were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "hn-cp-2019", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree 130-2017)", "relevance": "Defines sexual exploitation (Art. 257), punishes forced sexual exploitation of adults (Art. 258) and exploitation of minors (Art. 259), and repeals the 1983 Penal Code (Art. 634).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 219, 257–260, 634" ] }, { "sourceId": "hn-lpcs", "titleEn": "Police and Social Coexistence Law (Decree 226-2001)", "relevance": "Lets municipalities regulate prostitution without registration (Art. 85), refers exploitation and brothel-keeping to articles of the old Penal Code (Arts. 86–87), and treats 'itinerant prostitutes' as vagrants (Art. 99).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 85–89, 99" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-05-10", "event": "The new Penal Code (Decree 130-2017) is published in La Gaceta, repealing the 1983 code and replacing 'proxenetismo' with a sexual-exploitation chapter that punishes adults' exploitation only when forced.", "sources": [ "hn-cp-2019" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "hn-cp-2019", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, Decreto No. 130-2017 (La Gaceta No. 34,940, 10 de mayo de 2019)", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Decree No. 130-2017 (Official Gazette No. 34,940, 10 May 2019)", "publisher": "Tribunal Superior de Cuentas de Honduras", "url": "https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Decreto_130-2017.pdf", "published": "2019-05-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "hn-lpcs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley de Policía y de Convivencia Social, Decreto No. 226-2001 (actualizada)", "titleEn": "Police and Social Coexistence Law, Decree No. 226-2001 (updated)", "publisher": "Tribunal Superior de Cuentas de Honduras", "url": "https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Ley%20de%20Policia%20y%20de%20Convivencia%20Social%20(actualizada-07).pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/honduras/" }, { "iso2": "HK", "name": "Hong Kong", "nativeName": "香港", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Hong Kong has its own criminal law under \"one country, two systems\"; mainland China's prohibition does not apply. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Part XII of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) criminalises controlling sex workers, living on their earnings, keeping or letting premises as a \"vice establishment\", public soliciting and displaying signs advertising prostitution. Because a vice establishment needs two or more people selling sex, one person working alone in a flat falls outside it.", "modelSources": [ "hk-cap200", "hk-lcq5-2015" ], "summary": "In Hong Kong, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences; the Secretary for Security told the Legislative Council in 2015 that \"the act of prostitution itself is not illegal\". The Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), Part XII, instead targets third parties and public visibility: controlling a person for prostitution (14 years), living on the earnings of another's prostitution (10 years), keeping a vice establishment (up to 10 years), letting or permitting premises to be used as one (7 years), soliciting in public (6 months) and publicly displaying a sign advertising prostitution (12 months). Premises count as a vice establishment only if used by two or more people for prostitution or for organising it, which is the legal basis of the \"one-woman brothel\" (一樓一鳳) arrangement. A 2026 government consultation on reforming sexual offences left prostitution offences out of scope.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. A single person selling sex from their own premises is lawful, because premises are a \"vice establishment\" only when used by two or more people for prostitution. Soliciting in public and displaying advertising signs are offences, and visitors who sell sex may breach their conditions of stay.", "details": "Section 117(3) Cap. 200: premises, a vessel or a place \"shall not be treated as a vice establishment\" unless used wholly or mainly by 2 or more persons for the purposes of prostitution, or wholly or mainly for or in connection with organising or arranging prostitution. Section 117(1) defines \"prostitute\" as a prostitute of either sex. Police describe their targets as people who control sex workers and keep vice establishments, \"instead of sex workers, unless the latter are involved in other offences\", such as soliciting in public or breaching conditions of stay. Soliciting, or loitering to solicit, for an immoral purpose in a public place or in view of the public carries a fine at level 3 and 6 months' imprisonment (s. 147).", "provisions": [ "s. 117(3) Cap. 200", "s. 147 Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200", "hk-lcq5-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Part XII of the Crimes Ordinance addresses third parties, premises, soliciting and signs, not clients.", "provisions": [ "Part XII Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200", "hk-lcq5-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or being in charge of a vice establishment is punishable by up to 3 years on summary conviction and 10 years on indictment. Owners or tenants who let premises knowing they will be used as a vice establishment, or who permit that use, face up to 7 years.", "details": "Section 139 (keeping a vice establishment), section 143 (letting premises for use as a vice establishment) and section 144 (tenant, occupier or person in charge permitting premises or a vessel to be kept as a vice establishment). A flat used by one sex worker is outside these offences because of the two-person threshold in s. 117(3). The 2015 Legislative Council answer reported 17 prosecutions in five years under the three premises offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 139 Cap. 200", "s. 143 Cap. 200", "s. 144 Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200", "hk-lcq5-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Harbouring or exercising control, direction or influence over a person for their prostitution carries up to 14 years; procuring a person to become a sex worker up to 10 years; knowingly living wholly or partly on another person's earnings from prostitution up to 10 years.", "details": "Under s. 137(2), a person who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker, or who exercises control, direction or influence over that person's movements in a way showing they are aiding, abetting or compelling the prostitution, is presumed to be living on the earnings unless they prove otherwise.", "provisions": [ "s. 130 Cap. 200", "s. 131 Cap. 200", "s. 137 Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly displaying a sign that advertises, or may reasonably be understood to advertise, the services of a sex worker or of someone who organises prostitution is punishable by 12 months. A sign is publicly displayed if it can be seen from a public place or from a common part of a building. Police may remove such signs.", "details": "Section 147A sets the offence and presumes that whoever keeps or manages the advertised place caused the display; sections 147B–147F provide for removal of signs by police, on a magistrate's warrant where entry is needed. The section is framed around physical signs; no Part XII provision specific to online advertising was found. Whether an online advertising service could be prosecuted under the general third-party offences (for example living on the earnings of prostitution, s. 137) depends on the facts and was not checked against case law.", "provisions": [ "s. 147A Cap. 200", "ss. 147B–147F Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory text on signs is clear; how online advertising and advertising websites are treated in practice was not verified." }, "street": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting, or loitering for the purpose of soliciting, for any immoral purpose in a public place or in view of the public is punishable by a fine at level 3 and 6 months' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "s. 147 Cap. 200" ], "sources": [ "hk-cap200", "hk-lcq5-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "hk-cap200", "titleEn": "Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), Part XII Sexual and Related Offences", "relevance": "Defines \"vice establishment\" (two or more persons) and sets the offences on controlling, procuring, living on earnings, vice establishments, premises, soliciting and advertising signs.", "provisions": [ "ss. 117, 130, 131, 137, 139, 143, 144, 147, 147A–147F" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "hk-sexual-offences-reform-2026", "title": "Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong (Security Bureau consultation)", "stage": "consultation", "updated": "2026-10-30", "next": { "what": "Government said it would submit amendment proposals to the Legislative Council within 2026." }, "summary": "A one-month public consultation launched on 7 July 2026 on rewriting sexual offences in the Crimes Ordinance, based on the Law Reform Commission's reviews. The consultation paper states that the Commission chose not to include offences relating to prostitution, which involve wider social and policy issues, so the prostitution offences in sections 129–159 are not part of the proposed reform.", "sources": [ "hk-sb-consultation-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1978", "event": "Ordinance No. 1 of 1978 inserts the present Part XII prostitution offences and the vice-establishment definition, which cross-refer to the UK Sexual Offences Act 1956.", "sources": [ "hk-cap200" ] }, { "date": "1991", "event": "Ordinance No. 90 of 1991 amends the vice-establishment definition in s. 117(3)(a) and adds a definition of \"prostitute\" covering either sex.", "sources": [ "hk-cap200" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-07", "event": "Government launches a consultation on reforming sexual offences; prostitution offences are outside its scope.", "sources": [ "hk-sb-consultation-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "hk-cap200", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200)", "publisher": "Hong Kong e-Legislation, Department of Justice", "url": "https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap200", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hk-lcq5-2015", "kind": "government", "title": "LCQ5: Combating illegal prostitution", "publisher": "Hong Kong SAR Government, Information Services Department", "url": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201510/28/P201510280666.htm", "published": "2015-10-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hk-sb-consultation-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Consultation Paper on Improving the Laws on Sexual Offences in Hong Kong", "publisher": "Security Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government", "url": "https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/pub/consultation/loso.html", "published": "2026-07-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hong-kong/" }, { "iso2": "HU", "name": "Hungary", "nativeName": "Magyarország", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling sex is legal for adults who hold a medical certificate and keep to the place rules of Act LXXV of 1999: no soliciting or services in protected zones, and municipalities may designate tolerance zones. Running a brothel, providing premises for prostitution, procuring and living off a sex worker's earnings are crimes under the Criminal Code. Because the 1999 act sets conditions such as tolerance zones and health certificates, some comparative work describes Hungary as regulationist, but there is no licensing of venues.", "modelSources": [ "hu-1999-lxxv", "hu-btk" ], "summary": "In Hungary, adults may sell sex if they have the medical certificate required by ministerial decree and do not solicit or provide services in protected zones defined by Act LXXV of 1999 and by municipal decrees; municipalities may designate tolerance zones, and must where street-based prostitution is persistent in towns over 50,000. Breaking these rules is a petty offence, and clients who solicit in a protected zone also commit one. Brothels, providing premises, procuring and living off a sex worker's earnings are crimes. Advertising another person's sexual services is banned, and media operators that carry such ads face fines of HUF 500,000 to 1,000,000 per ad.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Legal for people aged 18 or over who hold the medical certificate prescribed by the health minister's decree (§ 9 Act LXXV of 1999). Soliciting or providing services is banned in protected zones, for example within 300 m of listed public and institutional buildings, and services may not be provided in shared areas of apartment buildings or in vehicles (§ 7). Breaching these rules is a petty offence (§ 172 Act II of 2012).", "details": "- **Protected zones** (*védett övezet*, § 4 h), § 7): set by the act and by municipal decree.\n- **Tolerance zones** (*türelmi zóna*, § 4 i), § 8): a municipality may designate one where prostitution appears on a mass scale; in settlements of over 50,000 inhabitants it may not omit one where street-based prostitution is persistently observed. Municipalities may also ban soliciting in other public areas (§ 8(2)). How many municipalities have actually designated a zone was not verified.\n- **Petty offence:** § 172 Act II of 2012 (*Tiltott prostitúció*) covers breaching a statutory or municipal restriction on sexual services; a person under 18 cannot be punished for offering sexual services and is treated under child-protection rules (§ 172(2)-(5)). Section 172 is in Chapter XXIII of Act II of 2012, the petty offences also punishable by confinement, so it carries confinement of up to 60 days or a fine of up to HUF 400,000 (§§ 9(2) and 11(1)).", "provisions": [ "§§ 4, 7-9 1999. évi LXXV. törvény", "§ 172 2012. évi II. törvény" ], "sources": [ "hu-1999-lxxv", "hu-szabs" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "protected zones: 60 days" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is legal outside protected zones. Inviting someone in a protected zone to provide sexual services for payment, or accepting such an offer there, is banned (§ 10 Act LXXV of 1999) and is a petty offence (§ 184 Act II of 2012). Giving payment for a sexual act with a person under 18 is a crime (§ 203(2) Criminal Code).", "details": "Section 184 is not among the petty offences punishable by confinement, so the penalty is a fine of up to HUF 200,000 (§ 11(1) Act II of 2012).", "provisions": [ "§ 10 1999. évi LXXV. törvény", "§ 184 2012. évi II. törvény", "§ 203 (2) Btk." ], "sources": [ "hu-1999-lxxv", "hu-szabs", "hu-btk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "protected zones: ≈€550 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running or managing a brothel, or funding its operation, is a crime (§ 201(3) Criminal Code, one to five years). Making a building or other premises available for prostitution is also an offence under § 201(1), punishable by up to three years. A notary may temporarily close a business linked to procuring or related offences (§ 5 Act LXXV of 1999).", "provisions": [ "§ 201 Btk.", "§ 5 1999. évi LXXV. törvény" ], "sources": [ "hu-btk", "hu-1999-lxxv" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a person for sexual acts with another for profit (kerítés, § 200 Criminal Code) carries up to three years, two to eight years if commercial. Persuading another person into prostitution is facilitation (§ 201(1), up to three years). Being supported wholly or partly by a sex worker (kitartottság, § 202) carries up to three years. Higher penalties apply where minors are involved.", "provisions": [ "§ 200 Btk.", "§ 201 Btk.", "§ 202 Btk." ], "sources": [ "hu-btk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "It is banned to offer or advertise another person's sexual services, or to take part in doing so, in writing or through image, sound or other recordings or devices (§ 11 Act LXXV of 1999). A press, information or media service provider that takes part in such advertising can be fined HUF 500,000 to 1,000,000 per advertisement; repeat breaches can lead to the medium being stripped of its unlawful content or destroyed (§ 12).", "details": "- **Scope:** the wording of § 11 covers *another person's* services (\"más személy szexuális szolgáltatását\"); it does not expressly cover a sex worker advertising their own services.\n- **Platforms:** § 12 applies to whoever pursues press activity or provides \"egyéb tájékoztatást, hír- vagy médiaszolgáltatást\" (other information, news or media services), which on its face can reach websites carrying ads; the fine is imposed on the operator of the organisation, or failing that the organisation. Fines are a public-order fine (*közrendvédelmi bírság*) imposed by the police (§ 12(3)).\n- No case law on how § 12 is applied to online ad platforms was found.", "provisions": [ "§ 11 1999. évi LXXV. törvény", "§ 12 1999. évi LXXV. törvény" ], "sources": [ "hu-1999-lxxv" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "hu-1999-lxxv", "titleEn": "Act LXXV of 1999 on the rules of action against organised crime and certain related phenomena", "relevance": "Conditions for selling sex, protected and tolerance zones, the client ban in protected zones and the advertising ban.", "provisions": [ "§§ 4-12" ] }, { "sourceId": "hu-btk", "titleEn": "Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code", "relevance": "Procuring, facilitating prostitution including brothel keeping, living off earnings, and child prostitution offences including paying a person under 18.", "provisions": [ "§ 200", "§ 201", "§ 202", "§ 203" ] }, { "sourceId": "hu-szabs", "titleEn": "Act II of 2012 on petty offences", "relevance": "Petty offences for breaching prostitution restrictions and for soliciting sexual services in protected zones.", "provisions": [ "§ 172", "§ 184" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "hu-1999-lxxv", "kind": "legislation", "title": "1999. évi LXXV. törvény a szervezett bűnözés, valamint az azzal összefüggő egyes jelenségek elleni fellépés szabályairól és az ehhez kapcsolódó törvénymódosításokról", "titleEn": "Act LXXV of 1999 on the rules of action against organised crime and certain related phenomena (consolidated, in force from 27 September 2026)", "publisher": "Jogtár (Wolters Kluwer Hungary)", "url": "https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=99900075.tv", "published": "1999", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hu" }, { "id": "hu-btk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "2012. évi C. törvény a Büntető Törvénykönyvről", "titleEn": "Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code (consolidated, version in force from 1 October 2026)", "publisher": "Jogtár (Wolters Kluwer Hungary)", "url": "https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1200100.tv", "published": "2012", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hu" }, { "id": "hu-szabs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "2012. évi II. törvény a szabálysértésekről, a szabálysértési eljárásról és a szabálysértési nyilvántartási rendszerről", "titleEn": "Act II of 2012 on petty offences, petty offence procedure and the petty offence register (consolidated)", "publisher": "Jogtár (Wolters Kluwer Hungary)", "url": "https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1200002.tv", "published": "2012", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "hu" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hungary/" }, { "iso2": "IS", "name": "Iceland", "nativeName": "Ísland", "memberships": [ "EEA", "EFTA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling sex was removed from the Penal Code in 2007 and buying it became an offence in 2009 (Article 206). Third-party involvement, renting premises and public advertisements offering or seeking paid sex are also offences. A 2026 government bill would remove fines as a sanction for buyers.", "modelSources": [ "is-hgl-en", "is-samrad-2026" ], "summary": "Iceland follows the Nordic model. Under Article 206 of the General Penal Code, paying or promising payment for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison, and up to two years where the person is under 18. Basing one's livelihood on the prostitution of others, mediating it or deriving income from it, for example by renting out premises, carries up to four years, and offering, arranging or seeking paid sex in a public advertisement is an offence. In practice first purchase offences are closed with a police fine of ISK 200,000; a draft bill published in September 2026 would abolish fines so every case goes to court.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. Article 206 was rewritten by Act No. 61/2007, in force on 4 April 2007, and no longer contains the earlier offence of engaging in prostitution as a means of livelihood.", "details": "A person who sells sex can still commit the separate offence of offering paid sex in a public advertisement (see advertising).", "provisions": [ "Art. 206 General Penal Code No. 19/1940" ], "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article text read in the government's English translation; the Icelandic consolidated text on althingi.is could not be opened from our environment." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying, or promising payment or other consideration, for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison, and by up to two years where the person selling is under 18. Under the Prosecutor General's guidance, a first offence is usually closed with a police fine of ISK 200,000.", "details": "The purchase offence was inserted by Act No. 54/2009. The Vísir report on the September 2026 draft bill quotes the bill's explanatory notes as citing instructions of the Prosecutor General no. 1/2025, under which a first offence may be fined and the fine should be ISK 200,000.", "provisions": [ "Art. 206 first and second paragraphs General Penal Code No. 19/1940" ], "sources": [ "is-hgl-en", "is-samrad-2026", "is-visir-2026-09" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The ISK 200,000 figure comes from the draft bill as reported by Vísir; we did not open the Prosecutor General's instruction itself.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Deriving income from the prostitution of others, for example by renting out premises, or basing one's livelihood on it, is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment (a fine or up to one year in mitigating circumstances). This covers running a brothel.", "provisions": [ "Art. 206 third and sixth paragraphs General Penal Code No. 19/1940" ], "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Paragraph numbering follows the government's English translation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Using deception, encouragement or mediation to get others to have sex for payment, or to derive income from their prostitution, carries up to four years. Arranging for someone to move to or from Iceland to support themselves through prostitution is punished the same way.", "provisions": [ "Art. 206 third, fifth and sixth paragraphs General Penal Code No. 19/1940" ], "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Offering, arranging or seeking sexual intercourse for payment in a public advertisement is punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison. The offence applies to sellers, buyers and intermediaries alike.", "details": "A website operator that earns money from such advertisements may also fall under the sixth paragraph of Article 206 (mediation or deriving income from the prostitution of others).", "provisions": [ "Art. 206 seventh paragraph General Penal Code No. 19/1940" ], "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The advertising offence itself is clear in the text. Its application to online ad platforms is our reading of the statute; we did not find case law on it." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "is-hgl-en", "titleEn": "General Penal Code No. 19/1940", "relevance": "Article 206 contains the purchase offence, the procuring and premises offences and the public-advertisement offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 206" ], "inForce": "1940-08-12" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "frumvarp-vaendiskaup-2026", "title": "Draft bill amending the purchase provision of the General Penal Code (S-177/2026)", "stage": "consultation", "updated": "2026-10-02", "next": { "what": "Introduction of the bill in the Althingi" }, "summary": "The Ministry of Justice published a draft bill on 18 September 2026, after announcing the plan in July. It would abolish fines for buying sex, so cases could no longer be closed with a police fine and would go to court; raise the maximum penalty for buying sex from a child from two to four years; make it irrelevant whether a third party paid; and cover negligence as to a child's age. Consultation closed on 2 October 2026 with 11 comments.", "sources": [ "is-samrad-2026", "is-gov-2026-07", "is-visir-2026-07", "is-visir-2026-09" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2007-04-04", "event": "Act No. 61/2007 took effect, rewriting Article 206: selling sex is no longer an offence and the procuring and advertising offences take their current form.", "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ] }, { "date": "2009", "event": "Act No. 54/2009 made paying for prostitution an offence.", "sources": [ "is-hgl-en" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-07", "event": "The Ministry of Justice put plans to abolish fines for buying sex out to consultation.", "sources": [ "is-gov-2026-07", "is-visir-2026-07" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-18", "event": "Draft bill published for consultation; it would abolish fines for buying sex and double the maximum penalty for buying sex from a child.", "sources": [ "is-samrad-2026", "is-visir-2026-09" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "is-hgl-en", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The General Penal Code 1940 No. 19 (12 February) [official English translation]", "publisher": "Government of Iceland, Ministry of Justice", "url": "https://www.government.is/library/01-Ministries/Ministry-of-Justice/Generlal%20Penal%20Code,%20No.19%201940.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "is-samrad-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Drög að frumvarpi til breytinga á vændiskaupaákvæði almennra hegningarlaga (mál nr. S-177/2026)", "titleEn": "Draft bill amending the purchase-of-prostitution provision of the General Penal Code", "publisher": "Dómsmálaráðuneytið (Samráðsgátt)", "url": "https://island.is/samradsgatt/mal/4324", "published": "2026-09-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "is" }, { "id": "is-gov-2026-07", "kind": "government", "title": "Áform um breytingar á vændisákvæði sett í samráðsgátt", "titleEn": "Plans to amend the prostitution provision put out to consultation", "publisher": "Stjórnarráð Íslands", "url": "https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2026/07/07/Aform-um-breytingar-a-vaendisakvaedi-sett-i-samradsgatt", "published": "2026-07-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "is" }, { "id": "is-visir-2026-07", "kind": "news", "title": "Vill afnema sektir við vændiskaupum", "titleEn": "Wants to abolish fines for buying sex", "publisher": "Vísir", "url": "https://www.visir.is/g/20262906652d/vill-af-nema-sektir-vid-vaendiskaup", "published": "2026-07-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "is" }, { "id": "is-visir-2026-09", "kind": "news", "title": "Vill þyngja hámarksrefsingu fyrir að kaupa vændi af barni", "titleEn": "Wants to raise the maximum penalty for buying sex from a child", "publisher": "Vísir", "url": "https://www.visir.is/g/20262937238d/vill-thyngja-hamarksrefsingu-fyrir-ad-kaupa-vaendi-af-barni", "published": "2026-09-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "is" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iceland/" }, { "iso2": "IN", "name": "India", "nativeName": "भारत", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 does not make selling sex as such an offence. It criminalises brothel keeping, living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, procuring, prostitution in or near public places and soliciting in public. The Supreme Court stated in 2022 that \"voluntary sex work is not illegal and only running the brothel is unlawful\". Because the public-place and soliciting offences reach the seller (and, near public places, the buyer), India sits at the restrictive end of the abolitionist model.", "modelSources": [ "in-itpa", "in-sc-2022" ], "summary": "Under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 (ITPA), an adult selling sex in private is not committing an offence. The Act punishes keeping or managing a brothel (section 3), knowingly living on the earnings of another person's prostitution (section 4), procuring or inducing a person into prostitution (section 5), prostitution in premises within 200 metres of places of worship, schools, hospitals and similar places or in notified areas, for both parties (section 7), and soliciting in or within sight of a public place (section 8). On 19 May 2022, in Budhadev Karmaskar v State of West Bengal, the Supreme Court used Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the States to implement several recommendations of its panel on sex workers' dignity. In May 2026, in Prajwala v Union of India, it held that rescued adults cannot be made to undergo rehabilitation against their will.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. It becomes one in premises within 200 metres of a place of public worship, educational institution, hospital, nursing home or other notified public place, or in an area the State has notified (up to three months' imprisonment), and when soliciting in or within sight of a public place (up to six months or a fine of up to 500 rupees on a first conviction).", "details": "The Act defines prostitution as \"the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes\" (section 2(f)). Courts have read the Act as not penalising prostitution itself; the Supreme Court's 2022 order records that \"voluntary sex work is not illegal\". Section 8 covers attracting attention \"by words, gestures, wilful exposure\", including from a window or balcony, and soliciting or loitering for prostitution. Its proviso sets a different penalty, seven days to three months' imprisonment, when the offence is committed by a man.", "provisions": [ "s. 7(1) ITPA", "s. 8 ITPA" ], "sources": [ "in-itpa", "in-sc-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official India Code text (indiacode.nic.in) did not respond, so the provisions were read from the copy of the Act published by Punjab Police. That copy matches the statute's section structure.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a general offence. Section 7(1) applies to \"the person with whom such prostitution is carried on\", so a buyer commits an offence in premises within 200 metres of the listed public places or in a notified area. Buying sex from a child or minor carries heavy penalties.", "provisions": [ "s. 7(1) ITPA", "s. 7(1-A) ITPA" ], "sources": [ "in-itpa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 against engaging trafficked persons for sexual exploitation were not checked against the official text.", "mapLabel": "near schools: 3 months" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in doing so, carries one to three years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine on first conviction. Tenants, occupiers and landlords who knowingly allow premises to be used as a brothel are also liable. A \"brothel\" includes a place used for the mutual gain of two or more sex workers.", "details": "Section 2(a) defines a brothel as any house, room, conveyance or place used \"for purposes of sexual exploitation or abuse for the gain of another person or for the mutual gain of two or more prostitutes\". Two sex workers sharing premises can therefore fall within the definition. Under section 3(2-A), knowledge is presumed once a newspaper reports that a search found the premises being used for prostitution. Section 18 allows a magistrate to order the closure of brothels near public places.", "provisions": [ "s. 2(a) ITPA", "s. 3 ITPA", "s. 18 ITPA" ], "sources": [ "in-itpa", "in-sc-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person over 18 who knowingly lives wholly or partly on another person's earnings from prostitution faces up to two years' imprisonment or a fine. Living with a sex worker, controlling her movements or acting as a tout or pimp creates a rebuttable presumption of the offence. Procuring or inducing a person into prostitution, even with consent, carries three to seven years' rigorous imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "s. 4 ITPA", "s. 5 ITPA" ], "sources": [ "in-itpa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The ITPA has no offence aimed at advertising as such. Section 8 punishes attracting attention or soliciting for prostitution in or within sight of a public place, by words, gestures or \"otherwise\". Third parties who publish offers on behalf of sex workers risk the procuring and living-on-earnings offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 8 ITPA", "s. 4 ITPA", "s. 5 ITPA" ], "sources": [ "in-itpa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether section 8 reaches online advertisements was not established; the Act defines a public place as one \"intended for use by, or accessible to, the public\". The Information Technology Act 2000 (obscenity offences and website blocking) could not be opened on an official portal and is not assessed here." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "in-itpa", "titleEn": "Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 (Act 104 of 1956, as amended)", "relevance": "The main prostitution statute: brothels, living on earnings, procuring, public-place prostitution, soliciting, closure of brothels and protective homes.", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 3", "s. 4", "s. 5", "s. 7", "s. 8", "s. 17", "s. 18" ] }, { "sourceId": "in-sc-2022", "titleEn": "Budhadev Karmaskar v State of West Bengal, Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2010, order of 19 May 2022", "relevance": "Supreme Court directions under Article 142 on sex workers' dignity, police conduct, media identification and Aadhaar identity cards, to apply until Parliament legislates.", "inForce": "2022-05-19" }, { "sourceId": "in-prajwala-2026", "titleEn": "Prajwala v Union of India, 2026 INSC 609 (29 May 2026)", "relevance": "Supreme Court judgment recognising a right to rehabilitation for trafficking survivors and setting binding guidelines on rescue and rehabilitation, including the consent of adult victims to protective custody.", "inForce": "2026-05-29" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1956", "event": "Parliament enacts Act 104 of 1956 to implement the 1950 New York Convention for the suppression of traffic in persons; it was originally titled the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act and later renamed the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.", "sources": [ "in-itpa" ] }, { "date": "2011-07-19", "event": "The Supreme Court sets up a panel chaired by Pradip Ghosh on preventing trafficking, rehabilitating sex workers who wish to leave sex work, and conditions for sex workers to live with dignity.", "sources": [ "in-sc-2022" ] }, { "date": "2022-05-19", "event": "In Budhadev Karmaskar, the Supreme Court invokes Article 142 to give effect to the panel's recommendations until Parliament legislates. The Union government had reservations about some recommendations, so States were told to act in \"strict compliance\" with those it accepted (paras 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9: survivor care, review of protective homes, police sensitisation, media identification, condoms not as evidence, legal literacy). The rest, including the no-arrest-in-raids and police non-interference paragraphs, were deferred.", "sources": [ "in-sc-2022" ] }, { "date": "2026-05-29", "event": "In Prajwala v Union of India (2026 INSC 609), the Supreme Court holds that trafficking survivors have a fundamental right to rehabilitation under Articles 21 and 23 and issues a Victim Protection Plan. Commentators report it requires a magistrate to ask a rescued adult whether she sells sex voluntarily and whether she wants protective custody.", "sources": [ "in-prajwala-2026", "in-pucl-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "in-itpa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (Act No. 104 of 1956)", "publisher": "Punjab Police, Barnala (legal corner copy of the Act)", "url": "https://barnala.punjabpolice.gov.in/uploads/pdf-legal-corner/023-The-Immoral-Traffic-Prevention-Act-1956.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "in-sc-2022", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Budhadev Karmaskar v. The State of West Bengal & Ors., Criminal Appeal No. 135/2010, Record of Proceedings, 19-05-2022", "publisher": "Supreme Court of India", "url": "https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2007/37388/37388_2007_5_20_35996_Order_19-May-2022.pdf", "published": "2022-05-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "in-prajwala-2026", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Rehabilitation as a Facet of Article 21: Prajwala v Union of India (2026 INSC 609), SCO.LR report", "publisher": "Supreme Court Observer", "url": "https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/rehabilitation-as-a-facet-of-article-21-prajawala-v-union-of-india/", "published": "2026-05-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "in-pucl-2026", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Supreme Court Upholds Rule of Consent and Human Rights: Detention and Rehabilitation Cannot Be Imposed on Sex Workers and Victims of Sex Trafficking Against Their Will", "publisher": "People's Union for Civil Liberties", "url": "https://pucl.org/manage-writings/supreme-court-upholds-rule-of-consent-and-human-rights-detention-and-rehabilitation-cannot-be-imposed-on-sex-workers-and-victims-of-sex-trafficking-against-their-will/", "published": "2026-07-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/india/" }, { "iso2": "ID", "name": "Indonesia", "nativeName": "Indonesia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The national Criminal Code (KUHP, Law 1/2023, in force 2 January 2026) has no offence of selling or buying sex as such, but punishes all sex outside marriage as zina (Article 411) on complaint by a spouse, parent or child, and punishes facilitating obscene acts. Many regional bylaws ban selling and buying sex outright, and Aceh applies caning for zina under its Qanun Jinayat.", "modelSources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-perda-jkt", "id-qanun-aceh" ], "summary": "Indonesia's new Criminal Code (KUHP, Law No. 1 of 2023) took effect on 2 January 2026, replacing the colonial-era code. It does not name prostitution between adults as an offence, but Article 411 punishes any sexual intercourse with a person who is not one's spouse with up to one year's imprisonment, and Article 412 punishes cohabitation; both are prosecuted only on complaint by a spouse, a parent or a child. Facilitating obscene acts by others is punishable with up to two years, a third more when done habitually or for profit (Articles 420–421). The Pornography Law 2008 bans offering or advertising sexual services. Regional bylaws, such as Jakarta's public-order bylaw, prohibit selling and buying sex, and in Aceh zina is punished with 100 lashes.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Aceh", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Qanun Aceh No. 6 of 2014 on Jinayat law, in force since October 2015, punishes zina with 100 lashes (Article 33(1)) and providing facilities for or promoting zina, including by businesses, with up to 100 lashes, 1,000 grams of gold or 100 months' imprisonment (Article 33(3)). It applies to Muslims, to non-Muslims who submit to it, and to non-Muslims for acts not covered by national criminal law (Article 5).", "sources": [ "id-qanun-aceh" ] }, { "name": "DKI Jakarta", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 8 of 2007 on public order prohibits being a commercial sex worker, procuring or facilitating others to become one, and using the services of one (Article 42(2)), with penalties in its penal chapter. Other regions have comparable bylaws, which were not reviewed individually.", "sources": [ "id-perda-jkt" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "National law has no specific offence of selling sex, but sex outside marriage is zina under Article 411 KUHP (up to one year), prosecutable only on complaint by the spouse, a parent or a child. Regional bylaws, for example in Jakarta, prohibit being a commercial sex worker; in Aceh zina is caned.", "details": "Bali has no separate national regime: the adultery (Article 411) and cohabitation (Article 412) offences apply there as elsewhere. Because only a spouse, parent or child (aged 16 or over) may complain, police cannot open a case on their own; the Law Minister restated this on 5 January 2026, days after the code took effect. Regional public-order bylaws in Bali were not reviewed.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 411 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 42(2) Perda DKI Jakarta 8/2007", "Pasal 33 Qanun Aceh 6/2014" ], "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-antara2026", "id-perda-jkt", "id-qanun-aceh" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official KUHP text on the government portals could not be fetched; it was read in the Wikisource transcription and checked against the Law Minister's statement reported by ANTARA." }, "buying": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no national offence of paying for sex, but the zina offence in Article 411 KUHP applies to both parties on complaint by a spouse, parent or child. Jakarta's bylaw bans using the services of a commercial sex worker, and Aceh's Qanun punishes both parties to zina.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 411 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 42(2)(c) Perda DKI Jakarta 8/2007" ], "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-antara2026", "id-perda-jkt" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Official KUHP text read via Wikisource transcription." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Connecting or facilitating others to commit obscene acts is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment, increased by one third when done habitually or as a livelihood (Articles 420–421 KUHP), which reaches brothel-keeping. Jakarta's bylaw also bans providing buildings for immoral acts.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 420 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 421 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 43 Perda DKI Jakarta 8/2007" ], "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-perda-jkt" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "That Articles 420–421 are applied to brothel-keeping is an inference from their wording; no case law under the new code was reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Facilitating obscene acts by others for profit is punishable under Articles 420–421 KUHP. Moving, placing or handing over a child to others for prostitution carries up to nine years (Article 422); trafficking is covered by the separate anti-trafficking law.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 420 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 421 KUHP (UU 1/2023)", "Pasal 422 KUHP (UU 1/2023)" ], "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Official KUHP text read via Wikisource transcription; Law 21/2007 on trafficking was not reviewed." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The Pornography Law prohibits providing pornographic services that offer or advertise sexual services, directly or indirectly, punishable with six months to six years and a fine of IDR 250 million to 3 billion. In Aceh, promoting zina is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 4(2)(d) UU 44/2008 tentang Pornografi", "Pasal 30 UU 44/2008 tentang Pornografi", "Pasal 33(3) Qanun Aceh 6/2014" ], "sources": [ "id-uu44-2008", "id-qanun-aceh" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Pornography Law read via Wikisource transcription. Liability of websites under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law and its content-moderation rules was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "id-kuhp2023", "titleEn": "Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP)", "relevance": "Zina and cohabitation offences on complaint; facilitating obscene acts; child prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 411", "Pasal 412", "Pasal 420–422", "Pasal 624" ], "inForce": "2026-01-02" }, { "sourceId": "id-uu44-2008", "titleEn": "Law No. 44 of 2008 on Pornography", "relevance": "Bans offering or advertising sexual services as a pornographic service.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 4(2)(d)", "Pasal 30" ], "inForce": "2008-11-26" }, { "sourceId": "id-qanun-aceh", "titleEn": "Aceh Qanun No. 6 of 2014 on Jinayat Law", "relevance": "Caning for zina and for promoting or facilitating it in Aceh.", "provisions": [ "Pasal 5", "Pasal 33" ], "inForce": "2015-10-23" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2008-11-26", "event": "The Pornography Law is enacted, banning services that offer or advertise sexual services.", "sources": [ "id-uu44-2008" ] }, { "date": "2015-10-23", "event": "Aceh's Qanun Jinayat takes effect, one year after its promulgation on 23 October 2014.", "sources": [ "id-qanun-aceh" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-02", "event": "The new Criminal Code (Law 1/2023) is promulgated with a three-year transition period.", "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-antara2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-01-02", "event": "The new Criminal Code enters into force, including the complaint-based offences of adultery and cohabitation.", "sources": [ "id-kuhp2023", "id-antara2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "id-kuhp2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, Buku Kedua", "titleEn": "Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, Book Two (transcription)", "publisher": "Wikisource bahasa Indonesia (transcription of Lembaran Negara 2023 No. 1)", "url": "https://id.wikisource.org/wiki/Undang-Undang_Republik_Indonesia_Nomor_1_Tahun_2023/Buku_Kedua", "published": "2023-01-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "id" }, { "id": "id-uu44-2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 44 Tahun 2008 tentang Pornografi", "titleEn": "Law No. 44 of 2008 on Pornography (transcription)", "publisher": "Wikisource bahasa Indonesia", "url": "https://id.wikisource.org/wiki/Undang-Undang_Republik_Indonesia_Nomor_44_Tahun_2008", "published": "2008-11-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "id" }, { "id": "id-qanun-aceh", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Qanun Aceh Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Hukum Jinayat", "titleEn": "Aceh Qanun No. 6 of 2014 on Jinayat Law", "publisher": "Dinas Syariat Islam Aceh (Government of Aceh)", "url": "https://dsi.acehprov.go.id/media/2023.07/qanun_aceh_nomor_6_tahun_2014_tentang_hukum_jinayat1.pdf", "published": "2014-10-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "id" }, { "id": "id-perda-jkt", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Peraturan Daerah Provinsi DKI Jakarta Nomor 8 Tahun 2007 tentang Ketertiban Umum", "titleEn": "Jakarta Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2007 on Public Order", "publisher": "Pasal.id (text sourced from peraturan.go.id)", "url": "https://pasal.id/peraturan/perda/perda-provinsi-dki-jakarta-no-8-tahun-2007", "published": "2007", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "id" }, { "id": "id-antara2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Menkum sebut yang bisa adukan kumpul kebo hanya pasangan sah dan ortu", "titleEn": "Law Minister says only spouses and parents can report cohabitation", "publisher": "ANTARA", "url": "https://jogja.antaranews.com/berita/793123/menkum-sebut-yang-bisa-adukan-kumpul-kebo-hanya-pasangan-sah-dan-ortu", "published": "2026-01-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "id" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/indonesia/" }, { "iso2": "IR", "name": "Iran", "nativeName": "ایران", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are offences through the general hadd offence of zina, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other (Art. 221, Islamic Penal Code 2013), punishable by 100 lashes or, for married offenders, stoning. Procuring is a separate hadd offence (qavvadi, Arts. 242-243), and running a place of prostitution or encouraging prostitution is a ta'zir crime (Art. 639, Book Five of 1996).", "modelSources": [ "ir-ipc", "ir-ipc-5" ], "summary": "Iran's Islamic Penal Code treats paid sex as zina, intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other (Art. 221). The hadd punishment is 100 lashes for an offender who is not muhsan (Art. 230) and stoning for one who is (Art. 225), with death in the cases of Art. 224. Intimacy short of intercourse carries up to 99 lashes (Art. 637, Book Five). Procuring, bringing people together for zina, is a hadd offence of 75 lashes, with banishment of up to a year for a man's second offence (Arts. 242-243). Establishing or directing a place of prostitution, or facilitating or encouraging prostitution, carries one to ten years' imprisonment and temporary closure of the premises (Art. 639); displaying or advertising material that violates public morality carries three months to one year, a fine and up to 74 lashes (Art. 640).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paid sex is zina, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other (Art. 221). The hadd punishment is 100 lashes if the offender is not muhsan (Art. 230) and stoning if muhsan (Art. 225), with the death penalty in the cases listed in Art. 224. Acts short of intercourse, such as kissing, carry up to 99 lashes (Art. 637).", "details": "Ihsan (being muhsan) broadly means being married to a permanent, pubescent spouse with whom one has had intercourse (Art. 226). Under Art. 225, where stoning cannot be carried out, the court may, with the approval of the Head of the Judiciary, impose death if zina was proved by witnesses, and otherwise 100 lashes.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 221, 224-226, 230 Islamic Penal Code (2013)", "Art. 637 Islamic Penal Code, Book Five (1996)" ], "sources": [ "ir-ipc", "ir-ipc-5" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official Persian texts (Majlis Research Center portals) could not be opened; this uses the English translation by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. Enforcement practice was not examined.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no client-specific offence, but zina is committed by both the man and the woman, so a client faces the same hadd punishments as the seller: 100 lashes if not muhsan, stoning if muhsan (Arts. 221, 225 and 230).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 221, 225, 230 Islamic Penal Code (2013)" ], "sources": [ "ir-ipc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on an unofficial English translation; the official Persian text could not be opened.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who establishes or directs a place of immorality or prostitution is sentenced to one to ten years' imprisonment, and the court may close the premises temporarily (Art. 639(A), Book Five). If the act also amounts to procuring, the hadd punishment for procuring is added.", "provisions": [ "Art. 639 Islamic Penal Code, Book Five (1996)" ], "sources": [ "ir-ipc-5" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Law on Reduction of Ta'zir Imprisonment Sentences (2020) changed sentencing rules for many ta'zir offences; its effect on Art. 639 was not verified." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (qavvadi) means connecting two or more people for zina or sodomy; one act suffices (Art. 242). The hadd is 75 lashes; a man's second offence adds banishment for up to one year (Art. 243). If no zina follows, or for procuring minors, the penalty is 31 to 74 lashes and sixth-degree imprisonment (Arts. 242 Note 1, 244). Facilitating or encouraging prostitution: one to ten years (Art. 639(B)).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 242-244 Islamic Penal Code (2013)", "Art. 639(B) Islamic Penal Code, Book Five (1996)" ], "sources": [ "ir-ipc", "ir-ipc-5" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on an unofficial English translation; the official Persian text could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who facilitates or encourages people to immorality or prostitution faces one to ten years (Art. 639(B)). Displaying, producing or keeping for distribution writings, pictures, advertisements or anything else that violates public prudency and morality, or advertising to promote such material, carries three months to one year, a fine and up to 74 lashes (Art. 640).", "provisions": [ "Art. 639(B) Islamic Penal Code, Book Five (1996)", "Art. 640 Islamic Penal Code, Book Five (1996)" ], "sources": [ "ir-ipc-5" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found; the Computer Crimes Law (2009) was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ir-ipc", "titleEn": "Islamic Penal Code (2013), Books I and II", "relevance": "Book II defines zina and its hadd punishments (Arts. 221 to 232) and the hadd offence of procuring (Arts. 242 to 244).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 221-232", "Arts. 242-244" ], "inForce": "2013" }, { "sourceId": "ir-ipc-5", "titleEn": "Islamic Penal Code, Book Five: Ta'zirat and Deterrent Punishments (1996)", "relevance": "Art. 639 punishes running a place of prostitution and facilitating or encouraging prostitution; Art. 637 covers intimacy short of zina; Art. 640 covers material violating public morality.", "provisions": [ "Art. 637", "Art. 639", "Art. 640" ], "inForce": "1996" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1996", "event": "Book Five of the Islamic Penal Code (Ta'zirat) is adopted, including Art. 639 on places of prostitution and encouraging prostitution.", "sources": [ "ir-ipc-5" ] }, { "date": "2013", "event": "A new Islamic Penal Code is adopted, restating zina (Arts. 221 to 232) and procuring (Arts. 242 to 244); Book Five (Ta'zirat) of 1996 remains in force alongside it.", "sources": [ "ir-ipc" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ir-ipc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "English Translation of Books I & II of the New Islamic Penal Code", "publisher": "Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (unofficial translation)", "url": "https://iranhrdc.org/english-translation-of-books-i-ii-of-the-new-islamic-penal-code/", "published": "2014", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ir-ipc-5", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Islamic Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran – Book Five", "publisher": "Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (unofficial translation)", "url": "https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iran/" }, { "iso2": "IQ", "name": "Iraq", "nativeName": "العراق", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988, renamed the Law on Combating Prostitution and Sexual Deviance by its 2024 amendment (Law No. 15 of 2024), prohibits prostitution and punishes anyone who engages in it with up to seven years' imprisonment or a fine. No provision targets clients. Pimping, brothels and promoting prostitution are crimes. The 2024 amendment does not apply in the Kurdistan Region unless the Kurdistan Parliament adopts it.", "modelSources": [ "iq-1988", "iq-2024-text" ], "summary": "Iraq prohibits prostitution under the Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988 as amended in 2024. Prostitution is now defined as repeated zina with more than one person, with or without payment, and anyone who engages in it faces imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of IQD 3 to 5 million; before 2024 a woman was instead placed in a reform home for three months to two years. Pimps, people who own or manage a brothel and venue operators who use people in prostitution to attract customers face up to seven years and a fine of IQD 5 to 10 million. Promoting prostitution by any means carries at least seven years and IQD 10 to 15 million. The 2024 amendment, which also criminalises same-sex relations, requires the communications regulator to block indecent material. In the Kurdistan Region the amendment needs the regional parliament's approval.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Kurdistan Region", "model": "prohibition", "note": "The Kurdish parliament's legal adviser stated in May 2024 that the amendments do not apply in the Kurdistan Region until the Kurdistan Parliament votes to activate them; no such vote was found. How the original 1988 law is applied in the Region was not checked.", "sources": [ "iq-rudaw-krg" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who engages in prostitution is punishable by imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of IQD 3 to 5 million (Art. 4 as replaced in 2024). Prostitution is defined as repeated zina with more than one person, with or without payment (Art. 1). Before 2024, a woman proven to have engaged in prostitution was placed in a reform home for three months to two years.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 2 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 4 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)" ], "sources": [ "iq-2024-text", "iq-1988" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official gazette and the Iraqi legal databases could not be opened. The 2024 wording is taken from the text as passed by parliament, published by Ultra Iraq, and the 1988 wording from the Dorar Al-Iraq reproduction of the gazette text. The 2025 correction notice to Law No. 15 of 2024 was not examined.", "mapLabel": "up to 7 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Neither the 1988 law nor its 2024 amendment contains an offence aimed at clients; the offences target the person who engages in prostitution, pimps, brothel keepers and promoters.", "sources": [ "iq-2024-text", "iq-1988" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The law applies the Penal Code's general rules on participation (Art. 8), and the Penal Code was not checked for offences that could reach clients, such as adultery. Treat 'legal' as 'no specific offence found'." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning or managing a brothel, defined as a place set aside for prostitution or sexual deviance or for facilitating them, carries imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of IQD 5 to 10 million, and the property used is confiscated (Art. 3 as replaced in 2024).", "provisions": [ "Art. 1 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 3 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)" ], "sources": [ "iq-2024-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording from the text as passed by parliament; the gazette text could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pimping (samsara) covers mediating between two people to facilitate prostitution, including incitement and exploiting another's prostitution with or without consent. A pimp or accomplice, and a venue operator who uses people in prostitution to attract customers, face up to seven years and IQD 5 to 10 million (Art. 3). Holding a person for prostitution by deception or force: up to ten years, fifteen under 18 (Art. 5).", "provisions": [ "Art. 1 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 3 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 5 Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)" ], "sources": [ "iq-2024-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording from the text as passed by parliament; the gazette text could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting prostitution or homosexuality by any means, or assisting in it in any way, is punishable by at least seven years' imprisonment and a fine of IQD 10 to 15 million, and any means used for the promotion is confiscated (Art. 6(2), added in 2024). Organisations that promote prostitution are banned (Art. 2(4)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 6(2) Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 2(4) Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)" ], "sources": [ "iq-2024-text", "iq-rudaw-ratify" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording from the text as passed by parliament; the gazette text could not be opened." }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The 2024 amendment obliges the Communications and Media Commission and the Ministry of Communications to take the necessary measures to prevent the promotion of homosexuality and the publication of pornographic or indecent material (Art. 2(5)). A site hosting sex-work ads would be exposed to the offence of promoting prostitution by any means or assisting in it (Art. 6(2)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 2(5) Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)", "Art. 6(2) Law No. 8 of 1988 (as amended 2024)" ], "sources": [ "iq-2024-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying Art. 6(2) to ad-site operators is our reading of the text; no prosecution was checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "iq-1988", "titleEn": "Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988", "relevance": "Prohibits prostitution and pimping, punishes pimps and brothel keepers and, in its original form, placed women in prostitution in reform homes.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1-5" ] }, { "sourceId": "iq-2024-text", "titleEn": "Law No. 15 of 2024, First Amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988", "relevance": "Renamed the law, redefined prostitution without a payment requirement, replaced reform-home placement with imprisonment or a fine, added the offence of promoting prostitution and criminalised same-sex relations.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1-8 (new numbering)" ], "inForce": "2024-07-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1988", "event": "The Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988 replaces the 1958 law, prohibiting prostitution and pimping.", "sources": [ "iq-1988" ] }, { "date": "2024-04", "event": "The Council of Representatives passes the first amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law, renaming it the Law on Combating Prostitution and Sexual Deviance.", "sources": [ "iq-rudaw-ratify", "iq-2024-text" ] }, { "date": "2024-06-27", "event": "President Abdul Latif Rashid ratifies the amendment and sends it for publication in the official gazette.", "sources": [ "iq-rudaw-ratify" ] }, { "date": "2024-07-01", "event": "Law No. 15 of 2024 is published in Al-Waqa'i al-Iraqiya, issue 4781, and enters into force.", "sources": [ "iq-moj-gazette" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "iq-1988", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون مكافحة البغاء رقم 8 لسنة 1988", "titleEn": "Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988 (reproduction of the gazette text)", "publisher": "Dorar Al-Iraq, Iraqi laws and legislation database", "url": "http://wiki.dorar-aliraq.net/iraqilaws/law/7416.html", "published": "1988", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "iq-2024-text", "kind": "news", "title": "حظر \"الشذوذ وتبادل الزوجات\".. نص تعديل قانون \"مكافحة البغاء\" في العراق", "titleEn": "Text of the amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law in Iraq", "publisher": "Ultra Iraq (Ultra Sawt)", "url": "https://ultrairaq.ultrasawt.com/%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B0%D9%88%D8%B0-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%A1%C2%A0%C2%A0/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82/%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B9", "published": "2024", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "iq-moj-gazette", "kind": "government", "title": "صدر العدد (4781) من جريدة الوقائع العراقية بتاريخ 2024/7/1", "titleEn": "Issue 4781 of the Iraqi Gazette published on 1 July 2024", "publisher": "Ministry of Justice of Iraq", "url": "https://moj.gov.iq/view.8258/", "published": "2024-07-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "iq-rudaw-ratify", "kind": "news", "title": "Iraqi president ratifies controversial anti-LGBTQ+ law", "publisher": "Rudaw", "url": "https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/270620242", "published": "2024-06-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "iq-rudaw-krg", "kind": "news", "title": "Iraq's anti-LGBT+ law not applicable to Kurdistan Region: Advisor", "publisher": "Rudaw", "url": "https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/07052024", "published": "2024-05-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iraq/" }, { "iso2": "IE", "name": "Ireland", "nativeName": "Éire", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Since 27 March 2017 paying for sexual activity is a summary offence and the seller-side soliciting offence has been removed, so selling sex is not an offence. Brothel keeping, organising prostitution, living on its earnings and advertising prostitution remain criminal, which in practice also catches sex workers who work together from the same premises.", "modelSources": [ "ie-csoa-2017", "ie-csoa-1993" ], "summary": "Ireland follows the Nordic model. Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 inserted section 7A into the 1993 Act, making it an offence to pay, offer or promise payment for sexual activity, and deleted the provision that had made a sex worker's own soliciting an offence. Brothel keeping, organising prostitution for gain and living on its earnings are offences under the 1993 Act, and section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 makes it an offence to publish or distribute an advertisement for prostitution or a brothel. The statutory review of section 7A, published in March 2025, found the offence hard to enforce and recorded few convictions.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. In 2017 the paragraph of the 1993 Act that defined offering one's own services as soliciting was deleted, so the street-soliciting offence in section 7 no longer applies to the person selling.", "details": "Section 25(a) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 deleted section 1(2)(a) of the 1993 Act. Section 7 (soliciting or importuning in a street or public place) and the Garda direction power in section 8 still exist, but \"solicits or importunes for the purposes of prostitution\" is now defined only as soliciting someone to obtain their services or soliciting on another person's behalf. Sex workers who work together from the same premises can still face the brothel-keeping offence (see brothels).", "provisions": [ "s. 1(2), s. 7, s. 8 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993", "s. 25(a) Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017" ], "sources": [ "ie-csoa-1993", "ie-csoa-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying, giving, offering or promising money or any other consideration to engage in sexual activity with a person who sells sex is a summary offence: a class E fine for a first offence and a class D fine for any later offence. Paying for sex with a trafficked person is a separate, more serious offence.", "details": "Section 7A of the 1993 Act was inserted by section 25(b) of the 2017 Act and commenced on 27 March 2017 (S.I. No. 112 of 2017). Section 26 of the 2017 Act inserted section 5(2A) into the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, covering payment for the prostitution of a trafficked person. The March 2025 review reported that An Garda Síochána and the DPP see significant barriers to enforcement, including the limited power of arrest for detention and questioning and the need for an admission or proof of payment. A class E fine is up to €500 and a class D fine up to €1,000 (s. 3 Fines Act 2010).", "provisions": [ "s. 7A Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993", "s. 5(2A) Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008" ], "sources": [ "ie-csoa-1993", "ie-csoa-2017", "ie-irishlegal-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "€500 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel is an offence, as is knowingly letting or permitting premises to be used as a brothel. Penalties reach 12 months' imprisonment on summary conviction or 5 years on indictment.", "details": "Section 11 of the 1993 Act covers keepers and managers, tenants or occupiers who knowingly permit the use, and landlords who let premises knowing they will be used as a brothel. The Act does not define \"brothel\"; the term is taken from case law, under which premises used by more than one person for prostitution can qualify, so two sex workers sharing a flat are exposed to prosecution.", "provisions": [ "s. 11 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993" ], "sources": [ "ie-csoa-1993" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory text was read on the revised Act. The case-law definition of a brothel was not checked against a judgment for this entry." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Controlling or directing a person's prostitution for gain, organising the prostitution of more than one person, or compelling someone into prostitution carries up to 10 years on indictment. Knowingly living on the earnings of another person's prostitution while aiding and abetting it is a separate summary offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 9 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993", "s. 10 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993" ], "sources": [ "ie-csoa-1993" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publishing, distributing or causing the publication of an advertisement for a brothel or for prostitution in the State is an offence, explicitly including advertising on a computer screen. Fines reach EUR 2,500 on summary conviction and EUR 25,000 on indictment.", "details": "Section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 also catches advertisements that, by their terms or circumstances, give rise to a reasonable inference that a service is prostitution. A business that publishes advertisements has a defence if it received the advertisement in the ordinary course of business and did not know and had no reason to suspect that it related to prostitution or a brothel, so a site that knowingly hosts such advertisements falls within the offence. Directors and managers of a body corporate can be personally liable.\n\nIn April 2026 a senator told the Seanad that a large escort website with more than 900 listings aimed at Ireland was operating from a company registered in Spain; no prosecution of the site was reported.", "provisions": [ "s. 23 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994" ], "sources": [ "ie-cjpoa-1994", "ie-irishtimes-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "We found no reported prosecution of an online advertising platform under section 23." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ie-csoa-1993", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993", "relevance": "Contains the purchase offence (s. 7A) and the offences of soliciting, organising prostitution, living on its earnings and brothel keeping.", "provisions": [ "s. 7", "s. 7A", "s. 8", "s. 9", "s. 10", "s. 11" ], "inForce": "1993-07-07" }, { "sourceId": "ie-csoa-2017", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017", "relevance": "Part 4 introduced the purchase offences, removed the seller-side soliciting offence and required a report on section 7A within three years.", "provisions": [ "s. 25", "s. 26", "s. 27" ], "inForce": "2017-03-27" }, { "sourceId": "ie-cjpoa-1994", "titleEn": "Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994", "relevance": "Section 23 prohibits advertising brothels and prostitution in any medium, including online.", "provisions": [ "s. 23" ], "inForce": "1994-03-03" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "review-section-7a", "title": "Review of the operation of section 7A (Part 4 of the 2017 Act)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2025-03-25", "summary": "The review required by section 27 of the 2017 Act was published on 25 March 2025, about two years late. It reported 161 prosecutions and 15 convictions for the purchase offence to mid-2024 and recommended limited arrest powers for detention and questioning, a fixed charge penalty notice for admitted purchases, awareness campaigns, better data collection and research funding. The Minister for Justice said law-enforcement recommendations would be considered with An Garda Síochána; no bill had been published by October 2026.", "sources": [ "ie-doj-review-2025", "ie-lawsoc-2025", "ie-irishlegal-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1993-07-07", "event": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 enacted, including offences of soliciting, organising prostitution and brothel keeping.", "sources": [ "ie-csoa-1993" ] }, { "date": "1994-03-03", "event": "Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 enacted; section 23 prohibits advertising brothels and prostitution.", "sources": [ "ie-cjpoa-1994" ] }, { "date": "2017-03-27", "event": "Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 commenced: paying for sex becomes an offence and the seller-side soliciting offence is removed.", "sources": [ "ie-csoa-2017", "ie-csoa-1993" ] }, { "date": "2025-03-25", "event": "The Department of Justice published the statutory review of section 7A, which found the offence difficult to enforce.", "sources": [ "ie-doj-review-2025", "ie-irishlegal-2025" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Prosecutions directed / convictions for paying for sex (s. 7A)", "value": "161 / 15", "year": "2017-2024", "note": "Figures from the March 2025 review as reported by the Law Society Gazette, covering 2017 to mid-2024 (July or August 2024 depending on the source). Convictions are from Garda PULSE records; the DPP has said it does not hold conviction data for this summary offence.", "sources": [ "ie-lawsoc-2025" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "ie-csoa-1993", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 (revised, updated to 22 December 2022)", "publisher": "Law Reform Commission (Revised Acts)", "url": "https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1993/act/20/revised/en/html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-csoa-2017", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017", "publisher": "Office of the Attorney General (electronic Irish Statute Book)", "url": "https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/act/2/enacted/en/print", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-cjpoa-1994", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 (revised, updated to 31 December 2024)", "publisher": "Law Reform Commission (Revised Acts)", "url": "https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1994/act/2/revised/en/html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-doj-review-2025", "kind": "government", "title": "Review of legislation that criminalised the purchase of sex completed", "publisher": "Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration", "url": "https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/review-of-legislation-that-criminalised-the-purchase-of-sex-completed/", "published": "2025-03-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-lawsoc-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Only 15 convictions for paying for sex – review", "publisher": "Law Society Gazette", "url": "https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2025/march/only-15-convictions-for-paying-for-sex--review", "published": "2025-03-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-irishlegal-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Sex purchase ban difficult to enforce and measure", "publisher": "Irish Legal News", "url": "https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/sex-purchase-ban-difficult-to-enforce-and-measure", "published": "2025-03-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ie-irishtimes-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Escort website 'makes a mockery' of Ireland's law criminalising purchase of sex", "publisher": "The Irish Times", "url": "https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/04/22/escort-website-makes-a-mockery-of-irelands-law-criminalising-purchase-of-sex/", "published": "2026-04-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ireland/" }, { "iso2": "IL", "name": "Israel", "nativeName": "ישראל", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Since 10 July 2020, consuming a sexual act of prostitution, or being in a place used for prostitution in order to do so, is an administrative offence with a fixed fine under the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law. Selling sex is not an offence. The law is a temporary provision, extended in 2025 until 10 July 2030; a bill to make it permanent did not pass. Brothel-keeping, pimping and advertising prostitution services are crimes under the Penal Law.", "modelSources": [ "il-consumption", "il-penal", "il-tfht" ], "summary": "Israel follows the Nordic model. The Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law, passed on 31 December 2018 and in force since 10 July 2020, makes consuming a sexual act of prostitution, attempting to, or being in a place used for prostitution with that aim an administrative offence with a 2,000-shekel fine, doubled for a repeat offence; an educational programme can replace the fine. Selling sex is not an offence. The Penal Law punishes living on the earnings of prostitution, keeping a place for prostitution and advertising prostitution services, and courts can order websites used for these offences blocked or removed. In 2025 the Knesset extended the temporary law to July 2030 instead of making it permanent. The State Comptroller reported in 2026 that fines fell from 3,004 in 2022 to 378 in 2024.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. The 2019 law punishes only the consumer, and the Penal Law's prostitution chapter targets third parties: those who live on the earnings, induce, keep or rent out a place, or advertise.", "provisions": [ "Penal Law 5737-1977 ss. 199–205D" ], "sources": [ "il-penal", "il-consumption" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Statutes read on Hebrew Wikisource, which transcribes the official texts; the Knesset's own portal (fs.knesset.gov.il) was geo-blocked from where this was checked." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Consuming a sexual act of prostitution, including an attempt, or being in a place used wholly or partly for prostitution in order to consume it, is an administrative offence with a fixed fine of 2,000 shekels, doubled for a repeat offence. A person in a place used mainly for prostitution is presumed to be there for that purpose unless shown otherwise. Regulations allow an educational programme instead of the fine.", "details": "The offence is set by section 2 of the 2019 law with a fine under section 61(a)(3) of the Penal Law, and made an administrative offence by section 3. Consuming prostitution from a minor is a separate crime punishable by five years (Penal Law s. 203C).\n\nThe law is a temporary provision. Section 8, as amended in 2025, keeps it in force until 10 July 2030 and requires a study with recommendations on extension to reach the Knesset Constitution Committee no later than a year before expiry. A government-commissioned evaluation counted 5,091 fines from the start of enforcement to the end of 2023, 89% of them for being in a place of prostitution rather than for consumption itself.", "provisions": [ "Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law ss. 2–5, 8", "Penal Law s. 203C" ], "sources": [ "il-consumption", "il-penal", "il-brookdale-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read on Hebrew Wikisource; the official Knesset text was geo-blocked.", "mapLabel": "≈€570 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a place, including a vehicle or vessel, for prostitution is punishable by five years (Penal Law s. 204). Renting out a place knowing it will be used for prostitution, or not ending the lease once known, is punishable by six months (s. 205).", "details": "The State Comptroller reported in 2026 that police closed 13 brothels in 2024 despite information on more than 1,300 suspected addresses, and 60 in total from 2022 to 2025.", "provisions": [ "Penal Law s. 204", "Penal Law s. 205" ], "sources": [ "il-penal", "il-ynet-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Living wholly or partly on the earnings of a person engaged in prostitution, or knowingly receiving payment for another's act of prostitution, is punishable by five years (s. 199). Bringing a person to an act of prostitution carries five years (s. 201) and bringing a person to engage in prostitution seven years (s. 202), with up to 16 years where force, threats or deceit are used (s. 203).", "provisions": [ "Penal Law ss. 199–203" ], "sources": [ "il-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publishing an advertisement about the provision of prostitution services by an adult is punishable by three years or a fine, doubled for a corporation (s. 205C). Publishing an offer to engage in prostitution carries three years (s. 205D), and information about prostitution services by a minor five years (s. 205A). Publication for a legitimate purpose, such as fair reporting, is a defence (s. 214B).", "provisions": [ "Penal Law s. 205A", "Penal Law s. 205C", "Penal Law s. 205D", "Penal Law s. 214B" ], "sources": [ "il-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Under the 2017 Powers for the Prevention of Offences through an Internet Site Law, a district court judge may, on a prosecutor's application, order access to a website restricted, its listing in search services blocked, or, where hosted in Israel, its removal, if this is essential to stop offences that include inducing prostitution and publishing prostitution advertisements (ss. 202, 205A, 205C(a), 205D).", "details": "Orders should be limited, as far as possible, to the part of a site used for the offence (s. 5(b)). The court weighs harm to the public, access to information, internet providers and users' privacy (s. 5(a)). Operators publishing prostitution advertisements are themselves exposed to s. 205C.", "provisions": [ "Powers for the Prevention of Offences through an Internet Site Law 5777-2017 ss. 1–5" ], "sources": [ "il-websites", "il-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "How often such orders have been sought against prostitution-advertising sites was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "il-consumption", "titleEn": "Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law (Temporary Provision and Legislative Amendment), 5779-2019", "relevance": "Makes consuming prostitution, or being in a place of prostitution to do so, an administrative offence with a 2,000-shekel fine; temporary provision in force until 10 July 2030.", "provisions": [ "ss. 1–9" ], "inForce": "2020-07-10" }, { "sourceId": "il-penal", "titleEn": "Penal Law, 5737-1977", "relevance": "Chapter 8, article 10 (prostitution and obscenity) covers pimping, inducing, brothels, renting premises and advertising prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ss. 199–205D", "s. 214B" ] }, { "sourceId": "il-websites", "titleEn": "Powers for the Prevention of Offences through an Internet Site Law, 5777-2017", "relevance": "Lets district courts order websites used for prostitution-related offences to be blocked, de-listed or removed.", "provisions": [ "ss. 1–5" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "permanent-consumption-ban", "title": "Bill to make the prohibition on consuming prostitution permanent", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2025", "next": { "date": "2029-07-10", "what": "Statutory deadline for the study and recommendations on extending the law, one year before it expires on 10 July 2030" }, "summary": "A government bill to turn the temporary prohibition into permanent law, supported by MKs from 12 parties, was blocked in the Knesset Constitution Committee in 2025; the Knesset instead extended the temporary provision for five years.", "sources": [ "il-tfht", "il-consumption" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-12-31", "event": "The Knesset passes the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law as a temporary provision.", "sources": [ "il-consumption" ] }, { "date": "2019-01-10", "event": "The law is published in Sefer HaChukim, with entry into force 18 months later.", "sources": [ "il-consumption" ] }, { "date": "2020-07-10", "event": "The prohibition on consuming prostitution enters into force; police enforcement begins in practice in 2021.", "sources": [ "il-consumption", "il-brookdale-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024-12", "event": "The government-commissioned evaluation by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute reports uneven enforcement concentrated in three police stations.", "sources": [ "il-brookdale-2024" ] }, { "date": "2025", "event": "The Knesset extends the temporary provision until 10 July 2030 after a bill to make it permanent is blocked in committee.", "sources": [ "il-consumption", "il-tfht" ] }, { "date": "2026-07", "event": "The State Comptroller reports that enforcement of the consumption ban and against brothels is insufficient.", "sources": [ "il-ynet-2026" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Fines issued to buyers under the consumption ban", "value": "3,004 (2022); 902 (2023); 378 (2024); 1,061 (2025)", "year": "2022–2025", "note": "Police data from the State Comptroller's 2026 report, as reported by Ynet; the report itself was not opened.", "sources": [ "il-ynet-2026" ] }, { "label": "Fines issued from the start of enforcement to end-2023", "value": "5,091 (89% for being in a place of prostitution)", "year": "2021–2023", "note": "Israel Police administrative data analysed in the government-commissioned evaluation; 97% were issued by three police stations.", "sources": [ "il-brookdale-2024" ] }, { "label": "Jewish men aged 18–70 reporting paying for sex in the previous five years", "value": "12.2% (2024) vs 9.2% (2021)", "year": "2024", "note": "Self-report surveys in the evaluation study; the authors caution that COVID-19 and the war make the law's effect hard to isolate.", "sources": [ "il-brookdale-2024" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "il-consumption", "kind": "legislation", "title": "חוק איסור צריכת זנות (הוראת שעה ותיקון חקיקה), התשע״ט–2019", "titleEn": "Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law (Temporary Provision and Legislative Amendment), 5779-2019 (Sefer HaChukim 5779 p. 235, as amended 5785)", "publisher": "Hebrew Wikisource (transcription of the official text)", "url": "https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA_%D7%96%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA_%28%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%AA_%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%94_%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9F_%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%94%29", "published": "2019-01-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "he" }, { "id": "il-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "חוק העונשין, התשל״ז–1977", "titleEn": "Penal Law, 5737-1977", "publisher": "Hebrew Wikisource (transcription of the official text)", "url": "https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9F", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "he" }, { "id": "il-websites", "kind": "legislation", "title": "חוק סמכויות לשם מניעת ביצוע עבירות באמצעות אתר אינטרנט, התשע״ז–2017", "titleEn": "Powers for the Prevention of Offences through an Internet Site Law, 5777-2017", "publisher": "Hebrew Wikisource (transcription of the official text)", "url": "https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%9D_%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%AA_%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A2_%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%91%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8_%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%98", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "he" }, { "id": "il-brookdale-2024", "kind": "academic", "title": "Implementing the Prohibition of Prostitution Consumption Law: Evaluation Study Report (RR-025-24)", "publisher": "Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute (commissioned by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs)", "url": "https://brookdale.jdc.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Eng_Report_RR-025-24.pdf", "published": "2024-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "il-ynet-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Israel failing to crack down on prostitution clients and brothels", "publisher": "Ynet News", "url": "https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syeoqccqzx", "published": "2026-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "il-tfht", "kind": "ngo", "title": "About Trafficking and Prostitution in Israel", "publisher": "Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution (TFHT)", "url": "https://tfht.org/en/about-trafficking-and-prostitution-in-israel/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/israel/" }, { "iso2": "IT", "name": "Italy", "nativeName": "Italia", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Legge 75/1958 (Legge Merlin) abolished state-regulated brothels and the registration of women in prostitution. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but keeping a brothel, recruiting, aiding (favoreggiamento) and exploiting the prostitution of others are crimes. Soliciting 'in a scandalous or harassing manner' is an administrative offence, and mayors can add local street rules by ordinance.", "modelSources": [ "it-l75-1958", "it-cc-141-2019" ], "summary": "Italy follows an abolitionist model set by the Legge Merlin of 1958, which closed the licensed brothels and forbids any registration of people who sell sex. Selling and buying are legal for adults; brothels, recruitment, aiding and exploitation are crimes punished with two to six years' imprisonment. In 2019 the Constitutional Court upheld the offences of recruiting and aiding even where prostitution is voluntary. Street-based prostitution is shaped mainly by mayoral ordinances that fine sex workers and clients in designated areas. A 2025 Senate bill to repeal the Merlin law and license brothels has been assigned to committee but not examined In 2025 the new ATECO statistical classification prompted a public debate on escort work; ISTAT clarified that it covers only lawful activities.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Municipalities (mayoral ordinances)", "note": "Mayors may issue reasoned, contingent and urgent ordinances to protect 'urban security' under art. 54(4) TUEL; art. 54(4-bis) lists the 'exploitation of prostitution' among the phenomena such ordinances can address. Many towns use them, often seasonally, to ban offering or negotiating paid sex on specified streets, with administrative fines. Example: Rimini's 2025 ordinance (26 May 2025 to 31 January 2026) allowed fines of up to EUR 500 for offering paid sex on listed roads and also barred people from seeking or agreeing such services there.", "sources": [ "it-tuel", "it-rimini-2025" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. Inviting people to 'libertinaggio' in a public place in a scandalous or harassing manner, or following people in the street to do so, is an administrative offence (decriminalised in 1999). Local ordinances add street bans in many towns.", "details": "Art. 5 of Legge 75/1958 originally made public soliciting a minor criminal offence (arresto). L. 205/1999 and D.Lgs. 507/1999 converted it into an administrative fine imposed by the Ministry of the Interior. Art. 7 forbids the police, health or any other authority from registering people who sell sex or issuing them health cards or special documents. Since D.Lgs. 507/1999 the administrative fine is ITL 30,000 to 180,000, i.e. €15.49 to €92.96 at the fixed conversion rate.", "provisions": [ "Art. 5 L. 75/1958", "Art. 7 L. 75/1958" ], "sources": [ "it-l75-1958" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: €93 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No national law makes it an offence for an adult to buy sex from another adult. Many municipal ordinances, however, ban clients from negotiating paid sex on specified streets, and drivers who stop or manoeuvre dangerously to make contact can be fined under traffic rules.", "provisions": [ "L. 75/1958 (no client offence)", "Art. 54(4) D.Lgs. 267/2000 (ordinances)" ], "sources": [ "it-l75-1958", "it-tuel", "it-rimini-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running brothels ('case di prostituzione') is prohibited. Owning, running, managing or financing one, letting premises for one, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar, club or other venue open to the public is punished with two to six years' imprisonment and a fine.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1 L. 75/1958", "Art. 3(1) nos. 1-3 L. 75/1958" ], "sources": [ "it-l75-1958" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Recruiting a person for prostitution, inducing or facilitating it, procuring, and 'in any way' aiding (favoreggiamento) or exploiting the prostitution of others are crimes (two to six years, doubled with aggravating factors). In judgment 141/2019 the Constitutional Court upheld recruitment and aiding as offences even where the prostitution is voluntary.", "details": "The Court of Appeal of Bari had argued, in a case involving paid 'escorts', that punishing recruitment and aiding of freely chosen prostitution breached the harm principle and economic freedom. The Constitutional Court declared the questions unfounded (decided 6 March, filed 7 June 2019), describing paid sex as an economic activity subject to limits under art. 41 of the Constitution. It added that criminalising these 'parallel conducts' is not constitutionally required and that Parliament may choose a different strategy.", "provisions": [ "Art. 3(1) nos. 4-8 L. 75/1958", "Art. 4 L. 75/1958" ], "sources": [ "it-l75-1958", "it-cc-141-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring ('atti di lenocinio') through the press 'or any other means of advertising' is a crime. Sex workers advertising their own services is not an offence in itself. The Court of Cassation has held that merely publishing escort ads on a website is not aiding, but active help in preparing the ads can be.", "details": "Art. 3(1) no. 5 L. 75/1958 punishes anyone who commits acts of procuring personally in public places or through the press or any other advertising medium. In Cass. pen. sez. III n. 4443 of 2 February 2012 the Court overturned a conviction of a website operator who had received ads and photos from escorts and sold them premium listings. Following Cass. n. 26343/2009, it compared mere publication to newspapers running such ads, a service to the person rather than to prostitution. It added that concrete, detailed cooperation (e.g. organising photo shoots or writing the ads) can amount to aiding under art. 3(1) no. 8. Legal press reports that Cass. sez. III n. 47583/2024 (filed 30 December 2024) again held that mere publication is not criminal.", "provisions": [ "Art. 3(1) no. 5 L. 75/1958", "Art. 3(1) no. 8 L. 75/1958" ], "sources": [ "it-l75-1958", "it-cass-4443-2012", "it-njus-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Cassation case law is cited from a third-party transcription (civile.it) and a legal news report (NJus.it). The official Italgiure texts were not checked. Case law here is fact-specific and not uniform; platform liability turns on how far the operator goes beyond publication." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "it-l75-1958", "titleEn": "Law no. 75 of 20 February 1958 (Legge Merlin): abolition of the regulation of prostitution and fight against the exploitation of the prostitution of others", "relevance": "Core statute: closes brothels, bans registration of sex workers, defines the procuring, aiding and exploitation offences and the administrative soliciting offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1", "Art. 3", "Art. 4", "Art. 5", "Art. 7" ], "inForce": "1958-03-19" }, { "sourceId": "it-tuel", "titleEn": "Legislative Decree no. 267 of 18 August 2000 (Consolidated Act on Local Authorities), art. 54", "relevance": "Legal basis for mayoral 'urban security' ordinances used to ban street solicitation and fine sex workers and clients.", "provisions": [ "Art. 54(4)", "Art. 54(4-bis)" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "senate-bill-1523", "title": "Senate bill S.1523 'Disposizioni in materia di esercizio della prostituzione' (Fazzone, Forza Italia)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2025-07-02", "summary": "Private member's bill filed on 5 June 2025 to regulate prostitution, including licensed premises, in place of the Legge Merlin. On 2 July 2025 it was assigned to the Senate Justice and Constitutional Affairs committees in 'redigente' mode; no examination had begun by the last recorded entry.", "sources": [ "it-s1523" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1958-02-20", "event": "Legge Merlin (L. 75/1958) adopted: state-regulated brothels abolished and procuring, aiding and exploitation made crimes.", "sources": [ "it-l75-1958" ] }, { "date": "1999", "event": "L. 205/1999 and D.Lgs. 507/1999 convert the public-soliciting contravention in art. 5 of the Legge Merlin into an administrative offence.", "sources": [ "it-l75-1958" ] }, { "date": "2012-02-02", "event": "Court of Cassation (n. 4443/2012) holds that merely publishing escort ads on a website is not aiding prostitution.", "sources": [ "it-cass-4443-2012" ] }, { "date": "2019-06-07", "event": "Constitutional Court judgment 141/2019 upholds the offences of recruiting and aiding prostitution, including voluntary 'escort' work.", "sources": [ "it-cc-141-2019" ] }, { "date": "2025-04-10", "event": "ISTAT clarifies that ATECO code 96.99 applies nationally only to lawful activities, after controversy over escort services in the new classification.", "sources": [ "it-istat-2025" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-05", "event": "Senate bill S.1523 to regulate prostitution and replace the Legge Merlin is filed.", "sources": [ "it-s1523" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "it-l75-1958", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Legge 20 febbraio 1958, n. 75 – Abolizione della regolamentazione della prostituzione e lotta contro lo sfruttamento della prostituzione altrui", "titleEn": "Law no. 75 of 20 February 1958 on the abolition of the regulation of prostitution and the fight against the exploitation of the prostitution of others", "publisher": "Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato)", "url": "https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1958-02-20;75", "published": "1958-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-tuel", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto legislativo 18 agosto 2000, n. 267 – Testo unico delle leggi sull'ordinamento degli enti locali, art. 54", "titleEn": "Legislative Decree no. 267 of 18 August 2000, Consolidated Act on Local Authorities, art. 54", "publisher": "Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato)", "url": "https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2000-08-18;267~art54", "published": "2000-08-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-cc-141-2019", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Corte costituzionale, sentenza n. 141 del 2019 (6 marzo – 7 giugno 2019)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court, judgment no. 141 of 2019", "publisher": "Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, 1ª Serie Speciale – Corte costituzionale", "url": "https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/vediMenuHTML?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2019-06-12&atto.codiceRedazionale=T-190141&tipoSerie=corte_costituzionale&tipoVigenza=originario", "published": "2019-06-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-cass-4443-2012", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Corte di cassazione, sez. III penale, sentenza 2 febbraio 2012, n. 4443 (annunci erotici e responsabilità del gestore di bacheca elettronica)", "titleEn": "Court of Cassation, 3rd Criminal Section, judgment no. 4443 of 2 February 2012 (erotic ads and liability of a website operator)", "publisher": "civile.it (transcription of the judgment)", "url": "https://www.civile.it/internet/visual.php?num=80537", "published": "2012-02-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-njus-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Favoreggiamento della prostituzione: la mera pubblicazione degli annunci non rileva penalmente", "titleEn": "Aiding prostitution: mere publication of ads is not criminally relevant", "publisher": "NJus.it", "url": "https://www.njus.it/news/8747/favoreggiamento-della-prostituzione-la-mera-pubblicazione-degli-annunci-non-rileva-penalmente/", "published": "2024-12-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-istat-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Chiarimenti in merito al codice ATECO 96.99 \"Altre attività di servizi alla persona n.c.a.\"", "titleEn": "Clarifications on ATECO code 96.99 'Other personal service activities n.e.c.'", "publisher": "ISTAT – Istituto nazionale di statistica", "url": "https://www.istat.it/comunicato-stampa/chiarimenti-in-merito-al-codice-ateco-96-99-altre-attivita-di-servizi-alla-persona-n-c-a/", "published": "2025-04-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-s1523", "kind": "ngo", "title": "S.1523 – Disposizioni in materia di esercizio della prostituzione", "titleEn": "Senate bill 1523 – Provisions on the exercise of prostitution (parliamentary tracker)", "publisher": "Openpolis – Openparlamento", "url": "https://parlamento19.openpolis.it/attivita_legislativa/disegni_di_legge/S_1523", "published": "2025-06-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "it-rimini-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Rimini. Da lunedì 26 maggio torna l'ordinanza contro la prostituzione su strada: pene fino a 500 euro alle prostitute", "titleEn": "Rimini: ordinance against street prostitution returns from 26 May, fines up to EUR 500", "publisher": "Rimini Notizie", "url": "https://www.rimininotizie.net/2025/05/16/rimini-da-lunedi-26-maggio-torna-lordinanza-contro-la-prostituzione-su-strada-pene-fino-a-500-euro-alle-prostitute/74020/", "published": "2025-05-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/italy/" }, { "iso2": "JM", "name": "Jamaica", "nativeName": "Jamaica", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money is not itself an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 2009 criminalises procuring a person to become a sex worker (s. 18), knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution and persistently soliciting for immoral purposes (s. 23), and the Towns and Communities Act makes loitering and soliciting in public for prostitution an offence (s. 3).", "modelSources": [ "jm-soa-2009", "jm-tca" ], "summary": "In Jamaica, the sale and purchase of sex are not offences as such, but most surrounding conduct is. The Sexual Offences Act 2009 makes it an offence to procure a person to become a sex worker or to leave home to frequent a 'house of prostitution' (s. 18), and, under s. 23, to knowingly live wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution or to persistently solicit or importune 'for immoral purposes' in any place, public or private. Section 23 offences carry up to J$500,000 or three years before a Resident Magistrate, or up to ten years in the Circuit Court, and anyone who controls or directs a sex worker's movements is presumed to be living on the earnings. The Towns and Communities Act fines anyone who loiters in a public place and solicits for prostitution. No specific advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but loitering in a public place and soliciting any person for prostitution is a summary offence under the Towns and Communities Act (fine up to J$1,000 in the text checked), and persistently soliciting or importuning for immoral purposes in any place is an offence under s. 23(1)(b) of the Sexual Offences Act.", "details": "Under s. 23(1) of the Sexual Offences Act, persistent soliciting carries a fine of up to J$500,000 or three years on summary conviction, and a fine or up to ten years in a Circuit Court.", "provisions": [ "s. 3 Towns and Communities Act", "s. 23(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "jm-tca", "jm-soa-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Towns and Communities Act was read from a FAOLEX copy of the revised text (amended in 1995); the Ministry of Justice laws portal returned an error, so later amendments, including to the fine, were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: JMD 1,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The soliciting offences in s. 23(1)(b) of the Sexual Offences Act and s. 3 of the Towns and Communities Act are not limited to sellers and can apply to a client who solicits in the way described.", "provisions": [ "s. 23(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "jm-soa-2009", "jm-tca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Child Care and Protection Act and the Trafficking in Persons Act were not reviewed for client offences." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone running a brothel who lives on its earnings commits the s. 23 offence (up to ten years in the Circuit Court). A judge may issue a warrant to search a house suspected of being used for prostitution and arrest anyone there living on the earnings, and detaining a person in a 'house of prostitution' by withholding clothing or property is an offence (s. 21).", "provisions": [ "s. 21 Sexual Offences Act 2009", "s. 23(1)(a) and (2) Sexual Offences Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "jm-soa-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No free-standing brothel-keeping offence was found in the Sexual Offences Act; disorderly-house provisions in other statutes and the common law were not reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure any person to become a sex worker, to leave Jamaica for that purpose, or to leave home to frequent a house of prostitution is an offence (s. 18). Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution carries up to J$500,000 or three years summarily, or up to ten years in the Circuit Court; living with or controlling a sex worker raises a presumption of guilt (s. 23).", "provisions": [ "s. 18 Sexual Offences Act 2009", "s. 23(1)(a) and (3) Sexual Offences Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "jm-soa-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Text as passed by Parliament in 2009; later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting advertisements for sexual services was found. Advertising for another person can amount to procuring (s. 18) or be evidence of living on the earnings (s. 23), and the s. 23(1)(b) offence of persistently soliciting 'in any place, whether public or private' is broadly worded.", "provisions": [ "ss. 18 and 23 Sexual Offences Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "jm-soa-2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; the Cybercrimes Act, broadcasting rules and case law on online soliciting were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "jm-soa-2009", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act, 2009", "relevance": "Procuring (s. 18), detention in a house of prostitution (s. 21), living on the earnings of prostitution and persistent soliciting (s. 23).", "provisions": [ "s. 18", "s. 21", "s. 23" ] }, { "sourceId": "jm-tca", "titleEn": "Towns and Communities Act", "relevance": "Makes loitering in a public place and soliciting for prostitution a summary offence (s. 3), with arrest without warrant (s. 4).", "provisions": [ "s. 3", "s. 4" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-09-15", "event": "The House of Representatives agrees to the Senate's amendments to the Sexual Offences Act 2009, which contains the current procuring and living-on-earnings offences.", "sources": [ "jm-soa-2009" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "jm-soa-2009", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences Act, 2009", "publisher": "Houses of Parliament of Jamaica", "url": "https://japarliament.gov.jm/attachments/341_The%20Sexual%20Offences%20Act,%202009.pdf", "published": "2009", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "jm-tca", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Towns and Communities Act", "publisher": "Ministry of Justice of Jamaica (copy hosted by FAOLEX)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jam110879.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jamaica/" }, { "iso2": "JP", "name": "Japan", "nativeName": "日本", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Classified as abolitionism because neither selling nor buying is penalised. Art. 3 of the Prostitution Prevention Act 1956 does declare that no person may sell sex or be the other party, but no penalty attaches to either act. Public soliciting and advertising by the seller (Art. 5) and almost all third-party involvement (Arts. 6–13) are crimes. 'Prostitution' means intercourse only, so a large sex industry offering other services runs legally after notifying the police under the Entertainment Business Act.", "modelSources": [ "ppa", "fueiho", "moj-report-2026" ], "summary": "Japan's Prostitution Prevention Act (1956) prohibits selling and buying sex, where prostitution means paid intercourse with an unspecified partner, but does not punish either act. It punishes the seller's public soliciting or advertising, and procuring, arranging, providing premises and running prostitution businesses. Sexual services other than intercourse are a legal, police-notified industry under the Entertainment Business Act: about 21,000 'delivery health' outcall businesses and some 1,800 soapland and fashion-health venues were on record in 2025. A 2025 amendment targeted host clubs that push indebted women into sex work. A Justice Ministry study group reported in September 2026 that buyers' soliciting should also become an offence and that fines should rise, while punishing the purchase itself needs more care. As of 30 October 2026 no bill had been confirmed.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex (paid intercourse with an unspecified partner) is prohibited by Art. 3 of the Prostitution Prevention Act, but the Act sets no penalty for the act itself. The seller commits a crime only by soliciting or advertising in public (Art. 5). Paid sexual services that stop short of intercourse fall outside the Act's definition.", "details": "Art. 2 defines 売春 (prostitution) as 'sexual intercourse with an unspecified partner in return for payment or a promise of payment' (対償を受け、又は受ける約束で、不特定の相手方と性交すること). Art. 3 reads 'no person shall engage in prostitution or be the other party to it' (何人も、売春をし、又はその相手方となつてはならない). The penal chapter (Arts. 5–16) contains no offence for the act of selling.\n\nUntil 31 March 2024 the Act also allowed a court to place a woman convicted of soliciting under 'guidance disposition' (補導処分) in a Women's Guidance Home. The Act on Support for Women with Difficult Problems (Act No. 52 of 2022) repealed that chapter and the chapter on protective rehabilitation with effect from 1 April 2024, moving support into a welfare framework.\n\nThe Justice Ministry study group's September 2026 report records that no member argued for making the sale itself punishable, because many people who sell sex need protection and support rather than punishment.", "provisions": [ "Art. 2 Prostitution Prevention Act", "Art. 3 Prostitution Prevention Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "women-support-act", "moj-report-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Statute text read in Japanese on e-Gov; the English renderings are our own translation." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is prohibited by Art. 3 but not punished, and soliciting by a buyer is not an offence either. Buying any sexual act from a person under 18 is a crime under the 1999 Child Prostitution and Pornography Act (up to five years' imprisonment or a ¥3 million fine). In 2026 a Justice Ministry study group recommended a new offence for buyers' soliciting.", "details": "Art. 3 Prostitution Prevention Act prohibits 'being the other party' to prostitution, but the Act has no penalty for it. Art. 5 punishes soliciting only when done 'for the purpose of prostitution', i.e. by the seller, so a buyer who solicits on the street commits no offence under the Act.\n\nThe Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (Act No. 52 of 1999) defines 児童買春 as paying or promising payment to a child under 18, to the person who arranged it, or to the child's guardian or controller, and engaging in intercourse, acts similar to intercourse, or touching of genitals, anus or nipples. Art. 4 punishes it with up to five years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥3 million.\n\nIn November 2025 the Prime Minister instructed the Justice Minister to review the regulation of prostitution. The Ministry's study group (売買春に係る規制の在り方検討会, nine meetings from March to September 2026) concluded in its report that the imbalance between punishing sellers' soliciting and not punishing buyers' soliciting should be corrected by a national statute rather than prefectural ordinances. Conduct discussed for a new offence included public soliciting and enticement through social media, searching for sellers or loitering for that purpose, and publicly asking for an introduction. Members noted it is hard to prove a buyer's purpose. On punishing the purchase itself, the report records that no member dissented from the view that it needs careful consideration: consent between adults is hard to override in theory, there is no social consensus that every buyer is an exploiter, and the market could be driven underground, raising risks for sellers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 3 Prostitution Prevention Act", "Art. 4 Act No. 52 of 1999 (child prostitution)" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "child-prostitution-act", "moj-report-2026", "moj-press-2026-02-10" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Prefectural youth-protection ordinances also punish sexual acts with minors; they are not covered here." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Venues where intercourse is sold are criminal: providing premises for prostitution as a business carries up to seven years, and keeping people on premises to make them sell sex up to ten years. Venues offering other sexual services, such as soaplands and 'fashion health' shops, are legal once notified to the prefectural Public Safety Commission, subject to zoning, opening-hour and under-18 rules.", "details": "**Prostitution Prevention Act.** Art. 11(1): knowingly providing a place where prostitution takes place, up to three years' imprisonment or a ¥100,000 fine; Art. 11(2): doing so as a business, up to seven years and a ¥300,000 fine. Art. 12: the business of making a person live in a place one occupies, manages or designates and making them engage in prostitution (管理売春), up to ten years and a ¥300,000 fine. Art. 13 punishes knowingly supplying funds, land or buildings for these businesses; Art. 14 extends the fines to the company.\n\n**Entertainment Business Act (風営法).** Art. 2(6) defines 'store-type sex-related special businesses' (店舗型性風俗特殊営業), including (no. 1) private rooms in a public bathhouse where staff provide 'services involving contact' with customers of the opposite sex (the soapland category) and (no. 2) private rooms where staff provide services involving contact 'in response to the customer's sexual curiosity' (the shop-type fashion-health category). These need a notification (届出), not a licence, per premises (Art. 27). They may not operate within 200 metres of schools, libraries, child-welfare facilities and other facilities designated by the prefecture, or in areas the prefecture closes by ordinance (Art. 28(1)–(2)); premises already notified when a restriction takes effect are exempt (Art. 28(3)). Under-18s may neither work nor enter (Art. 28(12)). Operating in a prohibited zone carries up to five years' imprisonment and/or a ¥10 million fine (Art. 49).\n\nThe Entertainment Business Act regulates these venues without permitting intercourse in them. Where it occurs, the Prostitution Prevention Act applies: the National Police Agency's 2025 report cites operators of sex shops arrested for providing premises as a business after providing private rooms knowing that women sold sex there, and the 2026 study group noted cases in which notified businesses had made large sales by providing places for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 11–14 Prostitution Prevention Act", "Arts. 2(6), 27, 28, 49 Entertainment Business Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "fueiho", "npa-2025", "moj-report-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision deals with sex workers sharing premises. Anyone who knowingly provides a place where prostitution takes place commits an offence (Art. 11(1), up to three years), which on its wording could cover one worker letting another use her room for paid intercourse. Working together in non-coital services is treated as running a business that has to be notified.", "details": "Art. 11(1) Prostitution Prevention Act punishes 'a person who, knowing the circumstances, provides a place where prostitution is carried out' (情を知つて、売春を行う場所を提供した者). It contains no exception for sex workers themselves. Under the Entertainment Business Act, a person who runs a store-type or outcall sex business must notify the Public Safety Commission (Arts. 27, 31-2); doing business without notification carries up to six months' imprisonment and/or a ¥1 million fine (Art. 53(5)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 11(1) Prostitution Prevention Act", "Art. 53(5) Entertainment Business Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "fueiho" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "This reads the wording of the statute. We found no case law or official guidance on sex workers sharing premises, and the police statistics do not separate such cases." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Arranging prostitution, causing someone to sell sex by deception, pressure, family influence or force, taking their earnings, advance loans, contracts to make someone sell sex and running a prostitution business are all crimes (Arts. 6–13). Scouts who recruit women for sex work can be prosecuted for job placement into 'harmful work'. Since June 2025 sex businesses may not pay scouts referral fees.", "details": "**Prostitution Prevention Act.** Art. 6: arranging (周旋) prostitution, or soliciting or advertising in order to arrange it, up to two years' imprisonment or a ¥50,000 fine. Art. 7: causing a person to sell sex by deception, by causing them perplexity or through family influence, up to three years or ¥100,000; by threats or violence, up to three years with an optional ¥100,000 fine; attempts are punishable. Art. 8: receiving or demanding the earnings in those cases, up to five years and ¥200,000. Art. 9: giving money or other benefits, such as advance loans, in order to make a person sell sex, up to three years or ¥100,000. Art. 10: entering into a contract to make a person sell sex, up to three years or ¥100,000. Art. 12: running the business of keeping people on premises to make them sell sex, up to ten years and ¥300,000. Since 1 June 2025 the custodial penalty is 拘禁刑, the single form of imprisonment introduced by the Penal Code reform.\n\n**Employment Security Act.** Art. 63(ii) punishes job placement, recruitment or labour supply 'for the purpose of placing a person in work harmful to public health or public morals' with 1–10 years' imprisonment or a ¥200,000–3 million fine. The National Police Agency reports 2025 cases in which the leaders of scouting groups that recruited women on social media and placed them in sex shops across Japan were arrested under this provision, and the shop operators for providing premises for prostitution as a business.\n\n**Entertainment Business Act, 2025 amendment.** Arts. 28(13) and 31-3(1) forbid soapland, fashion-health and outcall operators to pay anyone a referral fee for introducing a person who will provide services to customers ('scout-back'), with up to six months' imprisonment and/or a ¥1 million fine (Art. 53(7)). Art. 22-2 forbids hosts and other hospitality businesses to demand, by intimidation or seduction, that a customer raise money to pay her bill by prostitution, paid sexual acts, work in soaplands, fashion health or outcall, appearing in adult videos, or prostitution abroad (also Art. 53).\n\nThe 2026 study group found the custodial maxima adequate but said the fines are inadequate as a deterrent and should be raised.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 6–14 Prostitution Prevention Act", "Art. 63(ii) Employment Security Act", "Arts. 22-2, 28(13), 31-3, 53 Entertainment Business Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "employment-security-act", "fueiho", "fueiho-pre-2025", "npa-2025", "moj-report-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising prostitution is a crime: a seller who entices customers 'by advertising or similar means' faces up to six months or a ¥20,000 fine (Art. 5), and a third party who advertises in order to arrange prostitution up to two years (Art. 6(2)). Notified sex businesses may advertise services other than intercourse, subject to rules on signs, flyers and under-18s; unnotified businesses may not advertise at all.", "details": "Art. 5(iii) Prostitution Prevention Act punishes, when done for the purpose of prostitution, 'waiting for customers in a manner visible to the public, or enticing a person to become a party to prostitution by advertising or other similar means'. Art. 6(2)(iii) punishes the same enticement by advertising when done in order to arrange prostitution. The National Police Agency counts 'internet-related' prostitution offences separately: 90 cases in 2025, 65 of them soliciting.\n\nFor notified sex businesses, the Entertainment Business Act restricts how they advertise. Only a notified operator may advertise a store-type or outcall sex business, and only for the type it notified (Arts. 27-2, 31-2-2). Signs may not be displayed within 200 metres of protected facilities or in zones set by prefectural ordinance; flyers may not be put through house doors, handed out in those zones or given to under-18s (Art. 28(5), applied to outcall by Art. 31-3). Advertising must not harm the 'clean moral environment' and must state that under-18s are not admitted or served (Art. 28(8)–(9)). Breaches of Arts. 27-2, 31-2-2 or 28(5) carry a fine of up to ¥1 million (Art. 54).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 5(iii), 6(2)(iii) Prostitution Prevention Act", "Arts. 27-2, 28(5)–(9), 31-2-2, 31-3, 54 Entertainment Business Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "fueiho", "npa-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Statute text read in Japanese on e-Gov; the English renderings are our own translation." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No statute deals specifically with websites that host sex-work ads. Advertising for notified sex businesses is lawful, and the Entertainment Business Act's advertising ban covers only unnotified operators. A site carrying ads for paid intercourse risks liability for advertising in order to arrange prostitution. Dating sites must notify the police and remove posts that solicit children.", "details": "The ban on advertising a store-type or outcall sex business applies to persons other than the notified operator 'for the purpose of operating' that business (Arts. 27-2(2), 31-2-2(2) Entertainment Business Act). On its wording it targets unnotified operators rather than independent media that publish ads. Art. 6(2)(iii) Prostitution Prevention Act punishes enticing customers 'by advertising or similar means' in order to arrange prostitution.\n\nOperators of 'internet opposite-sex introduction businesses' (dating sites) must notify the Public Safety Commission (Art. 7, Act No. 83 of 2003). Anyone using such a site to entice a child under 18 into sexual acts, or to offer payment for dating a child, commits an offence (Art. 6; fine up to ¥1 million, Art. 33). The operator must promptly make such posts unviewable once it learns of them (Art. 12).\n\n'Video-transmission-type' sex businesses (online sexual video services) must also notify (Art. 31-7 Entertainment Business Act). A hosting provider that learns such a business has stored obscene or child-pornographic video on its server must endeavour to prevent transmission (Art. 31-8(5)).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 27-2, 31-2-2, 31-7, 31-8 Entertainment Business Act", "Art. 6(2)(iii) Prostitution Prevention Act", "Arts. 6, 7, 12, 33 Act No. 83 of 2003" ], "sources": [ "fueiho", "ppa", "dating-site-act" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "We found no published court decision on whether an ad site that publishes ads for third parties is liable as an arranger under Art. 6 or as an accomplice. That liability is our reading of the statute, not settled law." }, "street": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Street soliciting by the seller is a crime: soliciting in public, blocking or following passers-by, or waiting for customers in public carries up to six months' imprisonment or a ¥20,000 fine (Art. 5). Buyers who solicit or cruise are not punished. Street soliciting, which the Justice Ministry calls a social problem, prompted the 2026 review, which kept the seller offence.", "details": "Art. 5 Prostitution Prevention Act punishes, for the purpose of prostitution: (i) soliciting a person in a manner visible to the public; (ii) standing in a person's way or following them on a road or other public place in order to solicit; (iii) waiting for customers in a manner visible to the public, or enticing by advertising. Under Art. 16, the Penal Code's bar on a second suspended sentence does not apply when someone is sentenced to imprisonment for an Art. 5 offence alone.\n\nThe National Police Agency recorded 200 cleared cases and 198 persons in its 'soliciting etc.' category in 2025 (277 and 270 in 2023). The 2026 study group was set up because street soliciting had become a recognised social problem. Most members favoured keeping Art. 5, arguing that repeal would send the wrong message that prostitution is tolerated. They asked for a provision or practice ensuring that, in charging and sentencing, how a person came to sell sex, her finances and her need for support are taken into account. The report also recommends a new offence covering buyers' soliciting (see Buying).", "provisions": [ "Art. 5 Prostitution Prevention Act", "Art. 16 Prostitution Prevention Act" ], "sources": [ "ppa", "npa-2025", "moj-report-2026", "jiji-2026-08-24" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The study group report does not name the districts concerned; it heard officials from an area where street prostitution has become a social problem. The NPA report does not break the soliciting figures down by sex or location." }, "registration": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Individuals are not registered. Sex businesses notify (届出) the prefectural Public Safety Commission per premises or per office, giving the trade names used in advertising and their contact numbers. They must not employ or serve under-18s. Operating without notification carries up to six months and/or ¥1 million. The Entertainment Business Act requires no health checks.", "details": "Store-type businesses notify per premises (Art. 27); outcall and other non-store businesses notify the commission where their main office is (Art. 31-2), listing every trade name used in advertising, how bookings are taken, the booking phone numbers and any reception or waiting rooms. The commission issues a certificate that must be kept at the premises (Arts. 27(4)–(5), 31-2(4)–(5)). Outcall businesses must not employ under-18s or take them as customers (Art. 31-3(3)). Operating without notification, or with a false one, carries up to six months' imprisonment and/or a ¥1 million fine (Art. 53(5)–(6)). The police may issue instructions and suspend a business for up to eight months (Arts. 29–30, 31-4–31-5).\n\nAt the end of 2025 the police held notifications for 21,353 outcall ('dispatch-type fashion health') businesses, 1,180 soapland-type and 640 shop-type fashion-health premises. The statute contains no health-examination requirement for workers.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 27, 29–30, 31-2–31-5, 53 Entertainment Business Act" ], "sources": [ "fueiho", "npa-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income is taxable whether or not the activity that produced it is lawful (National Tax Agency circular 36-1). In June 2025 the Supreme Court upheld, by 4 to 1, the exclusion of sex businesses from the COVID-19 'sustainability' and rent-support grants paid to other small firms.", "details": "The National Tax Agency's basic circular on the Income Tax Act states, under Art. 36, that amounts to be included in income are included 'regardless of whether the act giving rise to the income is lawful' (その収入の基因となった行為が適法であるかどうかを問わない).\n\nOn 16 June 2025 the First Petty Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of a Kansai outcall ('delivery health') operator that had been refused the sustainability grant (持続化給付金) and rent-support grant (家賃支援給付金) in 2020. The majority held that the state may set eligibility on policy grounds and that excluding the industry was not unreasonable, citing concerns about workers' dignity. Presiding Justice Miyakawa dissented, finding the exclusion unconstitutional.", "provisions": [ "Income Tax Act Art. 36; NTA basic circular 36-1" ], "sources": [ "nta-36-1", "tokyo-np-2025-06-16" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Supreme Court ruling is cited from press reports (Tokyo Shimbun), not the judgment text. We did not find official guidance on how individual sex workers are classified for income tax or social insurance." }, "migrants": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Foreign nationals who engage in prostitution or its arranging, soliciting or premises, or other work directly connected with it, can be refused entry and deported, except trafficking victims. Students and others with general permission for side jobs may not work in the sex or hostess industry.", "details": "Art. 5(1)(vii) Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act denies landing to anyone who has engaged in prostitution, arranging it, soliciting for it, providing premises for it or other work directly connected with it, unless they did so while under another's control through trafficking. Art. 24(iv)(nu) makes a person currently engaged in such work deportable, with the same trafficking exception.\n\nThe general permission to work outside one's status of residence (up to 28 hours a week, e.g. for students) excludes work at premises of hospitality businesses, store-type sex businesses or late-night entertainment venues, and work in outcall, online-video or telephone dating sex businesses (Art. 19(5)(i) Enforcement Regulations).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 5(1)(vii), 24(iv)(nu) Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act", "Art. 19(5)(i) Enforcement Regulations" ], "sources": [ "immigration-act", "immigration-regs" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "We did not find official figures on deportations under Art. 24(iv)(nu)." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ppa", "titleEn": "Prostitution Prevention Act (Act No. 118 of 1956)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution as paid intercourse with an unspecified partner and prohibits selling and buying without penalty (Arts. 2–3). Punishes soliciting by the seller, arranging, coercion, taking earnings, advance loans, contracts, premises and prostitution businesses (Arts. 5–14).", "provisions": [ "Art. 2", "Art. 3", "Art. 5", "Art. 6", "Arts. 7–10", "Art. 11", "Art. 12", "Art. 13", "Art. 14" ], "inForce": "1957-04-01" }, { "sourceId": "fueiho", "titleEn": "Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Businesses (Entertainment Business Act, Act No. 122 of 1948)", "relevance": "The notification regime for the legal sex industry: soaplands, fashion health, outcall ('delivery health'), online video and telephone dating. Sets zoning, advertising and under-18 rules. The 2025 amendment (Act No. 45 of 2025) added rules against host-club exploitation and banned scout referral fees.", "provisions": [ "Art. 2(6)–(10)", "Art. 18-3", "Art. 22-2", "Arts. 27–31", "Arts. 31-2–31-8", "Arts. 49–57" ], "inForce": "1948-09-01" }, { "sourceId": "child-prostitution-act", "titleEn": "Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children (Act No. 52 of 1999)", "relevance": "Criminalises paying for any sexual act with a person under 18 (Art. 4, up to five years) and arranging it (Art. 5).", "provisions": [ "Art. 2", "Art. 4", "Art. 5" ] }, { "sourceId": "women-support-act", "titleEn": "Act on Support for Women with Difficult Problems (Act No. 52 of 2022)", "relevance": "In force 1 April 2024. Created a welfare framework for women facing difficulties and, through its supplementary provisions, repealed the Prostitution Prevention Act's guidance-disposition and protective-rehabilitation chapters and the Women's Guidance Home Act.", "inForce": "2024-04-01" }, { "sourceId": "employment-security-act", "titleEn": "Employment Security Act (Act No. 141 of 1947)", "relevance": "Art. 63(ii) punishes job placement or recruitment into work harmful to public morals. Police use it against scouts who place women in sex businesses.", "provisions": [ "Art. 63(ii)" ] }, { "sourceId": "immigration-act", "titleEn": "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951)", "relevance": "Refusal of landing (Art. 5(1)(vii)) and deportation (Art. 24(iv)(nu)) of foreign nationals engaged in prostitution-related work, except trafficking victims.", "provisions": [ "Art. 5(1)(vii)", "Art. 24(iv)(nu)" ] }, { "sourceId": "dating-site-act", "titleEn": "Act on Regulation of Soliciting Children by Using Opposite Sex Introducing Services on the Internet (Act No. 83 of 2003)", "relevance": "Dating sites must notify the police and remove posts soliciting children for sex or paid dating; soliciting a child through such a site is an offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 6", "Art. 7", "Art. 12", "Art. 33" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ppa-review-2026", "title": "Revision of the Prostitution Prevention Act after the Justice Ministry study group on regulating the buying and selling of sex", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-09-17", "next": { "what": "Justice Ministry drafting of an amendment bill. In August 2026 the press reported that it might be submitted to the autumn 2026 extraordinary Diet session; no submission had been confirmed by 30 October 2026." }, "summary": "Set up after a Prime Ministerial instruction in November 2025, the 11-member study group met nine times between 24 March and 17 September 2026. Its report recommends a statutory offence covering soliciting by buyers, keeping the seller-soliciting offence (Art. 5) and raising the Act's fines; heavier fines for companies were discussed as an option. It found the custodial maxima adequate. Punishing the purchase itself, widening the definition of prostitution beyond intercourse, and renaming the Act or rewriting its purpose clause all need careful consideration. It asks the Ministry to draft the necessary legislation and better connect sellers to support.", "sources": [ "moj-study-group", "moj-report-2026", "moj-press-2026-02-10", "jiji-2026-08-24" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1948-09-01", "event": "The Entertainment Business Act (Act No. 122 of 1948) comes into force; it later becomes the legal basis for the notified sex industry.", "sources": [ "fueiho" ] }, { "date": "1956-05-24", "event": "The Prostitution Prevention Act (Act No. 118 of 1956) is promulgated. It comes into force on 1 April 1957; its penal chapter follows on 1 April 1958, when the 1947 Imperial Ordinance on punishing those who cause women to prostitute themselves is repealed and local ordinances punishing prostitution lapse.", "sources": [ "ppa" ] }, { "date": "1999-05-26", "event": "The Child Prostitution and Pornography Act is promulgated, making paying for sex with anyone under 18 a crime.", "sources": [ "child-prostitution-act" ] }, { "date": "2024-04-01", "event": "The Act on Support for Women with Difficult Problems comes into force, abolishing guidance disposition and Women's Guidance Homes and removing the Prostitution Prevention Act's protective-rehabilitation chapter.", "sources": [ "women-support-act", "ppa" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-16", "event": "The Supreme Court (First Petty Bench, 4–1) upholds the exclusion of sex businesses from COVID-19 business grants.", "sources": [ "tokyo-np-2025-06-16" ] }, { "date": "2025-06-28", "event": "The Entertainment Business Act amendment (Act No. 45 of 2025, promulgated 28 May) takes effect. It bans exploiting a customer's romantic feelings and demanding that customers sell sex or do sex work to pay their bills, bans scout referral fees, and raises penalties for unlicensed operation to five years and/or ¥10 million (¥300 million for companies).", "sources": [ "fueiho", "fueiho-pre-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-10", "event": "The Justice Minister announces a study group on regulating the buying and selling of sex, citing the Prime Minister's instruction of November 2025.", "sources": [ "moj-press-2026-02-10" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-17", "event": "The study group adopts its final report at its ninth meeting, recommending an offence for buyers' soliciting and higher fines.", "sources": [ "moj-study-group", "moj-report-2026" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Prostitution Prevention Act offences cleared by police (cases / persons)", "value": "347 / 332", "year": "2025", "note": "National Police Agency, 検挙 (cases and persons cleared, including those referred to prosecutors without arrest). 413 / 381 in 2024 and 426 / 378 in 2021. The figures reflect police activity, not the size of the market.", "sources": [ "npa-2025" ] }, { "label": "Of which 'soliciting etc.' (cases / persons)", "value": "200 / 198", "year": "2025", "note": "NPA category 勧誘等, the soliciting offences. 237 / 235 in 2024 and 277 / 270 in 2023. Buyers cannot be charged with soliciting, so these are sellers or third parties.", "sources": [ "npa-2025" ] }, { "label": "Internet-related Prostitution Prevention Act cases", "value": "90", "year": "2025", "note": "NPA count of cases involving the internet; 65 of them soliciting. 240 in 2021 and 192 in 2024.", "sources": [ "npa-2025" ] }, { "label": "Outcall ('dispatch-type fashion health') businesses on the police notification record", "value": "21,353", "year": "2025", "note": "NPA count of notifications under Art. 2(7)(i) Entertainment Business Act (20,674 in 2021). The same report counts 1,180 soapland-type and 640 shop-type fashion-health premises. A notification count is not a count of active businesses or of workers; there is no official estimate of the number of people who sell sex.", "sources": [ "npa-2025" ] }, { "label": "Persons cleared in cases involving exploitative host clubs", "value": "143", "year": "2025", "note": "NPA: 71 cases and 143 persons (54 hosts, 33 other club staff, 34 touts, 18 scouts, 4 sex-shop staff), down from 207 persons in 2024. Covers cases such as hosts making female customers sell sex to pay their bills, as well as unlicensed operation.", "sources": [ "npa-2025" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "ppa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "売春防止法（昭和三十一年法律第百十八号）", "titleEn": "Prostitution Prevention Act (Act No. 118 of 1956), current consolidated text", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/331AC0000000118", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "fueiho", "kind": "legislation", "title": "風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律（昭和二十三年法律第百二十二号）", "titleEn": "Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Businesses (Entertainment Business Act), current consolidated text incl. Act No. 45 of 2025", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000122", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "fueiho-pre-2025", "kind": "legislation", "title": "風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律（令和7年6月1日施行版）", "titleEn": "Entertainment Business Act, version in force 1 June 2025 (before Act No. 45 of 2025 took effect)", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000122/20250601_504AC0000000068", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "child-prostitution-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "児童買春、児童ポルノに係る行為等の規制及び処罰並びに児童の保護等に関する法律（平成十一年法律第五十二号）", "titleEn": "Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/411AC0100000052", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "women-support-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "困難な問題を抱える女性への支援に関する法律（令和四年法律第五十二号）", "titleEn": "Act on Support for Women with Difficult Problems", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/504AC0100000052", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "employment-security-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "職業安定法（昭和二十二年法律第百四十一号）", "titleEn": "Employment Security Act", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000141", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "immigration-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "出入国管理及び難民認定法（昭和二十六年政令第三百十九号）", "titleEn": "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "immigration-regs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則（昭和五十六年法務省令第五十四号）", "titleEn": "Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/356M50000010054", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "dating-site-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "インターネット異性紹介事業を利用して児童を誘引する行為の規制等に関する法律（平成十五年法律第八十三号）", "titleEn": "Act on Regulation of Soliciting Children by Using Opposite Sex Introducing Services on the Internet", "publisher": "e-Gov法令検索（デジタル庁）", "url": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/415AC0000000083", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "moj-study-group", "kind": "government", "title": "売買春に係る規制の在り方検討会", "titleEn": "Study Group on the Regulation of Buying and Selling Sex (meeting index)", "publisher": "法務省", "url": "https://www.moj.go.jp/keiji1/keiji12_00223.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "moj-report-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "「売買春に係る規制の在り方検討会」取りまとめ報告書", "titleEn": "Final report of the Study Group on the Regulation of Buying and Selling Sex", "publisher": "法務省", "url": "https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001471143.pdf", "published": "2026-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "moj-press-2026-02-10", "kind": "government", "title": "法務大臣閣議後記者会見の概要（令和8年2月10日）", "titleEn": "Justice Minister's press conference, 10 February 2026", "publisher": "法務省", "url": "https://www.moj.go.jp/hisho/kouhou/hisho08_00691.html", "published": "2026-02-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "npa-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "令和７年における風俗営業等の現状と風俗関係事犯等の取締り状況について", "titleEn": "The entertainment and sex-related businesses in 2025 and police enforcement against related offences", "publisher": "警察庁生活安全局保安課", "url": "https://www.npa.go.jp/publications/statistics/safetylife/080423huzokukankeitoukei.pdf", "published": "2026-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "nta-36-1", "kind": "government", "title": "所得税基本通達 36－1（収入金額）", "titleEn": "Income Tax basic circular 36-1 (amounts of income)", "publisher": "国税庁", "url": "https://www.nta.go.jp/law/tsutatsu/kihon/shotoku/05/01.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "tokyo-np-2025-06-16", "kind": "news", "title": "性風俗業をコロナ給付金から除外は「合憲」 最高裁で事業者の敗訴確定 宮川美津子裁判長だけ「違憲」指摘", "titleEn": "Excluding the sex industry from COVID grants is constitutional; Supreme Court confirms operator's defeat, Presiding Justice Miyakawa dissents", "publisher": "東京新聞", "url": "https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/412148", "published": "2025-06-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" }, { "id": "jiji-2026-08-24", "kind": "news", "title": "買春側の勧誘行為に規制 有識者検討会が報告書案―法務省、臨時国会提出検討", "titleEn": "Regulation of buyers' soliciting: expert panel's draft report; Justice Ministry considers submission to extraordinary Diet session", "publisher": "時事通信", "url": "https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2026082400340&g=soc", "published": "2026-08-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ja" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/japan/" }, { "iso2": "JO", "name": "Jordan", "nativeName": "الأردن", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Penal Code makes habitually practising prostitution an offence for men and women (Article 312(3)) and criminalises brothels and procuring. It contains no specific offence for the client; the UN's 2024 review states that the person asking for sexual services is not criminalised. Adultery is an offence (Articles 282–284) but is prosecuted only on a complaint.", "modelSources": [ "jo-pc", "jo-escwa" ], "summary": "Jordan prohibits selling sex but not buying it. Under the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, any person, male or female, who habitually practises prostitution faces up to a year in prison and a fine of 200 dinars (Article 312(3)). Setting up or managing a brothel carries at least a year and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 dinars, and a brothel includes premises where a single woman is visited by more than one man (Articles 309 and 312(2)). Procuring women into prostitution, men living on a woman's earnings and women controlling another woman's prostitution are separate offences. The 2023 Cybercrime Law punishes using the internet or creating a website to facilitate, promote or incite prostitution with at least six months and a fine of 9,000 to 15,000 dinars. The official consolidated texts could not be opened for this overview.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person, male or female, who habitually practises prostitution is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of 200 dinars (Penal Code Article 312(3)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 312(3)" ], "sources": [ "jo-pc", "jo-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The official legislation portal could not be used; the text was read from a law firm's consolidation stated to include amendments to 2026, and is consistent with the UN ESCWA 2024 review.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code contains no offence of paying for sex, and the UN's 2024 gender-justice review states that Jordanian law does not criminalise the person asking for sexual services. The adultery provisions (Articles 282–284) can be prosecuted only on a complaint, which the UN review says may come from a spouse or a legal guardian.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 282–284" ], "sources": [ "jo-escwa", "jo-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on an unofficial consolidation and a UN review; whether clients are prosecuted under other provisions in practice was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Setting up, managing, working in or helping to manage a brothel is punishable by at least one year and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 dinars (Article 312(2)). A tenant or owner who knowingly allows premises to be used as a brothel faces up to two years and a fine of 200 to 500 dinars (Article 312(1)). A brothel is any premises where two or more women live or meet to practise prostitution, or where one woman is visited by more than one man (Article 309).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 309", "Penal Code art. 312(1)–(2)", "Penal Code art. 313" ], "sources": [ "jo-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation; the official text could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Leading or attempting to lead a woman into prostitution, in Jordan or abroad, is punishable by six months to three years and a fine of 200 to 500 dinars (Article 310). A man living wholly or partly on a woman's earnings from prostitution faces six months to two years (Article 315), and a woman who controls another woman's prostitution up to two years (Article 316).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 310", "Penal Code art. 311", "Penal Code art. 315", "Penal Code art. 316" ], "sources": [ "jo-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial consolidation; the official text could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Using an information network, information technology or information system, or creating a website, to facilitate, promote, incite, assist or urge prostitution and debauchery, or to offend public morals, is punishable by at least six months and a fine of 9,000 to 15,000 dinars (Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023, Article 14(a)). Where minors or persons with a mental disability are exploited, the penalty is temporary hard labour (Article 14(b)).", "details": "The offence expressly covers whoever \"creates a website\" for these purposes, which reaches operators of sites hosting such advertisements. Law No. 17 of 2023 replaced the Cybercrime Law of 2015.", "provisions": [ "Cybercrime Law No. 17/2023 art. 14" ], "sources": [ "jo-cyber" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from an unofficial legal database; the Official Gazette text was not opened." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "jo-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, as amended", "relevance": "Articles 309 to 318 define brothels and punish habitual prostitution, brothel-keeping and procuring.", "provisions": [ "art. 309–318" ] }, { "sourceId": "jo-cyber", "titleEn": "Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023", "relevance": "Article 14 punishes using the internet or creating a website to facilitate or promote prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 14" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1960", "event": "Penal Code No. 16 of 1960 enacted, including the chapter on incitement to debauchery and brothels.", "sources": [ "jo-pc" ] }, { "date": "2023", "event": "Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 replaces the 2015 law and adds a specific offence of promoting prostitution online.", "sources": [ "jo-cyber" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "jo-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون العقوبات الأردني رقم 16 لسنة 1960 وتعديلاته", "titleEn": "Jordanian Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, as amended (unofficial consolidation)", "publisher": "jordan-lawyer.com", "url": "https://jordan-lawyer.com/2017/04/05/jordan-criminal-law/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "jo-cyber", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون الجرائم الإلكترونية رقم (17) لسنة 2023", "titleEn": "Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023 (unofficial copy)", "publisher": "Mohaymeed legal database", "url": "https://mohaymeed.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85-17-%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9-2023", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "jo-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Jordan — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/jordan.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jordan/" }, { "iso2": "KZ", "name": "Kazakhstan", "nativeName": "Қазақстан / Казахстан", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Code of Administrative Offences has no offence of engaging in prostitution as such. It penalises only \"importuning\" in public places for prostitution (Article 449) and knowingly providing premises (Article 450). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping brothels, pimping for gain and drawing people into prostitution are crimes (Articles 308-309 of the Criminal Code). The 2024 amendments extended all of these to \"other sexual services\", including remote services such as webcam shows.", "modelSources": [ "kz-koap", "kz-uk" ], "summary": "In Kazakhstan, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in themselves. Importuning people in public places for prostitution or other sexual services is an administrative offence: a warning or a fine of 5 monthly calculation indices (MCI), and for foreigners possible expulsion. Knowingly providing premises for prostitution carries fines of 100 MCI and upwards. Organising or keeping a brothel and pimping for gain are crimes punishable by up to five years, rising to three to seven years when committed through the internet or by advertising. Since September 2024 the Criminal Code covers \"other sexual services\", including those provided remotely, and defines advertising of prostitution as distributing or placing information on a person, price, method or place of obtaining the services.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Importuning (\"persistent approaching\") in public places for prostitution or other sexual services is punishable by a warning or a fine of 5 MCI. A repeat within a year carries 10 MCI, up to 20 hours of community work or up to five days' arrest. A foreign national faces 5 MCI, up to five days' arrest or administrative expulsion.", "provisions": [ "ст. 449 КоАП РК" ], "sources": [ "kz-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Obtaining prostitution or another sexual service from a person known to be a minor is a crime punishable by three to six years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "ст. 122 ч. 2 УК РК" ], "sources": [ "kz-uk", "kz-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping a brothel for prostitution or other sexual services is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment with confiscation of property. Knowingly providing premises for prostitution is an administrative offence fined at 100 MCI for individuals, up to 1,000 MCI for large businesses, with suspension of activity for up to three months.", "provisions": [ "ст. 309 УК РК", "ст. 450 КоАП РК" ], "sources": [ "kz-uk", "kz-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pimping (сводничество) for gain carries up to five years' imprisonment, rising to three to seven years if committed repeatedly, in a group, through telecommunications networks including the internet, or by promoting or advertising sexual services. Drawing a person into prostitution by violence, threats, blackmail, deception or advertising carries up to three years.", "provisions": [ "ст. 308 УК РК", "ст. 309 УК РК" ], "sources": [ "kz-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising prostitution is not a standalone offence, but it aggravates both criminal offences: drawing a person into prostitution \"by propaganda and/or advertising\", and keeping a brothel or pimping by advertising (three to seven years). Advertising is defined as distributing or placing information about the person, price, method or place of obtaining sexual services, which describes the content of escort and ad sites.", "details": "The note to Article 134, which also applies to Articles 308 and 309, defines propaganda as \"распространение любой информации о проституции, иных услугах сексуального характера, выгодах и преимуществах оказания таких услуг\". It defines advertising as \"распространение и (или) размещение информации о лице, цене, способе и (или) месте получения таких услуг\", when carried out to draw people into the activity or for pimping. A site operator that publishes such information for gain risks liability for pimping through the internet. The Law on Advertising contains no specific clause on sexual services; it bars advertising that incites unlawful acts.", "provisions": [ "ст. 134 (примечание) УК РК", "ст. 308 ч. 1 УК РК", "ст. 309 ч. 2 пп. 3-4 УК РК", "ст. 6 п. 7 Закона «О рекламе»" ], "sources": [ "kz-uk", "kz-ad" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "No case law was checked on whether a sex worker's own advertisement, without a third party, is treated as an offence." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kz-koap", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (2014, No. 235-V)", "relevance": "Importuning in public places for prostitution (Art. 449) and knowingly providing premises (Art. 450).", "provisions": [ "ст. 449", "ст. 450" ] }, { "sourceId": "kz-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (2014, No. 226-V)", "relevance": "Buying sexual services from a minor (Art. 122), drawing a minor into prostitution (Art. 134), drawing a person into prostitution (Art. 308), brothels and pimping (Art. 309), with definitions of propaganda and advertising of sexual services.", "provisions": [ "ст. 122", "ст. 134", "ст. 308", "ст. 309" ] }, { "sourceId": "kz-2024-law", "titleEn": "Law of 5 July 2024 No. 111-VIII on countering human trafficking, vandalism and damage to property", "relevance": "Extended the prostitution offences to \"other sexual services\" (including remote services), added internet and advertising aggravations, and created the offence of obtaining sexual services from a minor.", "inForce": "2024-09-05" }, { "sourceId": "kz-ad", "titleEn": "Law on Advertising (2003, No. 508)", "relevance": "General content rules for advertising; no clause specific to sexual services.", "provisions": [ "ст. 6" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2024-07-05", "event": "Law No. 111-VIII amends the Criminal and Administrative Codes, extending the prostitution offences to \"other sexual services\", including those provided remotely such as webcam shows. It also makes internet use and advertising aggravating factors for pimping and brothel keeping. The changes took effect sixty days after publication, on 5 September 2024 according to press reports.", "sources": [ "kz-2024-law", "kz-uk", "kz-tengri-2024" ] }, { "date": "2025-07-16", "event": "Law No. 210-VIII further amends Article 309 of the Criminal Code.", "sources": [ "kz-uk" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kz-koap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс Республики Казахстан об административных правонарушениях от 5 июля 2014 года № 235-V", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan", "publisher": "ИПС «Әділет», Министерство юстиции Республики Казахстан", "url": "https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K1400000235", "published": "2014-07-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "kz-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Уголовный кодекс Республики Казахстан от 3 июля 2014 года № 226-V", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan", "publisher": "ИПС «Әділет», Министерство юстиции Республики Казахстан", "url": "https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K1400000226", "published": "2014-07-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "kz-ad", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Закон Республики Казахстан от 19 декабря 2003 года № 508 «О рекламе»", "titleEn": "Law on Advertising", "publisher": "ИПС «Әділет», Министерство юстиции Республики Казахстан", "url": "https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z030000508_", "published": "2003-12-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "kz-2024-law", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Закон Республики Казахстан от 5 июля 2024 года № 111-VIII «О внесении изменений и дополнений в некоторые законодательные акты Республики Казахстан по вопросам противодействия торговле людьми, проявлению вандализма и порче чужого имущества»", "titleEn": "Law of 5 July 2024 No. 111-VIII amending legislation on countering human trafficking, vandalism and damage to property", "publisher": "ИПС «Әділет», Министерство юстиции Республики Казахстан", "url": "https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2400000111", "published": "2024-07-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "kz-tengri-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "В Казахстане официально запретили вебкам", "titleEn": "Webcam officially banned in Kazakhstan", "publisher": "Tengrinews.kz", "url": "https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/v-kazahstane-ofitsialno-zapretili-vebkam-547178/", "published": "2024-09-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kazakhstan/" }, { "iso2": "KE", "name": "Kenya", "nativeName": "Kenya", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such. It criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker, keeping or letting premises as a brothel and soliciting in public (ss. 153–156, 182), and the Sexual Offences Act 2006 punishes exploitation of prostitution (s. 17). Municipal and county by-laws on loitering or importuning for prostitution are the provisions most often used against sex workers, so many sources describe sex work in Kenya as illegal in practice.", "modelSources": [ "ke-penal-code", "ke-soa", "ke-kelin-2016" ], "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence under Kenya's Penal Code, but most of the activity around it is. Living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker for gain and persistent soliciting by a man in public are felonies (ss. 153–154); keeping, managing or knowingly letting a brothel is a felony (s. 156); and soliciting in public for immoral purposes makes a person idle and disorderly (s. 182). The Sexual Offences Act 2006 punishes causing a person to become a prostitute and controlling their prostitution for gain with at least five years (s. 17). Former municipal by-laws in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu against loitering or importuning for prostitution are used for arrests. A 2023 Judiciary proposal to delete ss. 153–155 had not been enacted; no 2025 court ruling on sex work was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself a Penal Code offence, but soliciting is. A common prostitute behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public, or any person soliciting in public for immoral purposes, is an idle and disorderly person: up to one month or a KES 100 fine for a first offence, up to one year for a later one (s. 182). Persistent soliciting in public by a male person is a felony (s. 153(1)(b)). County by-laws prohibit loitering or importuning for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 182(a), (f)", "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 153(1)(b)", "Nairobi General Nuisance By-laws 2007 s. 19(m)", "Mombasa Municipal Council By-laws 2003 s. 258(m)" ], "sources": [ "ke-penal-code", "ke-kelin-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The by-law provisions are cited from a 2016 KELIN briefing, which calls them former municipal by-laws still used by council officers and police; the by-law texts themselves were not opened, and whether each county has since re-enacted them was not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code or the Sexual Offences Act makes paying for sex with a consenting adult an offence. The soliciting offence in s. 182(f) applies to \"every person\" and the persistent-soliciting felony in s. 153(1)(b) to any male person, so a client who solicits in a public place can in principle be charged under them.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 153(1)(b)", "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 182(f)" ], "sources": [ "ke-penal-code", "ke-kelin-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How often the soliciting provisions are used against clients was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, assisting in its management, knowingly permitting premises to be used as one, or letting premises knowing they are to be used as one is a felony (s. 156). A magistrate may issue a warrant to search a house suspected of being used for prostitution and to arrest anyone living on its earnings or controlling the sex worker (s. 155).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 155", "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 156" ], "sources": [ "ke-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Sections 153, 154 and 156 classify the offences as felonies without stating a term of imprisonment; press reports of a maximum of three years could not be matched to the text of the Code." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, and a woman who does so or controls a sex worker's movements for gain, commit felonies; living with or habitually accompanying a sex worker raises a rebuttable presumption (ss. 153–154). Intentionally causing a person to become a prostitute and controlling their prostitution for gain carries at least five years or a KES 500,000 fine, or both (Sexual Offences Act s. 17).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 63) ss. 153–154", "Sexual Offences Act 2006 s. 17" ], "sources": [ "ke-penal-code", "ke-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Soliciting in public is an offence (ss. 153(1)(b), 182(f)), trading in or publicly exhibiting obscene matter is an offence (s. 181), and inducing a person to be a client of a child through media or advertisements is child prostitution (Sexual Offences Act s. 15(c)). Whether a site carrying adult escort ads lives on the earnings of prostitution is untested.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 181", "Penal Code (Cap. 63) s. 182(f)", "Sexual Offences Act 2006 s. 15(c)" ], "sources": [ "ke-penal-code", "ke-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018 and media regulation were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ke-penal-code", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Cap. 63)", "relevance": "Living on the earnings of prostitution, search of premises, brothels and the idle-and-disorderly soliciting offence.", "provisions": [ "ss. 153–156", "s. 181", "s. 182" ] }, { "sourceId": "ke-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 2006 (No. 3 of 2006)", "relevance": "Exploitation of prostitution (s. 17) and child prostitution (s. 15).", "provisions": [ "s. 15", "s. 17" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ke-penal-code-amendment-2023", "title": "Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Judiciary proposal)", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2025-02-14", "summary": "A bill presented by the Judiciary under Chief Justice Martha Koome in October 2023 would delete ss. 153, 154 and 155 of the Penal Code. In February 2025 NGOs (Women Collective Kenya, KELIN and others) presented a decriminalisation brief to the Nairobi Woman Representative, who said she would table a bill; no parliamentary progress was found.", "sources": [ "ke-kenyans-2023", "ke-star-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2006", "event": "Sexual Offences Act 2006 enacted, including the offence of exploitation of prostitution (s. 17).", "sources": [ "ke-soa" ] }, { "date": "2023-10-24", "event": "Reported presentation by the Judiciary of the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which would delete ss. 153–155.", "sources": [ "ke-kenyans-2023" ] }, { "date": "2025-02-13", "event": "Sex-worker and health NGOs present a policy brief calling for decriminalisation to Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.", "sources": [ "ke-star-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ke-penal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code (Cap. 63), revised by the 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023)", "publisher": "Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting)", "url": "https://kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/1930/10/eng@2023-12-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ke-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act (No. 3 of 2006)", "publisher": "Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting)", "url": "https://kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2006/3/eng@2024-04-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ke-kelin-2016", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Punitive laws affecting sex workers", "publisher": "KELIN (Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS)", "url": "https://www.kelinkenya.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PUNITIVE-LAWS-AFFECTING-SEX-WORKERS.pdf", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ke-kenyans-2023", "kind": "news", "title": "CJ Koome Proposes Bill to Decriminalise Prostitution", "publisher": "Kenyans.co.ke", "url": "https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/94097-cj-koome-allows-prostitution-new-bill", "published": "2023-10-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ke-star-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Lobbyists call for decriminalising of sex work in Kenya", "publisher": "The Star (Kenya)", "url": "https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2025-02-14-lobbyists-call-for-decriminalising-of-sex-work-in-kenya", "published": "2025-02-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kenya/" }, { "iso2": "KI", "name": "Kiribati", "nativeName": "Ribaberiki Kiribati", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977) criminalises procuring a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 136), a man living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting (s. 145), a woman controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), brothel-keeping (s. 148) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 167).", "modelSources": [ "ki-pc" ], "summary": "In Kiribati, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977), inherited from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, penalises the activities around them. Procuring or attempting to procure a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home to frequent a brothel, carries two years. A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicits in public for immoral purposes, a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, and anyone who keeps, manages, permits or lets premises for a brothel commits a misdemeanour (two years and a fine where no penalty is specified). Soliciting for immoral purposes in public carries two months or a $20 fine. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Any person who solicits for immoral purposes in a public place, and any 'common prostitute' behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public, is an idle and disorderly person liable to two months or a $20 fine.", "provisions": [ "s. 167(c) and (f) Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "ki-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 1977 Revised Edition (copy hosted by VERTIC); no official consolidated text was found outside PacLII, which refused automated access, so later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The public soliciting offences apply to 'any person' and could reach clients; a man persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes commits a misdemeanour under s. 145(1)(b).", "provisions": [ "s. 145(1)(b) Penal Code", "s. 167(f) Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "ki-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 1977 Revised Edition (copy hosted by VERTIC); no official consolidated text was found outside PacLII, which refused automated access, so later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used are misdemeanours, punishable by up to two years and a fine under the general misdemeanour penalty.", "provisions": [ "s. 148 Penal Code", "s. 147 Penal Code (search warrant)" ], "sources": [ "ki-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 1977 Revised Edition (copy hosted by VERTIC); no official consolidated text was found outside PacLII, which refused automated access, so later amendments were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure any woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home or the country to frequent a brothel, carries two years (corroboration required). A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, presumed if he lives with or controls a sex worker, and a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, commit misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "s. 136(1)(b)-(d) Penal Code", "s. 145(1)(a) and (2) Penal Code", "s. 146 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "ki-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 1977 Revised Edition (copy hosted by VERTIC); no official consolidated text was found outside PacLII, which refused automated access, so later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offences are limited to public places; a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings or control offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 145 Penal Code", "s. 146 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "ki-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ki-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 136), male living on earnings or persistent soliciting (s. 145), female control of a sex worker (s. 146), brothels (s. 148) and idle and disorderly persons (s. 167).", "provisions": [ "s. 136", "s. 145", "s. 146", "s. 148", "s. 167" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ki-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Laws of the Gilbert Islands, Revised Edition 1977, Chapter 67", "publisher": "Government of Kiribati (copy hosted by VERTIC)", "url": "https://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Kiribati/KI_Penal_Code.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kiribati/" }, { "iso2": "XK", "name": "Kosovo", "nativeName": "Kosova / Kosovo", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Article 7 of the 2009 Law on Public Peace and Order makes it a minor offence for \"anyone\" to be involved in a sexual act of prostitution, wording that on its face covers both seller and buyer. Facilitating prostitution and providing premises are crimes under the 2019 Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "xk-ljrqp", "xk-kp" ], "summary": "Kosovo treats prostitution as a minor offence against public order. Under Article 7 of Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009), anyone involved in a sexual act of prostitution is liable to a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment; the law defines prostitution as performing sexual acts for material benefit. The 2019 Criminal Code punishes recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution (fine and six months to four years), knowingly providing premises for prostitution (fine and up to four years), and using the sexual services of a trafficking victim (six months to five years), with higher penalties near schools and where minors are involved. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Being involved in a sexual act of prostitution is a minor offence punishable by a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment. Prostitution is defined as performing sexual acts for material benefit, in money or other equivalent value.", "provisions": [ "neni 3 dhe neni 7 Ligji Nr. 03/L-142" ], "sources": [ "xk-ljrqp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "€900 or 60 days" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Article 7 applies to \"anyone\" involved in a sexual act of prostitution, so on its wording the buyer is liable to the same fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days. Using the sexual services of a trafficking victim is a crime punishable by six months to five years.", "provisions": [ "neni 7 Ligji Nr. 03/L-142", "neni 228 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "xk-ljrqp", "xk-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The reading that Article 7 covers buyers rests on its wording (\"kushdo që përfshihet\"); enforcement practice against buyers was not checked.", "mapLabel": "€900 or 60 days" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly providing premises to another person for prostitution, as owner, landlord, tenant, operator or responsible person, is punishable by a fine and up to four years; six months to five years within 350 metres of a school or other place used by children.", "provisions": [ "neni 235 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "xk-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution is punishable by a fine and six months to four years; one to five years within 350 metres of a school, and more where the person is under 18.", "provisions": [ "neni 234 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "xk-kp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person could fall within \"assisting\" or \"organising\" prostitution under Article 234, and an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the minor offence in Article 7.", "provisions": [ "neni 234 Kodi Penal" ], "sources": [ "xk-kp", "xk-ljrqp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; media and electronic communications law was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "xk-ljrqp", "titleEn": "Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009)", "relevance": "Article 7 makes involvement in a sexual act of prostitution a minor offence.", "provisions": [ "neni 7" ] }, { "sourceId": "xk-kp", "titleEn": "Criminal Code No. 06/L-074 (2019)", "relevance": "Articles 228, 234 and 235 cover trafficking-victim clients, facilitating prostitution and providing premises.", "provisions": [ "neni 228", "neni 234", "neni 235" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-10-29", "event": "Law on Public Peace and Order published; prostitution becomes a minor offence under Article 7.", "sources": [ "xk-ljrqp" ] }, { "date": "2019-01-14", "event": "New Criminal Code published, with offences of enabling prostitution and providing premises for it.", "sources": [ "xk-kp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "xk-ljrqp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ligji Nr. 03/L-142 për Rendin dhe Qetësinë Publike", "titleEn": "Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order", "publisher": "Gazeta Zyrtare e Republikës së Kosovës", "url": "https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=2651", "published": "2009-10-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sq" }, { "id": "xk-kp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kodi Nr. 06/L-074 Kodi Penal i Republikës së Kosovës", "titleEn": "Criminal Code No. 06/L-074", "publisher": "Gazeta Zyrtare e Republikës së Kosovës", "url": "https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=18413", "published": "2019-01-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sq" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kosovo/" }, { "iso2": "KW", "name": "Kuwait", "nativeName": "الكويت", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "No Penal Code provision punishes the person who sells sex as such. Selling and buying are offences through the general provision on consensual sex outside marriage: a man and a woman aged 21 or over caught in the act face six months to three years (Art. 194, Penal Code of 1960). Inciting or assisting prostitution, living off it, running a brothel and public incitement are separate crimes (Arts. 200 to 204).", "modelSources": [ "kw-penal" ], "summary": "Kuwait's Penal Code (Law No. 16 of 1960) contains no offence aimed specifically at people who sell sex, but sex between a man and a woman aged 21 or over who are not married to each other is punishable by six months to three years for both if they are caught in the act (Art. 194); adultery by a married person carries up to five years (Art. 195). Inciting or helping a person into prostitution carries up to one year and/or a fine (Art. 200), up to five years with coercion (Art. 201); living off another's prostitution up to two years (Art. 202); running a brothel up to seven years and a fine of up to KWD 7,000 (Art. 203); and public incitement to prostitution in a public place up to three years and/or KWD 3,000 (Art. 204). A ministerial committee set up in August 2025 is drafting a new Penal Code.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no prostitution-specific offence for the seller. A woman aged 21 or over who consents to sex with a man she is not married to is punishable, like the man, by six months to three years if caught in the act (Art. 194). Publicly inciting prostitution in a public place is a separate offence (Art. 204).", "provisions": [ "Art. 194 Penal Code", "Art. 195 Penal Code", "Art. 204 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "kw-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official legislation portals could not be opened; the text was read on Sada Al-Qanun, a non-governmental site that reproduces each article with its amendment history. Translations are ours. Enforcement practice (arrests, deportation of migrants) was not examined.", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence targets clients as such, but a man who has consensual sex with a woman aged 21 or over who is not a prohibited relative is punishable by six months to three years if caught in the act (Art. 194). A married client commits adultery, which carries up to five years and/or a fine (Art. 195).", "provisions": [ "Art. 194 Penal Code", "Art. 195 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "kw-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text read on a non-governmental reproduction of the Penal Code; the official portals could not be opened.", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 3 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who establishes or runs a place for debauchery and prostitution, or helps in any way to establish or run one, is punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of up to KWD 7,000 (Art. 203, as amended by Law No. 106 of 1994).", "provisions": [ "Art. 203 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "kw-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text read on a non-governmental reproduction of the Penal Code; the official portals could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting a man or woman to debauchery and prostitution, or helping them in any way, carries up to one year and/or a fine of up to KWD 75, or up to two years under 18 (Art. 200). Coercion, threats or trickery: up to five years, seven under 18 (Art. 201). Living wholly or partly on another's prostitution through influence or control, or taking money as protection, carries up to two years (Art. 202).", "provisions": [ "Art. 200 Penal Code", "Art. 201 Penal Code", "Art. 202 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "kw-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Fine amounts are those converted from rupees to dinars by Law No. 9 of 1985, as shown in the reproduction used; the official portals could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who publicly incites debauchery and prostitution in a public place is punishable by up to three years and/or a fine of up to KWD 3,000; the same penalty applies to printing, selling, distributing or displaying pictures or other items that offend modesty (Art. 204, as amended in 1994). Inciting a person by any means is also covered by Art. 200.", "provisions": [ "Art. 204 Penal Code", "Art. 200 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "kw-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No Penal Code provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Kuwait's cybercrime law (Law No. 63 of 2015) was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kw-penal", "titleEn": "Law No. 16 of 1960 promulgating the Penal Code", "relevance": "Arts. 194 and 195 cover consensual sex outside marriage and adultery; Arts. 200 to 204, on incitement to debauchery and prostitution, cover procuring, living off earnings, brothels and public incitement.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 194-195", "Arts. 200-204" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "kw-new-penal-code", "title": "Committee to draft a new Penal Code", "stage": "review", "updated": "2025-08-26", "summary": "The Minister of Justice formed a committee of judges and prosecutors to review the Penal Code against modern legislation elsewhere and prepare a comprehensive new draft law with an explanatory memorandum. No deadline was announced, and no draft text had been found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "kw-kt-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1976-09-12", "event": "Law No. 62 of 1976 raises the age in the consensual-sex offence of Art. 194 from 18 to 21 and the maximum penalty from one to three years.", "sources": [ "kw-penal" ] }, { "date": "1994-09-04", "event": "Law No. 106 of 1994 raises the penalties for running a brothel (Art. 203, up to seven years) and for public incitement to prostitution (Art. 204, up to three years).", "sources": [ "kw-penal" ] }, { "date": "2025-08-26", "event": "The Ministry of Justice announces a committee to draft a new Penal Code.", "sources": [ "kw-kt-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kw-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون الجزاء الكويتي – قانون رقم 16 لسنة 1960 بإصدار قانون الجزاء", "titleEn": "Kuwaiti Penal Code, Law No. 16 of 1960 (unofficial consolidated text with amendment history)", "publisher": "Sada Al-Qanun (sadaalqanun.com)", "url": "https://sadaalqanun.com/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%8A/", "published": "1960", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "kw-kt-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Justice Ministry to revise penal code in major reform", "publisher": "Kuwait Times", "url": "https://kuwaittimes.com/article/32401/kuwait/other-news/justice-ministry-to-revise-penal-code-in-major-reform/", "published": "2025-08-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kuwait/" }, { "iso2": "KG", "name": "Kyrgyzstan", "nativeName": "Кыргызстан", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Engaging in prostitution is an offence under Article 109-2 of the Code of Offences (2021), a fine of 200 calculation units or three to seven days' arrest, in the wording given by Law No. 153 of 29 July 2024. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Brothels, pimping (сводничество, сутенерство) and drawing people into prostitution are crimes under Articles 159-160 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "kg-kop", "kg-uk" ], "summary": "Kyrgyzstan penalises the person who sells sex. Under Article 109-2 of the Code of Offences, engaging in prostitution carries a fine of 200 calculation units or arrest of three to seven days. Under the same 2024 wording, taking part in paid sexual live streams on a webcam platform is fined at 100 units, and organising webcam studios is a crime. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping a brothel, pimping or procuring carries a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation units or up to seven years' imprisonment (Article 160 of the Criminal Code). Drawing or forcing a person into prostitution by violence, threats, blackmail or deception carries up to five years (Article 159).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of 200 calculation units or administrative arrest of three to seven days. Taking part in paid sexual live streams through a webcam platform is a separate offence fined at 100 calculation units.", "provisions": [ "ст. 109-2 Кодекса о правонарушениях", "ст. 109-1 Кодекса о правонарушениях" ], "sources": [ "kg-kop" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Both articles carry the note \"in the wording of Law No. 153 of 29 July 2024\". Whether that law created the prostitution offence or reworded an earlier one was not confirmed from the amending law itself.", "mapLabel": "up to 7 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Code of Offences or the Criminal Code; the provisions on prostitution target the seller, organisers, pimps and those who draw others in.", "sources": [ "kg-kop", "kg-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Checked by searching the current consolidated texts on the Ministry of Justice database for references to prostitution." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping a brothel for prostitution is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation units or up to seven years' imprisonment, with or without confiscation of property; seven to fifteen years where children are used.", "provisions": [ "ст. 160 УК КР" ], "sources": [ "kg-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring for debauchery (сводничество) and pimping (сутенерство) carry the same penalty as brothel keeping. Drawing or forcing a person into prostitution by non-life-threatening violence, threats, damage to property, blackmail or deception carries a fine or up to five years. Organising or facilitating paid sexual live streams through a webcam studio carries a fine or up to three years.", "provisions": [ "ст. 159 УК КР", "ст. 160 УК КР", "ст. 160-1 УК КР" ], "sources": [ "kg-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed at advertising sexual services was found in either code. A third party who publishes offers to connect clients with sex workers risks the pimping and procuring offence in Article 160, and the seller the prostitution offence. Advertising pornographic material is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "ст. 160 УК КР", "ст. 109 Кодекса о правонарушениях", "ст. 161 УК КР" ], "sources": [ "kg-uk", "kg-kop" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on Advertising was not checked. Applying Article 160 to ad publishers is an inference from its wording, not a reported case." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kg-kop", "titleEn": "Code of Offences (28 October 2021, No. 128)", "relevance": "Engaging in prostitution (Art. 109-2) and paid participation in sexual webcam streams (Art. 109-1).", "provisions": [ "ст. 109-1", "ст. 109-2" ] }, { "sourceId": "kg-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (28 October 2021, No. 127)", "relevance": "Drawing into prostitution (Art. 159), brothels, procuring and pimping (Art. 160), webcam studios (Art. 160-1).", "provisions": [ "ст. 159", "ст. 160", "ст. 160-1" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2021-10-28", "event": "A new Criminal Code (No. 127) and Code of Offences (No. 128) are enacted, replacing the earlier codes.", "sources": [ "kg-uk", "kg-kop" ] }, { "date": "2024-07-29", "event": "Law No. 153 sets the current wording of the prostitution offence (fine of 200 units or three to seven days' arrest) and of the offences of paid participation in webcam streams and organising webcam studios (Articles 109-1 and 160-1).", "sources": [ "kg-kop", "kg-uk" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kg-kop", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс Кыргызской Республики о правонарушениях от 28 октября 2021 года № 128 (редакция от 09.10.2026)", "titleEn": "Code of Offences of the Kyrgyz Republic", "publisher": "Централизованный банк данных правовой информации, Министерство юстиции Кыргызской Республики", "url": "https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/3-36/edition/60031/ru", "published": "2021-10-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "kg-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Уголовный кодекс Кыргызской Республики от 28 октября 2021 года № 127 (редакция от 24.07.2026)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic", "publisher": "Централизованный банк данных правовой информации, Министерство юстиции Кыргызской Республики", "url": "https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/3-38/edition/56638/ru", "published": "2021-10-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kyrgyzstan/" }, { "iso2": "LA", "name": "Laos", "nativeName": "ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Article 260 of the Penal Code 2017 makes engaging in prostitution, assisting or facilitating it, and purchasing sexual services criminal offences. Procuring prostitution for income is a separate, heavier offence (Article 254).", "modelSources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "summary": "Laos criminalises both parties. Under Article 260 of the Penal Code (Law No. 26/NA, adopted 17 May 2017), engaging in prostitution is punished with three months to one year of imprisonment or re-education without deprivation of liberty and a fine of LAK 500,000–3,000,000; assisting or facilitating prostitution carries the same custodial range and a fine of LAK 5–15 million, and anyone who purchases sexual services is punished under the same charge. Procuring the prostitution of another for income (Article 254) carries six months to three years, or three to seven years when habitual or when a person under the offender's guardianship is forced into prostitution. No specific offence of advertising adult sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is a criminal offence: three months to one year of imprisonment or re-education without deprivation of liberty, and a fine of LAK 500,000–3,000,000.", "provisions": [ "Article 260 para. 1 Penal Code 2017" ], "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the English translation published by the Lao Official Gazette, which is marked as unofficial; the Lao text was not compared.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who purchases sexual services is \"punished under the same charge\" as the person engaging in prostitution, that is, three months to one year or re-education and a fine.", "details": "The translation does not say which of the two fine ranges in Article 260 applies to buyers (LAK 500,000–3,000,000 for engaging in prostitution, LAK 5–15 million for assisting or facilitating it).", "provisions": [ "Article 260 para. 3 Penal Code 2017" ], "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation; the applicable fine range for buyers is unclear from the text.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel offence in the translation reviewed, but running premises for prostitution falls under procuring the prostitution of others for income (Article 254) and assisting or facilitating prostitution (Article 260).", "provisions": [ "Article 254 Penal Code 2017", "Article 260 para. 2 Penal Code 2017" ], "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inference: no provision naming brothels was found in the unofficial English translation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Generating income by procuring the prostitution of another in any manner is punished with six months to three years and a fine of LAK 10–20 million; three to seven years and LAK 20–100 million when done on a regular basis or when a person under the offender's guardianship is forced into prostitution.", "details": "Human trafficking for prostitution or sexual exploitation is a separate offence under Article 215.", "provisions": [ "Article 254 Penal Code 2017", "Article 215 Penal Code 2017" ], "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising for others would amount to assisting or facilitating prostitution (Article 260); advertising child sex tourism is a specific offence (Article 262), and disseminating pornographic material through computer systems is punishable under Article 169.", "provisions": [ "Article 169 Penal Code 2017", "Article 260 para. 2 Penal Code 2017", "Article 262 Penal Code 2017" ], "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from general provisions; media, internet and advertising regulations were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "la-pc2017", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 26/NA of 17 May 2017)", "relevance": "Article 260 criminalises engaging in, facilitating and purchasing prostitution; Article 254 procuring; Article 215 trafficking.", "provisions": [ "Article 215", "Article 254", "Article 260", "Article 262" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2017-05-17", "event": "The National Assembly adopts the Penal Code (Resolution No. 013/NA), replacing the Penal Law; it is promulgated by presidential decree on 26 June 2017.", "sources": [ "la-pc2017" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "la-pc2017", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code (Law No. 26/NA), Lao People's Democratic Republic — unofficial English translation", "publisher": "Lao Official Gazette (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://laoofficialgazette.gov.la/kcfinder/upload/files/1Oct2020_Lao%20Penal%20Code_English%20version.pdf", "published": "2017-06-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/laos/" }, { "iso2": "LV", "name": "Latvia", "nativeName": "Latvija", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 2008 restricts prostitution (health card, own or rented home only, no advertising), but since the Administrative Violations Code lapsed on 1 July 2020 no sanction attaches to breaching it. Brothels, involving a person in prostitution and pimping are crimes. Sometimes described as regulation because of the health-card rules; venues are not licensable, so it is classed here as abolitionism.", "modelSources": [ "lv-mk32", "lv-kl-prok", "lv-tv3-2024" ], "summary": "In Latvia adults may sell and buy sex. Cabinet Regulation No. 32 (2008) allows a person with a health card from a dermatovenereologist to offer sexual services only in a home they own or rent, requires monthly health checks, and bans group work, third-party facilitation and advertising sexual services online, in the press and other media. Since 1 July 2020 there has been no administrative penalty for breaking these rules, because the draft Prostitution Restriction Law meant to carry them was never adopted. The Criminal Law punishes setting up or running a brothel (up to three years), involving a person in prostitution (up to three years) and pimping (up to five years).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Legal for adults who hold a health card and have a monthly check-up, and only in a home the person owns or rents, not within 100 m of a school or church, with no minor present and no objection from co-residents. People with HIV or listed infections may not sell sex. Breaches carry no sanction at present: administrative liability lapsed with the Administrative Violations Code on 1 July 2020.", "details": "Points 2-10 and 13 of Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 22 January 2008 (*Prostitūcijas ierobežošanas noteikumi*), issued under transitional provision 3(2) of the Criminal Law. Point 15 refers liability to the administrative and criminal laws. The Interior Ministry told LETA in September 2024 that administrative liability for breaching the regulation existed only until 1 July 2020 and is not currently provided; Latvia's eighth CEDAW report (2020-2025), approved by the government in 2026, repeats that the rules remain binding but cannot be enforced administratively. Section 163 of the Criminal Law (breach of prostitution-restricting rules) was repealed with effect from 1 April 2013.", "provisions": [ "Points 2-10, 13, 15 MK noteikumi Nr. 32 (2008)", "Section 163 Krimināllikums (repealed 2013)" ], "sources": [ "lv-mk32", "lv-kl-prok", "lv-tv3-2024", "lv-nra-cedaw" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The regulation was read in its original publication in Latvijas Vēstnesis (2008); the consolidated version on likumi.lv could not be opened (connection refused), so later amendments, if any, were not checked. The absence of a sanction rests on Interior Ministry and government statements reported by LETA." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Using the prostitution of a minor carries up to five years, and knowingly using the prostitution of a trafficking victim is covered by Section 164(2) of the Criminal Law. The Ombudsman has proposed banning the purchase of sex, but no bill to that effect was found.", "provisions": [ "Section 164(2), (3.1) Krimināllikums" ], "sources": [ "lv-kl-prok", "lv-nra-cedaw" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Law text read in the Prosecutor's Office 2025 edition (amendments promulgated to 19 December 2024); amendments after that date were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Setting up, maintaining, managing or financing a brothel, defined as an unauthorised place where prostitution services are organised and provided, is punishable by up to three years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community work or a fine. Managers of entertainment venues must ensure no sexual services are offered there, and groups of sex workers may not work together.", "provisions": [ "Section 163.1 Krimināllikums", "Points 6-7 MK noteikumi Nr. 32 (2008)" ], "sources": [ "lv-kl-prok", "lv-mk32" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Law text as consolidated to 19 December 2024 (Prosecutor's Office edition); likumi.lv could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Involving a person in prostitution is punishable by up to three years; coercion, deceit or abuse of dependency, up to five years. Pimping (sutenerisms), defined as exploiting a person engaged in prostitution for the purpose of enrichment, carries up to five years, rising to eight or fifteen years for groups, organised groups or offences against minors. Point 12 of the regulation bans any third-party activity that promotes prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Section 164 Krimināllikums", "Section 165 Krimināllikums", "Section 165.1 Krimināllikums", "Point 12 MK noteikumi Nr. 32 (2008)" ], "sources": [ "lv-kl-prok", "lv-mk32" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Law text as consolidated to 19 December 2024 (Prosecutor's Office edition); later amendments not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Cabinet Regulation No. 32 bans offering and advertising sexual services on the internet, in the press and in other mass media, except erotic publications, and through intermediaries. Since 1 July 2020 no administrative penalty attaches to the ban. Police say they monitor such adverts for signs of pimping, involvement in prostitution or trafficking.", "details": "Point 11 of the regulation: *Seksuālos pakalpojumus aizliegts piedāvāt un reklamēt internetā, presē un citos plašsaziņas līdzekļos (izņemot erotiska rakstura izdevumus), kā arī izmantojot citu personu starpniecību.* The 2017 draft Prostitution Restriction Law would have attached a warning or a fine of up to EUR 700 to breaches of the offering and advertising restrictions (State Police, reported by TVNet, 2023). No offence specific to websites that host such adverts was found; liability for a platform would have to come from the general criminal provisions on involvement in prostitution or pimping, which was not tested here.", "provisions": [ "Point 11 MK noteikumi Nr. 32 (2008)" ], "sources": [ "lv-mk32", "lv-tvnet-2023", "lv-tv3-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The ban is in force but currently unenforceable administratively according to the Interior Ministry; platform liability is our reading, not established case law." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lv-mk32", "titleEn": "Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 22 January 2008, Prostitution Restriction Rules", "relevance": "Health card, premises rules, ban on group work, third-party facilitation and advertising of sexual services.", "provisions": [ "Points 2-15" ], "inForce": "2008-01-26" }, { "sourceId": "lv-kl-prok", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Krimināllikums)", "relevance": "Section 163.1 (brothels), 164 (involving a person in prostitution, using the prostitution of a minor), 165 (pimping), 165.1 (sending a person for sexual exploitation).", "provisions": [ "Section 163.1", "Section 164", "Section 165", "Section 165.1" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "lv-prostitution-restriction-law", "title": "Draft Prostitution Restriction Law (Prostitūcijas ierobežošanas likums)", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2024-09-29", "summary": "Drafted in 2017 and submitted to the government in early 2020, which postponed it in February 2020. It would give the restrictions a statutory basis and sanctions. In September 2024 the Interior Ministry said it is not a priority and needs a political decision on the regulatory model.", "sources": [ "lv-tv3-2024", "lv-nra-cedaw", "lv-tvnet-2023" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2008-01-26", "event": "Cabinet Regulation No. 32 (Prostitution Restriction Rules) entered into force, replacing Regulation No. 210 of 2001.", "sources": [ "lv-mk32" ] }, { "date": "2013-04-01", "event": "Section 163 of the Criminal Law (breach of prostitution-restricting rules) repealed.", "sources": [ "lv-kl-prok" ] }, { "date": "2020-07-01", "event": "Administrative Violations Code replaced by the Administrative Liability Law; breaches of the prostitution rules ceased to carry an administrative penalty.", "sources": [ "lv-tv3-2024", "lv-tvnet-2023" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lv-mk32", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ministru kabineta 2008. gada 22. janvāra noteikumi Nr. 32 \"Prostitūcijas ierobežošanas noteikumi\"", "titleEn": "Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 22 January 2008, Prostitution Restriction Rules (official publication)", "publisher": "Latvijas Vēstnesis", "url": "https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/169772", "published": "2008-01-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lv" }, { "id": "lv-kl-prok", "kind": "government", "title": "Krimināllikums. Ar grozījumiem, kas izsludināti līdz 2024. gada 19. decembrim (2025)", "titleEn": "Criminal Law, with amendments promulgated to 19 December 2024 (Prosecutor's Office edition)", "publisher": "Latvijas Republikas prokuratūra", "url": "https://dom.lndb.lv/data/obj/file/39369588.pdf", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lv" }, { "id": "lv-tv3-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Prostitūciju regulējošais likumprojekts nav prioritāte, atzīst Iekšlietu ministrija", "titleEn": "Draft law regulating prostitution is not a priority, Interior Ministry admits (LETA)", "publisher": "TV3 / LETA", "url": "https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/politika/prostituciju-regulejosais-likumprojekts-nav-prioritate-atzist-iekslietu-ministrija/", "published": "2024-09-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lv" }, { "id": "lv-nra-cedaw", "kind": "news", "title": "Latvija atzīstas ANO: līdz galam netiekam galā ar prostitūciju", "titleEn": "Latvia admits to the UN it is not fully coping with prostitution (LETA, on the 8th CEDAW report)", "publisher": "Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze / LETA", "url": "https://nra.lv/politika/529521-latvija-atzistas-ano-lidz-galam-netiekam-gala-ar-prostituciju.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lv" }, { "id": "lv-tvnet-2023", "kind": "news", "title": "Policija: Karš un migrācijas radījušas pārmaiņas prostitūcijas jomā", "titleEn": "Police: war and migration have changed prostitution", "publisher": "TVNET", "url": "https://www.tvnet.lv/7866966/policija-kars-un-migracijas-radijusas-parmainas-prostitucijas-joma", "published": "2023-10-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lv" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/latvia/" }, { "iso2": "LB", "name": "Lebanon", "nativeName": "لبنان", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Borderline. A 1931 law still provides for licensed brothels with registered women and medical checks, but licences have reportedly not been issued since 1975. Outside that system, Article 523 of the Penal Code punishes anyone who practises \"secret prostitution\" or facilitates it, so in practice selling sex is an offence. The client is not targeted by a specific provision.", "modelSources": [ "lb-pc-moj", "lb-army-2016", "lb-fp-2012" ], "summary": "Lebanon has a dormant licensing system and a criminal ban on everything outside it. A 1931 law regulates licensed brothels, with governor's permits, police registration of the women and twice-weekly medical checks, but licences reportedly stopped being issued in 1975. Article 523 of the Penal Code punishes anyone who practises or facilitates \"secret prostitution\", meaning prostitution outside that law, with one month to a year in prison and a fine. Other articles punish luring women into prostitution, holding a person in a brothel, using public means to attract people to debauchery and living off another's prostitution. General Security still issues \"artist\" visas for foreign women working in tourist establishments; the so-called super nightclubs that employ them have long been reported as a front for prostitution.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who practises secret prostitution or facilitates it is punishable by one month to one year in prison and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 Lebanese pounds (Penal Code Article 523, paragraph 2). \"Secret\" prostitution is prostitution outside the licensing system of the 1931 law, under which no licences are reported to have been issued since 1975.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 523 para. 2" ], "sources": [ "lb-pc-moj", "lb-army-2016", "lb-fp-2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text from a Ministry of Justice page showing fines as amended in 1993; a 2014 amendment to Article 523 (aggravation within the family) was not checked. The 1975 date comes from news reporting.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code found for this overview makes paying for sex an offence; Articles 523 to 527 target those who practise or facilitate secret prostitution and third parties. Adultery by a married person is a separate offence (Articles 487–489).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 487–489" ], "sources": [ "lb-army-2016", "lb-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether clients are prosecuted as accomplices or under other provisions was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "On paper the 1931 law allows licensed houses run by women over 25, with governor's permits, police registration and twice-weekly medical examinations. Licences are reported not to have been issued since 1975, so brothels operate outside the law and facilitating secret prostitution is an offence under Article 523. Governors may close hotels, cafés or nightclubs that facilitate indecency.", "details": "General Security issues an \"entry visa of an artist to touristic enterprises\", with monthly fees per artist by venue class; news reporting has long described the so-called super nightclubs that employ these women as fronts for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Law of 1931 on prostitution", "Penal Code art. 523" ], "sources": [ "lb-army-2016", "lb-fp-2012", "lb-gs-visa", "lb-pc-moj" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 1931 law itself was not opened; its content is taken from a 2016 article by a lawyer in the Lebanese Army's official magazine. Sources differ on its date (6 February or 6 December 1931)." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Luring or taking away a woman or girl under 21, even with her consent, or an older woman by deceit, violence, threat or abuse of influence, to satisfy another's desires carries at least a year and a fine (Article 524). Holding a person in a brothel against their will, including over a debt, carries two months to two years (Article 525), and living off another's prostitution six months to two years (Article 527).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 524", "Penal Code art. 525", "Penal Code art. 527", "Penal Code art. 529" ], "sources": [ "lb-pc-moj", "lb-army-2016", "lb-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Articles 525 to 529 are taken from the 2016 Army magazine article rather than a statute text." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Habitually facilitating public solicitation for profit, or using public means to attract people to debauchery, is punishable by one month to one year and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 Lebanese pounds (Penal Code Article 526, as described in a 2016 legal article). No specific provision on online advertising was found.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 526" ], "sources": [ "lb-army-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute text of Article 526 was not opened, and the UN ESCWA 2024 review summarises Articles 526 and 527 differently (forced prostitution and living off others' prostitution). Lebanon has no general cybercrime law according to the same review." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lb-pc-moj", "titleEn": "Penal Code of 1943, as amended", "relevance": "Articles 523 to 529 punish secret prostitution, its facilitation, luring, holding persons in brothels, public solicitation and living off prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 523–529" ] }, { "sourceId": "lb-army-2016", "titleEn": "Law of 1931 regulating prostitution", "relevance": "Provides for licensed brothels, registration and medical checks; reportedly unused for new licences since 1975.", "inForce": "1931" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1931", "event": "A law under the French mandate sets up licensed brothels with registered women and compulsory medical checks.", "sources": [ "lb-army-2016", "lb-fp-2012" ] }, { "date": "1975", "event": "The government stops issuing brothel licences, according to news reporting.", "sources": [ "lb-fp-2012" ] }, { "date": "1993-05-27", "event": "Law No. 239 updates the fines for the prostitution offences in Articles 523 and 524 of the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "lb-pc-moj" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lb-pc-moj", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون العقوبات — مواد ذات صلة بالأحداث", "titleEn": "Penal Code — provisions relating to minors (including Articles 523 and 524)", "publisher": "Ministry of Justice of Lebanon (juvenile justice site)", "url": "http://ahdath.justice.gov.lb/law-nearby-punishments.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "lb-army-2016", "kind": "government", "title": "البغاء والدعارة في القانون اللبناني", "titleEn": "Prostitution in Lebanese law (Defence Magazine, issue 371)", "publisher": "Lebanese Army (official website)", "url": "https://lebarmy.gov.lb/ar/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A", "published": "2016-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "lb-fp-2012", "kind": "news", "title": "Sex for Sale in Beirut", "publisher": "Foreign Policy", "url": "https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/02/09/sex-for-sale-in-beirut/", "published": "2012-02-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lb-gs-visa", "kind": "government", "title": "Entry visa of an artist to touristic enterprises", "publisher": "General Directorate of General Security", "url": "https://www.general-security.gov.lb/en/posts/48", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lb-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Lebanon — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/lebanon.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lebanon/" }, { "iso2": "LS", "name": "Lesotho", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Section 55 of the Penal Code Act 2010 is headed \"Prostitution\" and defines a prostitute, but its offences target inciting, procuring or \"engaging\" another person in prostitution, persistent public importuning, and controlling a sex worker for gain. It does not expressly penalise selling. Whether \"engages ... another to engage in prostitution\" also covers a paying client is unsettled.", "modelSources": [ "ls-pc" ], "summary": "Lesotho's Penal Code Act 2010 deals with prostitution in one section. Section 55 defines a \"prostitute\" as a person who engages in sexual activity for payment. It makes it an offence to incite, instigate, engage or procure another person to engage in prostitution (s. 55(2)). It also punishes persistently importuning people in a public place for sex (s. 55(3)), living or habitually associating with a sex worker in a way that shows aiding or compelling prostitution for gain (s. 55(4)), and detaining a person in premises used for prostitution (s. 55(5)). The Code's penalty schedule lists no penalty for s. 55, so the court sets the sentence (s. 109(3)). There is no separate brothel-keeping offence. No reform proposals from 2023–2026 were found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision expressly makes it an offence to sell sex. A person who \"persistently importunes others in a public place with the intention of engaging in sexual intercourse\" commits an offence (s. 55(3)). This applies to sex workers and clients alike. Because s. 55 is not listed in the penalty schedule, the court sets the penalty (s. 109(3)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2010 s. 55(1), (3)", "s. 109(3)" ], "sources": [ "ls-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from LesothoLII's text as published in Government Gazette No. 30 of 9 March 2012, through the Internet Archive's copy because LesothoLII blocks automated access. Later amendments were not checked. Press and NGO accounts disagree on whether selling is illegal; no court ruling on s. 55 was found." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no client-specific offence. Section 55(2) punishes a person who \"incites, instigates or engages or procures another to engage\" in prostitution. On one reading \"engages\" could cover a client who pays a sex worker; on another it covers only third parties who recruit or employ. Persistent public importuning for sex (s. 55(3)) applies to clients too.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2010 s. 55(2), (3)" ], "sources": [ "ls-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statutory wording is ambiguous and no case law or official guidance on clients was found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The Code has no offence named \"keeping a brothel\". Running premises where others sell sex would fall under engaging or procuring others to engage in prostitution (s. 55(2)), and under controlling sex workers for commercial gain (s. 55(4)). Detaining a person against their will in premises used for prostitution is a separate offence (s. 55(5)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2010 s. 55(2), (4), (5)" ], "sources": [ "ls-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "An inference from the statutory text; no prosecution of a brothel operator was found. Whether colonial-era brothel legislation survives alongside the 2010 Code was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting, instigating, engaging or procuring another person to engage in prostitution, in Lesotho or elsewhere, is an offence (s. 55(2)). So is living or habitually associating with a sex worker, or controlling her movements, in a way that shows aiding or compelling prostitution for commercial gain (s. 55(4)). The court sets the penalty (s. 109(3)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2010 s. 55(2), (4)", "s. 109(3)" ], "sources": [ "ls-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2012 gazetted text, via the Internet Archive." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services. A third party who places adverts could be charged with inciting or procuring others to engage in prostitution (s. 55(2)), or with aiding prostitution for gain (s. 55(4)). Importuning applies only to a public place (s. 55(3)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2010 s. 55(2)–(4)" ], "sources": [ "ls-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "A reading of the statutory text only; no prosecutions concerning adverts or websites were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ls-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code Act, 2010 (Act No. 6 of 2012)", "relevance": "Section 55 (\"Prostitution\") contains all the adult prostitution offences; s. 109 and the Schedule set penalties.", "provisions": [ "s. 55", "s. 109" ], "inForce": "2012-03-09" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-03-09", "event": "The Penal Code Act 2010 is published in the Government Gazette and comes into operation, with a single section (s. 55) on prostitution.", "sources": [ "ls-pc" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ls-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code Act, 2010 (Act 6 of 2012; Government Gazette No. 30, 9 March 2012)", "publisher": "LesothoLII", "url": "https://lesotholii.org/akn/ls/act/2012/6/eng@2012-03-09", "published": "2012-03-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lesotho/" }, { "iso2": "LR", "name": "Liberia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The 1976 Penal Law makes prostitution (selling) and patronising a sex worker (buying) 'infractions', which the Law defines as offences that are not crimes and cannot be punished with imprisonment, and treats promoting and facilitating prostitution as misdemeanours or, in aggravated cases, felonies. Because selling is an offence the model is prohibition, although the sanction for selling and buying is a fine.", "modelSources": [ "lr-pl" ], "summary": "Liberia's Penal Law (Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, approved 19 July 1976) prohibits every side of commercial sex. Engaging in sexual activity as a business, being a resident of a house of prostitution or soliciting to be hired is the infraction of prostitution (§ 18.4), and hiring a sex worker or entering a house of prostitution for sex is also an infraction (§ 18.5); infractions are not crimes and carry a fine of up to US$500 or double the gain. Operating a prostitution business or house of prostitution is a first-degree misdemeanour (up to one year), and soliciting clients for a sex worker, procuring or letting premises for prostitution a second-degree misdemeanour (up to 30 days). Coercion, or a sex worker under 16, makes promoting or facilitating a third-degree felony.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "A person commits the infraction of prostitution if they reside in a house of prostitution, engage in sexual activity there or otherwise as a business, or solicit another person with the purpose of being hired for sexual activity (§ 18.4). Loitering in a public place to solicit, in circumstances likely to cause offence or alarm, is a separate infraction (§ 18.9). The maximum fine is US$500 or double the gain (§ 50.9).", "details": "Under § 50.1 an infraction is an offence for which imprisonment is not authorised; it 'is not a crime' and a conviction carries no criminal disability. It is nevertheless defined in the Penal Law and tried by the courts. A defendant convicted of infractions twice within a year may be ordered to pay a fine or, if it is not paid, serve up to thirty days (§ 50.8(3)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Law § 18.4", "Penal Law § 18.6", "Penal Law § 18.9", "Penal Law § 50.1", "Penal Law § 50.9" ], "sources": [ "lr-pl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Classed as 'administrative' here because the Penal Law itself defines an infraction as non-criminal; it is a court-imposed penal-law fine, not a municipal sanction.", "mapLabel": "≈€450 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "A person who hires a sex worker to engage in sexual activity with them, or who enters or remains in a house of prostitution for the purpose of sexual activity, commits an infraction (§ 18.5): a fine of up to US$500 or double the gain, with no imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "Penal Law § 18.5", "Penal Law § 50.9" ], "sources": [ "lr-pl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "≈€450 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Operating a prostitution business or a house of prostitution is a first-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.1(a)): up to one year in prison and a fine of up to US$1,000 or double the gain. Knowingly letting or permitting a place one controls to be regularly used for prostitution is a second-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.2(c)): up to thirty days.", "details": "A 'house of prostitution' is any place where prostitution is regularly carried on by people under the control, management or supervision of another (§ 18.6(c)). Sex workers working independently of a manager are therefore outside that definition, though each remains liable for the infraction of prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Penal Law § 18.1(a)", "Penal Law § 18.2(c)", "Penal Law § 18.6", "Penal Law § 50.7" ], "sources": [ "lr-pl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing another to engage in sexual activity as a business, or procuring a sex worker for a prostitution business, is a first-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.1); procuring a sex worker for a client, or inducing someone to remain one, a second-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.2). Being supported by a sex worker's earnings raises a presumption of the latter. Force, threats, a family or care relationship, or a person under 16 make it a third-degree felony (§ 18.3).", "details": "The presumption in § 18.2(d) does not apply to the sex worker, their minor children or a person they are legally required to support.", "provisions": [ "Penal Law § 18.1(b)–(c)", "Penal Law § 18.2(b), (d)", "Penal Law § 18.3" ], "sources": [ "lr-pl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No advertising-specific offence exists, but soliciting covers it: a sex worker who solicits to be hired commits an infraction (§ 18.4(b)), and anyone who knowingly solicits a person to patronise a sex worker commits a second-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.2(a)). Disseminating obscene material, which includes advertising it, is a separate first-degree misdemeanour (§ 18.7).", "provisions": [ "Penal Law § 18.2(a)", "Penal Law § 18.4(b)", "Penal Law § 18.7" ], "sources": [ "lr-pl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether written or online advertisements count as 'soliciting' has not been tested in any case found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lr-pl", "titleEn": "Penal Law, Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised (approved 19 July 1976)", "relevance": "Chapter 18 (§§ 18.1 to 18.6 and 18.9) covers promoting, facilitating and patronising prostitution, prostitution itself and loitering to solicit; Chapter 50 sets the penalties.", "provisions": [ "§ 18.1–18.9", "§ 50.1", "§ 50.7–50.9" ], "inForce": "1978" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1976-07-19", "event": "The Penal Law (Title 26) is approved, including the prostitution offences in Chapter 18.", "sources": [ "lr-pl" ] }, { "date": "1978-04-03", "event": "The Penal Law is published by authority.", "sources": [ "lr-pl" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lr-pl", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Law - Title 26 - Liberian Code of Laws Revised", "publisher": "Liberian Legal Information Institute (LiberLII)", "url": "https://www.liberlii.org/lr/legis/codes/plt26lcolr367/", "published": "1978-04-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liberia/" }, { "iso2": "LY", "name": "Libya", "nativeName": "ليبيا", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling and buying are both offences. Law No. 70 of 1973 makes zina (intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other) a hadd crime punished with 100 lashes, and Article 407(4) of the Penal Code punishes consensual intercourse with up to five years for both partners. The Penal Code also specifically punishes a woman who makes prostitution her livelihood, brothel-keeping and procuring.", "modelSources": [ "ly-cp", "ly-law70", "ly-undp" ], "summary": "Prostitution is prohibited in Libya through both general and specific offences. Law No. 70 of 1973 punishes zina, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other, with 100 lashes, optionally combined with imprisonment, and added to the Penal Code an offence of consensual intercourse punishable by up to five years for both partners. The Penal Code further punishes any woman who makes prostitution her means of livelihood with at least one year's detention, anyone who opens or manages a brothel with at least one year and closure, and anyone living on a woman's earnings from prostitution. Inciting passers-by to indecency and distributing indecent material are separate offences. Floggings under Law No. 70 are still reported: a video from Sabha in July 2026 drew public criticism.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any woman who makes prostitution her means of livelihood and gain is punished by detention of at least one year (Penal Code Article 417 bis (a)). Selling sex also exposes both parties to the zina offence under Law No. 70 of 1973 (100 lashes) and to Article 407(4) (up to five years for consensual intercourse).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 417 bis (a)", "Penal Code art. 407(4)", "Law No. 70/1973 arts. 1–2" ], "sources": [ "ly-cp", "ly-law70", "ly-undp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Penal Code read in DCAF's unofficial English translation. Article 417 bis (c) says the preceding prostitution articles apply only in areas covered by a Cabinet decree issued on the approval of the competent province (a 1956 provision from the federal era); how this is read today was not checked.", "mapLabel": "flogging + up to 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific offence of paying for sex, but a client commits zina under Law No. 70 of 1973, punished with 100 lashes and optionally imprisonment, and the Penal Code offence of consensual intercourse, punishable for both partners by up to five years (Article 407(4)).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 70/1973 arts. 1–2", "Penal Code art. 407(4)" ], "sources": [ "ly-law70", "ly-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Law No. 70 was read in Arabic on the DCAF database; the operative words are translated here.", "mapLabel": "flogging + up to 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Opening or managing a house of indecency or prostitution, or assisting in its management, is punished by at least one year and a fine of 100 to 300 dinars, with closure and confiscation (Article 417 bis (a)). Knowingly renting out premises for prostitution, or regularly facilitating it in furnished rooms or shops open to the public, carries at least three months (Article 417 bis (b)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 417 bis (a)", "Penal Code art. 417 bis (b)" ], "sources": [ "ly-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation; see the note on Article 417 bis (c) under selling." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone whose livelihood depends wholly or partly on a woman's earnings from prostitution is punished by at least one year's detention and a fine of up to 200 dinars (Article 417). Luring a minor or a person into prostitution to satisfy another's lust carries at least one year (Article 415), and compelling a person by force carries three to six years (Article 416).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 415", "Penal Code art. 416", "Penal Code art. 417" ], "sources": [ "ly-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Inciting passers-by to indecency by gestures, words or acts is punished by one to six months (Article 420 bis), and distributing, exhibiting or offering for sale indecent letters, pictures or other articles by up to one year or a fine (Article 421).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 420 bis", "Penal Code art. 421" ], "sources": [ "ly-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; online advertising and Libya's cybercrime legislation were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ly-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code of 28 November 1953, as amended", "relevance": "Articles 415 to 421 cover procuring, prostitution as a livelihood, brothels and public indecency; Article 407(4) punishes consensual intercourse.", "provisions": [ "art. 407", "art. 415–421" ] }, { "sourceId": "ly-law70", "titleEn": "Law No. 70 of 1973 on establishing the hadd punishment for zina and amending certain provisions of the Penal Code", "relevance": "Defines zina as intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other and sets the punishment at 100 lashes.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1–2", "art. 8" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1953-11-28", "event": "Penal Code issued.", "sources": [ "ly-cp" ] }, { "date": "1956", "event": "Law No. 48 of 1956 rewrites the Penal Code articles on prostitution, procuring and brothels.", "sources": [ "ly-cp" ] }, { "date": "1973-10-02", "event": "Law No. 70 of 1973 introduces the hadd punishment of 100 lashes for zina and adds consensual intercourse to Article 407.", "sources": [ "ly-law70" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-21", "event": "A video filmed in Sabha shows a woman being flogged for adultery under Law No. 70 in a public street rather than at a police station as the law requires; the Judicial Police announces an investigation.", "sources": [ "ly-france24-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ly-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code", "publisher": "DCAF, Libya security-sector legal database (unofficial English translation)", "url": "https://security-legislation.ly/latest-laws/penal-code/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ly-law70", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون رقم (70) لسنة 1973م بشأن إقامة حد الزنى وتعديل بعض أحكام قانون العقوبات", "titleEn": "Law No. (70) of 1973 on establishing the hudud punishment for illicit sex and amending certain provisions of the Penal Code", "publisher": "DCAF, Libya security-sector legal database", "url": "https://security-legislation.ly/latest-laws/law-no-70-of-1973-on-establishing-the-hudud-punishment-for-illicit-sex-and-amending-certain-provisions-of-the-penal-code/", "published": "1973-10-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "ly-undp", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Libya: Gender Justice & The Law", "publisher": "UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and UN ESCWA", "url": "https://www.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/libya-adjusted.pdf", "published": "2018", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ly-france24-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Outrage in Libya over a video of a woman being publicly flogged for adultery", "publisher": "France 24", "url": "https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260805-libya-woman-flogged-adultery", "published": "2026-08-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/libya/" }, { "iso2": "LI", "name": "Liechtenstein", "nativeName": "Liechtenstein", "memberships": [ "EEA", "EFTA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Liechtenstein's Criminal Code follows the Austrian one but, unlike Austria, has no licensing regime. Selling sex is not itself an offence; § 210 StGB punishes offering oneself for prostitution only in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance. Procuring and exploitation are crimes (§§ 215-217). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Liechtenstein as illegal but tolerated; that wording does not match the current StGB, and other laws (for example on trade or foreign workers) were not checked.", "modelSources": [ "li-stgb" ], "summary": "In Liechtenstein the Criminal Code does not ban selling or buying sex between adults, but offering oneself for prostitution in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance is a crime (§ 210 StGB, up to six months). There is no law licensing brothels or registering sex workers. Bringing a person into prostitution, exploitative pimping and cross-border recruitment are crimes, in the same wording as in Austria. There is no specific rule on advertising beyond § 210, which covers any conduct aimed at arranging contacts if it is publicly offensive.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence in itself. Under § 210 StGB, whoever offers themselves for prostitution faces up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to 720 daily rates, but only where the offering is done in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance (Abs. 2). There is no registration or licensing scheme for sex workers.", "provisions": [ "§ 210 StGB" ], "sources": [ "li-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statute was read in the consolidated version of 1 August 2026. Whether trade, police or foreign-nationals law restricts sex work in practice could not be verified; secondary sources describe prostitution as illegal but tolerated in nightclubs, which the StGB alone does not support.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "The Criminal Code has no general offence of paying an adult for sex. Arranging sexual contacts with minors for money (§ 214) and exploiting the prostitution of minors (§ 215a) are crimes.", "provisions": [ "§ 214 StGB", "§ 215a StGB" ], "sources": [ "li-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No client offence was found in the StGB; other laws were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No law licenses or expressly bans brothels. Providing a venue is not named as an offence, but an operator who exploits a sex worker with the aim of a regular income commits § 216 StGB, and soliciting in a publicly offensive way is caught by § 210.", "provisions": [ "§ 216 StGB", "§ 210 StGB" ], "sources": [ "li-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "How the courts apply §§ 215-216 to venue operators was not verified, and no official statement on whether venues are permitted was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Exploiting another person's prostitution with the aim of a regular income is a crime (Zuhälterei, § 216: up to two years; up to three years for intimidating the person, dictating the terms of work or exploiting several people; six months to five years if the person is under 18). Bringing a person into prostitution (§ 215, up to two years) and cross-border recruitment (§ 217) are separate offences.", "details": "- **§ 215 StGB** (*Zuführen zur Prostitution*): up to two years.\n- **§ 216 StGB** (*Zuhälterei*): Abs. 1 up to two years; Abs. 2 up to three years; Abs. 3 six months to five years for using intimidation to stop a person leaving prostitution; Abs. 4 the same for members of a criminal association; Abs. 5 the same where the person is under 18.\n- **§ 217 StGB** (*Grenzüberschreitender Prostitutionshandel*): six months to five years, one to ten years if commercial.", "provisions": [ "§ 215 StGB", "§ 216 StGB", "§ 217 StGB" ], "sources": [ "li-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence targets advertising sexual services as such. § 210(2) StGB defines offering as any conduct aimed at initiating contacts for prostitution, so an advertisement can fall under § 210 if it is done in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance. No rule on the liability of websites hosting ads was found.", "provisions": [ "§ 210 Abs. 2 StGB" ], "sources": [ "li-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law was found on whether online advertisements meet the public-annoyance test." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "li-stgb", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (LGBl. 1988 Nr. 37)", "relevance": "Publicly offensive offering of prostitution, bringing a person into prostitution, pimping and cross-border prostitution trafficking.", "provisions": [ "§ 210", "§ 214", "§ 215", "§ 215a", "§ 216", "§ 217" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2001", "event": "Amendment LGBl. 2001 Nr. 16 rewrites § 210 StGB (offering prostitution) and the procuring provisions, including the heading of § 216 (Zuhälterei).", "sources": [ "li-stgb" ] }, { "date": "2019", "event": "Amendment LGBl. 2019 Nr. 124 changes the penalty in § 210 Abs. 1 and several paragraphs of § 216.", "sources": [ "li-stgb" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "li-stgb", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) vom 24. Juni 1987, LGBl. 1988 Nr. 37 (LR 311.0), Fassung 01.08.2026", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Liechtenstein (consolidated version of 1 August 2026)", "publisher": "Lilex – Gesetzesdatenbank des Fürstentums Liechtenstein", "url": "https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1988.37", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liechtenstein/" }, { "iso2": "LT", "name": "Lithuania", "nativeName": "Lietuva", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Both engaging in prostitution and paying for prostitution services are administrative offences under the same article of the Code of Administrative Offences, with the same fine. Profiting from another person's prostitution, procuring, organising or directing prostitution and involving a person in prostitution are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "lt-ank-487", "lt-bk-307", "lt-bk-308" ], "summary": "Lithuania penalises both sides of the transaction: under Article 487 of the Code of Administrative Offences, engaging in prostitution and paying for prostitution services each carry a fine of EUR 90 to 140, or EUR 140 to 300 for a repeat offence. A person drawn into prostitution through dependence, coercion or deceit, as a minor or as a recognised trafficking victim is exempt. The Criminal Code punishes profiting from another person's prostitution and procuring (up to five years), organising prostitution (up to six years), directing it (one to seven years) and involving a person in prostitution (up to five years). The Law on the Provision of Information to the Public bans promoting or advertising sexual services in any public information medium. A bill raising fines for buyers to EUR 1,000 to 1,600 passed its first stage in April 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution (vertimasis prostitucija) is an administrative offence: a fine of EUR 90 to 140, or EUR 140 to 300 if repeated, and possibly an order to attend a programme. A person drawn into prostitution while dependent, by physical or psychological coercion or deceit, as a minor, or who is a recognised trafficking victim, is not held liable.", "provisions": [ "Art. 487(1)-(4) ANK" ], "sources": [ "lt-ank-487", "lt-seimas-2026-04" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official consolidated text on e-tar.lt sits behind a Cloudflare challenge and could not be opened; the wording was read on rekvi.lt, which reproduces the e-TAR consolidated version, and the fines are confirmed by a Seimas press release of 9 April 2026.", "mapLabel": "€140 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying for prostitution services (atlygintinis naudojimasis prostitucijos paslaugomis) carries the same fine as selling: EUR 90 to 140, or EUR 140 to 300 if repeated. Bill XVP-1218 would raise the buyer's fine to EUR 1,000 to 1,600 (EUR 1,600 to 3,500 if repeated), leaving sellers' fines unchanged.", "provisions": [ "Art. 487(1)-(2) ANK" ], "sources": [ "lt-ank-487", "lt-seimas-2026-04", "lt-lrt-2026-06" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Official e-TAR text could not be opened (Cloudflare challenge). We found no report of a final vote on XVP-1218 after June 2026; the reproduction of Article 487 we read still shows the old fines.", "mapLabel": "€140 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel falls under the Criminal Code's offences of organising prostitution (up to six years) and directing it (one to seven years); legal persons are also liable. Separately, providing premises for debauchery (ištvirkauti) is an administrative offence with a fine of EUR 60 to 120.", "provisions": [ "Art. 307(2)-(3), (5) BK", "Art. 486(1) ANK" ], "sources": [ "lt-bk-307", "lt-ank-486" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Criminal Code has no brothel-specific article; applying 'organising' and 'directing' prostitution to a venue is our reading. Texts read on rekvi.lt because e-TAR could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Deriving income from another person's prostitution or procuring for prostitution (sąvadavimas) is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty, arrest or up to five years; organising prostitution or transporting a consenting person into or out of Lithuania for it, up to six years; directing prostitution, one to seven years. Involving a person in prostitution carries up to five years, two to eight with coercion or dependence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 307 BK", "Art. 308 BK" ], "sources": [ "lt-bk-307", "lt-bk-308" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Both articles were amended by Law No. XIV-3060 of 7 November 2024; text read on rekvi.lt because e-TAR could not be opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "summary": "Public information media may not publish information that promotes or advertises sexual services (Article 19(1)(4) of the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, as amended in force from 1 February 2021). The ban covers online media. Placing an advert for someone else's services may also amount to procuring under the Criminal Code.", "details": "Article 19(1)(4): *skleidžiama, propaguojama ar reklamuojama pornografija, taip pat propaguojamos ir (ar) reklamuojamos seksualinės paslaugos, lytiniai iškrypimai*. We did not verify which article of the Code of Administrative Offences sanctions a breach, or which authority enforces it; no penalty type is therefore given. Whether a classified-ads site is liable for procuring under Article 307 BK depends on the facts and was not checked against case law.", "provisions": [ "Art. 19(1)(4) Visuomenės informavimo įstatymas" ], "sources": [ "lt-vii-19" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statute read on rekvi.lt (e-TAR blocked by a Cloudflare challenge). The sanction for breaching the ban and its enforcement were not verified." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lt-ank-487", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (Administracinių nusižengimų kodeksas)", "relevance": "Article 487 fines both selling and paying for prostitution; Article 486 fines providing premises for debauchery.", "provisions": [ "Art. 486", "Art. 487" ] }, { "sourceId": "lt-bk-307", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Baudžiamasis kodeksas)", "relevance": "Article 307 (profiting from another person's prostitution, procuring, organising and directing prostitution) and Article 308 (involving a person in prostitution).", "provisions": [ "Art. 307", "Art. 308" ] }, { "sourceId": "lt-vii-19", "titleEn": "Law on the Provision of Information to the Public (Visuomenės informavimo įstatymas)", "relevance": "Article 19(1)(4) bans promoting or advertising sexual services in public information media.", "provisions": [ "Art. 19(1)(4)" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "lt-xvp-1218", "title": "Bill XVP-1218 amending Article 487 of the Code of Administrative Offences (higher fines for buyers)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-06-07", "next": { "what": "Committee report and plenary vote; a plenary debate was scheduled for 14 June 2026 but no result was found." }, "summary": "Tabled by Social Democrat MPs Birutė Vėsaitė and Orinta Leiputė. Approved after presentation on 9 April 2026 (64 for, 3 against, 5 abstentions) and backed by the Government in early June 2026. Raises the fine for paying for prostitution to EUR 1,000-1,600 (EUR 1,600-3,500 if repeated); sellers' fines unchanged; planned entry into force 1 July.", "sources": [ "lt-seimas-2026-04", "lt-lrt-2026-06" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2021-02-01", "event": "Amended Article 19 of the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, including the ban on promoting or advertising sexual services, entered into force.", "sources": [ "lt-vii-19" ] }, { "date": "2024-11-07", "event": "Seimas adopted Law No. XIV-3060 amending Articles 307 and 308 of the Criminal Code.", "sources": [ "lt-bk-307", "lt-bk-308" ] }, { "date": "2026-04-09", "event": "Seimas approved bill XVP-1218 after presentation, proposing to raise fines for buyers of sex roughly tenfold.", "sources": [ "lt-seimas-2026-04" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lt-ank-487", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lietuvos Respublikos administracinių nusižengimų kodeksas, 487 straipsnis \"Vertimasis prostitucija, atlygintinis naudojimasis prostitucijos paslaugomis\"", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences, Article 487 (consolidated text as reproduced by rekvi.lt from e-TAR)", "publisher": "Rekvi (reproduction of the e-TAR consolidated text)", "url": "https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/ank/487", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-ank-486", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lietuvos Respublikos administracinių nusižengimų kodeksas, 486 straipsnis \"Lindynių laikymas\"", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences, Article 486, keeping dens (reproduction of e-TAR text)", "publisher": "Rekvi (reproduction of the e-TAR consolidated text)", "url": "https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/ank/486", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-bk-307", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lietuvos Respublikos baudžiamasis kodeksas, 307 straipsnis \"Pelnymasis iš kito asmens prostitucijos\"", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Article 307, profiting from another person's prostitution (reproduction of e-TAR text)", "publisher": "Rekvi (reproduction of the e-TAR consolidated text)", "url": "https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/bk/307", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-bk-308", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lietuvos Respublikos baudžiamasis kodeksas, 308 straipsnis \"Įtraukimas į prostituciją\"", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Article 308, involving a person in prostitution (reproduction of e-TAR text)", "publisher": "Rekvi (reproduction of the e-TAR consolidated text)", "url": "https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/bk/308", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-vii-19", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lietuvos Respublikos visuomenės informavimo įstatymas, 19 straipsnis \"Neskelbtina informacija\"", "titleEn": "Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, Article 19, information not to be published (reproduction of e-TAR text)", "publisher": "Rekvi (reproduction of the e-TAR consolidated text)", "url": "https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/visuomenes-informavimo-istatymas/19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-seimas-2026-04", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Seimas svarstys siūlymą didinti baudas prostitucijos pirkėjams", "titleEn": "Seimas to consider proposal to raise fines for buyers of prostitution (press release)", "publisher": "Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas", "url": "https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=35435&p_k=1&p_t=294511", "published": "2026-04-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" }, { "id": "lt-lrt-2026-06", "kind": "news", "title": "Vyriausybė palaiko siūlymą dešimt kartų didinti baudas seksualinių paslaugų pirkėjams", "titleEn": "Government backs proposal to raise fines for buyers of sexual services tenfold (BNS)", "publisher": "LRT", "url": "https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2953042/vyriausybe-palaiko-siulyma-desimt-kartu-didinti-baudas-seksualiniu-paslaugu-pirkejams", "published": "2026-06-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "lt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lithuania/" }, { "iso2": "LU", "name": "Luxembourg", "nativeName": "Lëtzebuerg / Luxembourg / Luxemburg", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling sex is legal, but keeping a brothel, letting premises for the prostitution of others and procuring are crimes (Art. 379bis Code pénal), and public soliciting is an offence (Art. 382). Since the law of 28 February 2018, buying sex is a crime only in specific cases: from a victim of procuring or trafficking, from a minor, or from a person who is particularly vulnerable. Luxembourg therefore sits between abolitionism and the Nordic model, without a general ban on buying.", "modelSources": [ "lu-cp", "lu-loi-2018" ], "summary": "In Luxembourg, selling sex is legal, but publicly soliciting is an offence, and running a brothel, letting premises for prostitution and procuring are crimes. A 2018 law made buying sex a crime when the person is a victim of procuring or trafficking, a minor, or particularly vulnerable, for example because of an irregular or precarious immigration status; a client who reports such offences is not prosecuted. Official regulation of prostitution was abolished in 1968. There is no offence aimed specifically at advertising, but the soliciting and procuring provisions are worded broadly.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is legal. Publicly soliciting another person \"by gestures, words, writings or any other means\" with a view to debauchery is an offence (Art. 382 Code pénal: eight days to six months and/or a fine of EUR 251 to 5,000). Since 2018, a victim of procuring or trafficking is not criminally liable for soliciting (Art. 71-2, third paragraph).", "provisions": [ "Art. 382 Code pénal", "Art. 71-2 al. 3 Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lu-cp", "lu-loi-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from a consenting adult is legal, with exceptions added in 2018. Soliciting, accepting or obtaining paid sex from a victim of procuring or trafficking is punished by eight days to six months and/or a fine of EUR 251 to 50,000 (Art. 382-6). From a minor, or from a person whose particular vulnerability is apparent or known, it carries one to five years and a fine (Art. 382-7).", "details": "- **Art. 382-7(2)** lists vulnerability resulting from an illegal or precarious administrative (immigration) situation, a precarious social situation, pregnancy, illness, infirmity or physical or mental disability.\n- **Art. 382-8:** no prosecution of a client who, heard as a witness, reveals facts that may constitute procuring or trafficking offences connected with their use of prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 382-6 Code pénal", "Art. 382-7 Code pénal", "Art. 382-8 Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lu-loi-2018", "lu-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, managing, directing or operating a \"maison de débauche ou de prostitution\", directly or through a front, is a crime (Art. 379bis 3°: one to five years and a fine of EUR 251 to 50,000). So is letting or making premises available, or tolerating their use, knowing they serve the exploitation of the prostitution of others (Art. 379bis 4°). Courts may order a venue closed (Art. 379ter, 379septies).", "provisions": [ "Art. 379bis 3° et 4° Code pénal", "Art. 379ter Code pénal", "Art. 379septies Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lu-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring is a crime even with the adult's consent (Art. 379bis 5°: one to five years and a fine). The definition covers knowingly aiding, assisting or protecting the prostitution of others or soliciting, sharing in the proceeds or receiving support from a sex worker, hiring or maintaining a person for prostitution, acting as an intermediary between sex workers and those who exploit or pay for them, and obstructing support services.", "provisions": [ "Art. 379bis 5° Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lu-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services as such. Public soliciting by \"écrits ou par tous autres moyens\" is an offence (Art. 382), and anyone who knowingly aids or assists soliciting with a view to prostitution is a procurer (Art. 379bis 5° a). Whether online advertisements, or websites carrying them, fall under these provisions was not established from any case law found.", "provisions": [ "Art. 382 Code pénal", "Art. 379bis 5° a) Code pénal" ], "sources": [ "lu-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the statutory text only; no court decisions or prosecution guidance on online advertising were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lu-cp", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated version of 19 December 2025)", "relevance": "Brothel keeping, letting premises, procuring, public soliciting and the 2018 client offences.", "provisions": [ "Art. 379bis", "Art. 382", "Art. 382-6 to 382-8" ] }, { "sourceId": "lu-loi-2018", "titleEn": "Law of 28 February 2018 strengthening the fight against the exploitation of prostitution, procuring and trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes", "relevance": "Created the Comité Prostitution and the client offences, and exempted victims from liability for soliciting.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1", "Art. 3" ] }, { "sourceId": "lu-loi-1968", "titleEn": "Law of 1 April 1968 abolishing the official regulation of prostitution", "relevance": "Ended the state regulation of prostitution and rewrote the procuring offences.", "inForce": "1968" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1968-04-01", "event": "Law abolishing the official regulation of prostitution and strengthening the fight against prostitution and procuring.", "sources": [ "lu-loi-1968" ] }, { "date": "2018-02-28", "event": "Law creating the Comité Prostitution and making it a crime to buy sex from victims of procuring or trafficking, minors and particularly vulnerable people; published on 9 March 2018.", "sources": [ "lu-loi-2018" ] }, { "date": "2023-03-22", "event": "Grand-ducal regulation sets the composition and working of the Comité Prostitution, which monitors prostitution and the national action plan.", "sources": [ "lu-rgd-2023", "lu-loi-2018" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lu-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal (version consolidée au 19 décembre 2025)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated version of 19 December 2025)", "publisher": "Legilux, Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg", "url": "https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/code/penal/20251219/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-code-penal-20251219-fr-html.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lu-loi-2018", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 28 février 2018 renforçant la lutte contre l'exploitation de la prostitution, le proxénétisme et la traite des êtres humains à des fins sexuelles et modifiant : 1) le Code de procédure pénale 2) le Code pénal", "titleEn": "Law of 28 February 2018 strengthening the fight against the exploitation of prostitution, procuring and trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes", "publisher": "Legilux, Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (Mémorial A n° 170 de 2018)", "url": "https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/loi/2018/02/28/a170/jo/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-loi-2018-02-28-a170-jo-fr-html.html", "published": "2018-03-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lu-loi-1968", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi du 1er avril 1968 ayant pour objet de supprimer la réglementation officielle de la prostitution et de renforcer la lutte contre la prostitution et le proxénétisme", "titleEn": "Law of 1 April 1968 abolishing the official regulation of prostitution", "publisher": "Legilux, Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg", "url": "https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/loi/1968/04/01/n2/jo/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-loi-1968-04-01-n2-jo-fr-html.html", "published": "1968", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "lu-rgd-2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Règlement grand-ducal du 22 mars 2023 relatif au Comité Prostitution", "titleEn": "Grand-ducal regulation of 22 March 2023 on the Comité Prostitution", "publisher": "Legilux, Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg", "url": "https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/rgd/2023/03/22/a177/jo/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-rgd-2023-03-22-a177-jo-fr-html.html", "published": "2023", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/luxembourg/" }, { "iso2": "MO", "name": "Macau", "nativeName": "澳門 / Macau", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Macau has its own legal system; mainland China's prohibition does not apply. Selling and buying sex in private are not offences. Third-party involvement is criminalised broadly: Law 6/97/M punishes exploiting another person's prostitution even with consent, recruiting clients and \"in any way\" favouring or facilitating prostitution. Soliciting in a public place is an administrative offence with a fine and, for non-residents, expulsion.", "modelSources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m", "mo-codigo-penal" ], "summary": "In Macau, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but almost every form of third-party involvement is a crime. The Organised Crime Law (Law 6/97/M) punishes enticing or diverting a person into prostitution, or exploiting another person's prostitution, even with their consent (1 to 3 years), and recruiting clients for sex workers or in any way favouring or facilitating prostitution (up to 3 years). The Penal Code adds procuring (lenocínio) where a person's situation of abandonment or need is exploited (1 to 5 years; 2 to 8 years with violence or deceit). Soliciting or offering sex for payment in a public or publicly accessible place is fined 5,000 patacas, and non-residents fined for it are expelled and commit the crime of disobedience if they re-enter within two years.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence in itself. Enticing someone or making an offer to engage in sexual acts for money or other economic benefit in a public or publicly accessible place is fined 5,000 patacas; non-residents so fined are expelled from Macau.", "details": "Law 6/97/M, art. 35 (\"Prostituição\"): n.º 1 sets the 5,000-pataca fine for soliciting in a public place or a place of public access; n.º 2 requires the expulsion of non-residents fined under n.º 1; n.º 3 makes re-entry within two years the crime of disobedience; n.º 4 gives the commander of the Public Security Police Force power to impose the fine and order expulsion. Translation of the Portuguese text is our own.", "provisions": [ "Lei n.º 6/97/M, art. 35.º" ], "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: MOP 5,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. The offences in Law 6/97/M and the Penal Code target those who exploit, facilitate or recruit clients for prostitution, and the public-soliciting fine applies to the person making the offer.", "provisions": [ "Lei n.º 6/97/M, arts. 8.º, 35.º", "Código Penal, arts. 163.º–164.º" ], "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m", "mo-codigo-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No provision penalising adult clients was found in the texts checked; this is an inference from the absence of such an offence." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running premises where others sell sex falls under the offence of favouring or facilitating prostitution \"by any means\" (up to 3 years) and, where earnings are taken, exploiting another person's prostitution even with consent (1 to 3 years).", "provisions": [ "Lei n.º 6/97/M, art. 8.º" ], "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The law has no brothel-specific offence; applying article 8 to venues is our reading of its wording, not checked against case law." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Enticing, attracting or diverting a person into prostitution, even with their agreement, or exploiting another person's prostitution, even with consent, carries 1 to 3 years. Recruiting clients for sex workers, paid or unpaid, or in any way favouring or facilitating prostitution, carries up to 3 years. Attempt is punishable.", "details": "Penal Code art. 163 (lenocínio) separately punishes, with 1 to 5 years, anyone who as a way of life or for profit promotes, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution by exploiting their situation of abandonment or need; art. 164 raises this to 2 to 8 years where violence, serious threat, deceit or the victim's mental incapacity are used. \"Exploração de prostituição\" is also listed among the offences that define a secret society under Law 6/97/M, art. 1.", "provisions": [ "Lei n.º 6/97/M, art. 8.º", "Código Penal, arts. 163.º, 164.º" ], "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m", "mo-codigo-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. A sex worker's own public solicitation is an administrative offence. Third parties who recruit clients for sex workers, or in any way favour or facilitate prostitution, commit a crime punishable by up to 3 years, which can extend to advertising carried out for others.", "provisions": [ "Lei n.º 6/97/M, arts. 8.º n.º 2, 35.º" ], "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying article 8(2) to advertisements, including online advertising platforms, is an inference from its wording; no case law or official guidance was checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mo-lei-6-97-m", "titleEn": "Organised Crime Law (Law No. 6/97/M)", "relevance": "Article 8 criminalises exploiting prostitution, recruiting clients and facilitating prostitution; article 35 fines public soliciting and requires the expulsion of non-residents.", "provisions": [ "art. 8.º", "art. 35.º" ] }, { "sourceId": "mo-codigo-penal", "titleEn": "Macau Penal Code (approved by Decree-Law No. 58/95/M)", "relevance": "Articles 163 and 164 punish procuring that exploits a person's abandonment or need, with aggravation for violence or deceit.", "provisions": [ "arts. 163.º–164.º" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1995", "event": "Penal Code approved by Decree-Law No. 58/95/M, including the procuring offences in articles 163 and 164.", "sources": [ "mo-codigo-penal" ] }, { "date": "1997-07-30", "event": "Organised Crime Law (Law 6/97/M) enacted, with the offence of exploiting prostitution (art. 8) and the fine and expulsion rule for public soliciting (art. 35).", "sources": [ "mo-lei-6-97-m" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mo-lei-6-97-m", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 6/97/M — Lei da Criminalidade Organizada", "titleEn": "Law No. 6/97/M — Organised Crime Law", "publisher": "Imprensa Oficial / Direcção dos Serviços de Assuntos de Justiça, Boletim Oficial da RAEM", "url": "https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/97/30/lei06.asp", "published": "1997-07-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "mo-codigo-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal de Macau", "titleEn": "Macau Penal Code", "publisher": "Imprensa Oficial / Direcção dos Serviços de Assuntos de Justiça, Boletim Oficial da RAEM", "url": "https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/95/46/codpenpt/codpen0001.asp", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/macau/" }, { "iso2": "MG", "name": "Madagascar", "nativeName": "Madagasikara", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Adult prostitution is not an offence, but the Code pénal, modelled on the French code of 1960, criminalises procuring in broad terms (art. 334), including helping a person's prostitution or soliciting and living with a sex worker without sufficient own income, and running or tolerating prostitution in an establishment (art. 335). Its wording speaks of the \"lutte contre la prostitution\" and of \"rééducation\". Médecins du Monde (2024) calls the regime semi-prohibitionist.", "modelSources": [ "mg-cp", "mg-mdm-2024" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Madagascar, but organising or profiting from it is. Article 334 of the Code pénal punishes as a procurer (proxénète), with two to five years and a fine of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 ariary, anyone who knowingly helps, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, lives with a person who habitually engages in prostitution without sufficient own income, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acts as an intermediary. Running a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other place open to the public, is also an offence (art. 335). In 2014 the Antananarivo authorities were reported to have banned passive soliciting in the city centre.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No provision of the Code pénal makes selling sex by an adult an offence; the prostitution articles target procurers, establishments and the exploitation of children. Article 334 refers to \"dispositions réprimant le racolage public\" (provisions punishing public soliciting), but no such national offence was located, and in 2014 the Antananarivo authorities were reported to have banned passive soliciting in the city centre.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 334–335" ], "sources": [ "mg-cp", "mg-mdm-2024", "mg-pressafrik-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Code read in the Lexxika consolidated text (French). The legal instrument and sanctions of the 2014 Antananarivo soliciting ban were not identified, and contraventions in Book IV of the Code were not checked. Médecins du Monde (2024) reports frequent police identity checks and abuses against sex workers, especially minors." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Having sexual relations with a child in exchange for any form of payment or advantage is punishable by two to five years and a fine of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 ariary (art. 334 quinto, added in 2008), and sex tourism involving children is targeted by the same reform.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 334 quinto" ], "sources": [ "mg-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of a client offence for adults inferred from the Code pénal; other statutes were not searched exhaustively." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who owns, directly or through another, manages, directs or operates a prostitution establishment, or who habitually tolerates the presence of persons engaging in prostitution in a hotel, furnished house, boarding house, bar, club, dance hall, place of entertainment or other place open to the public that they hold or manage, is punished with the penalties of the preceding article; the penalties double for a repeat offence within ten years (art. 335).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 335" ], "sources": [ "mg-cp", "mg-mdm-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 335 refers to \"the preceding article\"; since arts. 334 ter to 334 quinto were inserted later, the exact penalty it imports is ambiguous in the consolidated text (originally the procuring penalties of arts. 334–334 bis)." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who knowingly helps or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds or receives money from a person habitually engaged in it, lives with such a person without sufficient own resources, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acts as an intermediary: two to five years and 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 ariary (art. 334). Aggravated cases carry five to ten years (art. 334 bis); Law 2014-040 also punishes trafficking for it.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 334, 334 bis, 334 ter", "Loi n° 2014-040 art. 5" ], "sources": [ "mg-cp", "mg-trafficking-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Translated from the French. Médecins du Monde (2024) notes the definition is wide enough to reach sex workers' partners." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Knowingly helping or assisting another person's prostitution or soliciting \"in any way\" is procuring (art. 334(1)), so a third party publishing or hosting adverts for gain could be prosecuted under it; acting as an intermediary between sex workers and clients is also procuring (art. 334(5)).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 334(1), (5)" ], "sources": [ "mg-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inferred from the general procuring offence; no case law on adverts or websites was found, and the cybercrime and press laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mg-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (as amended, including by Ordinance 60-161 of 1960, Law 98-024 of 1999 and Law 2007-038 of 2008)", "relevance": "Articles 334–335 define procuring and brothel offences; arts. 333 ter and 334 quater–quinto cover sexual exploitation and child prostitution.", "provisions": [ "arts. 334–335" ] }, { "sourceId": "mg-trafficking-2014", "titleEn": "Law No. 2014-040 on combating trafficking in human beings", "relevance": "Punishes trafficking for the exploitation of the prostitution of others (art. 5) with two to five years and a fine.", "provisions": [ "art. 5" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1960-10-03", "event": "Ordinance 60-161 gives the Code pénal its procuring and prostitution-establishment provisions (arts. 334–335).", "sources": [ "mg-cp" ] }, { "date": "1999-01-25", "event": "Law 98-024 recasts the procuring offence (art. 334) and its aggravated form (art. 334 bis).", "sources": [ "mg-cp" ] }, { "date": "2008-01-14", "event": "Law 2007-038 on trafficking and sex tourism adds offences of recruiting a person for prostitution (art. 334 ter), sexual exploitation and paying a child for sex.", "sources": [ "mg-cp" ] }, { "date": "2014-04", "event": "The Antananarivo authorities are reported to have banned passive soliciting in the city centre, citing child prostitution.", "sources": [ "mg-pressafrik-2014" ] }, { "date": "2014-12-16", "event": "The National Assembly adopts Law 2014-040 on combating trafficking in human beings.", "sources": [ "mg-trafficking-2014" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mg-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal, Livre III : Des crimes, des délits et de leur punition", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Book III: Crimes and délits and their punishment", "publisher": "Lexxika (consolidated text)", "url": "https://textes.lexxika.com/lois-malagasy/droit-penal/code-penal/livre-iii-des-crimes-des-delits-et-de-leur-punition/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "mg-trafficking-2014", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2014-040 sur la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains", "titleEn": "Law No. 2014-040 on combating trafficking in human beings", "publisher": "Assemblée nationale (copy hosted by The Warnath Group)", "url": "https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Madagascar-Loi-n%C2%B02014-040.pdf", "published": "2014-12-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "mg-mdm-2024", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Violences basées sur le genre envers les professionnel·les du sexe à Madagascar", "titleEn": "Gender-based violence against sex workers in Madagascar", "publisher": "Médecins du Monde", "url": "https://www.medecinsdumonde.org/app/uploads/2024/05/Etude-VGB-TDS-Madagascar-FR.pdf", "published": "2024-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "mg-pressafrik-2014", "kind": "news", "title": "Madagascar : la lutte contre la prostitution des mineurs se renforce", "publisher": "PressAfrik", "url": "https://www.pressafrik.com/Madagascar-la-lutte-contre-la-prostitution-des-mineurs-se-renforce_a120615.html", "published": "2014-04-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/madagascar/" }, { "iso2": "MW", "name": "Malawi", "nativeName": "Malaŵi", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex. In 2016 the High Court said that the law \"has since the passing of the Penal Code not criminalized the actual act of prostitution\" and that living on the earnings is aimed at exploiters, not sex workers. Brothels, procuring, promoting prostitution and public soliciting are offences.", "modelSources": [ "mw-pc", "mw-banda" ], "summary": "Malawi's Penal Code (Chapter 7:01) does not make selling or buying sex an offence, but criminalises nearly everything around it. Keeping a brothel carries seven years (s. 147). Promoting prostitution, which includes running a house or business for it, recruiting, soliciting customers for a sex worker or letting premises, carries 14 years (s. 147A, added in 2011). Living on the earnings is a misdemeanour (ss. 145–146). Soliciting in a public place is an offence for anyone (s. 180(e)). In Republic v Pempho Banda (2016) the High Court quashed the convictions of 19 women for living on the earnings of prostitution. It held that s. 146 targets those who exploit sex workers, not the women themselves.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Soliciting for immoral purposes in any public place makes a person \"idle and disorderly\" (s. 180(e)), as does a \"common prostitute behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in any public place\" (s. 180(a)). The penalty is a K1,000 fine and three months' imprisonment for a first offence, and K3,000 and six months for a later one. A man who persistently solicits in public commits a misdemeanour (s. 145(1)(b)).", "details": "In *Republic v Pempho Banda and 18 others* (2016), 19 women had been convicted of living on the earnings of prostitution under s. 146 after a sweep in Dedza. The High Court set the convictions aside and ordered the fines refunded. Ntaba J observed that the courts \"constantly only deal with the women not the other players\". She held that the offence \"was not aimed at prostitutes or sex workers, but rather at those who exploited them\".", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 180(a), (e)", "s. 145(1)(b)" ], "sources": [ "mw-pc", "mw-banda" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from MalawiLII's consolidation as at 31 December 2014; whether later amending Acts (2016, 2023) touched Chapters XV or XVII was not checked line by line. MalawiLII blocks automated access, so the text was read through the Internet Archive's copy of the same page.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code has no offence of paying for sex with an adult. In 2016 the High Court said the law has not criminalised \"the selling or purchase of sex\". Soliciting in a public place (s. 180(e)) applies to anyone, including a client.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 180(e)" ], "sources": [ "mw-pc", "mw-banda" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 2014 consolidation and the 2016 High Court review order; not a ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for prostitution carries up to seven years' imprisonment (s. 147). Owning, controlling, managing or keeping a house or business for prostitution, or renting or permitting a place to be regularly used for it, carries up to 14 years (s. 147A(1)(a), (e)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 147", "s. 147A(1)(a), (e)" ], "sources": [ "mw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2014 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a woman or girl to become a \"common prostitute\" carries 14 years (s. 140). Procuring, encouraging or inducing a person to become or remain a sex worker, or transporting a person for prostitution, carries 14 years (s. 147A(1)(b), (d)). Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution is a misdemeanour for men (s. 145(1)(a)) and for women (s. 146), punishable by up to two years (s. 34).", "details": "A man who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker, or controls her movements, is presumed to live on the earnings (s. 145(3)). In *Pempho Banda* the High Court held that s. 146 derives from English law aimed at exploiters and does not target a woman living on her own earnings.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 140", "ss. 145(1)(a), 145(3)", "s. 146", "s. 147A(1)(b), (d)", "s. 34" ], "sources": [ "mw-pc", "mw-banda" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2014 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising as such. A third party who \"solicits another person to patronize a prostitute\" commits the 14-year offence of promoting prostitution (s. 147A(1)(c)), and the wide definition of prostitution includes an offer to engage in sexual activity for money. A sex worker who solicits in a public place commits a minor offence (s. 180(e)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 147A(1)(c), (2)", "s. 180(e)" ], "sources": [ "mw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether s. 147A(1)(c) has been applied to newspapers, websites or online ad platforms was not found; this is a reading of the statutory text only." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mw-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Chapter 7:01)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 140), living on the earnings (ss. 145–146), brothels (s. 147), promoting prostitution (s. 147A) and public soliciting (s. 180).", "provisions": [ "s. 140", "ss. 145–147A", "s. 180" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1930-04-01", "event": "The Penal Code, modelled on the British Colonial Office model criminal code, comes into force in Nyasaland.", "sources": [ "mw-banda" ] }, { "date": "2011", "event": "Penal Code amendment Act 1 of 2011 inserts s. 147A (promoting prostitution, 14 years) and revises the brothel, procuration and idle-and-disorderly provisions.", "sources": [ "mw-pc" ] }, { "date": "2016-09-08", "event": "In Republic v Pempho Banda and 18 others the High Court quashes the convictions of 19 women for living on the earnings of prostitution. It holds that the offence targets those who exploit sex workers.", "sources": [ "mw-banda" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mw-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Chapter 7:01 (consolidated to 31 December 2014)", "publisher": "MalawiLII", "url": "https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/1929/22/eng@2014-12-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mw-banda", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Republic v Pempho Banda and 18 others [2016] MWHC 589 (Review, 8 September 2016)", "publisher": "High Court of Malawi, via MalawiLII", "url": "https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/judgment/mwhc/2016/589/eng@2016-09-08", "published": "2016-09-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malawi/" }, { "iso2": "MY", "name": "Malaysia", "nativeName": "Malaysia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Under the federal Penal Code, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves, but soliciting in any place (s. 372B), exploiting a person for prostitution (s. 372), living on the earnings of another's prostitution (s. 372A) and keeping a brothel (s. 373) are. For Muslims, state and federal-territory Syariah laws add offences of prostitution and of sexual intercourse out of wedlock, which make the position prohibitionist for them.", "modelSources": [ "my-pc-reprint", "my-lii-372", "my-act559" ], "summary": "Malaysia has two layers. The federal Penal Code (Act 574) does not punish the sale or purchase of sex as such, but criminalises soliciting or importuning for prostitution or any immoral purpose in any place (up to one year or a fine), exploiting any person for prostitution (up to fifteen years, whipping and a fine), living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, and keeping, managing or knowingly letting premises for a brothel (up to fifteen years and a fine). Muslims are also subject to Syariah criminal law, which is state law: in the Federal Territories, the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 punishes a woman who prostitutes herself, acting as a muncikari (procurer) and sexual intercourse out of wedlock with fines of up to RM5,000, up to three years' imprisonment or up to six strokes of whipping.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya (Muslims)", "model": "prohibition", "note": "The Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 applies to Muslims. Section 21(1) punishes any woman who prostitutes herself; s. 22 acting as a muncikari; s. 23 sexual intercourse out of wedlock by a man or a woman, which covers buyers. Each carries a fine of up to RM5,000, up to three years' imprisonment, up to six strokes of whipping, or a combination. Each state has its own Syariah criminal offences enactment; these were not reviewed individually.", "sources": [ "my-act559" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Under federal law, selling sex is not itself an offence, but soliciting or importuning for the purpose of prostitution or any immoral purpose in any place is punishable with up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both. For Muslims, Syariah law makes a woman prostituting herself an offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 372B Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 21 Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559)" ], "sources": [ "my-pc-reprint", "my-act559" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Penal Code text was read in a reprint of the Attorney General's Chambers edition hosted by the Women's Centre for Change, Penang; the official portal could not be queried. Later amendments to these sections, if any, were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The federal Penal Code has no offence of paying for sex with an adult; whether the soliciting offence in s. 372B can reach a buyer is not settled in the sources reviewed. Muslim buyers commit the Syariah offence of sexual intercourse out of wedlock.", "provisions": [ "s. 372B Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 23 Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559)" ], "sources": [ "my-pc-reprint", "my-act559" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Status is \"restricted\" because the position differs for Muslims; no case law on s. 372B and buyers was reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel, or knowingly letting or permitting premises to be used as one, is punishable with up to fifteen years' imprisonment and a fine. A brothel is any place used by two or more persons for prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s. 373 Penal Code (Act 574)" ], "sources": [ "my-pc-reprint" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a reprint hosted by a third party, not on the official portal." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling, hiring, procuring or otherwise obtaining any person for prostitution is punishable with up to fifteen years, whipping and a fine (s. 372); knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of another person's prostitution is a separate offence (s. 372A). Acting as a muncikari is a Syariah offence for Muslims.", "provisions": [ "s. 372 Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 372A Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 22 Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559)" ], "sources": [ "my-lii-372", "my-burgie-372a", "my-act559" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Sections 372 and 372A were checked only through secondary reproductions; the penalty for s. 372A was not confirmed." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was identified. Soliciting for prostitution \"in any place\" (s. 372B) and procuring (s. 372) can reach advertising by or for a sex worker, and Syariah law punishes encouraging vice among Muslims.", "provisions": [ "s. 372 Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 372B Penal Code (Act 574)", "s. 35 Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559)" ], "sources": [ "my-pc-reprint", "my-lii-372", "my-act559" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from general offences. The Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and other online-content rules were not reviewed and may bear on online advertisements and platforms." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "my-pc-reprint", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Act 574)", "relevance": "Sections 372–373 criminalise exploitation for prostitution, living on earnings, soliciting and brothel-keeping.", "provisions": [ "s. 372", "s. 372A", "s. 372B", "s. 373" ] }, { "sourceId": "my-act559", "titleEn": "Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559)", "relevance": "For Muslims in the Federal Territories: offences of prostitution, acting as a procurer (muncikari), sexual intercourse out of wedlock and encouraging vice.", "provisions": [ "s. 21", "s. 22", "s. 23", "s. 35" ], "inForce": "1997-04-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1997-03-27", "event": "The Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 receives Royal Assent, including the offences of prostitution and muncikari for Muslims.", "sources": [ "my-act559" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "my-pc-reprint", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Malaysia, Act 574, Penal Code (reprint, pp. 145–146: ss. 372B–373)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia (copy hosted by Women's Centre for Change, Penang)", "url": "https://www.wccpenang.org/01important/laws/Act-576-Section-375-376.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "my-lii-372", "kind": "academic", "title": "Malaysia Penal Code, Act 574, Chapter XVI, Article 372 (prostitution)", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (Gender Justice)", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/gender-justice/resource/Malaysia_Penal_Code_Act_574_Chapter_XVI_Article_372", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "my-burgie-372a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code Section 372A (Malaysia): Persons living on or trading in prostitution", "publisher": "BurgieLaw (reproduction of the statute)", "url": "https://www.burgielaw.com/resources/act?act_title=Penal+Code§ion=372A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "my-act559", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Malaysia, Act 559, Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (online version of updated text of reprint, as at 1 January 2013)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia", "url": "https://lom.agc.gov.my/ilims/upload/portal/akta/LOM/EN/Act%20559%20-%20Syariah%20Criminal%20Offences%20(Federal%20Territories)%20Act%201997.pdf", "published": "1997-03-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malaysia/" }, { "iso2": "MV", "name": "Maldives", "nativeName": "ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution is a specific offence under section 620 of the Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014) and section 29 of the Sexual Offences Act 2014. All sexual intercourse outside marriage is also an offence (section 411 of the Penal Code, with an additional Sharia penalty of 100 lashes, and section 27 of the Sexual Offences Act), so both seller and buyer are liable. Promoting prostitution, revenue from it and brothels are separately criminalised.", "modelSources": [ "mv-penal-code", "mv-unfpa-2023" ], "summary": "The Maldives prohibits prostitution under two overlapping laws. Under section 620 of the Penal Code, a person who \"performs an act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person not his spouse in exchange for anything of value\" commits a Class 1 misdemeanour (up to one year). The Sexual Offences Act 2014 makes engaging in prostitution punishable by up to seven years (section 29). Facilitating or arranging prostitution for gain, or allowing a place to be used for it, is a Class 4 felony (section 621 of the Penal Code). The Sexual Offences Act separately prohibits using revenue from prostitution and setting up a brothel. Consensual sex outside marriage is itself an offence under both laws, punishable by imprisonment and 100 lashes. A 2023 UNFPA legal review recommended aligning the inconsistent penalties.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Performing sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person who is not one's spouse in exchange for anything of value is a Class 1 misdemeanour under the Penal Code (up to one year). The Sexual Offences Act punishes engaging in prostitution in the Maldives, or by a Maldivian abroad, with up to seven years.", "details": "Sex outside marriage is also zinah, which the Sexual Offences Act punishes with 100 lashes and one to three years (s. 27).", "provisions": [ "s. 620 Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "s. 29(c) Sexual Offences Act 2014" ], "sources": [ "mv-penal-code", "mv-unfpa-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Penal Code wording was read in the English text reproduced by the Antislavery in Domestic Legislation database. The Sexual Offences Act was not read directly; its provisions and penalties come from UNFPA's 2023 review of Maldivian laws. Official texts in Dhivehi were not checked.", "mapLabel": "flogging + up to 7 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying for sex is caught by the general offence of unlawful sexual intercourse outside marriage (section 411 of the Penal Code, with an additional Sharia penalty of 100 lashes) and by the zinah offence in section 27 of the Sexual Offences Act (100 lashes and one to three years). Section 620 is worded broadly enough (\"performs an act ... in exchange for anything of value\") to reach either party.", "provisions": [ "s. 411 Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "s. 620 Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "s. 27 Sexual Offences Act 2014" ], "sources": [ "mv-penal-code", "mv-unfpa-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether section 620 is applied to clients in practice was not established; the general extramarital-sex offences clearly apply to both parties.", "mapLabel": "flogging + up to 3 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Allowing the use of a place under one's control for prostitution, to obtain anything of value, is a Class 4 felony under section 621 of the Penal Code (Class 3 where a minor is involved). The Sexual Offences Act separately prohibits setting up a brothel (section 33).", "provisions": [ "s. 621(a)(3) Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "s. 33 Sexual Offences Act 2014" ], "sources": [ "mv-penal-code", "mv-unfpa-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Compelling a person into prostitution, or encouraging, arranging or otherwise facilitating prostitution to obtain anything of value, is a Class 4 felony (Class 3 for a minor). Under the Sexual Offences Act, engaging another person in prostitution carries seven to fifteen years, and using revenue from prostitution is an offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 621 Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "s. 29(d) Sexual Offences Act 2014", "s. 32 Sexual Offences Act 2014" ], "sources": [ "mv-penal-code", "mv-unfpa-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising was found, but a third party who for gain \"encourages, arranges, or otherwise facilitates\" prostitution commits a Class 4 felony, which on its wording covers publishing or hosting offers.", "provisions": [ "s. 621(a)(2) Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)" ], "sources": [ "mv-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying section 621 to advertisements is a reading of the text, not a reported case. Media and online content laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mv-penal-code", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014)", "relevance": "Prostitution offence (s. 620), promoting or supporting prostitution (s. 621), and unlawful sexual intercourse outside marriage with an additional Sharia penalty (s. 411).", "provisions": [ "s. 411", "s. 620", "s. 621" ] }, { "sourceId": "mv-unfpa-2023", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 2014, as summarised in UNFPA's 2023 human rights and gender review", "relevance": "Parallel offences of zinah (s. 27), prostitution (s. 29), using revenue from prostitution (s. 32) and setting up a brothel (s. 33), with heavier penalties than the Penal Code.", "provisions": [ "s. 27", "s. 29", "s. 32", "s. 33" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mv-penal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Law No. 6/2014 (English text, Chapter 620 extracts)", "publisher": "Antislavery in Domestic Legislation database (University of Nottingham Rights Lab and partners)", "url": "https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/country/maldives/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mv-unfpa-2023", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Human Rights and Gender Review of GBV-Related Laws in Maldives", "publisher": "UNFPA Maldives", "url": "https://maldives.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/unfpa_humanrights_genderreview_of_gbvrelatedlaws_in_maldives.pdf", "published": "2023", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/maldives/" }, { "iso2": "ML", "name": "Mali", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2024 Penal Code does not punish selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes procuring, forced prostitution, inciting debauchery and public soliciting 'by any means, including passive conduct' (Articles 325-6 to 325-9). It has no separate brothel-keeping offence: organising another person's prostitution falls under procuring.", "modelSources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "summary": "Mali replaced its 2001 Penal Code with Law No. 2024-027 of 13 December 2024, adopted by the National Transitional Council on 31 October 2024. The new Code does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, for sexual relations in exchange for payment is punishable by two months in prison and a fine of 100,000 francs (Article 325-9). Procuring, defined as aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, or recruiting or pressuring someone into it, carries five years, a fine of 1,000,000 francs and a ten-year residence ban (Article 325-8). Forcing a person into prostitution carries ten years (Article 325-7). No specific advertising or brothel offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence, but publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, with a view to inciting them to sexual relations in exchange for payment or a promise of payment is punishable by two months' imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 francs (Article 325-9).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-9" ], "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Code states a single figure for each penalty; its general part treats statutory penalties as maxima.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the 2024 Code. Prostitution involving a child is treated as forced prostitution, and forcing a person to prostitute themselves carries ten years and a fine of 5,000,000 francs (Article 325-7); the article does not expressly name clients.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-7" ], "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The 2024 Code has no separate brothel offence. Running a venue where others sell sex is aiding or profiting from another's prostitution, i.e. procuring (Article 325-8: five years, a fine of 1,000,000 francs and a ten-year residence ban). Holding a person against their will in a 'house of debauchery' carries three years (Article 325-6).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-6", "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-8" ], "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "That brothel-keeping is prosecuted as procuring is a reading of the text; no case law was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring is aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, or recruiting, training or diverting a person into prostitution or pressuring them to prostitute themselves: five years, a fine of 1,000,000 francs and a ten-year residence ban (Article 325-8). Against a particularly vulnerable person it carries twenty years of criminal imprisonment and 5,000,000 francs.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-6", "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-7", "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-8" ], "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. Public soliciting 'by any means' (Article 325-9) can cover adverts placed by the person selling sex, and a third party who aids or protects another's prostitution commits procuring (Article 325-8).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-8", "Code pénal 2024 art. 325-9" ], "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "This is a reading of the statutory text; no case on online advertising or websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ml-cp-2024", "titleEn": "Law No. 2024-027 of 13 December 2024 on the Penal Code", "relevance": "Section 6 of the chapter on morals (Articles 325-6 to 325-9) covers inciting debauchery, forced prostitution, procuring and soliciting; Article 702-1 repeals the 2001 Code.", "provisions": [ "art. 325-6–325-9", "art. 702-1" ], "inForce": "2024-12-13" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2024-10-31", "event": "The National Transitional Council adopts a new Penal Code.", "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ] }, { "date": "2024-12-13", "event": "The Transition President promulgates Law No. 2024-027, repealing the 2001 Penal Code (Law No. 01-079).", "sources": [ "ml-cp-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ml-cp-2024", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2024-027 du 13 décembre 2024 portant Code pénal (Journal officiel, spécial n° 21)", "titleEn": "Law No. 2024-027 of 13 December 2024 on the Penal Code (Official Journal, special issue No. 21)", "publisher": "Secrétariat général du Gouvernement du Mali", "url": "https://sgg-mali.ml/JO/2024/mali-jo-2024-21-sp.pdf", "published": "2024-12-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mali/" }, { "iso2": "MT", "name": "Malta", "nativeName": "Malta", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No Maltese statute makes the private sale of sex between adults an offence, but loitering or soliciting in public, keeping or sharing in the management of a brothel, letting premises for prostitution and living on the earnings of another's prostitution are crimes under the 1930 White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance. Buying is an offence only from a minor or from a person known to be trafficked. A 2019 plan to decriminalise prostitution stalled and has not produced legislation.", "modelSources": [ "mt-cap63", "mt-cap9", "mt-rossoni-2026" ], "summary": "In Malta selling sex in private is not an offence, but almost everything around it is criminalised by the White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance (Cap. 63): soliciting or loitering in public (up to six months' imprisonment), brothel-keeping, letting premises and living on another's earnings, with a statutory presumption against anyone living with or habitually accompanying a sex worker. Researchers report that courts have treated sex workers sharing a flat as brothel-keeping. Buying is legal except from minors or knowingly from trafficking victims. The government announced in 2019 that it would decriminalise prostitution and regulate massage parlours and gentlemen's clubs, without legalising brothels. A public debate between decriminalisation and Nordic-model advocates continued into 2023, but the reform has stalled and no bill has been tabled.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex privately is not an offence. Anyone who loiters or solicits in a street, public place or place exposed to the public for the purpose of prostitution commits a crime punishable by up to six months' imprisonment.", "details": "The public-solicitation offence is in art. 7(2) of Cap. 63. Academic fieldwork (2022–2024 interviews) reports that migrant sex workers face arrest, immigration detention and deportation in connection with prostitution-related charges, and that police have used profiles on escort websites as evidence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(2) Cap. 63" ], "sources": [ "mt-cap63", "mt-rossoni-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. It is a crime to take part in sexual activity with a minor where child prostitution is involved (five to ten years), and to use the services of a person knowing that the person has been trafficked (18 months to five years).", "provisions": [ "Art. 204D(1)(d) Criminal Code (Cap. 9)", "Art. 248F(2) Criminal Code (Cap. 9)" ], "sources": [ "mt-cap9" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or sharing in the management or profits of a brothel or any premises resorted to for prostitution is punished with up to two years' imprisonment and a fine. Letting premises, permitting a shop, hotel or flat to be used for assignation, and renting vehicles for prostitution are separate offences.", "details": "Arts. 8–10 of Cap. 63 cover brothel-keeping, vehicles and premises. Art. 12 obliges owners notified by the Police Commissioner to take steps to evict occupants, and art. 13 lets the Commissioner close premises pending trial. The law does not expressly address sex workers sharing a flat, but researchers report that courts have often treated shared accommodation as de facto brothel-keeping.", "provisions": [ "Art. 8 Cap. 63", "Art. 9 Cap. 63", "Art. 10 Cap. 63", "Arts. 12–14 Cap. 63" ], "sources": [ "mt-cap63", "mt-rossoni-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of another person's prostitution is punished with up to two years' imprisonment (18 months to four years if that person is under 18). Anyone who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker is presumed to be doing so unless they prove otherwise.", "details": "Art. 7(3) of Cap. 63 creates the rebuttable presumption, which also covers anyone exercising control, direction or influence over a sex worker's movements. Compelling or inducing an adult into prostitution by violence or deceit is a separate offence under art. 205 of the Criminal Code, and trafficking for sexual exploitation falls under arts. 248A–248F.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(1) Cap. 63", "Art. 7(3) Cap. 63", "Art. 205 Criminal Code (Cap. 9)", "Art. 248B Criminal Code (Cap. 9)" ], "sources": [ "mt-cap63", "mt-cap9" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Neither Cap. 63 nor the Criminal Code contains an offence specifically aimed at advertising adult sexual services; the only advertising offence found concerns child sex tourism (art. 208AB). Public solicitation remains a crime, and online ads have been used as evidence in police action against sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(2) Cap. 63", "Art. 208AB Criminal Code (Cap. 9)" ], "sources": [ "mt-cap63", "mt-cap9", "mt-rossoni-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on a full-text search of the consolidated Cap. 9 and Cap. 63. We found no judgment on whether an advertising website or its operator could be liable under the living-on-earnings or brothel provisions, so the position of platforms is untested rather than clearly lawful." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mt-cap63", "titleEn": "White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance (Chapter 63 of the Laws of Malta)", "relevance": "Main prostitution statute: public soliciting, living on earnings (with a presumption), brothel-keeping, letting premises and police closure powers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7", "Art. 8", "Art. 9", "Art. 10", "Art. 12", "Art. 13" ], "inForce": "1930-08-01" }, { "sourceId": "mt-cap9", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta)", "relevance": "Offences of forced prostitution, child prostitution, trafficking, and knowingly using the services of a trafficked person.", "provisions": [ "Art. 204D", "Art. 205", "Arts. 248A–248F" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "prostitution-reform-2019", "title": "Government reform on human trafficking and prostitution (decriminalisation proposal)", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2026", "summary": "Launched for public consultation on 3 September 2019 by the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms. It proposed that people who sell sex would no longer be prosecuted, that exit programmes be set up and prostitution-related criminal records cleared, and that massage parlours and gentlemen's clubs be regulated, without legalising brothels. Abolitionist groups, including the Malta Women's Lobby in an open letter of January 2023, pressed instead for the Nordic model (criminalising buyers). Academic work published in 2026 describes the process as stalled, with no legislation tabled.", "sources": [ "mt-maltatoday-2019", "mt-newsbook-2023", "mt-rossoni-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1930-08-01", "event": "White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance comes into force, criminalising brothel-keeping, living on earnings and public solicitation.", "sources": [ "mt-cap63" ] }, { "date": "2013", "event": "Act XVIII of 2013 adds art. 248F to the Criminal Code, making it an offence to use the services of a person known to be trafficked.", "sources": [ "mt-cap9" ] }, { "date": "2019-09-03", "event": "Government opens a public consultation on a reform to decriminalise prostitution and regulate massage parlours and gentlemen's clubs.", "sources": [ "mt-maltatoday-2019" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-11", "event": "The Malta Women's Lobby urges the junior minister responsible to adopt the Nordic model instead of full decriminalisation.", "sources": [ "mt-newsbook-2023" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mt-cap63", "kind": "legislation", "title": "White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance, Chapter 63", "publisher": "Government of Malta – legislation.mt", "url": "https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/63/eng/pdf", "published": "1930-08-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mt-cap9", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, Chapter 9", "publisher": "Government of Malta – legislation.mt", "url": "https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/9/eng/pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mt-rossoni-2026", "kind": "academic", "title": "Resisting \"Manufactured\" Vulnerability: Discretionary Policing and Migrant Sex Workers' Resistance Strategies in Malta", "publisher": "International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy 15(3) (Rossoni & van der Woude)", "url": "https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/download/3909/1625", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mt-maltatoday-2019", "kind": "news", "title": "Prostitutes will no longer be prosecuted under proposed sex work laws", "publisher": "MaltaToday", "url": "https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/97233/sex_work_prostitution_rules_undergo_major_overhaul", "published": "2019-09-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mt-newsbook-2023", "kind": "news", "title": "'Protection of sex workers can only be ensured by outlawing prostitution' – Women's Lobby", "publisher": "Newsbook", "url": "https://newsbook.com.mt/en/exploitation-of-sex-workers-can-only-be-eliminated-by-outlawing-prostitution-womens-lobby/", "published": "2023-01-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malta/" }, { "iso2": "MH", "name": "Marshall Islands", "nativeName": "Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Criminal Code 2011 makes both engaging in prostitution (§251.1) and patronising prostitution (§251.2) felonies of the third degree, and criminalises promoting prostitution, including running a house of prostitution (§§251.3-251.4).", "modelSources": [ "mh-cc" ], "summary": "In the Marshall Islands, the Criminal Code 2011 criminalises both sides of the transaction: engaging, or offering or agreeing to engage, in sexual conduct for something of value, and giving or agreeing to give something of value for sexual conduct, are each felonies of the third degree (up to 35 months and a $5,000 fine). Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution is also a third-degree felony; running or owning a house of prostitution or an enterprise with two or more sex workers, compelling a person, or involving a person under 18 is a second-degree felony (up to ten years). Premises regularly used for prostitution are a public nuisance that can be closed for up to a year.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who engages, or offers or agrees to engage, in sexual conduct with another person in return for something of value commits a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to 35 months' imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.", "provisions": [ "§251.1 Criminal Code 2011, 31 MIRC Ch. 1", "§§6.03 and 6.06 Criminal Code 2011 (fines and imprisonment)" ], "sources": [ "mh-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Criminal Code 2011 (31 MIRC Ch. 1) as published (copy hosted by the BWC national implementation database); later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 35 months" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who gives or agrees to give something of value to another on an understanding that someone will engage in sexual conduct with them commits the felony of patronising prostitution (third degree: up to 35 months and $5,000).", "provisions": [ "§251.2 Criminal Code 2011, 31 MIRC Ch. 1" ], "sources": [ "mh-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Criminal Code 2011 (31 MIRC Ch. 1) as published (copy hosted by the BWC national implementation database); later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 35 months" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advancing or profiting from prostitution by managing, supervising, controlling or owning a house of prostitution or a prostitution business involving two or more sex workers is a felony of the second degree (up to ten years and $20,000). Any room, building or structure regularly used for prostitution is a public nuisance; the court may order it closed for up to a year.", "provisions": [ "§251.3(1)(b) Criminal Code 2011, 31 MIRC Ch. 1", "§251.6 Criminal Code 2011, 31 MIRC Ch. 1" ], "sources": [ "mh-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Criminal Code 2011 (31 MIRC Ch. 1) as published (copy hosted by the BWC national implementation database); later amendments were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly advancing prostitution (causing or aiding it, procuring or soliciting patrons, providing persons, permitting premises to be used) or profiting from it is a third-degree felony; doing so by criminal coercion or with a person under 18 is a second-degree felony. Convicted persons forfeit the proceeds, and a Foreign Investment Business License is revoked.", "provisions": [ "§251.0(1)-(2) Criminal Code 2011", "§251.3(1)(a) and (c) Criminal Code 2011", "§251.4 Criminal Code 2011", "§251.5 Criminal Code 2011" ], "sources": [ "mh-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Criminal Code 2011 (31 MIRC Ch. 1) as published (copy hosted by the BWC national implementation database); later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no advertising-specific offence, but a sex worker's own ad is an 'offer' under §251.1, and a third party who 'procures or solicits patrons for prostitution' or 'engages in any other conduct designed to … facilitate' it advances prostitution under §251.0(1), which is a felony under §251.4. An ad platform that knowingly carries such ads could fall within that definition.", "provisions": [ "§251.0(1)(b) and (f) Criminal Code 2011", "§251.1 Criminal Code 2011", "§251.4 Criminal Code 2011" ], "sources": [ "mh-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the statutory definitions; no case law or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found, and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mh-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code 2011 (Title 31 MIRC, Chapter 1)", "relevance": "Article 251: definitions (§251.0), engaging in prostitution (§251.1), patronising prostitution (§251.2), promoting prostitution (§§251.3-251.4), other penalties (§251.5) and prostitution houses as public nuisances (§251.6).", "provisions": [ "§§251.0-251.6" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mh-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code 2011, Title 31 – Crimes and Punishments, Chapter 1 (31 MIRC Ch. 1)", "publisher": "Republic of the Marshall Islands (copy hosted by the BWC National Implementation Measures database)", "url": "https://bwcimplementation.org/sites/default/files/resource/MH_Criminal%20Code%20_EN.pdf", "published": "2011", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/marshall-islands/" }, { "iso2": "MR", "name": "Mauritania", "nativeName": "موريتانيا", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "There is no offence specific to selling sex, but Article 307 of the 1983 Penal Code punishes zina (sexual relations outside marriage) committed by any adult Muslim, so selling and buying sex are offences under that general provision. Procuring, brothel-keeping and making premises available to sex workers are separately criminalised (Articles 311 to 318).", "modelSources": [ "mr-cp", "mr-jadaliyya" ], "summary": "Mauritania's Penal Code (Ordinance No. 83-162 of 9 July 1983) applies Islamic criminal law to sexual conduct. Article 307 punishes zina committed by any adult Muslim and proven by four witnesses, by confession or, for a woman, by pregnancy: unmarried offenders face 100 lashes and one year in prison, married or divorced offenders death by stoning. Procuring carries six months to three years and a fine (Article 311), aggravated forms two to five years (Article 312), and running or financing a prostitution establishment or tolerating prostitution in a hotel or bar the same (Article 313). Making private premises available to sex workers carries six months to two years (Article 318). Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement of that kind, is an offence (Article 264). Zina charges have reportedly been used against sex workers.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence names selling sex, but any adult Muslim who voluntarily commits zina, established by four witnesses, a confession or, for a woman, pregnancy, is punished publicly with 100 lashes and one year in prison if unmarried, and with death by stoning if married or divorced (Article 307). Commentators report that zina charges have been used to persecute sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 307" ], "sources": [ "mr-cp", "mr-jadaliyya" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 307 applies to Muslims only; no provision covering non-Muslims who sell sex was found. Read in a copy of the 1983 Journal officiel text; later amendments were not checked for this article. No figures on prosecutions of sex workers were found.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A client who is an adult Muslim commits zina under the same Article 307 as the person selling sex, with the same penalties: 100 lashes and one year in prison if unmarried, death by stoning if married or divorced.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 307" ], "sources": [ "mr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "This applies the general zina offence; no case concerning a client was found.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Holding, managing, running or financing a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, furnished house, bar, club or other place open to the public, carries two to five years and a fine (Article 313), doubled for a repeat within ten years, with permanent closure and withdrawal of the licence (Article 314). Knowingly making private premises available to sex workers for habitual debauchery carries six months to two years (Article 318).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 313", "Code pénal art. 314", "Code pénal art. 318" ], "sources": [ "mr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Fines in the 1983 text are expressed in ouguiyas before the 2018 redenomination." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds or receives support from a person habitually engaged in it, knowingly lives with such a person, cannot justify their lifestyle while in habitual contact with sex workers, recruits or keeps even a consenting adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary: six months to three years and a fine (Article 311); two to five years if aggravated (Article 312).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 311", "Code pénal art. 312", "Code pénal art. 316" ], "sources": [ "mr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement or correspondence of that kind whatever its terms, carries the penalties of Article 263: one month to two years and a fine (Article 264). Where the offence is committed through the press, publication directors or publishers are liable as principal offenders for the mere fact of publication (Article 265).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 263", "Code pénal art. 264", "Code pénal art. 265" ], "sources": [ "mr-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "No case applying these articles to websites or online platforms was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mr-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Ordinance No. 83-162 of 9 July 1983)", "relevance": "Article 307 punishes zina; Articles 311 to 318 cover procuring, prostitution establishments and premises; Article 264 covers advertising an opportunity for debauchery.", "provisions": [ "art. 264–265", "art. 307", "art. 311–318" ], "inForce": "1984" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1983-07-09", "event": "Ordinance No. 83-162 institutes the Penal Code, including the zina offence and the procuring and brothel provisions.", "sources": [ "mr-cp" ] }, { "date": "1984-02-29", "event": "The Penal Code is published in the Journal officiel (No. 608-609).", "sources": [ "mr-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mr-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ordonnance n° 83-162 du 9 juillet 1983 portant institution d'un Code pénal (Journal officiel n° 608-609)", "titleEn": "Ordinance No. 83-162 of 9 July 1983 instituting a Penal Code", "publisher": "Journal officiel de la République islamique de Mauritanie (copy hosted by the BWC Implementation Support Unit)", "url": "https://bwcimplementation.org/sites/default/files/resource/Mauritania_PenalCode.pdf", "published": "1984-02-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "mr-jadaliyya", "kind": "news", "title": "Mauritania's Failure to Adapt Gender-Based Violence Laws", "publisher": "Jadaliyya", "url": "https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/42348", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritania/" }, { "iso2": "MU", "name": "Mauritius", "nativeName": "Maurice", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Neither selling nor buying sex is an offence as such. Third-party involvement is criminalised: procuring and exploiting the prostitution of another for gain (Criminal Code s. 253) and keeping or letting premises for a brothel (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 90). A sex worker can also be charged as an idle and disorderly person for wandering in public and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner.", "modelSources": [ "mu-cc", "mu-ccsa" ], "summary": "Prostitution itself is not an offence in Mauritius, and no provision penalising clients was found. The law targets third parties: procuring, enticing or leading away a person for prostitution, exploiting the prostitution of another even with consent, or sharing the earnings of a person who habitually engages in prostitution carries up to 20 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees (Criminal Code s. 253). Keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries up to 10 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees, and prosecution needs the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 90). A \"common prostitute\" who wanders in a public place and behaves in a riotous or indecent manner is an idle and disorderly person (s. 26). No change to these provisions between 2023 and October 2026 was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. A \"common prostitute\" who is found wandering in any public place and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner is deemed an idle and disorderly person and is liable to a fine of up to 50,000 rupees and imprisonment of up to one year (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 26(1)(b) and (3)).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 26(1)(b)" ], "sources": [ "mu-ccsa", "mu-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Statute read in the Attorney General's Office consolidated text. How often s. 26 is used against sex workers was not checked.", "mapLabel": "in public: 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Criminal Code or the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act. Section 253 of the Criminal Code punishes those who, \"to gratify the passions of another and for gain\", procure or exploit a person's prostitution, which describes third parties rather than clients.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 253" ], "sources": [ "mu-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of an offence inferred from the two codes; other statutes (e.g. on children or trafficking) were not searched exhaustively. Sexual activity with a minor is separately criminalised." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in it, permitting premises one occupies to be used as a brothel, or letting premises knowing they are to be used as one, is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rupees together with up to 10 years' imprisonment. A \"brothel\" is any premises resorted to by persons of both sexes for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecution requires the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 90" ], "sources": [ "mu-ccsa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether a sex worker working alone from her own premises falls within the \"persons of both sexes\" definition was not checked against case law." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who, to gratify the passions of another and for gain, procures, entices or leads away a person for prostitution, exploits or is an accomplice in the prostitution of another even with consent, or draws a benefit from or shares the earnings of a person who habitually engages in prostitution, faces up to 20 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees. Gain is not required where the person is under 18, is to be sent abroad, or where fraud, threats or violence are used.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 253" ], "sources": [ "mu-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Penalty as in the Attorney General's consolidated text (s. 253 last amended by Act 36 of 2008)." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A third party who publishes such advertisements for gain could fall under s. 253 as an accomplice in exploiting another person's prostitution, and advertising how obscene matter can be obtained is an offence under s. 86 of the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (fine up to 100,000 rupees and up to one year).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 253", "Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 86" ], "sources": [ "mu-cc", "mu-ccsa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case law on adverts or websites was found. Information and communication technology legislation was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mu-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Cap. 195)", "relevance": "Section 253 criminalises procuring, enticing and exploiting the prostitution of another and sharing in its earnings.", "provisions": [ "s. 253" ] }, { "sourceId": "mu-ccsa", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196)", "relevance": "Section 90 criminalises brothel keeping and letting premises for a brothel; s. 26 makes riotous or indecent public conduct by a sex worker an idle-and-disorderly offence; s. 86 covers obscene matter.", "provisions": [ "s. 26", "s. 86", "s. 90" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1838-12-29", "event": "The Criminal Code (Cap. 195), based on the French Code pénal, is enacted; it remains the main penal statute.", "sources": [ "mu-cc" ] }, { "date": "1870-11-07", "event": "The Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196) is enacted; it later carries the brothel-keeping and idle-and-disorderly offences.", "sources": [ "mu-ccsa" ] }, { "date": "2008-12-06", "event": "Act 36 of 2008 takes effect, amending the procuring offence (Criminal Code s. 253) and the brothel-keeping offence (Cap. 196 s. 90), among others.", "sources": [ "mu-cc", "mu-ccsa" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mu-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (Cap. 195), Revised Laws of Mauritius C57", "publisher": "Attorney General's Office, Republic of Mauritius", "url": "https://attorneygeneral.govmu.org/Documents/Laws%20of%20Mauritius/A-Z%20Acts/C/Cr/CriminalCodeCap195.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mu-ccsa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196), Revised Laws of Mauritius C58", "publisher": "Attorney General's Office, Republic of Mauritius", "url": "https://attorneygeneral.govmu.org/Documents/Laws%20of%20Mauritius/A-Z%20Acts/C/Cr/CRIMINAL%20CODE%20(SUPPLEMENTARY)%20ACT,%20Cap%20196.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritius/" }, { "iso2": "MX", "name": "Mexico", "nativeName": "México", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No federal law makes selling or buying sex between adults an offence, but profiting from another person's prostitution and running brothels is lenocinio (art. 206 Bis Código Penal Federal, mirrored in state penal codes), and sexual exploitation is a federal trafficking offence. Day-to-day rules are local: municipal bandos and health regulations range from mandatory registration and health checks (Tijuana) to bans on street soliciting (Cancún), while Mexico City dropped its prostitution infraction in 2019.", "modelSources": [ "cpf", "lgt", "cpeum", "cdmx-lcc", "tijuana-rcets", "union-cancun-2015" ], "summary": "Mexico has no federal offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Federal and state penal codes punish lenocinio: profiting from another person's prostitution, inducing someone into it, or running a brothel. The 2012 General Law on trafficking punishes profiting from prostitution obtained by deception, violence, abuse of power or exploiting vulnerability with 15 to 30 years, makes consent irrelevant, and criminalises media that publish ads facilitating these offences. The rest is local. Tijuana requires sex workers to register, carry a municipal health card and take monthly checks; Cancún's police bylaw has punished offering and soliciting sex in public; Mexico City dropped its prostitution infraction in 2019, after a 2014 federal ruling ordered it to recognise sex workers as non-salaried workers. A 2025 bill to add sex work to the Federal Labour Law has not passed.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Mexico City (Ciudad de México)", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "In a ruling reported on 11 February 2014 (amparo 112/2013), the First District Judge in Administrative Matters, Paula María García Villegas, ordered the city's labour department to issue the claimants the credential of non-salaried workers (trabajadores no asalariados) it had refused on 4 March 2013, reasoning that the federal Constitution does not prohibit prostitution. The refusal had relied on art. 24(VII) of the then Ley de Cultura Cívica, which made prostitution an infraction where neighbours complained. The Ley de Cultura Cívica enacted on 7 June 2019 (last amended 1 March 2023) no longer contains any prostitution infraction: the head of government had returned the bill, arguing that sex work is not prohibited by the federal or local constitution, and Congress removed the clause. Profiting from another's prostitution and running brothels remain offences (art. 189 Código Penal para el Distrito Federal, 2 to 10 years).", "sources": [ "jornada-2014", "debate-feminista-2014", "cdmx-lcc", "lasillarota-2019", "cdmx-cp" ] }, { "name": "Tijuana (Baja California)", "model": "regulation", "note": "The municipal Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual (2005, last amended 2017 in the copy checked) requires anyone who has sex for payment, habitually or occasionally, to register with the Dirección Municipal de Salud, hold an electronic health card (Tarjeta Electrónica de Control Sanitario) and undergo monthly medical and laboratory checks they pay for (arts. 8, 10–19, 26–27); working without the card is fined 30 to 60 UMA or punished with up to 36 hours' arrest (art. 41). Establishments where the activity takes place must admit only card-holders and no one under 18, and keep a guest register (art. 34). The regulation designates no zone; news reports describe the Zona Norte as the city's tolerance zone, where inspections are concentrated. The Baja California penal code still punishes lenocinio, including running brothels (art. 267, 2 to 10 years).", "sources": [ "tijuana-rcets", "periodismonegro-2022", "zeta-2015", "bc-cp" ] }, { "name": "Cancún (Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo)", "note": "News reports in 2015 and 2016 cited art. 534(VII) of Benito Juárez's Bando de Gobierno y Policía, which makes it an infraction to invite to, practise or solicit prostitution in the street or other public places, so it covers both sex workers and clients: municipal figures reported 418 sellers and 90 buyers detained between 2013 and mid-2015. The same report said the municipality tolerated only km 21 of the Cancún–Mérida highway. The current text of the Bando could not be retrieved, so it is not confirmed that this article is still in force. Under the state penal code, lenocinio requires habitually or repeatedly profiting from another adult's sex work where this is not trafficking (art. 193, 4 to 10 years).", "sources": [ "union-cancun-2015", "qroo-cp" ] }, { "name": "Other states and municipalities", "note": "Article 115 of the Constitution lets each ayuntamiento issue its own bandos de policía y gobierno and regulations, so whether street sex work is an infraction, and whether a health card is required, is decided municipality by municipality. Every state penal code checked for this profile (Mexico City, Baja California, Quintana Roo) keeps a lenocinio offence. COPRED's 2021 survey report, discussing why many respondents live in the State of Mexico but work in Mexico City, suggests they feel safer where the police bylaws prohibiting sex work in their home municipalities do not apply. No municipality-by-municipality survey was carried out for this profile.", "sources": [ "cpeum", "cdmx-cp", "bc-cp", "qroo-cp", "copred-2021" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No federal or state penal provision makes selling sex between adults an offence. Local rules decide the rest: Tijuana forbids working without a municipal health card (fine or up to 36 hours' arrest), Cancún's police bylaw has punished offering sex in public places, and Mexico City has had no prostitution infraction since 2019.", "details": "The Código Penal Federal applies to federal offences (art. 1) and contains no offence of selling sex; its lenocinio offence targets third parties (art. 206 Bis). The trafficking law protects the person exploited: victims are not liable for offences committed under their exploiters' control (art. 37 LGPSEDMTP).\n\nArt. 5 of the Constitution protects the freedom to pursue any lawful occupation; the 2014 Mexico City amparo relied on it, holding that treating prostitution as an administrative infraction negated the claimants' right to work. Local regimes:\n\n- **Tijuana**: the activity is prohibited without a valid Tarjeta Electrónica de Control Sanitario or while having an STI (art. 10 of the municipal STI regulation); 30–60 UMA fine or arrest of up to 36 hours (art. 41).\n- **Cancún (Benito Juárez)**: offering prostitution in public places reported as an infraction under art. 534(VII) of the Bando de Gobierno y Policía (2015–2016 reports).\n- **Mexico City**: the 2019 Ley de Cultura Cívica contains no prostitution infraction.", "provisions": [ "art. 5 CPEUM", "arts. 1, 206 Bis CPF", "art. 37 LGPSEDMTP", "arts. 10, 41 Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual (Tijuana)" ], "sources": [ "cpf", "cpeum", "lgt", "tijuana-rcets", "union-cancun-2015", "cdmx-lcc", "jornada-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Municipal rules are not consolidated anywhere; only Tijuana, Cancún and Mexico City were checked. The Cancún provision is known only from 2015–2016 news reports." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not a federal or state offence. Knowingly buying the services of a trafficking victim is: 2 to 40 years' prison under art. 35 of the trafficking law. Some municipalities make soliciting sex in public an administrative infraction; Cancún reported 90 clients detained between 2013 and mid-2015.", "details": "Art. 35 LGPSEDMTP punishes anyone who, knowing of the person's trafficking situation (\"a sabiendas de su situación de trata\"), acquires, uses, buys, requests or hires their services for any of the purposes covered by the law: 2 to 40 years' prison and 1,000 to 25,000 days' fine, raised to 12 to 50 years where the victim is under 18 or in another listed vulnerable group (paragraph added 7 June 2024).\n\nAt local level, Benito Juárez (Cancún) has punished soliciting prostitution in public places under its Bando de Gobierno y Policía (art. 534(VII), as reported in 2015). Mexico City's former infraction, which also covered \"solicitar dicho servicio\", was dropped in the 2019 Ley de Cultura Cívica.", "provisions": [ "art. 35 LGPSEDMTP", "art. 534(VII) Bando de Gobierno y Policía de Benito Juárez (as reported 2015)" ], "sources": [ "lgt", "union-cancun-2015", "cdmx-lcc", "lasillarota-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running, managing or financing a brothel, \"casa de citas\" or venue dedicated to exploiting prostitution is lenocinio under federal law (art. 206 Bis(III) CPF, 2 to 9 years) and in state codes (e.g. Mexico City art. 189, Baja California art. 267). In practice some municipalities license and inspect bars and clubs where sex is sold, as Tijuana's health regulation does.", "details": "Art. 206 Bis(III) CPF: lenocinio is committed by whoever \"regentee, administre o sostenga directa o indirectamente, prostíbulos, casas de cita o lugares de concurrencia expresamente dedicados a explotar la prostitución, u obtenga cualquier beneficio con sus productos\"; the penalty is 2 to 9 years and 50 to 500 days' fine (art. 206). State equivalents checked: Mexico City art. 189(III) (2 to 10 years, 500 to 5,000 days' fine); Baja California art. 267(III) (2 to 10 years, plus permanent closure of the establishment); Quintana Roo art. 193 (4 to 10 years, but only for habitually or repeatedly profiting from an adult's sex work that is not trafficking).\n\nThe trafficking law separately punishes lending or letting premises knowing they will be used for its offences (art. 34, 2 to 7 years) and gives municipalities the task of detecting trafficking through the licensing and inspection of bars, nightclubs, massage parlours, hotels and similar businesses (art. 115(IV)).\n\nDespite the criminal ban, Tijuana's municipal STI regulation sets hygiene, age and register obligations for the \"establecimientos\" where sex is sold and fines establishments that hide the activity under another licence (arts. 32–34, 49), which amounts to administrative regulation of venues the penal code prohibits.", "provisions": [ "arts. 206, 206 Bis(III) CPF", "arts. 34, 115(IV) LGPSEDMTP", "art. 189 CPDF (Mexico City)", "art. 267 Código Penal BC", "art. 193 Código Penal Quintana Roo" ], "sources": [ "cpf", "lgt", "cdmx-cp", "bc-cp", "qroo-cp", "tijuana-rcets" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "How the criminal ban and Tijuana's administrative oversight of venues are reconciled in practice was not checked in case law." }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision addresses sex workers sharing premises. Lenocinio requires exploiting or profiting from another person's prostitution or running a venue dedicated to exploiting it, so independent workers sharing costs are not clearly covered, but whoever manages or profits from a shared flat risks prosecution, and a landlord risks it under art. 34 of the trafficking law if they know of trafficking.", "details": "The federal lenocinio offence (art. 206 Bis CPF) covers whoever lives off or obtains any profit (\"un lucro cualquiera\") from another person's prostitution and whoever directly or indirectly runs or maintains a brothel. Tijuana's regulation distinguishes \"domiciliados\" (registered to an establishment) from \"no domiciliados\", who work in premises they own or rent or that clients provide (art. 15), without restricting how many may share.", "provisions": [ "art. 206 Bis CPF", "art. 34 LGPSEDMTP", "art. 15 Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual (Tijuana)" ], "sources": [ "cpf", "lgt", "tijuana-rcets" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from the statutory wording; no case law on shared premises was found or checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from another adult's prostitution, inducing a person into it or facilitating the means is lenocinio even without coercion: 2 to 9 years federally (arts. 206, 206 Bis CPF) and similar ranges in state codes. Where profit is obtained through deception, violence, abuse of power or a situation of vulnerability, it is trafficking under art. 13 of the 2012 General Law: 15 to 30 years, and consent is no defence.", "details": "Art. 206 Bis CPF (added 27 March 2007; former art. 207 was repealed on 27 November 2007) defines lenocinio as: (I) exploiting another's body through \"comercio carnal\", living off it or obtaining any profit from it; (II) inducing or soliciting a person to trade sex with another, or facilitating the means for them to engage in prostitution; (III) running brothels. Penalty: 2 to 9 years and 50 to 500 days' fine (art. 206). A separate offence covers minors and persons unable to understand or resist (art. 204, 8 to 15 years). The CPF only applies to federal offences (art. 1); most cases are prosecuted under state codes, such as Mexico City art. 189, Baja California art. 267 and Quintana Roo art. 193.\n\nThe Ley General para Prevenir, Sancionar y Erradicar los Delitos en Materia de Trata de Personas (LGPSEDMTP, 2012), adopted under Congress's power to set minimum offences for trafficking (art. 73(XXI)(a) of the Constitution), punishes whoever benefits from the exploitation of a person through prostitution or any other paid sexual activity by deception, physical or moral violence, abuse of power, taking advantage of a situation of vulnerability, serious harm or threats of it, or threats of denunciation to the immigration authorities (art. 13: 15 to 30 years). Means need not be proved for minors. Recruiting or harbouring for exploitation is punished separately (art. 10, 5 to 15 years), as is deceptively hiring someone for sexual services (arts. 19–20). Victim consent is never a defence (art. 40), and penalties also apply to whoever prepares, promotes, incites, facilitates or collaborates (art. 41).", "provisions": [ "arts. 1, 204, 206, 206 Bis CPF", "arts. 10, 13, 19, 20, 40, 41 LGPSEDMTP", "art. 73(XXI)(a) CPEUM", "art. 189 CPDF", "art. 267 Código Penal BC", "art. 193 Código Penal Quintana Roo" ], "sources": [ "cpf", "lgt", "cpeum", "cdmx-cp", "bc-cp", "qroo-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The 2012 law's ninth transitional article repeals \"the offences covered by it\" in the CPF. Diputados' consolidated text still prints arts. 206 and 206 Bis as in force, and no source checked here says whether that repeal reached them. The diputados.gob.mx consolidated texts were read from Wayback Machine copies captured in October 2026, because the site refused connections." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The trafficking law bans paid ads in mass media that include \"anuncios de contacto sexual\" or promote prostitution in a way that may foster trafficking (art. 106). Contracting ad space for unlawful or deceptive advertising meant to facilitate a trafficking offence carries 2 to 7 years (art. 32). No offence specifically targets an adult advertising their own services; whether art. 106 reaches such ads is untested in the sources checked.", "details": "Art. 106 LGPSEDMTP: \"Queda prohibida toda publicidad o inserciones pagadas en los medios de comunicación masiva de cualquier índole, que incluya en sus publicaciones anuncios de contacto sexual o que promueva la prostitución y la pornografía que pueda propiciar la trata de personas\". It sits in the prevention chapter and carries no penalty of its own.\n\nThe penal provisions are art. 32 (2 to 7 years and 500 to 2,000 days' fine for whoever, directly or indirectly, contracts space in any printed, electronic or cyber medium for ads amounting to \"publicidad ilícita o engañosa\" in order to facilitate, promote or procure any offence under the law) and art. 33 (see platforms). \"Publicidad ilícita\" is advertising used to bring about trafficking offences directly or indirectly; \"publicidad engañosa\" is misleading advertising meant to recruit people for exploitation (art. 4(XV)–(XVI)).\n\nAn ad by an adult for their own services, with no trafficking element, is not an offence on the wording of these provisions, but placing ads for another person can amount to lenocinio as facilitation (art. 206 Bis(II) CPF) or, with the art. 13 means, trafficking.", "provisions": [ "arts. 4(XV)–(XVI), 32, 106 LGPSEDMTP", "art. 206 Bis(II) CPF" ], "sources": [ "lgt", "cpf" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statutory text verified; no court decisions or enforcement data on how art. 106 is applied to classified sex ads were found." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever directs, manages or edits a printed, electronic or cyber medium that, in breach of the trafficking law, publishes content facilitating, promoting or procuring its offences faces 5 to 15 years (art. 33). The Intersecretarial Commission, with the Interior Ministry, must monitor classified ads published by any means. No notice-and-takedown statute for sex ads was identified.", "details": "Art. 33 LGPSEDMTP: \"Se aplicará pena de 5 a 15 años de prisión y de un mil a 20 mil días multa a quien dirija, gestione o edite un medio impreso, electrónico o cibernético que, incumpliendo lo dispuesto con esta Ley publique contenidos a través de los cuales facilite, promueva o procure cualquiera de las conductas delictivas objeto de la misma.\" Read with art. 106, this exposes operators of ad sites carrying sexual-contact ads that facilitate trafficking.\n\nArt. 88(XV) gives the Intersecretarial Commission, coordinated with the Interior Ministry (Secretaría de Gobernación), the task of permanently monitoring classified ads published \"por cualquier medio\" under guidelines it is to issue. The law's eighth transitional article gave the Interior Ministry 90 working days from June 2012 to issue them. Art. 14, as amended on 7 June 2024, expressly includes the use of ICT platforms in the pornography-exploitation offence. According to the US TIP Report 2025, an NGO found that from 2022 to 2024 over 45% of victims calling the anti-trafficking hotline had first been recruited through websites or social media.", "provisions": [ "arts. 14, 33, 88(XV), 106 LGPSEDMTP", "Octavo transitorio LGPSEDMTP" ], "sources": [ "lgt", "tip-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether the classified-ads monitoring guidelines were ever issued, and whether art. 33 has been used against an online ad platform, could not be verified. The 2025 telecommunications law was not reviewed." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Street sex work is regulated by municipal police bylaws. Mexico City removed its infraction for inviting to, practising or soliciting prostitution in the 2019 Ley de Cultura Cívica. Cancún's Bando de Gobierno y Policía has made offering or soliciting sex in public places an infraction, and Tijuana requires anyone caught selling sex in public to register for a health card.", "details": "- **Mexico City**: the former Ley de Cultura Cívica (art. 24(VII)) punished prostitution where neighbours complained. The new law passed in May 2019 still had the infraction in art. 27; the head of government returned it, arguing that neither the federal nor the local constitution prohibits sex work, Congress removed the clause, and the law published on 7 June 2019 has none.\n- **Cancún**: art. 534(VII) of the Bando de Gobierno y Policía (as reported in 2015–2016): inviting to, practising or soliciting prostitution in the street or public places; 418 sellers and 90 buyers detained 2013 to mid-2015.\n- **Tijuana**: registration is compulsory for people found \"en lugares públicos cometiendo actos de comercio sexual\", without prejudice to other liability (art. 13(II)), and anyone found inducing another to trade sex is brought before the municipal judge (art. 9).", "provisions": [ "art. 115(II) CPEUM", "arts. 9, 13 Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual (Tijuana)", "art. 534(VII) Bando de Gobierno y Policía de Benito Juárez (as reported 2015)" ], "sources": [ "cpeum", "cdmx-lcc", "lasillarota-2019", "jornada-2014", "union-cancun-2015", "tijuana-rcets" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Only three municipalities were checked; the current text of Cancún's Bando could not be retrieved." }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "There is no national registration. Tijuana requires registration, a paid electronic health card and monthly medical and laboratory checks, enforced by fines and arrest. Mexico City issues an optional credential recognising sex workers as non-salaried workers, introduced after the 2014 amparo. Elsewhere it depends on the municipality.", "details": "**Tijuana** (Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual, 2005): registration requires proof of majority age, a questionnaire on sexuality and no STI (art. 12). The card carries a photograph and the words \"no sirve para acreditar la mayoría de edad\" (art. 18), is issued on payment of the fee set in the municipal revenue law (art. 19), and must be shown to inspectors and clients on request (art. 31). Checks are monthly and not free (arts. 26–27). People with an STI must stop working (art. 30). In 2015 ZETA reported a registration fee of 1,641 pesos and monthly renewals of 328 pesos in 2014, with registrations removed (bajas) after reactive HIV tests. In August 2022 a night-time inspection in the Zona Norte brought 27 women without a card before the municipal judge.\n\n**Mexico City**: the 2014 ruling ordered the labour department to issue the claimants credentials as trabajadores no asalariados and to inform them of their rights to health, education, housing and to form unions. The credential is optional.", "provisions": [ "arts. 11–31, 41 Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual (Tijuana)" ], "sources": [ "tijuana-rcets", "zeta-2015", "periodismonegro-2022", "jornada-2014", "debate-feminista-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Tijuana text checked is an archived copy (last amendment 2017); the city's site refused connections and a 2025 council act may have amended it. Current Tijuana fees and the current Mexico City credential procedure were not verified." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No sex-work-specific tax or social security rules were found in federal law. Independent workers may join the IMSS compulsory scheme voluntarily (art. 13 Ley del Seguro Social). The May 2025 federal bill would expressly give sex workers that route. Tijuana charges municipal fees for the health card and checks.", "details": "Art. 13(I) of the Ley del Seguro Social (as amended 1 December 2023) allows \"trabajadores independientes o por cuenta propia\" to join the compulsory social insurance scheme voluntarily. The 2025 bill (Mario Zamora Gastélum, PRI) would recognise sex workers as non-salaried workers with access to social security under that article and to free public health services (proposed art. 353-X LFT). Tijuana's card and medical checks are paid fees (arts. 19, 27 of its STI regulation).", "provisions": [ "art. 13 LSS", "proposed art. 353-X LFT (2025 bill)" ], "sources": [ "lss", "zamora-2025", "tijuana-rcets" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "How the tax administration (SAT) treats income from sex work was not verified; the income tax law was not reviewed." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Foreign nationals need a residence status that permits paid work: visitors without that permission may not do paid activities (art. 52(I) Ley de Migración). Trafficking victims may not be penalised for irregular status or false documents, nor detained (art. 38 of the trafficking law). The US TIP Report 2026 says people in commercial sex were not consistently screened for trafficking.", "details": "Art. 52 of the Ley de Migración distinguishes visitors without permission for paid activities (up to 180 days) from those with permission, which requires a job offer or invitation. Art. 38 LGPSEDMTP: foreign victims of trafficking offences are not subject to Ley de Migración sanctions for irregular status or for holding false identity documents, and may not be held in detention centres before, during or after proceedings. The US State Department's 2026 report says authorities did not consistently screen migrants and \"individuals in commercial sex\" for trafficking indicators.", "provisions": [ "art. 52 Ley de Migración", "art. 38 LGPSEDMTP" ], "sources": [ "lmigra", "lgt", "tip-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No sex-work-specific immigration rule was found. Whether any work permit category could cover sex work, and how immigration authorities treat foreign sex workers, was not verified." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cpf", "titleEn": "Federal Penal Code", "relevance": "Defines lenocinio (exploiting or profiting from another's prostitution, inducing it, running brothels) for federal-jurisdiction cases, and the separate offence involving minors.", "provisions": [ "art. 1", "art. 204", "art. 206", "art. 206 Bis" ] }, { "sourceId": "lgt", "titleEn": "General Law to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Trafficking in Persons Offences and to Protect and Assist Victims", "relevance": "Nationwide trafficking offences, including profiting from prostitution by coercive or abusive means, knowingly buying from a victim, and offences for media that publish ads facilitating trafficking; bans paid sexual-contact ads in mass media.", "provisions": [ "arts. 10, 13, 32–35, 37, 38, 40", "art. 88(XV)", "art. 106", "art. 115" ], "inForce": "2012-06-15" }, { "sourceId": "cpeum", "titleEn": "Political Constitution of the United Mexican States", "relevance": "Freedom to pursue any lawful occupation (art. 5), relied on in the 2014 Mexico City ruling; federal power to set trafficking offences (art. 73(XXI)(a)); municipal power to issue police bylaws (art. 115).", "provisions": [ "art. 5", "art. 73(XXI)(a)", "art. 115(II)" ] }, { "sourceId": "cdmx-lcc", "titleEn": "Civic Culture Law of Mexico City (2019)", "relevance": "Mexico City's petty-offences law; the 2019 law removed the infraction of inviting to, practising or soliciting prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 27" ] }, { "sourceId": "cdmx-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the Federal District (Mexico City)", "relevance": "Mexico City's lenocinio offence (2 to 10 years) and the offence involving minors.", "provisions": [ "art. 189", "art. 189 Bis" ] }, { "sourceId": "tijuana-rcets", "titleEn": "Regulation for the Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Municipality of Tijuana", "relevance": "Compulsory registration, health card and monthly checks for people who sell sex in Tijuana; obligations for establishments; fines and arrest.", "provisions": [ "arts. 8–19", "arts. 26–34", "arts. 39–49" ], "inForce": "2005-08-13" }, { "sourceId": "bc-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the State of Baja California", "relevance": "Baja California's lenocinio offence, including running brothels, applicable in Tijuana.", "provisions": [ "art. 264", "art. 267" ] }, { "sourceId": "qroo-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the State of Quintana Roo", "relevance": "Quintana Roo's lenocinio offence, limited to habitually or repeatedly profiting from an adult's sex work that is not trafficking; applicable in Cancún.", "provisions": [ "art. 193" ] }, { "sourceId": "lmigra", "titleEn": "Migration Law", "relevance": "Residence categories and the permission needed for foreigners to do paid work.", "provisions": [ "art. 52" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "lft-trabajo-sexual-2025", "title": "Bill adding a chapter on sex work (Trabajo Sexual) to the Federal Labour Law (Zamora Gastélum, PRI)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2025-05-07", "summary": "Initiative dated 7 May 2025 to add Chapter XVIII \"Trabajo Sexual\" (arts. 353-V, 353-X, 353-Y) to Title Six of the Ley Federal del Trabajo. It defines sex work as sexual, erotic or companionship services offered freely, consensually and independently by an adult, in person or through print, electronic or digital media, for payment; declares it lawful; recognises sex workers as non-salaried workers with access to voluntary social security and free health services; requires written terms in alcohol-selling venues or for engagements over three months; and creates a voluntary register run by the Labour Ministry, with health-check data expressly optional. No committee report or vote was found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "zamora-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1931-08-14", "event": "Current Código Penal Federal published; its lenocinio offence has since been reworded several times.", "sources": [ "cpf" ] }, { "date": "2005-08-12", "event": "Tijuana publishes its Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual, requiring sex workers to register and carry a health card.", "sources": [ "tijuana-rcets", "zeta-2015" ] }, { "date": "2007-03-27", "event": "Federal Penal Code reform restructures the sexual-offences title: lenocinio is defined in the new art. 206 Bis, with a separate offence for minors in art. 204.", "sources": [ "cpf" ] }, { "date": "2012-06-14", "event": "General Law on trafficking in persons published; it replaces the 2007 federal trafficking law and adds offences for media that publish ads facilitating trafficking.", "sources": [ "lgt" ] }, { "date": "2014-02", "event": "A federal district judge in Mexico City grants amparo 112/2013, ordering the city to issue non-salaried worker credentials to sex workers (reported 11 February 2014).", "sources": [ "jornada-2014", "debate-feminista-2014" ] }, { "date": "2019-06-07", "event": "Mexico City publishes a new Ley de Cultura Cívica without the infraction of inviting to, practising or soliciting prostitution, after the head of government objected to it.", "sources": [ "cdmx-lcc", "lasillarota-2019" ] }, { "date": "2024-06-07", "event": "Trafficking law amended: higher penalties where victims are under 18 or in other listed vulnerable groups, including for knowingly buying from a victim (art. 35), and ICT platforms named in art. 14.", "sources": [ "lgt", "tip-2025" ] }, { "date": "2025-05-07", "event": "Deputy Mario Zamora Gastélum (PRI) tables a bill to recognise sex work as non-salaried work in the Federal Labour Law.", "sources": [ "zamora-2025" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Trafficking investigations, prosecutions and convictions (federal and state)", "value": "489 investigations; 268 suspects prosecuted (177 for sex trafficking); 124 convicted (85 for sex trafficking)", "year": "2025", "note": "Government figures as reported by the US State Department, which calls Mexico's anti-trafficking data collection unreliable; convictions include state offences, not only the General Law. The 2024 figures were 661 investigations, 162 prosecutions and 98 convictions (52 for sex trafficking).", "sources": [ "tip-2026", "tip-2025" ] }, { "label": "Sex workers in Tijuana's municipal health-control register", "value": "3,175 women", "year": "2014", "note": "Municipal figure as reported by ZETA (all statuses, including pending and blocked). Registered workers only; a 2006 study cited in the same report estimated about 9,000 women sold sex in the city.", "sources": [ "zeta-2015" ] }, { "label": "People detained in Cancún under the police bylaw for offering or soliciting sex in public", "value": "418 sellers and 90 buyers", "year": "2013–2015", "note": "Municipal document reported by Unión Cancún, covering 2013 to mid-2015; administrative detentions, not criminal cases.", "sources": [ "union-cancun-2015" ] }, { "label": "Sex workers surveyed in Mexico City naming the police as a source of violence or discrimination", "value": "78.7% (100 of 127 who reported such treatment by an institution)", "year": "2021", "note": "Perception survey of 217 sex workers (54% trans women) run by COPRED with the Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans in 2021; a non-random sample, not representative of all sex workers in the city.", "sources": [ "copred-2021" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "cpf", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal Federal (texto vigente, última reforma DOF 13-03-2026)", "titleEn": "Federal Penal Code (consolidated, last amended 13 March 2026)", "publisher": "Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión", "url": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/CPF.pdf", "published": "1931-08-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "lgt", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley General para Prevenir, Sancionar y Erradicar los Delitos en Materia de Trata de Personas y para la Protección y Asistencia a las Víctimas de estos Delitos (última reforma DOF 14-11-2025)", "titleEn": "General Law to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Trafficking in Persons Offences and to Protect and Assist Victims (last amended 14 November 2025)", "publisher": "Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión", "url": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LGPSEDMTP.pdf", "published": "2012-06-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cpeum", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (última reforma DOF 07-10-2026)", "titleEn": "Political Constitution of the United Mexican States (last amended 7 October 2026)", "publisher": "Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión", "url": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/CPEUM.pdf", "published": "1917-02-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "lmigra", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley de Migración (última reforma DOF 15-01-2026)", "titleEn": "Migration Law (last amended 15 January 2026)", "publisher": "Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión", "url": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LMigra.pdf", "published": "2011-05-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "lss", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley del Seguro Social (última reforma DOF 15-01-2026)", "titleEn": "Social Security Law (last amended 15 January 2026)", "publisher": "Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión", "url": "https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LSS.pdf", "published": "1995-12-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cdmx-lcc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley de Cultura Cívica de la Ciudad de México (publicada en la GOCDMX el 7 de junio de 2019; última reforma 1 de marzo de 2023)", "titleEn": "Civic Culture Law of Mexico City (published 7 June 2019; last amended 1 March 2023)", "publisher": "Congreso de la Ciudad de México", "url": "https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/archivo-2d138a1bf3bd98b883c46c3572754fad44a97a75.pdf", "published": "2019-06-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "cdmx-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal para el Distrito Federal (última reforma publicada en la GOCDMX el 26 de agosto de 2026)", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the Federal District (Mexico City) (last amended 26 August 2026)", "publisher": "Congreso de la Ciudad de México", "url": "https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/archivo-deae456e36ecb11eac420f0f1839cc70e9ea4685.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "bc-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal para el Estado de Baja California (última reforma P.O. 28-08-2026)", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the State of Baja California (last amended 28 August 2026)", "publisher": "H. Congreso del Estado de Baja California", "url": "https://www.congresobc.gob.mx/Documentos/ProcesoParlamentario/Leyes/TOMO_V/20260828_CODPENAL.PDF", "published": "1989-08-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "qroo-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal para el Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo (última reforma POE 14-10-2026)", "titleEn": "Penal Code for the State of Quintana Roo (last amended 14 October 2026)", "publisher": "H. Congreso del Estado de Quintana Roo", "url": "https://documentos.congresoqroo.gob.mx/codigos/C6-XVIII-14102026-20261016T150309-C1820261014261-C%C3%B3digo-Penal.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "tijuana-rcets", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Reglamento para el Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual para el Municipio de Tijuana, Baja California", "titleEn": "Regulation for the Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases for the Municipality of Tijuana, Baja California", "publisher": "XXV Ayuntamiento de Tijuana", "url": "https://www.tijuana.gob.mx/normatividad/documentos/Reglamentos/40_20211229154718384_wp.pdf", "published": "2005-08-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "zamora-2025", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Iniciativa con proyecto de decreto por el que se adiciona un Capítulo XVIII denominado \"Trabajo Sexual\" al Título Sexto \"Trabajos Especiales\", así como los artículos 353-V, 353-X y 353-Y a la Ley Federal del Trabajo, en materia de trabajo sexual", "titleEn": "Bill adding a Chapter XVIII \"Sex Work\" and arts. 353-V, 353-X and 353-Y to the Federal Labour Law", "publisher": "Sistema de Información Legislativa, Secretaría de Gobernación (Dip. Mario Zamora Gastélum, PRI)", "url": "https://sil.gobernacion.gob.mx/Archivos/Documentos/2025/05/asun_4898286_20250507_1746635703.pdf", "published": "2025-05-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "jornada-2014", "kind": "news", "title": "Sexoservidores obtienen un amparo para que se les considere trabajadores no asalariados", "titleEn": "Sex workers win an amparo to be considered non-salaried workers", "publisher": "La Jornada", "url": "https://www.jornada.com.mx/2014/02/11/politica/015n1pol", "published": "2014-02-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "debate-feminista-2014", "kind": "academic", "title": "Trabajadoras sexuales conquistan derechos laborales", "titleEn": "Sex workers win labour rights", "publisher": "Debate Feminista (E. Madrid Romero, J. Montejo, R. I. Madrid)", "url": "https://www.elsevier.es/pt-revista-debate-feminista-378-articulo-trabajadoras-sexuales-conquistan-derechos-laborales-S0188947816301347", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "lasillarota-2019", "kind": "news", "title": "Artículo que prohibía ejercer la prostitución será eliminado", "titleEn": "Article that banned prostitution will be removed", "publisher": "La Silla Rota", "url": "https://lasillarota.com/metropoli/2019/5/29/articulo-que-prohibia-ejercer-la-prostitucion-sera-eliminado-154072.html", "published": "2019-05-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "zeta-2015", "kind": "news", "title": "Ayuntamiento explota a trabajadoras sexuales", "titleEn": "City council exploits sex workers", "publisher": "Semanario ZETA", "url": "https://zetatijuana.com/2015/12/ayuntamiento-explota-a-trabajadoras-sexuales/", "published": "2015-12-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "periodismonegro-2022", "kind": "news", "title": "Ayuntamiento de Tijuana detecta 27 trabajadoras sexuales sin tarjeta sanitaria", "titleEn": "Tijuana city council finds 27 sex workers without a health card", "publisher": "Periodismo Negro", "url": "https://www.periodismonegro.mx/2022/08/22/ayuntamiento-de-tijuana-detecta-27-trabajadoras-sexuales-sin-tarjeta-sanitaria/", "published": "2022-08-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "union-cancun-2015", "kind": "news", "title": "Cacería contra prostitutas y clientes en Cancún", "titleEn": "Crackdown on sex workers and clients in Cancún", "publisher": "Unión Cancún", "url": "http://www.unioncancun.mx/articulo/2015/07/10/gobierno/caceria-contra-prostitutas-y-clientes-en-cancun", "published": "2015-07-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "copred-2021", "kind": "government", "title": "Encuesta: Trabajo sexual y COVID-19 en la Ciudad de México 2021", "titleEn": "Survey: Sex work and COVID-19 in Mexico City 2021", "publisher": "Consejo para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación de la Ciudad de México (COPRED)", "url": "https://copred.cdmx.gob.mx/storage/app/media/ENCUESTA-Trabajo-Sexual-2021.pdf", "published": "2021", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "tip-2025", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Mexico", "publisher": "U.S. Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/mexico/", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tip-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Mexico", "publisher": "U.S. Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2026-trafficking-in-persons-report/mexico/", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mexico/" }, { "iso2": "FM", "name": "Micronesia (Federated States of)", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution is a matter of state law. The Chuuk State Code (§9025, from state law TDL 2-94-21) prohibits prostitution and 'taking part or aiding' in it, defined to include the customer, and the Pohnpei Code (61 PC §§8-111 and 8-112) penalises engaging in prostitution, hiring a person for sex and pandering. No prostitution offence was found in the Kosrae or Yap codes; at national level the trafficking provisions of the FSM Code (Title 11) define exploitation to include benefiting from another person's prostitution.", "modelSources": [ "fm-chuuk", "fm-pohnpei", "fm-national" ], "summary": "In the Federated States of Micronesia, criminal law on prostitution is made by the four states. In Chuuk, prostitution, defined as performing or agreeing to perform a sexual act for hire either as a sex worker or as a customer, and any taking part or aiding in it, is a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year or a fine of at least $500. In Pohnpei, engaging in prostitution or hiring a person for sex carries up to six months or a $500 fine, and pandering (inducing a person into prostitution or being paid for procuring one) up to one year or $500. No equivalent offence was found in the published codes of Kosrae or Yap.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Chuuk", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution, defined to include the customer, and taking part or aiding in it are misdemeanours (§9025 Chuuk State Code).", "sources": [ "fm-chuuk" ] }, { "name": "Pohnpei", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in prostitution and hiring a person for sex (61 PC §8-112) and pandering (61 PC §8-111) are offences.", "sources": [ "fm-pohnpei" ] }, { "name": "Kosrae", "note": "No prostitution offence was found in the criminal chapters of Title 13 of the Kosrae State Code as published; this is not confirmation that none exists.", "sources": [ "fm-kosrae" ] }, { "name": "Yap", "note": "No prostitution offence was found in the Yap Penal Code (Title 11) chapters as published; this is not confirmation that none exists.", "sources": [ "fm-yap" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is an offence in Chuuk (misdemeanour: up to one year, or a fine of not less than $500 per violation, or both) and Pohnpei (up to six months or a $500 fine, or both). No offence was found in the Kosrae or Yap codes.", "provisions": [ "§9025 Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Ch. 28", "61 PC §8-112 Code of the State of Pohnpei" ], "sources": [ "fm-chuuk", "fm-pohnpei", "fm-kosrae", "fm-yap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy." }, "buying": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Chuuk's definition of prostitution covers acting 'as a customer of a prostitute', so clients commit the §9025 offence. In Pohnpei a person who 'aids another in the practice of prostitution by hiring such other person' for sex is guilty of prostitution. No offence was found in Kosrae or Yap.", "provisions": [ "§§9021(6) and 9025 Chuuk State Code, Title 12", "61 PC §8-112 Code of the State of Pohnpei" ], "sources": [ "fm-chuuk", "fm-pohnpei" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy." }, "brothels": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No brothel-specific offence was found. In Chuuk, running a venue would fall under 'in any way taking part or aiding in prostitution'; in Pohnpei, under pandering where the operator induces people into prostitution or is paid for procuring them.", "provisions": [ "§9025 Chuuk State Code, Title 12", "61 PC §8-111 Code of the State of Pohnpei" ], "sources": [ "fm-chuuk", "fm-pohnpei" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy. Application to venues is an inference from the wording." }, "procuring": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pohnpei penalises pandering, defined as causing or inducing a person to engage in prostitution by promises, threats or any scheme, or receiving or giving money for procuring a person for prostitution (up to one year or $500). Chuuk penalises aiding in prostitution. At national level, the trafficking provisions of the FSM Code (Title 11, added by PL 17-38) define exploitation to include obtaining a benefit from another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "61 PC §8-111 Code of the State of Pohnpei", "§9025 Chuuk State Code, Title 12", "§612 FSM Code, Title 11 (definitions)" ], "sources": [ "fm-pohnpei", "fm-chuuk", "fm-national" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy." }, "advertising": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No advertising-specific offence was found. In Chuuk 'offering … to perform' a sexual act for hire is itself prostitution, which would cover a sex worker's own ad, and publishing ads for others could amount to 'aiding'; Pohnpei's offences do not address offers.", "provisions": [ "§§9021(6) and 9025 Chuuk State Code, Title 12" ], "sources": [ "fm-chuuk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the statutory definitions; no case law or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found, and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "fm-chuuk", "titleEn": "Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28 (Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution to include customers (§9021(6)) and prohibits prostitution and taking part or aiding in it (§9025).", "provisions": [ "§9021", "§9025" ] }, { "sourceId": "fm-pohnpei", "titleEn": "Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition, Title 61 (Criminal Law), Chapter 8", "relevance": "Pandering (§8-111) and prostitution, including hiring (§8-112).", "provisions": [ "61 PC §8-111", "61 PC §8-112" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "fm-chuuk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28, Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice", "publisher": "FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.fsmlaw.org/chuuk/code/title12/T12_CH28.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fm-pohnpei", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition (Advance Copy)", "publisher": "FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.fsmlaw.org/pohnpei/code/pdf/pohnpei%20state%202012%20code.pdf", "published": "2012", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fm-national", "kind": "legislation", "title": "FSM Code, Title 11 (Crimes), Chapter 6, Subchapter II, Trafficking in Persons", "publisher": "FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System", "url": "http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title11/T11_Ch6_SchII_2014.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fm-kosrae", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kosrae State Code, Title 13, Chapter 5, Offenses Against the Public Welfare and Tradition", "publisher": "FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.fsmlaw.org/kosrae/code/title13/t13p01c05.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fm-yap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Yap State Code (index, Title 11 Crimes and Punishment)", "publisher": "FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System", "url": "https://www.fsmlaw.org/yap/code/index.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/micronesia-federated-states-of/" }, { "iso2": "MD", "name": "Moldova", "nativeName": "Republica Moldova", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Practising prostitution and benefiting from paid sexual services are both contraventions under Article 89 of the Contravention Code (buyers since 9 December 2018). Since July 2022 the buyer's fine is higher than the seller's. Proxenetism, which includes inciting, facilitating or profiting from another person's prostitution, is a crime under Article 220 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "md-mo-2018-159", "md-mo-2022-102", "md-cc-dcc49-2018" ], "summary": "Moldova sanctions both selling and buying sex as contraventions. Article 89 of the Contravention Code defines prostitution as satisfying a person's sexual desire by any method or means in exchange for payment; it carries a fine of 14 to 26 conventional units or 10 to 20 hours of community work, and paying or promising payment for such services carries 36 to 48 units or 40 to 60 hours. A person who acted against their will is exempt. Proxenetism (Article 220 of the Criminal Code) covers inciting or inducing prostitution, facilitating it and profiting from another person's prostitution, with a fine or two to five years. The 2022 Law on Advertising prohibits advertising that encourages, directly or indirectly, behaviour contrary to the law.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Practising prostitution, defined as satisfying another person's sexual desire by any method or means for payment, is a contravention punished by a fine of 14 to 26 conventional units or 10 to 20 hours of unpaid community work. A person who acted against their will is exempt from liability.", "details": "Article 89(1) and (3) of the Contravention Code, as replaced by Law No. 159 of 12 October 2018 (in force 9 December 2018). Law No. 102 of 14 April 2022 lowered the seller's sanction from 36-48 units / 40-60 hours to 14-26 units / 10-20 hours. Law No. 316 of 17 November 2022 deleted the words \"including through information technologies or electronic communications\" from the definition; the Ministry of Justice's explanatory note, relying on Constitutional Court Decision No. 36/2018, says that online sexual services without physical contact are pornography rather than prostitution. One conventional unit equals 50 lei (Art. 34(1) of the Contravention Code), so the seller's fine is MDL 700 to 1,300.", "provisions": [ "Art. 89(1), (3) Codul contravențional" ], "sources": [ "md-mo-2018-159", "md-mo-2022-102", "md-mo-2022-316", "md-moj-nota-316", "md-codcontr-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Each amending law was read in the Official Gazette (Monitorul Oficial); the consolidated code on legis.md sits behind a Cloudflare challenge, so the current wording was checked against an unofficial consolidation of February 2024 and amendments after that date were not checked. The value of the conventional unit is not stated here.", "mapLabel": "MDL 1,300 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Benefiting from paid sexual services in exchange for offering or promising a reward is a contravention punished by a fine of 36 to 48 conventional units or 40 to 60 hours of community work. Buyers have been liable since 9 December 2018; their sanction was raised and the seller's lowered with effect from July 2022.", "details": "One conventional unit equals 50 lei (Art. 34(1) of the Contravention Code), so the buyer's fine is MDL 1,800 to 2,400.", "provisions": [ "Art. 89(2) Codul contravențional" ], "sources": [ "md-mo-2018-159", "md-mo-2022-102", "md-codcontr-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Amendments read in the Official Gazette; later changes after February 2024 not checked because legis.md could not be opened.", "mapLabel": "MDL 2,400 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel offence; running a venue for prostitution falls under proxenetism, which includes facilitating the practice of prostitution and profiting from another person's prostitution. The basic offence carries a fine of 650 to 1,350 conventional units or two to five years, four to seven years for aggravated forms.", "provisions": [ "Art. 220 Codul penal" ], "sources": [ "md-cc-dcc49-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 220 is quoted from Constitutional Court Decision No. 49 of 31 May 2018; the current consolidated Criminal Code on legis.md could not be opened, so later amendments were not checked. Treating a brothel as facilitation is our reading." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Proxenetism, meaning inciting or inducing a person into prostitution, facilitating the practice of prostitution or deriving benefit from another person's prostitution, where the act is not trafficking, carries a fine of 650 to 1,350 conventional units or two to five years. Offences against two or more people, a pregnant woman, by two or more offenders or by public officials carry four to seven years; organised crime, five to ten.", "provisions": [ "Art. 220 Codul penal" ], "sources": [ "md-cc-dcc49-2018", "md-echr-litschauer" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Text as quoted by the Constitutional Court in 2018. In Litschauer v. Moldova (2018) the European Court of Human Rights found that detaining the owner of an erotic video-chat studio on proxenetism charges breached Article 5 § 1, because it was not foreseeable that video-chat counted as prostitution." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. The Law on Advertising (No. 62/2022) prohibits immoral advertising and advertising that encourages, directly or indirectly, behaviour contrary to the law; since selling and buying sex are contraventions, adverts for them fall under that ban. Placing adverts for another person's services can also amount to facilitating prostitution under Article 220 of the Criminal Code.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(3)(c), (g) Legea nr. 62/2022 cu privire la publicitate", "Art. 220 Codul penal" ], "sources": [ "md-mo-2022-62", "md-cc-dcc49-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying the general ban to adverts for sexual services, and Article 220 to ad sites, is our inference; no enforcement practice or case law was found. The sanction for breaching the advertising law was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "md-mo-2018-159", "titleEn": "Contravention Code (Codul contravențional, Law No. 218/2008), as amended by Law No. 159 of 12 October 2018", "relevance": "Article 89: practising prostitution (para. 1), paying for sexual services (para. 2), exemption for those acting against their will (para. 3).", "provisions": [ "Art. 89" ], "inForce": "2018-12-09" }, { "sourceId": "md-cc-dcc49-2018", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Codul penal)", "relevance": "Article 220: proxenetism (inciting, facilitating or profiting from another person's prostitution).", "provisions": [ "Art. 220" ] }, { "sourceId": "md-mo-2022-62", "titleEn": "Law No. 62 of 17 March 2022 on Advertising", "relevance": "Article 7(3) bans immoral advertising and advertising encouraging behaviour contrary to the law.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(3)" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-05-31", "event": "Constitutional Court declared inadmissible a challenge to Article 220 of the Criminal Code (proxenetism), Decision No. 49.", "sources": [ "md-cc-dcc49-2018" ] }, { "date": "2018-11-13", "event": "European Court of Human Rights, Litschauer v. Moldova: detention on proxenetism charges over an erotic video-chat business breached Article 5 § 1, because the law was not foreseeable.", "sources": [ "md-echr-litschauer" ] }, { "date": "2018-12-09", "event": "Law No. 159/2018 entered into force: Article 89 rewritten to define prostitution and to sanction buyers as well as sellers.", "sources": [ "md-mo-2018-159", "md-codcontr-2024" ] }, { "date": "2022-07-20", "event": "Law No. 102/2022 entered into force: seller's sanction lowered to 14-26 units, buyer's raised to 36-48 units.", "sources": [ "md-mo-2022-102", "md-codcontr-2024" ] }, { "date": "2023-01-09", "event": "Law No. 316/2022 entered into force, removing online communications from the definition of prostitution in Article 89.", "sources": [ "md-mo-2022-316", "md-codcontr-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "md-mo-2018-159", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lege privind modificarea unor acte legislative nr. 159 din 12 octombrie 2018 (Monitorul Oficial nr. 416-422, art. 649)", "titleEn": "Law No. 159 of 12 October 2018 amending certain legislative acts (Official Gazette)", "publisher": "Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2075", "published": "2018-11-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-mo-2022-102", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lege pentru modificarea unor acte normative nr. 102 din 14 aprilie 2022 (Monitorul Oficial nr. 115-117, art. 212)", "titleEn": "Law No. 102 of 14 April 2022 amending certain normative acts (Official Gazette)", "publisher": "Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2440", "published": "2022-04-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-mo-2022-316", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lege pentru modificarea unor acte normative (asigurarea drepturilor victimelor în cazul infracțiunilor privind viața sexuală și violența în familie) nr. 316 din 17 noiembrie 2022 (Monitorul Oficial nr. 394-400, art. 737)", "titleEn": "Law No. 316 of 17 November 2022 on the rights of victims of sexual offences and domestic violence (Official Gazette)", "publisher": "Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2576", "published": "2022-12-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-mo-2022-62", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lege cu privire la publicitate nr. 62 din 17 martie 2022 (Monitorul Oficial nr. 98-105, art. 171)", "titleEn": "Law No. 62 of 17 March 2022 on Advertising (Official Gazette)", "publisher": "Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2438", "published": "2022-04-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-codcontr-2024", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Codul contravențional al Republicii Moldova nr. 218-XVI din 24.10.2008 (text consolidat, februarie 2024)", "titleEn": "Contravention Code (unofficial consolidated text, February 2024)", "publisher": "odo.md (unofficial consolidation)", "url": "https://odo.md/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CContr.pdf", "published": "2024-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-cc-dcc49-2018", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Decizia nr. 49 din 31 mai 2018 de inadmisibilitate a sesizării nr. 62g/2018 privind excepția de neconstituționalitate a unor prevederi din articolul 220 din Codul penal (proxenetismul)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court Decision No. 49 of 31 May 2018 on Article 220 of the Criminal Code (proxenetism)", "publisher": "Curtea Constituțională a Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://constcourt.md/ccdocview.php?l=ro&tip=decizii&docid=468", "published": "2018-05-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-moj-nota-316", "kind": "government", "title": "Notă informativă la proiectul Legii cu privire la modificarea unor acte normative (asigurarea drepturilor victimelor în cazul infracțiunilor privind viața sexuală și violența în familie)", "titleEn": "Explanatory note to the draft law on victims' rights (sexual offences and domestic violence)", "publisher": "Ministerul Justiției al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://justice.gov.md/sites/default/files/document/attachments/nota_informativa_4.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "md-echr-litschauer", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Cauza Litschauer v. Republica Moldova (Cererea nr. 25092/15), hotărâre din 13 noiembrie 2018", "titleEn": "Litschauer v. the Republic of Moldova, application no. 25092/15, ECtHR judgment of 13 November 2018 (Romanian translation published by the Government Agent)", "publisher": "Agentul guvernamental al Republicii Moldova", "url": "https://agent.gov.md/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LITSCHAUER-v.-REPUBLICA-MOLDOVA-red.pdf", "published": "2018-11-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/moldova/" }, { "iso2": "MC", "name": "Monaco", "nativeName": "Monaco", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but the Code pénal defines procuring very broadly (helping, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, acting as an intermediary), which rules out brothels and managed prostitution. Publicly soliciting people 'with a view to inciting them to debauchery' is a petty offence (contravention) punished by a fine.", "modelSources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "summary": "Monaco's Code pénal does not penalise selling or buying sexual services between adults. Procuring (proxénétisme) is punishable by six months to three years and a fine of €9,000–18,000 (art. 268) and covers recruiting or pressuring a person into prostitution, aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, being unable to justify one's income while habitually associating with sex workers, and acting as an intermediary. Aggravated procuring carries five to ten years, or ten to twenty years for a victim under 16 or an organised gang (art. 269). Public soliciting by gestures, words, writing or any other means is a contravention fined €600–1,000 (art. 421(3)). Paying a minor for sexual activity carries three to five years (art. 269-1). No reform was found for 2023–2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Publicly soliciting people of either sex, by gestures, words, writing or any other means, 'with a view to inciting them to debauchery' is a contravention fined €600–1,000 (art. 421(3) with art. 29).", "details": "Under the Code pénal this is a contravention, the lowest class of criminal offence, punishable only by a fine; the schema's 'administrative' value is used here for a fine-only offence.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 421(3)", "art. 29" ], "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: €1,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Buying sexual services from an adult is not an offence. Using a minor for sexual activities in return for money or any other benefit is punishable by three to five years and a fine (art. 269-1).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 269-1" ], "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel offence, but anyone who aids, assists or protects another person's prostitution, or shares its proceeds, is a procurer under art. 268, so running or managing premises for prostitution is punishable by six months to three years and a fine.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 268" ], "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No specific provision on letting premises for prostitution was found; the classification relies on the general wording of art. 268, without reviewed case law." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Art. 268 punishes with six months to three years and a fine anyone who recruits, trains or diverts a person into prostitution or pressures them to continue; aids, assists or protects another's prostitution; shares its proceeds or knowingly receives money from sex workers; or cannot justify their income while habitually associating with sex workers. Acting as an intermediary is treated the same.", "details": "Art. 269 raises the penalty to five to ten years for, among others, a minor or particularly vulnerable victim, several victims, a person in authority, coercion or several offenders, and to ten to twenty years' reclusion for a victim under 16 or an organised gang. Art. 265(3) separately punishes recruiting an adult 'with a view to debauchery' by fraud, violence or other coercion. These provisions were rewritten by Law no. 1.344 of 26 December 2007.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 265, 268, 269" ], "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "No provision specific to advertising sexual services was found. Public soliciting 'by writing or any other means' is a contravention (art. 421(3)), which may reach a sex worker's own public advertising, and a third party who publishes ads for sex workers may be treated as aiding or assisting another's prostitution, or as an intermediary, under art. 268.", "details": "No platform-specific rules were identified; Monaco is not an EU member, so the Digital Services Act does not apply directly.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 268, 421(3)" ], "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The application of arts. 268 and 421(3) to advertising is an inference from the statutory wording; no case law or official guidance was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mc-code-penal", "titleEn": "Monegasque Penal Code", "relevance": "Procuring (arts. 268–269), paid sexual activity with minors (art. 269-1), public soliciting contravention (art. 421(3)).", "provisions": [ "arts. 265, 268, 269, 269-1, 421" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2007-12-26", "event": "Law no. 1.344 rewrites the procuring provisions (arts. 268–269) and creates art. 269-1 on paid sexual activity with minors.", "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ] }, { "date": "2019-11-12", "event": "Law no. 1.478 of 12 November 2019 gives art. 421 its current wording, including public soliciting as a contravention fined at the highest contravention level (€600–1,000).", "sources": [ "mc-code-penal" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mc-code-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal", "titleEn": "Penal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "Legimonaco – Gouvernement Princier de Monaco", "url": "https://legimonaco.mc/code/code-penal/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/monaco/" }, { "iso2": "MN", "name": "Mongolia", "nativeName": "Монгол Улс", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are both infringements (administrative offences) under the Law on Infringements, punished with a fine and confiscation of income. Since a 2020 amendment, mediating, drawing others into and organising prostitution, including setting up or financing a place for it, are crimes under Article 12.6 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "mn-infringements", "mn-gazette-2020" ], "summary": "Mongolia prohibits both selling and buying sex. Under Article 6.18(4) of the Law on Infringements (2017), a person who sells sex, or who pays for sex, has the illegally obtained income confiscated and is fined the tögrög equivalent of 50 units. Third-party involvement is criminal: Article 12.6 of the Criminal Code, as rewritten on 10 January 2020, punishes mediating for or drawing a person into prostitution with six months to three years' restriction of movement or imprisonment, and setting up or financing a place of prostitution, organising prostitution or supplying transport or housing for it with one to five years; an organised criminal group faces five to twelve years, and using a person under 18 counts as human trafficking. The same reform repealed the earlier administrative fine for organising prostitution on one's own premises.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is an infringement: illegally obtained income is confiscated and the person is fined the tögrög equivalent of 50 units.", "details": "Law on Infringements, Article 6.18 (\"Violation of the Law on Combating Pornography\"), part 4: \"Биеэ үнэлэн бусадтай бэлгийн харьцаанд орсон, эсхүл бусдын биеийг үнэлэн бэлгийн харьцаанд орсон бол хууль бусаар олсон хөрөнгө, орлогыг хурааж хүнийг тавин нэгжтэй тэнцэх хэмжээний төгрөгөөр торгоно.\" Translation ours. The underlying Law on Combating Pornography has applied since July 1998; according to search-result extracts of its text, it defines \"садар самуун явдал\" to include selling sex and prohibits selling sex (Article 4.1). One fine unit equals 1,000 tögrög (Law on Infringements, Article 3.4(3)), so the fine is MNT 50,000.", "provisions": [ "Зөрчлийн тухай хууль 6.18 дугаар зүйлийн 4 дэх хэсэг" ], "sources": [ "mn-infringements", "mn-nli-study" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Checked against a copy of the official consolidated text hosted by a government agency, current to amendments of May 2020; the national legal portal (legalinfo.mn) could not be reached to confirm later changes. A further revised Law on Infringements was reportedly submitted to parliament in 2022; whether it has been adopted was not confirmed.", "mapLabel": "MNT 50,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Paying for sex is an infringement under the same provision as selling: confiscation of illegally obtained income and a fine of 50 units.", "details": "One fine unit equals 1,000 tögrög (Law on Infringements, Article 3.4(3)), so the fine is MNT 50,000.", "provisions": [ "Зөрчлийн тухай хууль 6.18 дугаар зүйлийн 4 дэх хэсэг" ], "sources": [ "mn-infringements" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Same source limitation as for selling: text current to May 2020 amendments.", "mapLabel": "MNT 50,000 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Setting up or financing a place of prostitution, organising prostitution, or providing vehicles, housing or other means for it is punishable by one to five years' restriction of movement or imprisonment; five to twelve years' imprisonment if committed by an organised criminal group.", "details": "Criminal Code Article 12.6 (\"Биеэ үнэлэхийг зохион байгуулах\", organising prostitution), parts 2 and 3, as rewritten by the amendment adopted on 10 January 2020 and published in the State Gazette (Төрийн мэдээлэл) 2020 No. 07. The same amendment package repealed part 7 of Article 6.18 of the Law on Infringements, which had fined organising prostitution on one's own premises.", "provisions": [ "Эрүүгийн хууль 12.6 дугаар зүйлийн 2, 3 дахь хэсэг" ], "sources": [ "mn-gazette-2020", "mn-infringements" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording taken from the 2020 amending law as published in the State Gazette; later amendments, if any, could not be checked on the national legal portal." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Mediating for another person's prostitution or drawing them into it is punishable by six months to three years' restriction of movement or imprisonment. If the person whose body is sold is under 18, the act is treated as human trafficking.", "provisions": [ "Эрүүгийн хууль 12.6 дугаар зүйлийн 1 дэх хэсэг" ], "sources": [ "mn-gazette-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording taken from the 2020 amending law; later amendments could not be checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "The Law on Combating Pornography prohibits promoting \"садар самуун\" (a term it defines to include prostitution) through the media, and the Law on Infringements fines promotion through mass media that falls short of a crime. Third parties who advertise for others may also be mediating prostitution, a crime under Criminal Code Article 12.6.", "provisions": [ "Садар самуун явдалтай тэмцэх тухай хууль 3.1.2, 5.1", "Зөрчлийн тухай хууль 6.18 дугаар зүйлийн 1 дэх хэсэг" ], "sources": [ "mn-infringements", "mn-nli-study" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The text of the Law on Combating Pornography could not be opened (legalinfo.mn unreachable); its definitions are taken from search-result extracts. No provision on online advertising platforms specifically was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mn-infringements", "titleEn": "Law on Infringements (revised edition, 2017)", "relevance": "Article 6.18(4) fines selling and buying sex and confiscates the income.", "provisions": [ "6.18 дугаар зүйл" ], "inForce": "2017-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "mn-gazette-2020", "titleEn": "Law amending the Criminal Code (adopted 10 January 2020)", "relevance": "Rewrote Criminal Code Article 12.6 on organising prostitution, mediating and drawing others into it.", "provisions": [ "Эрүүгийн хууль 12.6" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1998-07", "event": "Law on Combating Pornography, which prohibits prostitution and the promotion of \"садар самуун\", comes into force.", "sources": [ "mn-nli-study" ] }, { "date": "2017-07-01", "event": "Revised Law on Infringements takes effect, fining both selling and buying sex.", "sources": [ "mn-infringements" ] }, { "date": "2020-01-10", "event": "Parliament amends the Criminal Code, rewriting Article 12.6 to criminalise organising prostitution and setting up or financing a place for it, and repeals the administrative fine for organising prostitution on one's own premises.", "sources": [ "mn-gazette-2020", "mn-infringements" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mn-infringements", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Зөрчлийн тухай хууль /Шинэчилсэн найруулга/", "titleEn": "Law on Infringements (revised edition), consolidated text printed from legalinfo.mn", "publisher": "mmra.gov.mn (Mongolian government agency website), copy of the Legalinfo.mn consolidated text", "url": "https://mmra.gov.mn/Files/legalinfo.mn%20-%20%D0%97%D3%A8%D0%A0%D0%A7%D0%9B%D0%98%D0%99%D0%9D%20%D0%A2%D0%A3%D0%A5%D0%90%D0%99.pdf", "published": "2017-05-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mn" }, { "id": "mn-gazette-2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Төрийн мэдээлэл 2020 оны №07 (1109): Эрүүгийн хуульд нэмэлт, өөрчлөлт оруулах тухай", "titleEn": "State Gazette 2020 No. 07: Law amending the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Улсын Их Хурлын Тамгын газар (Secretariat of the State Great Khural)", "url": "https://parliament.mn/files/7b3bb44ee68f44a7a76c2aa315362129/?d=1", "published": "2020-02-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mn" }, { "id": "mn-nli-study", "kind": "government", "title": "Садар самуун явдалтай тэмцэх тухай хуулийн хэрэгжилт, эрх зүйн зохицуулалтыг сайжруулах", "titleEn": "Improving the implementation and legal regulation of the Law on Combating Pornography (study)", "publisher": "Хууль зүйн үндэсний хүрээлэн (National Legal Institute of Mongolia)", "url": "https://nli.gov.mn/pdf/sadar_samuun_yavdaltai_temtseh.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mn" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mongolia/" }, { "iso2": "ME", "name": "Montenegro", "nativeName": "Crna Gora", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a misdemeanour only when done in a public place (Article 27 of the 2011 public order law); buying is not penalised for adults. Classified as prohibition because the seller is the target of the public order offence; private selling between adults is not itself an offence. Procuring and advertising are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "me-zjrm-2011", "me-kz" ], "summary": "In Montenegro, anyone who engages in prostitution in a public place, or acts in ways that encourage prostitution, commits a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of EUR 200–1,000 or up to 30 days' imprisonment (Article 27 of the 2011 Law on Public Order and Peace). Renting or providing premises for prostitution, or otherwise mediating in it, is a separate misdemeanour with fines of up to EUR 5,000 for companies. Adult buyers are not penalised. Article 210 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing or inciting prostitution, handing a person over to another for prostitution, and propagating or advertising prostitution through public media or similar means, with three months to two years; using the sexual services of a minor carries two to ten years.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution in a public place, or engaging in acts that encourage prostitution, is a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of EUR 200–1,000 or up to 30 days' imprisonment. The offence is tied to public places; selling in private is not covered by it.", "details": "Checked against the gazette text of 2011 (Službeni list CG 64/2011). The only amendment, Službeni list CG 56/2020, changed other articles (on flags and on billboard content) and left Articles 27 and 28 untouched.", "provisions": [ "čl. 27 Zakona o javnom redu i miru" ], "sources": [ "me-zjrm-2011", "me-zjrm-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "in public: €1,000 or 30 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the public order law or the Criminal Code. Using the sexual services of a minor is a crime punishable by two to ten years.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210 st. 3 Krivičnog zakonika" ], "sources": [ "me-zjrm-2011", "me-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Criminal Code text used is a 2021 consolidated edition; later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Renting or providing premises for prostitution, or otherwise mediating in it, is a misdemeanour: EUR 500–5,000 for a legal person, EUR 300–2,000 for an entrepreneur or the responsible officer, and EUR 300–1,500 or up to 30 days for an individual.", "provisions": [ "čl. 28 Zakona o javnom redu i miru" ], "sources": [ "me-zjrm-2011" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing or inciting another person to prostitution, or taking part in handing a person over to another for prostitution, is punishable by three months to two years; two to ten years if committed against a minor or by several people in an organised way.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210 st. 1–2 Krivičnog zakonika" ], "sources": [ "me-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on a 2021 consolidated text hosted by the Ombudsman; later amendments to the Criminal Code were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Propagating or advertising prostitution through public media and other similar means is a crime under the same paragraph as procuring, punishable by three months to two years. The wording is not limited to another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210 st. 1 Krivičnog zakonika" ], "sources": [ "me-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on a 2021 consolidated text; application to websites and ad platforms was not checked against case law." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "me-zjrm-2011", "titleEn": "Law on Public Order and Peace (2011)", "relevance": "Misdemeanours of engaging in prostitution in a public place (Art. 27) and providing premises or mediating (Art. 28).", "provisions": [ "čl. 27", "čl. 28" ], "inForce": "2012-01-06" }, { "sourceId": "me-kz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (2003, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 210 criminalises mediation in prostitution, including advertising it.", "provisions": [ "čl. 210" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-01-06", "event": "New Law on Public Order and Peace enters into force, with prostitution misdemeanours in Articles 27–28.", "sources": [ "me-zjrm-2011" ] }, { "date": "2020-06-15", "event": "Amendment to the public order law published (flags, billboard content); prostitution provisions unchanged.", "sources": [ "me-zjrm-2020" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "me-zjrm-2011", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o javnom redu i miru (\"Službeni list Crne Gore\", br. 64/2011)", "titleEn": "Law on Public Order and Peace", "publisher": "Službeni list Crne Gore", "url": "https://www.sluzbenilist.me/propisi/306909", "published": "2011-12-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cnr" }, { "id": "me-zjrm-2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o javnom redu i miru (\"Službeni list Crne Gore\", br. 56/2020)", "titleEn": "Law amending the Law on Public Order and Peace (2020)", "publisher": "Službeni list Crne Gore", "url": "https://www.sluzbenilist.me/propisi/337196", "published": "2020-06-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cnr" }, { "id": "me-kz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Krivični zakonik Crne Gore (prečišćeni tekst, Katalog propisa 2021)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Montenegro (consolidated text, 2021 edition)", "publisher": "Zaštitnik ljudskih prava i sloboda Crne Gore (hosting a consolidated text by Pravni ekspert)", "url": "https://www.ombudsman.co.me/docs/1612168040_krivicni-zakonik-crne-gore.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cnr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/montenegro/" }, { "iso2": "MA", "name": "Morocco", "nativeName": "المغرب", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Penal Code has no offence of selling sex as such, but Article 490 punishes any sexual relations between unmarried persons of different sexes, which covers both the person selling and the person buying. Public soliciting is a separate offence (Article 502), and Articles 497 to 504 criminalise procuring, brothels and tolerating prostitution on premises. The prohibition therefore rests on the general extramarital-sex offence plus the soliciting offence.", "modelSources": [ "ma-cp", "ma-escwa" ], "summary": "Prostitution is prohibited in Morocco. Article 490 of the Penal Code punishes sexual relations between unmarried persons of different sexes with one month to one year in prison, which applies to both the seller and the buyer, and Article 502 punishes publicly soliciting people to debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means. Procuring in its many forms (Article 498), running or financing premises used for prostitution (Article 501) and tolerating prostitution on premises one controls (Article 503) are offences with prison terms of up to ten years, higher in aggravated cases. Repeal of Article 490 is publicly debated, but no bill to that effect had been found in Parliament as of October 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence of selling sex as such, but sexual relations between unmarried persons of different sexes are punishable by one month to one year in prison (Article 490), and publicly soliciting people of either sex to debauchery is punishable by one month to one year and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 dirhams (Article 502).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 490", "Code pénal art. 502" ], "sources": [ "ma-cp", "ma-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Checked against the Ministry of Justice consolidation of 5 July 2018; the later 2021 consolidation on adala.justice.gov.ma could not be opened from here.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific offence of paying for sex. A client who has sex with a person of the other sex outside marriage commits the general Article 490 offence (one month to one year); a married client may also be prosecuted for adultery (one to two years) on the complaint of the spouse (Article 491).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 490", "Code pénal art. 491" ], "sources": [ "ma-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, managing, operating, directing or financing premises habitually used for prostitution, or a public establishment that tolerates it, is punishable by four to ten years and a fine of 5,000 to 2,000,000 dirhams, with withdrawal of any licence and possible closure (Article 501). Tolerating habitual clandestine prostitution in premises one controls is punishable by one month to two years (Article 503).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 501", "Code pénal art. 501-1", "Code pénal art. 503" ], "sources": [ "ma-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Article 498 punishes with one to five years and a fine of 5,000 to 1,000,000 dirhams anyone who knowingly aids, assists or protects another's prostitution, shares in its proceeds, lives with a person habitually engaged in it, recruits or acts as an intermediary. Aggravating circumstances (minors, coercion, several victims, use of communication messages, among others) raise this to two to ten years (Article 499).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 498", "Code pénal art. 499", "Code pénal art. 499-1" ], "sources": [ "ma-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific advertising offence, but public soliciting \"by gestures, words, writings or any other means\" is punishable under Article 502, and aiding another's prostitution \"in any manner\" is procuring under Article 498. Procuring offences committed through messages sent by means of communication are aggravated under Article 499.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 498(1)", "Code pénal art. 499(9)", "Code pénal art. 502" ], "sources": [ "ma-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How courts apply these provisions to online advertisements and to sites hosting them was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ma-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Dahir No. 1-59-413 of 26 November 1962), consolidated to 5 July 2018", "relevance": "Articles 490 and 491 punish extramarital sex and adultery; Articles 497 to 504 cover procuring, brothels, soliciting and tolerating prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 490–491", "art. 497–504" ], "inForce": "1962-11-26" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1962-11-26", "event": "Penal Code promulgated, including the offences of extramarital sex (Article 490) and public soliciting (Article 502).", "sources": [ "ma-cp" ] }, { "date": "2018-07-05", "event": "Law No. 103-13 on combating violence against women is published, renaming the Penal Code section on the corruption of youth and prostitution.", "sources": [ "ma-cp" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-27", "event": "Public debate on repealing Article 490 resumes after the 2026 legislative elections; no repeal bill is reported as tabled.", "sources": [ "ma-le360" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ma-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal — Version consolidée en date du 5 juillet 2018", "titleEn": "Penal Code — consolidated version as of 5 July 2018", "publisher": "Ministère de la Justice (copy hosted by the Office National des Œuvres Universitaires, Sociales et Culturelles)", "url": "https://www.onousc.ma/storage/code_penal.pdf", "published": "2018-07-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ma-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Morocco — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/morocco.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ma-le360", "kind": "news", "title": "Article 490: la pénalisation des relations sexuelles hors mariage de nouveau au centre du débat", "titleEn": "Article 490: the criminalisation of sexual relations outside marriage back at the centre of debate", "publisher": "Le360", "url": "https://fr.le360.ma/societe/article-490-la-penalisation-des-relations-sexuelles-hors-mariage-de-nouveau-au-centre-du-debat_GTLEZ4WSNJG7TH52BSZY5MRV4U/", "published": "2026-10-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/morocco/" }, { "iso2": "MZ", "name": "Mozambique", "nativeName": "Moçambique", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Lei n.º 24/2019) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It punishes anyone who \"professionally or with intent to profit\" fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution (art. 214, now headed \"Lenocínio\"). This covers brothel-keeping and other organised third-party involvement even without coercion; coercion and abuse aggravate the penalty.", "modelSources": [ "mz-cp2019", "mz-lei17-2020" ], "summary": "Mozambique's Penal Code, revised by Lei n.º 24/2019 (in force from mid-2020), contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. The only adult prostitution offence is lenocínio (art. 214). Professionally or for profit fostering, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution carries one to two years and a fine. With violence, serious threat, fraud, abuse of authority or dependence, or exploitation of mental incapacity or special vulnerability, the penalty rises to two to eight years. A 2020 amendment (Lei n.º 17/2020) retitled arts. 214–215 as \"Lenocínio\" and \"Lenocínio de menores\" and added a trafficking offence (art. 196-A). Publicly displaying sexually explicit material for commerce is a separate minor offence (art. 217(2)).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes it an offence for an adult to sell sex. The general offence of importuning someone with explicit sexual proposals (art. 204, up to two years) and the public-indecency offence (art. 217) are not specific to sex work.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 24/2019) arts. 204, 214, 217" ], "sources": [ "mz-cp2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of Boletim da República I Série n.º 248 (24 December 2019) hosted by a law-reform site; the official Imprensa Nacional portal was not used. No 2023–2026 amendment to these articles was found, but municipal by-laws and police practice were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no client offence for adults. Paying for sex with a minor is caught by the separate minors' provisions (art. 215 and the sexual-abuse offences).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 24/2019) arts. 214–215" ], "sources": [ "mz-cp2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2019 Boletim da República copy." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel is a form of professionally or for-profit facilitating another person's prostitution. It falls under lenocínio, punishable by one to two years and a corresponding fine (art. 214(1)).", "details": "Art. 214(1), translated: \"Whoever, professionally or with intent to profit, fosters, favours or facilitates the exercise of prostitution by another person is punished with imprisonment of 1 to 2 years and a corresponding fine.\"", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (Lei 24/2019, as amended by Lei 17/2020) art. 214(1)" ], "sources": [ "mz-cp2019", "mz-lei17-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Translation by the editors. Brothels are not mentioned by name; their inclusion follows from the wording." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Fostering, favouring or facilitating another's prostitution professionally or for profit carries one to two years and a fine (art. 214(1)). It carries two to eight years if committed with violence or serious threat, by fraud, by abusing family, tutorial, hierarchical, economic or work dependence, or by exploiting mental incapacity or special vulnerability (art. 214(2)). Trafficking for sexual exploitation carries 16 to 20 years (art. 196-A).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 214(1)–(2)", "art. 196-A (added by Lei 17/2020)" ], "sources": [ "mz-cp2019", "mz-lei17-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Lei 17/2020 changed the headings of arts. 214–215 to \"Lenocínio\" and \"Lenocínio de menores\"; its gazetted text marks the numbered paragraphs as \"[…]\", i.e. unchanged." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services. A third party who places or hosts adverts for profit could be treated as favouring or facilitating prostitution (art. 214). Separately, putting sexually explicit writings or images in public places for commerce, or broadcasting them in public, carries up to six months (art. 217(2)).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 214", "art. 217(2)" ], "sources": [ "mz-cp2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "A reading of the statutory text only; no prosecutions of advertisers or websites were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mz-cp2019", "titleEn": "Law No. 24/2019 of 24 December revising the Penal Code", "relevance": "Contains the lenocínio offence (art. 214), the minors' offence (art. 215) and public-indecency offences (art. 217); no offence of selling or buying sex.", "provisions": [ "art. 204", "arts. 214–217" ], "inForce": "2020-06" }, { "sourceId": "mz-lei17-2020", "titleEn": "Law No. 17/2020 of 23 December amending the Penal Code", "relevance": "Retitles arts. 214–215 as lenocínio offences and adds trafficking in persons (art. 196-A).", "provisions": [ "arts. 196-A, 214, 215" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-12-24", "event": "Lei n.º 24/2019 revising the Penal Code is published in the Boletim da República; it enters into force 180 days later.", "sources": [ "mz-cp2019" ] }, { "date": "2020-12-23", "event": "Lei n.º 17/2020 retitles the prostitution articles as lenocínio offences and adds a trafficking-in-persons offence.", "sources": [ "mz-lei17-2020" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mz-cp2019", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 24/2019, de 24 de Dezembro — Lei de Revisão do Código Penal (Boletim da República, I Série, n.º 248)", "titleEn": "Law No. 24/2019 of 24 December revising the Penal Code (Official Gazette, Series I, No. 248)", "publisher": "Boletim da República (copy hosted by Reformar)", "url": "https://reformar.co.mz/documentos-diversos/lei-24-2019-lei-de-revisao-do-codigo-penal.pdf", "published": "2019-12-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "mz-lei17-2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 17/2020, de 23 de Dezembro — altera os artigos 214 e 215 e adita o artigo 196-A do Código Penal (Boletim da República, I Série, n.º 246, 2.º Suplemento)", "titleEn": "Law No. 17/2020 of 23 December amending arts. 214–215 and adding art. 196-A to the Penal Code", "publisher": "Boletim da República (Gazettes.Africa archive)", "url": "https://archive.gazettes.africa/archive/mz/2020/mz-government-gazette-series-i-supplement-no-2-dated-2020-12-23-no-246.pdf", "published": "2020-12-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mozambique/" }, { "iso2": "MM", "name": "Myanmar", "nativeName": "မြန်မာ", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, as amended in 1998, punishes publicly soliciting for prostitution and living from one's own prostitution, as well as brothel-keeping and living on the earnings of others. The Act contains no offence for clients.", "modelSources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ], "summary": "Myanmar's Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, amended by Law No. 7/98 of 1998, criminalises people who sell sex rather than their clients. According to legal reviews of the Act, soliciting customers for prostitution (section 3) carries one to three years' imprisonment with hard labour and a possible fine, and a court may order detention in a designated facility instead of prison. Living on the earnings of a person whose occupation is prostitution and managing a brothel (section 5(1)) carry one to five years. The 1998 amendment widened \"brothel\" to any house, building, room, vehicle, vessel, aircraft or place habitually used for prostitution. The official text could not be opened for this review, so the detail rests on secondary legal analyses.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting customers for prostitution is punished with one to three years' imprisonment with hard labour and a possible fine (section 3). Section 17 lets the court order detention in a designated facility instead of prison, including for persons who make their living from prostitution (section 7(1)(a)).", "provisions": [ "s. 3 Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949", "s. 7(1)(a) Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949", "s. 17 Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949" ], "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be opened (ILO NATLEX blocked; no official English text found). Section numbers and penalties are taken from the Asia Catalyst/Vance Center review (2018), which works from an unofficial translation.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Act does not include any offence for customers of sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949" ], "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statute not checked; based on the Asia Catalyst/Vance Center review (2018). Buying sex from a child is covered by other laws not reviewed here." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Managing a brothel is punished with one to five years' imprisonment and a possible fine. Since 1998 \"brothel\" covers any house, building, room, vehicle, vessel, aircraft or place habitually used for prostitution or used in any kind of business for that purpose.", "provisions": [ "s. 5(1) Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949", "Law No. 7/98" ], "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statute not checked; secondary legal analyses only." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Depending on a person whose occupation is prostitution (living on the earnings) is punished with one to five years and a possible fine. Procuring persons for prostitution and renting premises for use as a brothel are also offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 5(1) Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949" ], "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statute not checked; secondary legal analyses only. Exact section numbers for procuring and renting premises were not confirmed." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising was identified. Offering one's own services publicly would fall under the soliciting offence, and advertising for others could amount to procuring or aiding prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s. 3 Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949" ], "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference; neither the statute nor media and electronic-transactions law was reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mm-asiacatalyst", "titleEn": "Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, as amended by Law No. 7/98", "relevance": "Main prostitution statute: soliciting, living on earnings, brothel management, detention of offenders in designated facilities.", "provisions": [ "s. 3", "s. 5(1)", "s. 7(1)(a)", "s. 17" ], "inForce": "1949" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1949", "event": "The Suppression of Prostitution Act is enacted.", "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ] }, { "date": "1998", "event": "Law No. 7/98 amends the Act, widening the definition of a brothel to any place, vehicle, vessel or aircraft habitually used for prostitution.", "sources": [ "mm-asiacatalyst", "mm-ilga-can" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mm-asiacatalyst", "kind": "ngo", "title": "A Legal Review of Detention Centers for Sex Workers in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam", "publisher": "Asia Catalyst and Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice", "url": "https://asiacatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Legal-Review-of-Detention-Centers-.pdf", "published": "2018-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mm-ilga-can", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Input to thematic report of the SR Torture to HRC49: joint submission by ILGA Asia and C.A.N-Myanmar", "publisher": "ILGA Asia and C.A.N-Myanmar (via OHCHR)", "url": "https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/ILGAAsiaandCANMyanmar.pdf", "published": "2021-08-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/myanmar/" }, { "iso2": "NA", "name": "Namibia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 closely follows South Africa's Sexual Offences Act 1957, but has no equivalent of South Africa's later selling (1988) or buying (2007) offences. It therefore criminalises neither selling nor buying, only brothels, procuring, living on the earnings, assisting contact for prostitution and public soliciting. Lawyers quoted in 2025 said sex workers, not clients, are the ones generally prosecuted.", "modelSources": [ "na-cip", "na-namibian-2025" ], "summary": "Namibia's Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 does not make the exchange of sex for money an offence, but criminalises the conduct around it. This covers keeping a brothel (s. 2, up to three years), procuring (s. 5), helping a man contact a woman for sex outside marriage (s. 6), soliciting in a public street or place (s. 7) and living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 10). In Hendricks v Attorney General (2002) the High Court narrowed the definition of a brothel and struck down the deeming and presumption provisions. No reform bill or new court challenge from 2023–2026 was found. Advocacy groups and lawyers continue to call for repeal.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. Any person who \"in any public street or place entices, solicits or importunes or makes any proposals to any other person for immoral purposes\" faces a fine of up to two thousand rand and/or up to two years (s. 7(a)). Committing an immoral act with another person in public carries a fine of up to three thousand rand and/or three years (s. 8).", "details": "In 2025 the human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe told The Namibian that receiving or paying for sex is not itself illegal. He said the Act is generally used against sex workers rather than their clients. Sex workers in the same report described police harassment for soliciting.", "provisions": [ "Act 21/1980 s. 7(a)", "s. 8" ], "sources": [ "na-cip", "na-namibian-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Statute read from NamibLII's annotated consolidation, which includes amendments up to February 2026, through the Internet Archive's copy because NamibLII blocks automated access. Fines are still expressed in rand in the statute.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Act contains no offence of paying an adult for sex. The public-soliciting offence (s. 7(a)) applies to any person, so a client who solicits in a public street or place can commit it.", "provisions": [ "Act 21/1980 s. 7(a)" ], "sources": [ "na-cip", "na-namibian-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the NamibLII annotated text, via the Internet Archive." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a brothel carries up to three years' imprisonment, or that and a fine of up to three thousand rand (s. 2(1)). A brothel includes any house or place kept or used for prostitution. Owners or occupiers who knowingly permit premises to be used for any offence under the Act face up to two years (s. 9).", "details": "In *Hendricks and Others v Attorney General, Namibia and Others* 2002 NR 353 (HC), the High Court struck from the definition of \"brothel\" the words extending it to places visited for \"unlawful carnal intercourse\" or any other \"lewd or immoral purpose\". It also declared unconstitutional the list of persons deemed to keep a brothel and the presumptions in s. 12(1) and (2). The core offence of keeping a brothel was left in place.", "provisions": [ "Act 21/1980 s. 1 (\"brothel\")", "s. 2(1)", "s. 9" ], "sources": [ "na-cip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Hendricks order is taken from NamibLII's annotations, not from the judgment. The annotations attribute the strike-down to s. 2(2); other copies of the order quote it as s. 2(3)." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a woman to become a prostitute or an inmate of a brothel, or enticing her to a brothel, carries up to five years (s. 5). Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution, or assisting in bringing about or receiving payment for another person's \"immoral act\", carries a fine of up to three thousand rand and/or three years (s. 10). Detaining a woman in a brothel against her will carries up to seven years (s. 13).", "provisions": [ "Act 21/1980 s. 5", "s. 10", "s. 13" ], "sources": [ "na-cip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the NamibLII annotated text, via the Internet Archive." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person who, intending that a man have sex outside marriage with a woman, \"performs any act or does anything or furnishes any information\" calculated or likely to enable him to contact or trace her commits an offence carrying up to five years (s. 6). This wording reaches adverts and introduction services. Where the accused had reason to suspect the woman was a sex worker, the intent is presumed (s. 12(3)).", "provisions": [ "Act 21/1980 s. 6", "s. 12(3)" ], "sources": [ "na-cip" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "A reading of the statutory text. The section is framed around a man and a woman. No prosecutions of publishers or websites were found, and whether it has been applied to a sex worker's own advert is unknown." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "na-cip", "titleEn": "Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980", "relevance": "Brothels (ss. 1–4), procuring (s. 5), assistance (s. 6), public soliciting (s. 7), living on the earnings (s. 10).", "provisions": [ "ss. 1–13" ], "inForce": "1980-10-31" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1980-10-31", "event": "The Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 is published and comes into force in South West Africa.", "sources": [ "na-cip" ] }, { "date": "2002", "event": "In Hendricks v Attorney General the High Court narrows the definition of a brothel and strikes down the brothel-deeming provision and two presumptions, leaving the core offences in place.", "sources": [ "na-cip" ] }, { "date": "2025-03-13", "event": "The Namibian reports growing calls from lawyers and sex worker groups to decriminalise sex work; no government position is reported.", "sources": [ "na-namibian-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "na-cip", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 (annotated; version of 15 May 2024)", "publisher": "NamibLII", "url": "https://namiblii.org/akn/na/act/1980/21/eng@2024-05-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "na-namibian-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Calls grow for sex work legalisation", "publisher": "The Namibian", "url": "https://www.namibian.com.na/calls-grow-for-sex-work-legalisation/", "published": "2025-03-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/namibia/" }, { "iso2": "NR", "name": "Nauru", "nativeName": "Ripublik Naoero", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Crimes Act 2016 contains no offence of selling sex, but makes it an offence to intentionally engage, employ, cause or permit another person to provide a commercial sexual service (s. 107, five years), which on its wording covers clients as well as managers, and to hold an interest in premises used for commercial sexual services by two or more people (s. 108). Amnesty International read ss. 107-109 as criminalising the organisation and buying of sexual services.", "modelSources": [ "nr-crimes", "nr-amnesty" ], "summary": "In Nauru, the Crimes Act 2016, which repealed the Criminal Code 1899, does not penalise selling sex but makes it an offence to intentionally engage, employ, cause or permit another person to provide a commercial sexual service (up to five years, seven with aggravating circumstances). Owning, leasing or controlling premises knowing they are made available for commercial sexual services by two or more people carries six years. Using intimidatory conduct to make someone enter or stay in prostitution, or hand over its earnings, carries 25 years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling or offering sexual services was found in the Crimes Act 2016; its commercial sexual services offences are aimed at those who engage, employ, cause or permit another person to provide them.", "sources": [ "nr-crimes", "nr-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2016 as enacted (copy hosted by ILGA World); the official RONLAW portal serves documents only through a JavaScript application that could not be read automatically, so later amendments were not checked. Other legislation, such as police offences laws, was not checked for street soliciting offences." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who intentionally engages, employs, causes or permits another person to provide a commercial sexual service commits an offence punishable by five years, or seven with aggravating circumstances. 'Engages' on its ordinary meaning includes a client who pays for the service.", "provisions": [ "s. 107 Crimes Act 2016", "s. 8 Crimes Act 2016 (definition of commercial sexual service)" ], "sources": [ "nr-crimes", "nr-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2016 as enacted (copy hosted by ILGA World); the official RONLAW portal serves documents only through a JavaScript application that could not be read automatically, so later amendments were not checked. No court decision applying s. 107 to clients was found; the reading follows the wording and Amnesty International's 2016 analysis.", "mapLabel": "up to 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who owns, leases, rents or is entitled to use premises, or controls an entity that does, commits an offence if they know the premises are or will be made available for commercial sexual services by two or more people (six years; strict liability as to the interest). Employing or permitting others to provide such services is separately caught by s. 107.", "provisions": [ "s. 108 Crimes Act 2016", "s. 107 Crimes Act 2016" ], "sources": [ "nr-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2016 as enacted (copy hosted by ILGA World); the official RONLAW portal serves documents only through a JavaScript application that could not be read automatically, so later amendments were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Engaging, employing, causing or permitting another person to provide a commercial sexual service carries five years (seven if aggravated). Using threats or promises (intimidatory conduct) that contribute to a person entering or remaining in prostitution, or giving up payments earned from it, carries 25 years.", "provisions": [ "s. 107 Crimes Act 2016", "s. 109 Crimes Act 2016" ], "sources": [ "nr-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2016 as enacted (copy hosted by ILGA World); the official RONLAW portal serves documents only through a JavaScript application that could not be read automatically, so later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. A person who advertises others' services for profit could be said to 'cause' them to provide commercial sexual services under s. 107.", "provisions": [ "s. 107 Crimes Act 2016" ], "sources": [ "nr-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "nr-crimes", "titleEn": "Crimes Act 2016 (Act No. 18 of 2016)", "relevance": "Engaging a person to provide commercial sexual services (s. 107), holding an interest in premises used for them (s. 108) and compelling prostitution or the giving of its earnings (s. 109).", "provisions": [ "s. 107", "s. 108", "s. 109" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016", "event": "Crimes Act 2016 replaces the Criminal Code 1899 and introduces the commercial sexual services offences in ss. 107-109.", "sources": [ "nr-crimes", "nr-amnesty" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "nr-crimes", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2016 (Act No. 18 of 2016)", "publisher": "Republic of Nauru (copy hosted by ILGA World legal database)", "url": "https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/NR%20-%20LEG%20-%20Crimes%20Act%20(2016)%20-%20OR-OFF(en).pdf", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nr-amnesty", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Nauru: New Crimes Act 2016 a welcome step", "publisher": "Amnesty International Australia", "url": "https://www.amnesty.org.au/nauru-new-criminal-law/", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nauru/" }, { "iso2": "NP", "name": "Nepal", "nativeName": "नेपाल", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007 treats prostitution entirely as trafficking. Putting someone into prostitution \"with or without any benefit\" and वेश्यागमन (going to a sex worker as a client) are both defined as human trafficking. The Act creates no offence for the person who sells sex, who falls within its definition of a victim. In practice, research by the Forum for Women, Law and Development found that police released clients and prosecuted sex workers under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970.", "modelSources": [ "np-httca", "np-httca-en", "np-fwld-2014" ], "summary": "Nepal folds prostitution into its anti-trafficking law. Section 4(1) of the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007 lists selling or buying a person, putting someone into prostitution with or without benefit, unlawful organ removal and वेश्यागमन (visiting a sex worker as a client) as acts of human trafficking. A client faces one to three months' imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees. Anyone who puts another person into prostitution faces about ten to fifteen years. A \"victim\" includes a person \"put into prostitution\", and the Act creates no offence for the seller. Sex workers have instead been prosecuted under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970. A First Amendment Bill, tabled in 2025 and approved again by the Cabinet in July 2026, rewrites the trafficking definition.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The 2007 Act creates no offence for selling sex and treats a person \"put into prostitution\" as a victim. Sex workers have nonetheless been detained and prosecuted under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970, a public-order law.", "provisions": [ "s. 2(c) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007" ], "sources": [ "np-httca-en", "np-fwld-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970 was not read; its use against sex workers is documented by an NGO study (FWLD 2014, including a 2009 Kathmandu raid), not by court statistics." }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Going to a sex worker as a client (वेश्यागमन) is defined as an act of human trafficking and punished by one to three months' imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees. FWLD reported in 2014 that in practice clients caught in raids were released.", "details": "Section 4(1)(घ) of the Nepali text reads \"वेश्यागमन गर्ने\", which the unofficial English translation renders as \"to go for in prostitution\" and FWLD as \"engaging in prostitution as a client\". The penalty sits in section 15(1)(घ) (rendered in the English translation as \"a person engaged in prostitution\").", "provisions": [ "दफा ४(१)(घ)", "दफा १५(१)(घ)" ], "sources": [ "np-httca", "np-httca-en", "np-fwld-2014", "np-eadarsha" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official Nepali text on the Law Commission portal could not be opened (connection refused); its wording of section 4(1) was confirmed through a search result and a Nepali news article quoting it. The penalty was read in an unofficial English translation.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 months" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No separate brothel offence was found. Running a brothel involves putting others into prostitution, which is human trafficking under section 4(1)(b) regardless of whether the operator profits, and is punished under section 15(1)(b).", "provisions": [ "s. 4(1)(b) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007", "s. 15(1)(b) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007" ], "sources": [ "np-httca-en", "np-fwld-2014" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The English translation states the section 15(1)(b) penalty as \"Ten years to Five years\" with a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 rupees, an evident typographical error; other translations give ten to fifteen years. The official Nepali text could not be opened to settle it." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Putting someone into prostitution, \"with or without any benefit\", is human trafficking punishable by about ten to fifteen years' imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 rupees. Transporting a person within Nepal or abroad for prostitution by enticement, deception, coercion or similar means is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 4(1)(b) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007", "s. 4(2)(b) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007", "s. 15 Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007" ], "sources": [ "np-httca-en", "np-httca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Penalties as given in an unofficial English translation; see the note on brothels." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A third party who places ads to supply others for prostitution risks the offence of putting someone into prostitution, which applies with or without benefit.", "provisions": [ "s. 4(1)(b) Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007" ], "sources": [ "np-httca-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Advertising, electronic transactions and public-decency laws were not checked; this entry only reflects the trafficking Act. Whether a sex worker's own advertisement is an offence was not established." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "np-httca", "titleEn": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 (2007), Act No. 5 of 2064", "relevance": "Defines putting someone into prostitution and visiting a sex worker as a client as human trafficking, sets the penalties, and treats persons put into prostitution as victims.", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 4", "s. 15" ], "inForce": "2007-07-24" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "np-httca-first-amendment", "title": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) (First Amendment) Bill", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2026-07-29", "summary": "Tabled in the House of Representatives on 24 July 2025. It broadens the definition of trafficking in line with the Palermo Protocol (forced labour or service, child trafficking, smuggling), raises the maximum fine to 500,000 rupees and adds extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Cabinet approved submitting it to Parliament again on 29 July 2026. Press reports do not say whether it changes the treatment of clients or sex workers.", "sources": [ "np-ht-2025", "np-ratopati-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2007-07-24", "event": "The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 is authenticated and published, defining visiting a sex worker as a trafficking act.", "sources": [ "np-httca-en" ] }, { "date": "2009-02-27", "event": "During a raid on a Kathmandu brothel, clients are released and the women prosecuted under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act, an example FWLD cites of the 2007 Act's client offence going unenforced.", "sources": [ "np-fwld-2014" ] }, { "date": "2025-07-24", "event": "The government tables the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) (First Amendment) Bill in the House of Representatives.", "sources": [ "np-ht-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-29", "event": "The Cabinet approves submitting the First Amendment Bill to the Federal Parliament.", "sources": [ "np-ratopati-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "np-httca", "kind": "legislation", "title": "मानव बेचबिखन तथा ओसारपसार (नियन्त्रण) ऐन, २०६४", "titleEn": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 (2007)", "publisher": "Nepal Law Commission (नेपाल कानून आयोग)", "url": "https://repository.lawcommission.gov.np/np/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%93%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%AA.pdf", "published": "2007-07-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ne" }, { "id": "np-httca-en", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2064 (2007), unofficial English translation", "publisher": "The Warnath Group (copy of the English translation)", "url": "https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Nepal-TIP-Law-2007.pdf", "published": "2007-07-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "np-fwld-2014", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007: Its Implementation", "publisher": "Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD)", "url": "https://fwld.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Human-Trafficking-and-Transportation-Control-Act-2007-ITS-IMPLEMENTATION.pdf", "published": "2014", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "np-eadarsha", "kind": "news", "title": "होशियार ∕ मानव तस्करी र बेचबिखनमा पर्नुहोला", "titleEn": "Beware of falling into human smuggling and trafficking", "publisher": "eAdarsha", "url": "https://www.eadarsha.com/nep/article/%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0-%E2%88%95-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%87", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ne" }, { "id": "np-ht-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) (Amendment) Bill tabled at HoR", "publisher": "The Himalayan Times", "url": "https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/human-trafficking-and-transportation-control-amendment-bill-tabled-at-hor", "published": "2025-07-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "np-ratopati-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Cabinet Meeting Approves 9 Bills for Federal Parliament, Decides on Administration and Technical Education", "publisher": "Ratopati (English)", "url": "https://english.ratopati.com/story/72270/these-are-the-decisions-taken-by-the-council-of-ministers-full-text", "published": "2026-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nepal/" }, { "iso2": "NL", "name": "Netherlands", "nativeName": "Nederland", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Since 1 October 2000, when the general brothel ban was lifted, selling and buying sex between adults and running a sex business are lawful; criminal law targets exploitation (art. 273f Sr). Regulation is municipal: councils may license sex businesses by bylaw (art. 151a Gemeentewet, usually in the APV), so the regime ranges from licensed window districts to a de facto zero policy. A national licensing law (Wrs) was dropped by the government in May 2026.", "modelSources": [ "stb-1999-464", "stb-2000-38", "gemeentewet", "kst-34193-21", "kst-34193-13" ], "summary": "Prostitution between adults is legal in the Netherlands, and sex businesses have been lawful since the brothel ban was lifted on 1 October 2000. There is no national licensing law: municipalities regulate through their local bylaw (APV), deciding whether and where clubs, windows, escort agencies and home-based work are allowed and licensing operators. Criminal law targets trafficking and exploitation (art. 273f Sr), sex with sellers under 18 and, since 2022, clients who know or should suspect a sex worker is trafficked (art. 273g Sr). In 2026 the government dropped the Wet regulering sekswerk, announced a statutory minimum age of 21 and tabled a bill on municipal supervision; a modernised trafficking law was enacted, and a bill obliging sex-ad platforms to verify advertisers' identity and age is before the Senate.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Amsterdam", "model": "regulation", "note": "APV 2008: licences required for prostitution businesses (incl. window brothels) and escort agencies; licensed operators may only let sex workers aged 21 or over work for them (art. 3.30(1)(e)); prostitution hotels are banned (art. 3.27(2)); street soliciting and buying in the street are offences (arts. 2.12, 2.13). Ads for licensed businesses must carry the business name and licence number (arts. 3.38, 3.45). A weekend 03:00 closing time for windows in the Wallen core (April 2023) was reversed in February 2024. The plan for a large 'erotic centre' to relocate part of the Wallen windows was dropped in the June 2026 coalition agreement; the new city executive is to examine several smaller sites instead.", "sources": [ "amsterdam-apv", "at5-2024-02-20", "nh-2026-06-03" ] }, { "name": "Arnhem and Nijmegen", "note": "According to the government business portal, street prostitution is allowed only in Arnhem and Nijmegen (designated zones); Arnhem requires a special pass and issues no new ones. Elsewhere street soliciting is generally banned in the APV.", "sources": [ "ondernemersplein-zzp", "kst-34193-13" ] }, { "name": "Other municipalities", "note": "Policy is set locally. In the 2022 WODC baseline study, 93% of municipalities had prostitution rules in their APV and over 85% had adopted the VNG model APV provisions largely unchanged; 73% of those with a policy capped the number of businesses and 18% ran a de facto zero policy. Window prostitution is banned in many municipalities; rules on home-based work vary widely. The VNG is revising the model APV (expected 2027).", "sources": [ "kst-34193-13", "ccv-background" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sexual services is legal for adults (18+) nationally. Involving anyone under 18 is an offence for third parties and clients, not for the minor. Many municipalities, including Amsterdam, require sex workers in licensed businesses to be 21 (the government portal says 'most cities'). A statutory national minimum age of 21 has been announced but not yet tabled.", "details": "There is no offence of selling sex. Protection of minors runs through offences aimed at others: bringing a person under 18 into paid sex or profiting from it is trafficking (art. 273f(1)(5°) and (8°) Sr), and paying a 16- or 17-year-old for sex is an offence under art. 245(1)(d) Sr (Wet seksuele misdrijven, in force 1 July 2024). Where selling takes place still matters: municipal bylaws (APV) prohibit soliciting in the street outside designated zones and may ban unlicensed home-based or window work, enforced with fines or administrative measures.\n\nThe government's letter of 13 May 2026 states that the minimum age for prostitution will be raised by law to 21; on 22 September 2026 the Tweede Kamer adopted a motion asking that the higher age apply to 'sex work' generally (the motion's term, wider than prostitution), not only prostitution. By September–October 2026 the government was describing the measure as a stepwise increase of the minimum age for sex work to 21, to be enacted by a separate bill now in preparation (see pending). Amsterdam already applies 21 inside licensed businesses (APV art. 3.30(1)(e)), and the government business portal states that most cities have raised the age to 21, while its page for sex workers says 'some cities'.", "provisions": [ "art. 273f(1)(5°), (8°) Sr", "art. 245(1)(d) Sr", "APV (municipal)" ], "sources": [ "sr-wetten", "stb-2024-61", "kst-34193-21", "kst-28638-274", "nd-2026-09-22", "ah-2026-257", "kst-37020-vi-2", "amsterdam-apv", "ondernemersplein-exploitant", "ondernemersplein-zzp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is legal nationally; municipal bylaws (APVs) such as Amsterdam's make buying in the street a minor offence. Separately, it is an offence to pay a 16- or 17-year-old for sex (art. 245 Sr, up to 6 years) and, since 1 January 2022, to have sex with a sex worker while knowing or having serious reason to suspect they are a trafficking victim (art. 273g Sr, up to 4 years).", "details": "Art. 273g Sr was introduced by the Wet strafbaarstelling misbruik prostituees die slachtoffer zijn van mensenhandel (Stb. 2021, 467), in force on the first day of the third month after publication, i.e. 1 January 2022. The Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel (Stb. 2026, 312) rewrites art. 273g so it also covers persons for whom the sex worker performs sexual acts; it awaits a commencement decree. The EU-directive implementation bill (36 835) passed by the Tweede Kamer on 6 October 2026 would extend art. 273g to anyone who intentionally uses the services of a person while knowing or having serious reason to suspect that those services are the object of trafficking (up to 4 years).\n\nIn Amsterdam, APV art. 2.13 prohibits using a sex worker's services, or responding to offers, in or near the street or in a publicly accessible building (outside a licensed business), including letting a sex worker into a vehicle; breach is punishable under APV art. 6.1. The Wrs bill would have criminalised clients of unlicensed sex workers (art. 40, up to 12 months' detention); that bill has been dropped. There is no specific minimum age for clients: clients aged 16–17 buying from an adult commit no offence, as the minister confirmed. A motion asking the government to explore a statutory client minimum of at least 18 (Boomsma/Bikker) was rejected on 22 September 2026.", "provisions": [ "art. 273g Sr", "art. 245(1)(d) Sr", "e.g. Amsterdam APV art. 2.13" ], "sources": [ "sr-wetten", "stb-2021-467", "stb-2026-312", "kst-36835-a", "kst-35715-2", "kst-28638-269", "tk-vote-2026z18344", "amsterdam-apv" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The status reflects the municipal street-buying bans; the offences involving minors and trafficking victims are not what the status shows. Street-buying bans were checked only in the Amsterdam APV; how many other municipalities have them was not counted." }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "summary": "Brothels, clubs, window brothels and escort agencies have been lawful since 1 October 2000, subject to a municipal operating licence under the local APV (art. 151a Gemeentewet). Municipalities decide whether and where to license and may cap numbers or in practice refuse all; running an unlicensed business where a licence is required is a bylaw offence.", "details": "The Wet opheffing algemeen bordeelverbod (Stb. 1999, 464) repealed art. 250bis Sr, the general ban on brothel-keeping, with effect from 1 October 2000 (Stb. 2000, 38). Art. 151a Gemeentewet lets the council adopt rules on 'the commercial provision of opportunity for sexual acts with or for a third party for payment'. Under the Amsterdam APV, for example, operators need a licence (art. 3.27), must be at least 21 and of good conduct (art. 3.29), must submit a business plan, check that sex workers are not trafficked, are self-reliant, entitled to work and at least 21, and keep records available to inspectors (arts. 3.28–3.31). Breaches are punishable with up to three months' detention or a second-category fine (APV art. 6.1, within the cap of art. 154 Gemeentewet) and can lead to closure or licence withdrawal. Integrity screening under the Wet Bibob is common. In the 2022 WODC baseline study the number of sex-industry licences nationally (including licences issued to individual street sex workers) was estimated at 373.", "provisions": [ "art. 151a Gemeentewet", "art. 154 Gemeentewet", "Amsterdam APV arts. 3.27–3.37" ], "sources": [ "stb-1999-464", "stb-2000-38", "gemeentewet", "amsterdam-apv", "kst-34193-13", "ondernemersplein-exploitant" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "varies", "summary": "No national offence. Under the Amsterdam APV (art. 1.1), likely typical given the widely adopted VNG model APV, a 'prostitution business' is any publicly accessible closed space where opportunity for prostitution is given commercially or on a comparable scale, so sex workers working together from one address may need an operator licence; rules on home-based work differ widely between municipalities.", "details": "Whether two or more sex workers sharing a flat amount to a licensable business depends on the local APV definition and on enforcement practice. The Amsterdam APV definition (art. 1.1) is typical; Amsterdam also requires a housing permit for business use of a dwelling (art. 3.32(1)(c)). The government business portal states that home-based reception is prohibited in most municipalities and advises sex workers to ask their municipality. The 2022 WODC study described municipal policy on home-based work as 'very diverse'.", "provisions": [ "APV (municipal)", "e.g. Amsterdam APV arts. 1.1, 3.27, 3.32" ], "sources": [ "amsterdam-apv", "ondernemersplein-zzp", "kst-34193-13" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Position depends on each municipality's APV wording and enforcement; no national rule or case law was reviewed for this entry. The definition is quoted from the Amsterdam APV; that the VNG model APV uses the same wording was not checked against the model text, which over 85% of municipalities adopted largely unchanged (WODC 2022)." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from voluntary adult prostitution is not itself an offence since 2000; licensed operators may run businesses. Exploitation is human trafficking under art. 273f Sr (up to 12 years; aggravated up to 15/18 years or life), including forcing someone to hand over earnings and knowingly profiting from exploitation. A 'pimp ban' is being explored.", "details": "Art. 273f Sr (current version) covers recruiting, transporting, harbouring or receiving a person by coercive means with intent to exploit, any involvement of a person under 18, and profiting from exploitation (art. 273f(1)(6°), (8°), (9°)). The Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel (Stb. 2026, 312, signed 30 September 2026, commencement by royal decree) replaces art. 273f with a 'means + act + exploitation purpose' structure, adds child trafficking as a separate offence, and adds 'serious disadvantage' (art. 273fa) and knowingly profiting from trafficking or serious disadvantage (art. 273fb), each up to 6 years. It provides that a vulnerable position includes being under 21 where the work is prostitution or other sexual acts (new art. 273f(4)).\n\nThe government's letter of 13 May 2026 says the minister is examining how to criminalise 'malafide facilitators' in the illegal sector (a 'pooierverbod'), with the Public Prosecution Service, municipalities and sex workers, and looking at Amsterdam's facilitator approach.", "provisions": [ "art. 273f Sr", "arts. 273fa, 273fb Sr (enacted, not yet in force)" ], "sources": [ "sr-wetten", "stb-2026-312", "ek-36547", "kst-34193-21" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising sexual services is legal; there is no national advertising offence. Municipal APVs set rules for licensed businesses, typically that ads show the business name and licence number and use only the phone numbers on the licence; Amsterdam also bans advertising unsafe sex. Individual sex workers have no national licence number to display.", "details": "In Amsterdam, operators of prostitution businesses and escort agencies must state the business name and licence number in ads (APV arts. 3.38(1), 3.45(1)); escort agencies may use only the phone numbers listed on the licence, not unregistered prepaid mobiles (art. 3.45(2)). Offering unsafe sex or guaranteeing that sex workers are free of STIs in ads is prohibited (arts. 3.38(2), 3.45(3)); those two prohibitions are punishable offences under APV art. 6.1, whereas the licence-number duty is not listed there and is enforced administratively (e.g. through licence conditions and withdrawal). Because more than 85% of municipalities adopted the VNG model APV largely unchanged (WODC 2022), similar rules are likely in many municipalities.\n\nThe abandoned Wrs bill would have required every sex worker to show a national register licence number and phone number in ads (art. 17). Since 1 April 2026, after talks with the Public Prosecution Service, the main ad platforms (including kinky.nl and sexjobs.nl) run an identity check on every new ad; a statutory verification duty for platforms is pending (see platforms).", "provisions": [ "Amsterdam APV arts. 3.38, 3.45, 6.1", "VNG model APV ch. 3" ], "sources": [ "amsterdam-apv", "kst-35715-2", "kst-34193-21", "kst-34193-13", "ccv-background" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Advertising rules differ by municipality; Amsterdam is described as an example. Whether a municipality requires a licence number depends on its own APV; the VNG model APV text itself was not checked. The penalty shown is the APV minor offence (art. 6.1) for the unsafe-sex and STI-free ad bans; the licence-number duty is enforced administratively." }, "platforms": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No platform-specific offence is in force. Platforms fall under the trafficking provisions only if they intentionally profit from exploitation. Since April 2026 the largest sites verify advertisers' identity under a voluntary arrangement with prosecutors. A bill passed by the Tweede Kamer on 6 October 2026 (art. 250b Sr) would make it an offence for sex-ad platforms not to verify identity and age.", "details": "Art. 273f(1)(6°) Sr penalises intentionally profiting from the exploitation of another; whether an advertising site does so depends on knowledge and intent. The government letter of 13 May 2026 reports that since 1 April 2026 an identity check, covering age and nationality, is carried out on all new ads on platforms including kinky.nl and sexjobs.nl, following talks between the Public Prosecution Service and several platforms; the letter does not cite a statutory basis.\n\nThe Implementatiewet herziene Europese richtlijn mensenhandel (36 835), as adopted by the Tweede Kamer on 6 October 2026 but not yet passed by the Eerste Kamer or in force, would insert a new art. 250b Sr: anyone who commercially offers an information-society service evidently aimed at placing or distributing ads for paid sexual acts, established in or targeting the Netherlands, would commit an offence (up to 1 year or a fifth-category fine) unless it (a) verifies the identity and age (18+) of the advertiser and of every person offered, using a valid ID and a same-day facial photo; (b) re-checks the face on every new or changed ad and then deletes the photo; (c) records name, date of birth, phone number, payment reference and connection data, keeps them for two years after the advertiser's last ad and supplies them to investigators on demand; and (d) provides a visible reporting button and takes reported ads offline pending review. The Senate justice committee is to discuss procedure on 3 November 2026; its clerk was asked to check whether the Council of State and the Data Protection Authority can advise on this amendment. EU-wide rules for hosting services under the Digital Services Act also apply.\n\nA WODC study (Dialogic, 2026) found that kinky.nl and sexjobs.nl, both linked to Midhold B.V., account for over 85% of visits to sex-ad platforms; the government promised a plan of action for ad platforms in autumn 2026.", "provisions": [ "art. 273f(1)(6°) Sr", "art. 250b Sr (bill 36 835, not yet law)" ], "sources": [ "sr-wetten", "kst-34193-21", "kst-36835-a", "ek-36835", "wodc-platforms-2026", "kst-34193-22" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Status shows the law in force on 30 October 2026. Art. 250b Sr exists only in bill 36 835, which is before the Eerste Kamer and needs a royal decree to commence. The status will change to restricted (criminal) if it enters into force. The April 2026 identity checks are a voluntary arrangement; the government letter cites no legal basis for them." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No national ban; street soliciting is regulated by municipal APVs, which generally prohibit soliciting and buying in the street outside designated zones. Per the government business portal, only Arnhem and Nijmegen allow street prostitution, and Arnhem issues no new passes.", "details": "Typical APV wording (Amsterdam arts. 2.12–2.13): it is prohibited to loiter in or near the street or in a publicly accessible building with the evident aim of soliciting clients, to solicit from a building at passers-by (except from a licensed window), and to buy or respond to offers of sexual services in the street, including letting a sex worker into a vehicle. Breaches are minor offences (overtredingen) punishable with up to three months' detention or a second-category fine (APV art. 6.1; art. 154 Gemeentewet). Amsterdam's tippelzone provisions have been repealed. In the 2022 WODC study street prostitution was banned and not tolerated in most municipalities.", "provisions": [ "Amsterdam APV arts. 2.12, 2.13, 6.1", "art. 154 Gemeentewet" ], "sources": [ "amsterdam-apv", "gemeentewet", "ondernemersplein-zzp", "kst-34193-13" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "summary": "There is no national registration or licence for sex workers and no mandatory health checks. Operators need a municipal licence; some municipalities also license individual home-based or escort workers. The Wrs plan for a national licence and register for sex workers was dropped in 2026; the Wgts bill would let municipalities process sex workers' data for supervision.", "details": "Self-employed sex workers must register with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) like any business. Licensing of individuals is local: the government portal advises checking whether the municipality requires a licence for home-based or escort work. The Amsterdam APV places duties on operators (intake interview, age, right to work, records, compliance with national hygiene guidelines; arts. 3.30–3.31) but contains no medical-examination requirement.\n\nThe Wrs bill (35 715, 2021) would have required every sex worker to hold a free personal licence from age 21, obtained after an interview, recorded in a national register. The government letter of 13 May 2026 states that the Wrs will not be continued, citing cabinet priorities and critical advice from, among others, the Council of State and the Data Protection Authority. The Wet gemeentelijk toezicht seksbedrijven (36 948, submitted 21 May 2026) would amend art. 151a Gemeentewet to give municipalities a legal basis to process special categories of personal data in supervising sex businesses.", "provisions": [ "art. 151a Gemeentewet", "APV (municipal)" ], "sources": [ "ondernemersplein-zzp", "amsterdam-apv", "kst-35715-2", "kst-34193-21", "tk-36948" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Sex workers pay income tax and VAT like other workers. Most work as self-employed entrepreneurs registered with the KVK. Under the opting-in scheme, an operator with an agreement with the Tax Administration withholds wage tax and contributions as in a notional employment relationship. Salaried employment is rare.", "details": "Self-employed sex workers file VAT returns and may use the small-business scheme (KOR) where annual turnover is at most EUR 20,000, and pay income tax on profits. Operators can work with sex workers in three ways: with self-employed workers (avoiding sham self-employment), under the opting-in scheme, or as employer. Under opting-in the operator withholds wage tax and premiums and pays the sex worker a net amount; the Tax Administration treats this as a fictitious employment relationship; operator and worker sign a joint 'Verklaring Loonheffingen Opting-in'. The 13 May 2026 government letter says next steps on opting-in are still being examined. A motion of 8 September 2026 (Faber) asking the government to require sex workers to be either employees or self-employed was rejected on 22 September 2026.", "provisions": [], "sources": [ "ondernemersplein-zzp", "ondernemersplein-exploitant", "kst-34193-21", "kst-28638-265", "tk-vote-2026z18340" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the government business portal and ministerial letters; the Tax Administration's own opting-in conditions were not reviewed directly." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "EU/EEA and Swiss nationals may sell sex on the same terms as Dutch nationals. Non-EU nationals cannot obtain a residence permit for self-employed work in prostitution, and work permits are as a rule not granted for it; they may sell sex only if they already hold a residence permit that allows it. Licensed operators must check workers' right to work.", "details": "The government business portal states that the 'self-employed work' endorsement on a residence permit cannot be obtained for sex work ('sekswerk'). Interviewees in the 2026 WODC/Dialogic study said that a considerable share of ads come from people from countries for whose nationals Dutch work permits are not normally granted for prostitution. The Amsterdam APV obliges operators to ensure that only workers entitled to work, holding a valid residence title and (where required) KVK-registered, work in the business (art. 3.30(1)(d)); breach is a ground for licence withdrawal. The 2022 WODC study estimated, from ad analysis, that about 79% of sex workers advertising online were not from the Netherlands.", "provisions": [ "Wet arbeid vreemdelingen", "Amsterdam APV art. 3.30(1)(d)" ], "sources": [ "ondernemersplein-zzp", "wodc-platforms-2026", "amsterdam-apv", "kst-34193-13" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory basis in the aliens/employment legislation was not checked directly; this entry relies on the government business portal and WODC research." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sr-wetten", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht)", "relevance": "Human trafficking (art. 273f), knowingly using a trafficked sex worker (art. 273g) and paying 16–17-year-olds for sex (art. 245). No offence of selling or of buying from an adult.", "provisions": [ "art. 245", "art. 273f", "art. 273g" ] }, { "sourceId": "stb-1999-464", "titleEn": "Act lifting the general brothel ban (Wet opheffing algemeen bordeelverbod)", "relevance": "Repealed the brothel-keeping offence (art. 250bis Sr) and recast the exploitation offences, legalising voluntary adult sex businesses.", "provisions": [ "art. I(F)", "art. I(G)" ], "inForce": "2000-10-01" }, { "sourceId": "gemeentewet", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act (Gemeentewet)", "relevance": "Art. 151a lets councils adopt bylaws on sex businesses (the legal basis of municipal licensing); art. 154 caps bylaw penalties at three months' detention or a second-category fine.", "provisions": [ "art. 151a", "art. 154" ] }, { "sourceId": "amsterdam-apv", "titleEn": "Amsterdam General Local Bylaw 2008 (APV)", "relevance": "Example of municipal regulation: licensing of prostitution and escort businesses, minimum age 21 in licensed businesses, advertising rules, street-soliciting bans.", "provisions": [ "arts. 2.12–2.13", "arts. 3.27–3.46", "art. 6.1" ] }, { "sourceId": "stb-2021-467", "titleEn": "Act criminalising abuse of prostitutes who are trafficking victims", "relevance": "Inserted art. 273g Sr: clients who know or have serious reason to suspect trafficking face up to 4 years.", "provisions": [ "art. 273g Sr" ], "inForce": "2022-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "stb-2024-61", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act (Wet seksuele misdrijven), commencement decree", "relevance": "Restructured sexual offences; paying a 16- or 17-year-old for sex is now art. 245(1)(d) Sr.", "provisions": [ "art. 245 Sr" ], "inForce": "2024-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "stb-2026-312", "titleEn": "Act modernising and extending the criminalisation of human trafficking", "relevance": "Rewrites arts. 273f–273g Sr, adds serious disadvantage (273fa) and profiting (273fb), and treats being under 21 in prostitution as a vulnerable position. Enacted 30 September 2026; commencement by royal decree.", "provisions": [ "arts. 273f, 273fa, 273fb, 273g, 273h Sr" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "minimum-age-21", "title": "Statutory minimum age of 21 for prostitution / sex work", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2026-10-05", "next": { "date": "2026-12", "what": "Draft bill (stepwise increase to 21 for sex work) being prepared for consultation and then the Council of State; the minister aims to inform parliament on its legal design by end 2026. No bill tabled as of 30 October 2026" }, "summary": "The government letter of 13 May 2026 announced that the minimum age for prostitution will be raised by law from 18 to 21. On 22 September 2026 the Tweede Kamer adopted a motion (Van den Brink) asking that it apply to sex work generally, and a motion (Mohandis) asking for independent research into the effects, to be taken into account in the bill. By September–October 2026 the government described the measure as a stepwise increase of the minimum age for sex work to 21, to be enacted by a separate bill now in preparation. A Faber/Van Dijk amendment to bill 36 835 that would have extended the child-trafficking offence stepwise to under-19, under-20 and under-21s in prostitution was rejected on 6 October 2026.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-21", "kst-28638-274", "nd-2026-09-22", "kst-28638-273", "tk-vote-2026z18348", "kst-37020-vi-2", "ah-2026-257", "kst-36835-29", "tk-stemmingen-36835" ] }, { "id": "wgts-36948", "title": "Wet gemeentelijk toezicht seksbedrijven (bill 36 948)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-09-07", "summary": "Amends art. 151a Gemeentewet to give municipalities a legal basis to process special categories of personal data of sex workers when supervising and enforcing their sex-business bylaws, including against unlicensed operators. Submitted 21 May 2026; committee report published 7 September 2026; awaiting the government's reply.", "sources": [ "tk-36948", "kst-34193-21" ] }, { "id": "trafficking-directive-36835", "title": "Implementation of revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive (bill 36 835), incl. new art. 250b Sr on sex-ad platforms", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-10-06", "next": { "date": "2026-11-03", "what": "Eerste Kamer justice committee procedure meeting" }, "summary": "Adopted unanimously by the Tweede Kamer on 6 October 2026. Implements Directive (EU) 2024/1712 and, by amendment, inserts art. 250b Sr making it an offence for sex-ad platforms targeting the Netherlands not to verify advertisers' identity and age, keep advertiser data for two years and operate a notice-and-takedown button. Also replaces 'oogmerk' (purpose) with 'opzet' (intent) in art. 273f.", "sources": [ "kst-36835-a", "ek-36835" ] }, { "id": "trafficking-modernisation-36547", "title": "Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel (Stb. 2026, 312)", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-10-14", "next": { "what": "Commencement by royal decree (date not yet set)" }, "summary": "Passed by the Eerste Kamer on 29 September 2026, signed 30 September and published 14 October 2026. Recasts the trafficking offence, adds serious disadvantage and profiting offences, and treats a person under 21 in prostitution as being in a vulnerable position.", "sources": [ "stb-2026-312", "ek-36547" ] }, { "id": "wrs-35715", "title": "Wet regulering sekswerk (bill 35 715)", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2026-05-13", "summary": "Submitted in January 2021 to introduce a national licence and register for sex workers from 21, national rules for sex businesses and criminal liability for clients of unlicensed sex workers. It never reached the Eerste Kamer. On 13 May 2026 the government said it will not continue the bill; the parliamentary pages reviewed on 30 October 2026 list no formal withdrawal. Its predecessors lie in the Eerste Kamer: 32 211 (vote held over since 2013 pending the novelle) and the novelle 33 885 (since 2016).", "sources": [ "kst-34193-21", "tk-35715", "ek-35715", "kst-35715-2", "ek-32211", "ek-33885" ] }, { "id": "pimp-ban", "title": "Exploration of a 'pimp ban' (pooierverbod)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-05-13", "summary": "The minister is examining how to criminalise 'malafide facilitators' in the illegal sector, in consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, municipalities and sex workers, looking at Amsterdam's facilitator approach; results were promised after summer 2026.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-21" ] }, { "id": "wodc-sex-industry-2026", "title": "WODC study of the Dutch sex industry 2026 and evaluation of the sex-worker position approach", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-09-28", "next": { "date": "2026-12", "what": "Final report on licensed and advertised prostitution; plan of action on ad platforms promised for autumn 2026; separate WODC evaluation due 2027" }, "summary": "The first sub-report (Dialogic/NSCR, August 2026) on ad platforms was sent to parliament on 28 September 2026; a second part on the licensed sector follows, with a final report due end 2026. The WODC is also evaluating the 2023 Aanpak versterking sociale en juridische positie sekswerkers, with results expected in 2027.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-22", "wodc-platforms-2026", "kst-34193-21" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1999-10-28", "event": "Act lifting the general brothel ban signed (Stb. 1999, 464), repealing art. 250bis Sr.", "sources": [ "stb-1999-464" ] }, { "date": "2000-10-01", "event": "Brothel ban lifted; voluntary adult sex businesses become lawful, regulated by municipalities.", "sources": [ "stb-2000-38" ] }, { "date": "2009-11-10", "event": "Wet regulering prostitutie (32 211) submitted, proposing national licensing; later amended to set the age at 21.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-18" ] }, { "date": "2016-06-21", "event": "Tweede Kamer passes the novelle 33 885; the bill then stalls in the Eerste Kamer.", "sources": [ "ek-33885" ] }, { "date": "2021-01-26", "event": "Wet regulering sekswerk (35 715) submitted to the Tweede Kamer.", "sources": [ "ek-35715" ] }, { "date": "2022-01-01", "event": "Art. 273g Sr enters into force: clients who know or should suspect trafficking become criminally liable.", "sources": [ "stb-2021-467" ] }, { "date": "2022-02-01", "event": "WODC baseline study on the Dutch sex industry sent to parliament (est. 373 sex-industry licences; 54% of responding municipalities had a prostitution policy).", "sources": [ "kst-34193-13" ] }, { "date": "2023-11-10", "event": "Government presents the Aanpak versterking sociale en juridische positie sekswerkers.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-17" ] }, { "date": "2024-02-20", "event": "Amsterdam reverses the April 2023 weekend 03:00 closing time for Wallen windows, citing risks to sex workers.", "sources": [ "at5-2024-02-20" ] }, { "date": "2024-07-01", "event": "Sexual Offences Act in force; paying a 16- or 17-year-old for sex now penalised by art. 245 Sr.", "sources": [ "stb-2024-61" ] }, { "date": "2026-04-01", "event": "Major sex-ad platforms begin identity checks (age, nationality) on all new ads after talks with prosecutors.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-21" ] }, { "date": "2026-05-13", "event": "Government letter: Wrs not continued; minimum age to be raised to 21 by law; Wgts bill announced.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-21" ] }, { "date": "2026-05-21", "event": "Wet gemeentelijk toezicht seksbedrijven (36 948) submitted to the Tweede Kamer.", "sources": [ "tk-36948" ] }, { "date": "2026-06-03", "event": "Amsterdam coalition agreement drops the planned erotic centre in Zuid.", "sources": [ "nh-2026-06-03" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-22", "event": "Tweede Kamer adopts a motion asking that the age-21 minimum apply to all sex work.", "sources": [ "nd-2026-09-22", "kst-28638-274" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-29", "event": "Eerste Kamer passes the Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel (published Stb. 2026, 312 on 14 October).", "sources": [ "ek-36547", "stb-2026-312" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "event": "Tweede Kamer passes bill 36 835 including new art. 250b Sr on identity and age verification by sex-ad platforms.", "sources": [ "kst-36835-a", "ek-36835" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Unique sex-work ads online per day (nine platforms)", "value": "about 9,500 (over 14,000 unique ads in the month)", "year": "2026", "note": "Daily counts in April 2026 by Dialogic for the WODC. Ads are not workers: one person may advertise on several platforms and several people may share one ad.", "sources": [ "wodc-platforms-2026" ] }, { "label": "Share of visits to sex-ad platforms going to kinky.nl and sexjobs.nl", "value": "over 85%", "year": "2026", "note": "Web-traffic analysis of 18 platforms published in 2026 (reference period not specified in the summary); the two sites, both linked to Midhold B.V., also carried 80% of ads counted in April 2026.", "sources": [ "wodc-platforms-2026" ] }, { "label": "Ads by individual sex workers on kinky.nl linked to a sex business", "value": "10%", "year": "2026", "note": "Snapshot of 20 May 2026; presented by the researchers as a lower bound for the licensed share, since individually licensed escorts and home workers also advertise.", "sources": [ "wodc-platforms-2026" ] }, { "label": "Sex-industry operating licences (national estimate)", "value": "373", "year": "2022", "note": "Estimate in the WODC baseline study sent to parliament on 1 February 2022, based on a municipal survey (45% response); counts licences, not sex workers. According to the letter, most licences go to individual street sex workers, followed by clubs and private houses.", "sources": [ "kst-34193-13" ] }, { "label": "Presumed trafficking victims reported to CoMensha", "value": "944", "year": "2024", "note": "All forms of trafficking, not only sexual exploitation; reported presumed victims, not an estimate of the total. A 2025 edition was due around October 2026; whether it had been published by 30 October 2026 was not checked.", "sources": [ "nr-jaarcijfers-2024" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "sr-wetten", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wetboek van Strafrecht (geldend vanaf 01-07-2026)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (version in force from 1 July 2026)", "publisher": "Overheid.nl (wetten.overheid.nl)", "url": "https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/2026-07-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "stb-1999-464", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wet van 28 oktober 1999 tot wijziging van het Wetboek van Strafrecht, enige andere wetboeken en enige wetten (opheffing algemeen bordeelverbod), Stb. 1999, 464", "titleEn": "Act of 28 October 1999 lifting the general brothel ban", "publisher": "Staatsblad", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-1999-464.html", "published": "1999-11-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "stb-2000-38", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Besluit van 18 januari 2000 tot vaststelling van de datum van inwerkingtreding van de wet van 28 oktober 1999 (opheffing algemeen bordeelverbod), Stb. 2000, 38", "titleEn": "Decree setting 1 October 2000 as commencement of the brothel-ban repeal", "publisher": "Staatsblad", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2000-38.html", "published": "2000-02-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "stb-2021-467", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wet strafbaarstelling misbruik prostituees die slachtoffer zijn van mensenhandel, Stb. 2021, 467", "titleEn": "Act criminalising abuse of prostitutes who are trafficking victims", "publisher": "Staatsblad", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2021-467.html", "published": "2021-10-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "stb-2024-61", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Besluit van 25 maart 2024 tot vaststelling van het tijdstip van inwerkingtreding van de Wet seksuele misdrijven, Stb. 2024, 61", "titleEn": "Decree on commencement of the Sexual Offences Act (1 July 2024)", "publisher": "Staatsblad", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2024-61.html", "published": "2024-03-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "stb-2026-312", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wet van 30 september 2026 (Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel), Stb. 2026, 312", "titleEn": "Act modernising and extending the criminalisation of human trafficking", "publisher": "Staatsblad", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2026-312.html", "published": "2026-10-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "gemeentewet", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Gemeentewet", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act", "publisher": "Overheid.nl (wetten.overheid.nl)", "url": "https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005416/2026-10-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "amsterdam-apv", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening 2008 (Amsterdam), geldend van 14-10-2026", "titleEn": "Amsterdam General Local Bylaw 2008 (version in force from 14 October 2026)", "publisher": "Gemeente Amsterdam / lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl", "url": "https://lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl/CVDR72510", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-35715-2", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Regels betreffende de regulering van sekswerk (Wet regulering sekswerk); Voorstel van wet, Kamerstuk 35 715, nr. 2", "titleEn": "Sex Work Regulation Bill, bill text", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-35715-2.html", "published": "2021-01-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-35715", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Wetsvoorstel 35715 Wet regulering sekswerk – dossierpagina", "titleEn": "Bill 35715 Sex Work Regulation Act – Tweede Kamer dossier", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/wetsvoorstellen/detail?cfg=wetsvoorsteldetails&qry=wetsvoorstel%3A35715", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ek-35715", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Wet regulering sekswerk (35.715)", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/35715_wet_regulering_sekswerk", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ek-33885", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Novelle Wet regulering prostitutie en bestrijding misstanden seksbranche (33.885)", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/33885_novelle_wet_regulering", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-34193-21", "kind": "government", "title": "Evaluatie Wet regulering prostitutie en bestrijding misstanden seksbranche; Brief regering; Ambities landelijk sekswerkbeleid, Kamerstuk 34 193, nr. 21", "titleEn": "Government letter: ambitions for national sex-work policy (13 May 2026)", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-34193-21.html", "published": "2026-05-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-34193-22", "kind": "government", "title": "Brief regering; WODC-onderzoek Aard en omvang van het aanbod op sekswerkadvertentieplatforms, Kamerstuk 34 193, nr. 22", "titleEn": "Government letter presenting the WODC study on sex-work ad platforms", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-1274409.html", "published": "2026-09-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "wodc-platforms-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Samenvatting – De Nederlandse sekswerkbranche: De aard en omvang van het aanbod op sekswerkadvertentieplatforms (Dialogic i.s.m. NSCR, in opdracht van het WODC)", "titleEn": "Summary – The Dutch sex-work sector: nature and size of supply on sex-work advertising platforms", "publisher": "WODC / Dialogic", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/blg-1274411.pdf", "published": "2026-08-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-34193-13", "kind": "government", "title": "Brief van de Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid over het WODC-onderzoek 'De Nederlandse seksbranche', Kamerstuk 34 193, nr. 13", "titleEn": "Government letter on the WODC study 'The Dutch sex industry' (1 February 2022)", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-34193-13.html", "published": "2022-02-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-34193-17", "kind": "government", "title": "Brief regering: aanpak versterking sociale en juridische positie sekswerkers, Kamerstuk 34 193, nr. 17", "titleEn": "Government letter presenting the approach to strengthen sex workers' social and legal position", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid / Ministerie van SZW", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-34193-17.html", "published": "2023-11-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-34193-18", "kind": "government", "title": "Brief van de Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid over de stand van zaken prostitutieleeftijd 21 jaar, Kamerstuk 34 193, nr. 18", "titleEn": "Government letter on the status of proposals to raise the prostitution age to 21 (19 December 2023)", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-34193-18.html", "published": "2023-12-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-36948", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Wetsvoorstel 36948 Wet gemeentelijk toezicht seksbedrijven – dossierpagina", "titleEn": "Bill 36948 Municipal Supervision of Sex Businesses Act – Tweede Kamer dossier", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/wetsvoorstellen/detail?qry=wetsvoorstel%3A36948&cfg=wetsvoorsteldetails", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ek-36547", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Wet modernisering en uitbreiding strafbaarstelling mensenhandel (36.547)", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/36547_wet_modernisering_en", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-36835-a", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Implementatiewet herziene Europese richtlijn mensenhandel; Gewijzigd voorstel van wet, Kamerstuk 36 835, A", "titleEn": "Implementation Act for the revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive, text as adopted by the Tweede Kamer (6 October 2026)", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-36835-A.html", "published": "2026-10-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ek-36835", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Implementatie van Richtlijn (EU) 2024/1712 (36.835)", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/36835_implementatie_van_richtlijn", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-36835-29", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Nader gewijzigd amendement van de leden Faber en Diederik van Dijk, Kamerstuk 36 835, nr. 29", "titleEn": "Amendment to raise the prostitution age stepwise from 18 to 21", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-36835-29.html", "published": "2026-10-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-28638-274", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Motie van het lid Tijs van den Brink over de minimumleeftijd ook voor sekswerk verhogen naar 21 jaar, Kamerstuk 28 638, nr. 274", "titleEn": "Motion to apply the age-21 minimum to sex work generally", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-28638-274.html", "published": "2026-09-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-28638-269", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Motie van de leden Boomsma en Bikker over ook voor klanten van prostitutie een wettelijke minimumleeftijd, Kamerstuk 28 638, nr. 269", "titleEn": "Motion on a statutory minimum age for clients", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-28638-269.html", "published": "2026-09-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-28638-273", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Motie van het lid Mohandis over onafhankelijk onderzoek naar de effecten van een verhoging van de minimumleeftijd voor sekswerk, Kamerstuk 28 638, nr. 273", "titleEn": "Motion on independent research into the effects of raising the minimum age", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-28638-273.html", "published": "2026-09-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-28638-265", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Motie van het lid Faber over verplichten dat een sekswerker in loondienst is of werkt als zzp'er, Kamerstuk 28 638, nr. 265", "titleEn": "Motion to require sex workers to be employees or self-employed", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-28638-265.html", "published": "2026-09-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ondernemersplein-zzp", "kind": "government", "title": "Stappenplan starten als zelfstandig sekswerker", "titleEn": "Step-by-step guide: starting as a self-employed sex worker", "publisher": "Ondernemersplein (KVK / Rijksoverheid)", "url": "https://ondernemersplein.overheid.nl/bedrijf-starten/starten-als-zzper/werken-als-zelfstandig-sekswerker/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ondernemersplein-exploitant", "kind": "government", "title": "Stappenplan seksbedrijf starten of overnemen", "titleEn": "Step-by-step guide: starting or taking over a sex business", "publisher": "Ondernemersplein (KVK / Rijksoverheid)", "url": "https://ondernemersplein.overheid.nl/bedrijf-starten/startsituaties/werken-als-exploitant-in-de-seksuele-dienstverlening/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ccv-background", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Achtergrond Wet regulering sekswerk", "titleEn": "Background to the Sex Work Regulation Act", "publisher": "Centrum voor Criminaliteitspreventie en Veiligheid (CCV)", "url": "https://hetccv.nl/themas/integraal-veiligheidsbeleid/sekswerkbeleid/achtergrond-sekswerkbeleid/", "published": "2026-05-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "nr-jaarcijfers-2024", "kind": "government", "title": "Jaarcijfers Mensenhandel 2024: aantal minderjarige slachtoffers van criminele uitbuiting stijgt", "titleEn": "Annual human trafficking figures 2024", "publisher": "Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel en Seksueel Geweld tegen Kinderen", "url": "https://www.nationaalrapporteur.nl/actueel/nieuws/2025/10/17/jaarcijfers-mensenhandel-2024-aantal-minderjarige-slachtoffers-van-criminele-uitbuiting-stijgt", "published": "2025-10-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "nd-2026-09-22", "kind": "news", "title": "Leeftijdsgrens voor sekswerk alsnog naar 21 jaar", "titleEn": "Age limit for sex work to go to 21 after all", "publisher": "Nederlands Dagblad", "url": "https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/politiek/1332215/leeftijdsgrens-voor-sekswerk-alsnog-naar-21-jaar", "published": "2026-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "nh-2026-06-03", "kind": "news", "title": "Amsterdam presenteert sober coalitieakkoord: veel ambtenaren eruit, geen erotisch centrum", "titleEn": "Amsterdam presents austere coalition agreement: no erotic centre", "publisher": "NH Nieuws", "url": "https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/360373/wat-staat-in-coalitieakkoord-amsterdam", "published": "2026-06-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "at5-2024-02-20", "kind": "news", "title": "Komend weekend mogen prostitutieramen Wallen weer langer open", "titleEn": "Wallen prostitution windows may stay open longer again from this weekend", "publisher": "AT5", "url": "https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/225170/komend-weekend-mogen-prostitutieramen-wallen-weer-langer-open", "published": "2024-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ah-2026-257", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Antwoord op vragen van het lid Faber over de appreciatie van het amendement 36835-9 in het kader van het trapsgewijs verhogen van de leeftijd voor prostitutie van 18 naar 21 jaar, Aanhangsel Handelingen II 2026/27, nr. 257", "titleEn": "Minister's answers to written questions on the stepwise age-21 amendment (5 October 2026)", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-1272963.pdf", "published": "2026-10-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "kst-37020-vi-2", "kind": "government", "title": "Vaststelling van de begrotingsstaten van het Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid (VI) voor het jaar 2027; Memorie van toelichting, Kamerstuk 37 020-VI, nr. 2", "titleEn": "Ministry of Justice and Security budget 2027, explanatory memorandum", "publisher": "Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid", "url": "https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-37020-VI-2.html", "published": "2026-09-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-stemmingen-36835", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Overzicht van stemmingen in de Tweede Kamer, wetsvoorstel 36 835, 6 oktober 2026", "titleEn": "Tweede Kamer voting overview on bill 36 835 (6 October 2026)", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (via Eerste Kamer)", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20261006/stemmingsoverzicht_tweede_kamer_7/document3/f=/vn1lh0xnsqxq.pdf", "published": "2026-10-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-vote-2026z18344", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Zaak 2026Z18344, Motie Boomsma en Bikker (28 638, nr. 269): besluit en stemming 22 september 2026 (open data)", "titleEn": "Vote record: Boomsma/Bikker motion on a client minimum age (rejected 22 September 2026)", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Gegevensmagazijn)", "url": "https://gegevensmagazijn.tweedekamer.nl/OData/v4/2.0/Zaak?$filter=Nummer%20eq%20'2026Z18344'&$expand=Besluit($expand=Stemming)", "published": "2026-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-vote-2026z18340", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Zaak 2026Z18340, Motie Faber (28 638, nr. 265): besluit en stemming 22 september 2026 (open data)", "titleEn": "Vote record: Faber motion on employment status of sex workers (rejected 22 September 2026)", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Gegevensmagazijn)", "url": "https://gegevensmagazijn.tweedekamer.nl/OData/v4/2.0/Zaak?$filter=Nummer%20eq%20'2026Z18340'&$expand=Besluit($expand=Stemming)", "published": "2026-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "tk-vote-2026z18348", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Zaak 2026Z18348, Motie Mohandis (28 638, nr. 273): besluit en stemming 22 september 2026 (open data)", "titleEn": "Vote record: Mohandis motion on research into the effects of the age increase (adopted 22 September 2026)", "publisher": "Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Gegevensmagazijn)", "url": "https://gegevensmagazijn.tweedekamer.nl/OData/v4/2.0/Zaak?$filter=Nummer%20eq%20'2026Z18348'&$expand=Besluit($expand=Stemming)", "published": "2026-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "ek-32211", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Wet regulering prostitutie en bestrijding misstanden seksbranche (32.211)", "titleEn": "Regulation of Prostitution and Combating Abuses in the Sex Industry Bill (32 211) – Eerste Kamer dossier", "publisher": "Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal", "url": "https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/32211_wet_regulering_prostitutie", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/netherlands/" }, { "iso2": "NZ", "name": "New Zealand", "nativeName": "Aotearoa", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "decriminalisation", "modelNote": "The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 states that its purpose is to decriminalise prostitution and to create a framework that safeguards sex workers' human rights and promotes their occupational health and safety (s 3). Selling, buying, brothels and third-party management are lawful; the remaining offences concern coercion, children, safer-sex duties, broadcast and print advertising, and operator certificates. The main exception is migrants: s 19 makes it a condition of every temporary visa that the holder may not provide commercial sexual services.", "modelSources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "summary": "New Zealand decriminalised prostitution with the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, in force from 28 June 2003. Selling and buying sex, street-based work, brothels and escort agencies are lawful, and contracts for sexual services are enforceable. Up to four sex workers who each keep their own earnings may work together without an operator; anyone else running a business of prostitution needs an annual operator certificate from the District Court. Councils may make bylaws on brothel location and sex-industry signage. Advertising is banned on radio, television and in cinemas and limited to the classified section of newspapers and periodicals; online advertising is not restricted by the Act. Section 19 bars temporary visa holders from sex work on pain of deportation; the UN women's rights committee asked for change in 2018, and in 2023 the government reported no reform under way.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Providing commercial sexual services is lawful for adult citizens and residents, contracts for them are not void (s 7), and a sex worker may refuse or stop at any time despite any contract (s 17). Sex workers and clients must take all reasonable steps to use condoms or other barriers for penetrative services (s 9, fine up to NZ$2,000). Temporary visa holders may not provide commercial sexual services (s 19).", "details": "\"Commercial sexual services\" means sexual services involving physical participation in sexual acts with, and for the gratification of, another person, provided for payment or other reward (s 4). Non-contact services such as webcam work fall outside this definition and therefore outside the Act. A sex worker is \"at work\" for the purposes of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 while providing services (s 10). Refusing to do sex work cannot affect a person's social security benefit or accident compensation entitlements (s 18).", "provisions": [ "s 3", "s 4", "s 7", "s 9", "s 10", "s 17", "s 18", "s 19 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Paying for sex with an adult is lawful. Clients share the safer-sex duties in s 9 and may not state or imply that a medical examination shows a person is free of infection. Receiving commercial sexual services from a person under 18, or contracting for them, is an offence punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment (ss 22-23).", "provisions": [ "s 9", "s 22", "s 23 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brothels are lawful businesses. Every operator of a business of prostitution other than a company must hold an operator certificate from the Registrar of the District Court (s 34, fine up to NZ$10,000); company directors count as operators. Certificates last one year and are refused to people with disqualifying convictions unless a judge grants a waiver. Councils may regulate brothel location by bylaw (s 14) and weigh nuisance and local character in resource consents (s 15).", "details": "\"Operator\" includes anyone who owns, operates, controls or manages the business, or who decides when or where a sex worker works, their working conditions or their share of the payment (s 5). Applications go to the Registrar of the District Court at Auckland (s 35); disqualifying offences include offences under the Act, serious violence, sexual, organised crime, money laundering and drug offences (s 36). Court records about applicants and holders may be searched only by the applicant, the Registrar and the Police for investigating an offence (s 41).\n\nOperators must take all reasonable steps to ensure barrier use, give health information to sex workers and clients, display it in brothels and not imply that medical examinations show workers are infection-free (s 8, fine up to NZ$10,000). Medical Officers of Health and their appointees may inspect for compliance with ss 8-9 (ss 24-28).\n\nThe consolidated text of 23 September 2026 notes that amendments made by the Planning Act 2026 have not yet been incorporated; their content was not reviewed.\n\nThe Prostitution Law Review Committee (2008) found that the certification system was 'not working satisfactorily': no enforcement procedure had developed and the number of certificates had fallen every year.", "provisions": [ "s 5", "s 8", "s 14", "s 15", "ss 24-28", "ss 34-41 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003", "nz-plrc-2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Up to four sex workers may work from the same premises without an operator certificate if each keeps control of their own earnings. Such a \"small owner-operated brothel\" is treated as having no operator (ss 4-5). If charged with operating without a certificate, a person relying on this exemption must prove it on the balance of probabilities (s 34(3)).", "provisions": [ "s 4 (\"small owner-operated brothel\")", "s 5(2)", "s 34(3) Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running, managing or profiting from a business of prostitution is lawful for certified operators. Inducing or compelling a person to provide commercial sexual services or hand over earnings by threats, abuse of authority, threatened disclosure (including of unlawful immigration status) or drugs is an offence carrying up to 14 years (s 16). Assisting, receiving earnings from or contracting for a person under 18 in sex work carries up to 7 years (ss 20-23).", "details": "Section 16(2)(c)(iii) expressly covers threats to disclose that a person is unlawfully in New Zealand. Trafficking and slavery are dealt with under the Crimes Act 1961 (not reviewed here). The 2025 US Trafficking in Persons report notes that the PRA's child provisions (ss 20-21) are sometimes used to prosecute child sex trafficking, and that the government has never reported identifying an adult New Zealand citizen as a sex trafficking victim.", "provisions": [ "s 16", "ss 20-23 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003", "us-tip-2025-nz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertisements for commercial sexual services may not be broadcast on radio or television, screened in a public cinema, or published in a newspaper or periodical except in its classified advertisements section (s 11). Breach is an offence with a fine of up to NZ$10,000 for individuals and NZ$50,000 for companies. Councils may prohibit or regulate signage visible from public places (s 12). The Act does not restrict online advertising.", "details": "\"Advertisement\" means any words or pictorial or other representation used to notify the availability of, or promote the sale of, commercial sexual services (s 11(3)). The offence covers anyone who publishes or authorises publication. Signage bylaws require the council to be satisfied that the bylaw is needed to prevent nuisance or serious offence to the public or signage incompatible with an area's character (s 12(2)); they may be made even if inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (s 13(2)).", "provisions": [ "s 11", "s 12", "s 13 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "legal", "summary": "There is no sex-work-specific rule for websites. The broadcast and print restrictions in s 11 do not mention the internet, and hosting or publishing lawful adverts for adult sex workers is not an offence. Online content hosts can obtain immunity from civil and criminal proceedings over user content under the notice-and-takedown process in the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 (s 24). Ads for anyone under 18 or for coerced services would engage ss 16 and 20-23.", "details": "A \"business of prostitution\" is a business of providing, or arranging the provision of, commercial sexual services (s 4). An escort agency that arranges bookings is such a business and needs a certified operator; a site that only publishes adverts placed by sex workers does not appear to arrange services, but no court decision on this point was found.\n\nUnder ss 23-24 of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, a host that receives a notice of complaint and follows the statutory process (including notifying the author within 48 hours) cannot be sued or prosecuted over the specific content; failing to use the process does not of itself create liability (s 23(2)).\n\nThe EU Digital Services Act does not apply.", "provisions": [ "s 4 (\"business of prostitution\")", "s 11 Prostitution Reform Act 2003", "ss 23-24 Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003", "nz-hdca-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether an advertising website could be treated as a 'business of prostitution' that needs a certified operator has not been decided by a court, as far as this review found." }, "street": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Street-based sex work and soliciting are lawful; the 2003 Act repealed the soliciting offence along with the other prostitution offences. Councils cannot ban street work under the Act but may control sex-industry signage (s 12) and brothel location (s 14), and general public-order law still applies.", "details": "The Library of Parliament of Canada's 2022 comparative paper notes that a 2013 petition to criminalise prostitution was considered by Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee, which recommended against criminalisation and warned that banning street prostitution could harm sex workers' health and safety. The Prostitution Law Review Committee estimated Auckland's street-based sex workers at 230 in 2007.", "provisions": [ "s 12", "s 14 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003", "lop-canada-2022", "nz-plrc-2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The repeal of the former soliciting offence is described from a secondary source; the amended Summary Offences Act 1981 was not opened." }, "registration": { "status": "regulated", "summary": "Sex workers do not register and there is no mandatory health testing; implying that a medical examination shows a person is free of infection is an offence (ss 8-9). Only operators of businesses of prostitution need a certificate, issued by the District Court Registrar and valid for one year (ss 34-38). Health inspectors may enter premises where a business of prostitution is carried on to check safer-sex compliance (ss 24-28).", "provisions": [ "ss 8-9", "ss 24-28", "ss 34-38 Prostitution Reform Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Sex workers pay income tax like other workers. Inland Revenue's factsheet IR296 (April 2023) treats self-employed sex workers as \"private operators\" who file an individual tax return, may need to pay provisional tax and must register for GST if turnover exceeds NZ$60,000 a year. Whether a worker is self-employed or an employee is decided under general rules.", "details": "IR296 defines a private operator as anyone in the sex industry who receives payment for services without tax deducted, including people working in massage parlours, escort agencies, on the street and privately, and refers workers to IR336 to determine employment status.", "sources": [ "nz-ird-ir296" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "migrants": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Section 19 makes it a condition of every temporary entry class visa that the holder may not provide commercial sexual services, or operate or invest in a business of prostitution. A belief on reasonable grounds that a holder is doing so is sufficient reason for deportation under s 157 Immigration Act 2009. No visa may be granted on the basis of sex work. Residents may do sex work but may not operate or invest in a business of prostitution.", "details": "Section 19 was substituted by the Immigration Act 2009 with effect from 29 November 2010. Its consequence is immigration enforcement (deportation liability), not a criminal offence under the Prostitution Reform Act.\n\nThe UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended in 2018 that New Zealand amend s 19. In its July 2023 periodic report the Ministry for Women said no work was under way to reform it but that the issue could be considered in a future review; MBIE described s 19 as an anti-trafficking measure. Between 26 April 2022 and 26 April 2023, 30 non-New Zealanders, mostly Brazilian, were refused entry at the border on suspicion of intending to do sex work (Immigration New Zealand figures reported by RNZ). The 2025 US Trafficking in Persons report states that traffickers use s 19 to threaten migrants with deportation to deter them from reporting abuse.", "provisions": [ "s 19 Prostitution Reform Act 2003", "s 157 Immigration Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003", "nz-immigration-act-2009", "rnz-2023-s19", "us-tip-2025-nz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "nz-pra-2003", "titleEn": "Prostitution Reform Act 2003", "relevance": "Decriminalised prostitution; sets safer-sex duties, advertising restrictions, council bylaw powers, coercion and child offences, the s 19 visa condition and the operator certificate system.", "provisions": [ "s 3", "s 4", "s 7", "ss 8-9", "s 11", "ss 12-15", "s 16", "s 19", "ss 20-23", "ss 34-41", "ss 42-46" ], "inForce": "2003-06-28" }, { "sourceId": "nz-immigration-act-2009", "titleEn": "Immigration Act 2009", "relevance": "Substituted s 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act from 29 November 2010; s 157 governs deportation liability of temporary visa holders for cause.", "provisions": [ "s 157", "s 406(1)" ], "inForce": "2010-11-29" }, { "sourceId": "nz-hdca-2015", "titleEn": "Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015", "relevance": "Notice-and-takedown safe harbour protecting online content hosts from civil and criminal proceedings over user-posted content.", "provisions": [ "s 23", "s 24" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "s19-repeal-calls", "title": "Calls to amend or repeal s 19 (temporary visa holders)", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2023-10-23", "summary": "CEDAW recommended in 2018 that New Zealand amend s 19, and a petition started in October 2022 sought its repeal. In its July 2023 report to CEDAW the Ministry for Women said no reform work was under way, though the issue could be part of a future review. No bill or government review was found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "rnz-2023-s19" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2003-06-27", "event": "Prostitution Reform Act 2003 receives Royal assent; it comes into force the next day, with the operator certificate system (Part 3) following six months later.", "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ] }, { "date": "2008-05", "event": "Prostitution Law Review Committee concludes that 'on the whole' the Act has been effective in achieving its purpose and that the sex industry has not grown, while finding the operator certification system not working satisfactorily.", "sources": [ "nz-plrc-2008", "lop-canada-2022" ] }, { "date": "2010-11-29", "event": "Section 19 is substituted by the Immigration Act 2009, keeping the bar on temporary visa holders providing commercial sexual services.", "sources": [ "nz-pra-2003" ] }, { "date": "2018", "event": "The UN CEDAW Committee recommends that New Zealand amend s 19 because of its possible negative impact on migrant women.", "sources": [ "rnz-2023-s19" ] }, { "date": "2023-07", "event": "In its periodic report to CEDAW, the Ministry for Women states that no work is under way to reform s 19.", "sources": [ "rnz-2023-s19" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Estimated number of sex workers at decriminalisation", "value": "5,932", "year": "2003", "note": "Prostitution Law Review Committee's first estimate, based mainly on retrospective police information and registers compiled under the Massage Parlours Act 1978; the Committee itself says these inflated the total.", "sources": [ "nz-plrc-2008" ] }, { "label": "Estimated number of sex workers in five centres (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hawke's Bay, Nelson)", "value": "2,332", "year": "2007", "note": "Christchurch School of Medicine estimate used by the Prostitution Law Review Committee. The Committee attributes the gap from the 2003 figure to better methods, not to a fall of 3,600 workers.", "sources": [ "nz-plrc-2008" ] }, { "label": "People refused entry at the border on suspicion of intending to do sex work", "value": "30", "year": "2022-2023", "note": "26 April 2022 to 26 April 2023, mostly Brazilian nationals; Immigration New Zealand figures as reported by RNZ.", "sources": [ "rnz-2023-s19" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "nz-pra-2003", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Prostitution Reform Act 2003 (2003 No 28), version as at 23 September 2026", "publisher": "New Zealand Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/28/en/latest/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nz-immigration-act-2009", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51), version as at 10 July 2026", "publisher": "New Zealand Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2009/51/en/latest/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nz-hdca-2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 (2015 No 63), version as at 9 March 2022", "publisher": "New Zealand Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel Office)", "url": "https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/63/en/latest/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nz-plrc-2008", "kind": "government", "title": "Report of the Prostitution Law Review Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003", "publisher": "Prostitution Law Review Committee, Ministry of Justice (copy hosted by NZPC)", "url": "https://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/report-of-the-nz-prostitution-law-committee-2008.pdf", "published": "2008-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nz-ird-ir296", "kind": "government", "title": "Private operators (IR296)", "publisher": "Inland Revenue", "url": "https://www.ird.govt.nz/-/media/project/ir/home/documents/forms-and-guides/ir200---ir299/ir296/ir296-2023.pdf", "published": "2023-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rnz-2023-s19", "kind": "news", "title": "Migrants still prohibited from sex industry, despite UN report", "publisher": "RNZ", "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500839/migrants-still-prohibited-from-sex-industry-despite-un-report", "published": "2023-10-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "us-tip-2025-nz", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: New Zealand", "publisher": "United States Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/new-zealand/", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lop-canada-2022", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Prostitution: A Review of Legislation in Selected Countries (Publication No. 2022-21-E)", "publisher": "Library of Parliament of Canada", "url": "https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/202221E", "published": "2022-10-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/new-zealand/" }, { "iso2": "NI", "name": "Nicaragua", "nativeName": "Nicaragua", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code (Law 641, consolidated text published in 2024) punishes exploiting or profiting from the prostitution of others 'even with the person's consent' and running any house, venue or agency for it with eight to ten years (Art. 178), and defines trafficking so broadly that recruiting, transporting, housing or advertising for the purpose of prostitution qualifies, consent being irrelevant (Art. 182).", "modelSources": [ "ni-cp", "ni-redtrasex-2020" ], "summary": "In Nicaragua, selling sex and paying an adult for sex are not offences, but nearly every form of third-party involvement is. Under Art. 178 of the Penal Code (Law 641), anyone who exploits the prostitution of another or benefits from it, even with that person's consent, or who keeps, rents, runs, finances or works in a house, venue or agency used for prostitution, faces eight to ten years and a fine of 300–500 day-units; aggravated forms carry up to fifteen years. Art. 182 makes it trafficking (ten to fifteen years, closure of the premises and confiscation) to organise, finance, promote, advertise, recruit, transport or house a person for the purposes of prostitution, and consent never exempts the offender. Paying a minor for sexual acts is a separate crime.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence in the Penal Code. A sex workers' organisation reports that police raids on venues for procuring often end with the women present being detained for hours without charge, and that health checks are demanded arbitrarily by venue owners.", "sources": [ "ni-cp", "ni-redtrasex-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Enforcement practice is taken from an NGO report (2020)." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the consolidated Penal Code. Performing a sexual act with a person aged 14 to 17 while paying or promising payment or any other advantage is punishable by five to seven years (Art. 175).", "provisions": [ "Art. 175 Código Penal (Ley 641)" ], "sources": [ "ni-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, renting, administering, directing, financing or supervising a house, venue or agency, or a simulated establishment, to exploit the prostitution of another, or knowingly performing any role there, principal or subordinate, is procuring: eight to ten years and a fine of 300–500 day-units.", "provisions": [ "Art. 178 núm. 2 Código Penal (Ley 641)" ], "sources": [ "ni-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Exploiting the prostitution of another or benefiting from it, even with their consent, carries eight to ten years (Art. 178); ten to fifteen years where, among other things, the offender acts for profit, uses deception or violence, or the victim is a minor (Art. 179). Living off a sex worker through threats or coercion is 'rufianería' (three to five years, Art. 180).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 178, 179 y 180 Código Penal (Ley 641)", "Art. 182 Código Penal (Ley 641)" ], "sources": [ "ni-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Consolidated text with amendments up to 14 July 2023, published in La Gaceta No. 32 of 20 February 2024." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever organises, finances, promotes, advertises ('publicite') or manages the recruitment, transport or housing of a person for the purposes of prostitution commits trafficking (ten to fifteen years), whatever the person's consent. Advertising a third party's sexual services is therefore criminal; self-advertising by an independent sex worker is not expressly addressed.", "provisions": [ "Art. 182 Código Penal (Ley 641)", "Art. 177 Código Penal (Ley 641)" ], "sources": [ "ni-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law on online advertisements or on platforms was found. Art. 177 separately punishes promoting the country as a sex-tourism destination using minors." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ni-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 641, consolidated text)", "relevance": "Procuring (Arts. 178–179), rufianería (Art. 180) and a trafficking offence that covers advertising for prostitution regardless of consent (Art. 182).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 175–182" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2024-02-20", "event": "Consolidated text of the Penal Code, incorporating all amendments up to 14 July 2023 (including the broadened procuring and trafficking offences), is published in La Gaceta No. 32.", "sources": [ "ni-cp" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ni-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Texto Consolidado, Ley N°. 641, Código Penal (La Gaceta, Diario Oficial N°. 32, 20 de febrero de 2024)", "titleEn": "Consolidated text, Law No. 641, Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 32, 20 February 2024)", "publisher": "Asamblea Nacional de la República de Nicaragua", "url": "http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/__062569d000710dd9.nsf/09cf45d6fc893868062572650059911e/c666a96aa982330c0625736100623636", "published": "2024-02-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "ni-redtrasex-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Marco legal sobre el trabajo sexual y participación política de las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales en Nicaragua", "titleEn": "Legal framework on sex work and political participation of women sex workers in Nicaragua", "publisher": "RedTraSex / Asociación Girasoles", "url": "https://redtrasex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mapeo_de_leyes_nicaragua_rts2020.pdf", "published": "2020-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nicaragua/" }, { "iso2": "NE", "name": "Niger", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are not offences under Niger's Penal Code; a senior police officer stated in 2018 that prostitution as such is not an offence in Niger. Procuring, including living with a sex worker, and running or tolerating a prostitution establishment are criminalised (Articles 291 to 294).", "modelSources": [ "ne-cp", "ne-nigerinter-2018" ], "summary": "Niger's Penal Code (Law No. 61-27 of 15 July 1961, as amended) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Procuring, including aiding or protecting another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds, knowingly living with a person habitually engaged in it or acting as an intermediary, carries six months to three years and a fine of 50,000 to 5,000,000 francs (Article 291), and two to five years in aggravated cases (Article 292). Owning, managing or running a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other place open to the public, carries two to five years, doubled for a repeat within ten years, with withdrawal of the licence (Article 294). Police have rounded up people at sites associated with sex work; in operations in 2016 and 2017, 192 of 431 girls detained were minors.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling sex was found in the Penal Code, and a police commissioner interviewed in 2018 stated that prostitution as such is not an offence. The Code lists soliciting (racolage) among offences treated alike for recidivism (Article 60), but no article creating a soliciting offence was found in the text consulted.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 60" ], "sources": [ "ne-cp", "ne-nigerinter-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Code as amended by Law No. 2003-025; a 2018 consolidation and Ordinance No. 2020-01 amending the Code could not be opened. A soliciting offence may exist in another text." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found. Habitually exciting, favouring or facilitating the debauchery or corruption of young people under 21, or even occasionally of children under 13, carries two to five years (Article 293).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 293" ], "sources": [ "ne-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Amendments after 2003 were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Holding, directly or through another, managing or running a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating the presence of sex workers in a hotel, furnished house, boarding house, bar, club, dance hall or other place open to the public, carries two to five years and 50,000 to 5,000,000 francs (Article 294), doubled for a repeat within ten years. The licence is withdrawn and the establishment may be closed permanently.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 294" ], "sources": [ "ne-cp", "ne-nigerinter-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Amendments after 2003 were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds or receives support from a person habitually engaged in it, knowingly lives with such a person, cannot justify their lifestyle while in habitual contact with sex workers, recruits or keeps even a consenting adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary: six months to three years and 50,000 to 5,000,000 francs (Article 291); two to five years if aggravated (Article 292).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 291", "Code pénal art. 292", "Code pénal art. 293" ], "sources": [ "ne-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Amendments after 2003 were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found in the text consulted. A third party who aids or assists another person's prostitution or soliciting, which can include advertising for them, commits procuring (Article 291(1)).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 291(1)" ], "sources": [ "ne-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Article 60 refers to offences against public morals ('outrages aux bonnes mœurs'), which suggests a morals or publications offence exists elsewhere, but it was not found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ne-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 61-27 of 15 July 1961), as amended by Law No. 2003-025 of 13 June 2003", "relevance": "Articles 291 to 294 criminalise procuring, corruption of young people and prostitution establishments.", "provisions": [ "art. 60", "art. 291–294" ], "inForce": "1961" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1961-07-15", "event": "Law No. 61-27 institutes the Penal Code, including the procuring and brothel offences.", "sources": [ "ne-cp" ] }, { "date": "2003-06-13", "event": "Law No. 2003-025 amends the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "ne-cp" ] }, { "date": "2017", "event": "Police operations at sites associated with sex work, run with UNICEF support in late 2016 and early 2017, detain 431 girls, 192 of them minors.", "sources": [ "ne-nigerinter-2018" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Girls detained in police operations at prostitution sites", "value": "431 (192 minors)", "year": "2016–2017", "note": "Nine police operations, as reported by the police commissioner interviewed; not national figures and not a measure of the number of sex workers.", "sources": [ "ne-nigerinter-2018" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "ne-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal (loi n° 61-27 du 15 juillet 1961, modifiée par la loi n° 2003-025 du 13 juin 2003)", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 61-27 of 15 July 1961, as amended by Law No. 2003-025 of 13 June 2003)", "publisher": "Ministère de la Justice du Niger (copy hosted by antislaverylaw.ac.uk)", "url": "https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Niger-Penal-Code.pdf", "published": "2003", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ne-nigerinter-2018", "kind": "news", "title": "« À Niamey, la prostitution est érigée en un véritable système », dixit CP Mme Boubacar Adiza Adamou", "titleEn": "'In Niamey, prostitution has become a real system', says Police Commissioner Boubacar Adiza Adamou", "publisher": "Niger Inter", "url": "https://nigerinter.com/2018/06/19/a-niamey-la-prostitution-est-erigee-en-un-veritable-systeme-dixit-cp-mme-boubacar-adiza-adamou/", "published": "2018-06-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/niger/" }, { "iso2": "NG", "name": "Nigeria", "nativeName": "Nigeria", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Nigeria has two general penal laws. The Criminal Code (south) and the Penal Code (north) do not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but punish public soliciting by a \"common prostitute\", living on earnings, procuring and brothels. The Penal Code also punishes adultery by people subject to a customary law that treats extra-marital sex as a crime. In the twelve Sharia states, Muslims are also subject to Sharia penal codes under which all sex outside marriage is zina, so prostitution is prohibited there (see subnational).", "modelSources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-fct", "ng-ostien-codes", "ng-ostien-vices" ], "summary": "Nigeria has plural criminal law. In the south the Criminal Code punishes a \"common prostitute\" who solicits or behaves indecently in public (one month), men living on the earnings of prostitution, women controlling a sex worker for gain, procuring and keeping a brothel, but not selling or buying sex as such. The northern Penal Code has parallel soliciting, vagabond and brothel offences and an adultery offence for people under a customary law that criminalises extra-marital sex. Since 2000 twelve northern states have adopted Sharia penal codes that make all sex outside marriage zina, punishable by 100 lashes or stoning, and some passed separate laws banning prostitution; state hisbah (religious police) boards, notably Kano's, regularly arrest women accused of sex work.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Sharia states (Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, Gombe)", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Between 2000 and 2003 these states enacted Sharia penal codes (Niger only amended its Penal Code) applied to Muslims in Sharia courts; non-Muslims are presumed to be tried under the Penal Code unless they opt in. Zina (sex with a person over whom one has no sexual rights) is punished by 100 lashes if unmarried and stoning if married, and covers both the sex worker and the client, though proof needs confession or four witnesses. The codes repeat the Penal Code's soliciting, male pimping and brothel offences with added lashes (brothel: up to one year and up to 70 lashes in the harmonised code; Kano and Katsina omit that section). Kano (2000), Yobe (2000) and Borno (2000) also passed laws banning prostitution, soliciting and brothels, with up to one year for a first offence in Kano. State hisbah boards, created to enforce Sharia compliance, arrest women accused of prostitution; Kano's board announced 15 such arrests in February 2024 and 10 among 22 arrests in September 2026, to be followed by prosecution.", "sources": [ "ng-ostien-codes", "ng-ostien-vices", "ng-ostien-intro", "ng-dailytrust-2024", "ng-pmnews-2026" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence under the Criminal Code or the Penal Code. A \"common prostitute\" who behaves in a disorderly or indecent manner in public, or loiters and persistently solicits for prostitution, is an idle and disorderly person liable to one month's imprisonment (Criminal Code s. 249; Penal Code ss. 405–406), with heavier penalties for repeat offenders as a rogue and vagabond. In the Sharia states selling sex is zina for Muslims.", "details": "The Criminal Code defines prostitution as including \"the offering by a female of her body commonly for acts of lewdness for payment\". Under the Penal Code, a person subject to a customary law that treats extra-marital intercourse as a crime commits adultery (ss. 387–388, up to two years or a fine), which can reach a sex worker and a client in the north independently of the Sharia codes.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 1 (definition)", "Criminal Code ss. 249–250", "Penal Code ss. 387–388", "Penal Code ss. 405–406" ], "sources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-fct", "ng-ostien-vices" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Code read in the 2004 Laws of the Federation as published by PLAC; Penal Code read in the Federal Capital Territory version (Cap. 53 LFN Abuja). Each northern state has its own Penal Code law and each southern state may have its own Criminal Law (e.g. Lagos), which were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Neither the Criminal Code nor the Penal Code has an offence of paying for sex between adults. In the north the Penal Code's adultery offence (ss. 387–388) can apply to clients subject to a customary law that criminalises extra-marital sex, and in the Sharia states a Muslim client commits zina, punishable by 100 lashes or by stoning if married.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code ss. 387–388", "Sharia penal codes s. 125–126 (zina, harmonised numbering)" ], "sources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-fct", "ng-ostien-codes", "ng-ostien-vices" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Status describes the Criminal Code position in the south. How often clients are prosecuted under the adultery or zina provisions was not found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting or permitting premises to be used as one, is punishable under the Criminal Code by a fine of 100 naira or six months, and 300 naira or one year on a repeat conviction (s. 225B). A brothel is any premises or room kept for prostitution. The Penal Code punishes keeping or managing a brothel with up to one year or a fine (s. 201).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 225B", "Penal Code s. 201" ], "sources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-1963" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Section 201 of the Penal Code was read in the annotated 1963 edition of the Northern Region law because the page is missing from the Abuja copy consulted; current state versions may set different penalties." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A man who knowingly lives wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution, or who persistently solicits in public for immoral purposes, faces two years and caning on a repeat conviction; a man who lives with or controls a sex worker is presumed to live on her earnings, and a woman who controls a sex worker's movements for gain faces two years (Criminal Code s. 225A). Procuring a woman or girl to become a \"common prostitute\" or to enter a brothel carries two years (s. 223).", "details": "The Penal Code treats a man who knowingly lives on a sex worker's earnings as a vagabond (s. 405(2)(d), up to two years under s. 407) and punishes buying, selling or hiring a person under 18 for prostitution with up to ten years (s. 278). Trafficking is a separate federal offence under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, which was not opened.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 223", "Criminal Code s. 225A", "Criminal Code s. 250(5)", "Penal Code ss. 405(2)(d), 407", "Penal Code s. 278" ], "sources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-fct" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Criminal Code's living-on-earnings offence for men and its control offence for women are drafted on gendered lines, as quoted." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the Criminal Code or the Penal Code. Soliciting in public by a sex worker is an offence (Criminal Code s. 249), and distributing obscene articles, judged by whether they tend to deprave and corrupt, carries up to three years (s. 233D). Whether an online advertisement amounts to soliciting, procuring or obscenity has not been checked against case law.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Code s. 249", "Criminal Code ss. 233B–233D", "Penal Code s. 202" ], "sources": [ "ng-cc", "ng-pc-1963" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions. The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and its 2024 amendment, and state-level Sharia laws on immoral publications, were not opened." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ng-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code Act (Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004)", "relevance": "General criminal law of the southern states: procuration, living on earnings, brothels, idle and disorderly persons and obscene publications.", "provisions": [ "ss. 223–226", "ss. 233B–233D", "ss. 249–250" ] }, { "sourceId": "ng-pc-fct", "titleEn": "Penal Code Act (Cap. 53, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Abuja)", "relevance": "Version of the 1960 Northern Nigeria Penal Code in force in the Federal Capital Territory; the northern states apply their own equivalents. Covers brothels, adultery, minors in prostitution and vagabonds.", "provisions": [ "s. 201", "s. 278", "ss. 387–388", "ss. 405–408" ] }, { "sourceId": "ng-pc-1963", "titleEn": "Penal Code Law, Northern Region No. 18 of 1959 (annotated, 1963)", "relevance": "Original text of the northern Penal Code, used here for the brothel and obscene publication sections.", "provisions": [ "ss. 201–202" ], "inForce": "1960-09-30" }, { "sourceId": "ng-ostien-codes", "titleEn": "Harmonised Sharia Penal Code (Centre for Islamic Legal Studies), annotated against the enacted state codes", "relevance": "Model for the Sharia penal codes of the northern states; zina, brothel, soliciting and procuring provisions, with each state's variations.", "provisions": [ "ss. 125–126", "ss. 234–239", "s. 373", "ss. 376–378" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1960-09-30", "event": "The Penal Code of the Northern Region, modelled on the Sudan and Indian penal codes, comes into operation.", "sources": [ "ng-ostien-codes", "ng-ostien-intro" ] }, { "date": "2000-01-27", "event": "Zamfara's Sharia Penal Code Law 2000 comes into operation, the first of the northern Sharia penal codes; eleven more states follow by 2003.", "sources": [ "ng-ostien-codes" ] }, { "date": "2000-06", "event": "Kano signs the Prostitution and Other Immoral Acts (Prohibition) Law, banning prostitution, soliciting and brothels.", "sources": [ "ng-ostien-vices" ] }, { "date": "2024-02-12", "event": "The Kano State Hisbah Board reports arresting 15 young women in Kano city over alleged prostitution.", "sources": [ "ng-dailytrust-2024" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-05", "event": "The Kano State Hisbah Board announces 22 arrests over an alleged illegal event, saying ten of the women were suspected sex workers and would be prosecuted.", "sources": [ "ng-pmnews-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ng-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004", "publisher": "Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Laws of Nigeria", "url": "https://www.placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/C38.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-pc-fct", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code Act, Chapter 53 LFN (Abuja)", "publisher": "ILGA World Database (copy)", "url": "https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/NG%20-%20LEG%20-%20Penal%20Code%20(Northern%20States)%20Federal%20Provisions%20Act%20(1959)%20-%20OR(en).pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-pc-1963", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Penal Code Law, Northern Region No. 18 of 1959, annotated (2nd edition, 1963)", "publisher": "Scanned edition hosted by anticor.world", "url": "https://anticor.world/assets/brics/The%20Panel%20Code%20Law,%20Northern%20Region%20No.18%201959.pdf", "published": "1963", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-ostien-codes", "kind": "academic", "title": "The Centre for Islamic Legal Studies' Draft Harmonised Sharia Penal Code Annotated (Sharia Implementation in Northern Nigeria 1999–2006: A Sourcebook, vol. IV, ch. 4, part III)", "publisher": "Philip Ostien (ed.), Spectrum Books / Sharia Debates in Africa", "url": "http://www.sharia-in-africa.net/media/publications/sharia-implementation-in-northern-nigeria/vol_4_4_chapter_4_part_III.pdf", "published": "2007", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-ostien-intro", "kind": "academic", "title": "Introduction to Chapter 4: The Sharia Penal Codes (Sharia Implementation in Northern Nigeria 1999–2006: A Sourcebook, vol. IV, ch. 4, part I)", "publisher": "Philip Ostien (ed.), Spectrum Books / Sharia Debates in Africa", "url": "http://www.sharia-in-africa.net/media/publications/sharia-implementation-in-northern-nigeria/vol_4_2_chapter_4_part_I.pdf", "published": "2007", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-ostien-vices", "kind": "academic", "title": "Changes in the Law in the Sharia States Aimed at Suppressing Social Vices (Sharia Implementation in Northern Nigeria 1999–2006: A Sourcebook, vol. III, ch. 3, part II)", "publisher": "Philip Ostien and M. J. Umaru, Spectrum Books / Sharia Debates in Africa", "url": "http://www.sharia-in-africa.net/media/publications/sharia-implementation-in-northern-nigeria/vol_3_3_chapter_3_part_II.pdf", "published": "2007", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-dailytrust-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Kano Hisbah confiscates beer truck, arrests 15 suspected prostitutes", "publisher": "Daily Trust", "url": "https://dailytrust.com/kano-hisbah-confiscates-beer-truck-arrests-15-suspected-prostitutes/", "published": "2024-02-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ng-pmnews-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "22 arrested as Kano Hisbah foils alleged illegal event", "publisher": "P.M. News", "url": "https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/09/05/22-arrested-as-kano-hisbah-foils-alleged-illegal-event/", "published": "2026-09-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nigeria/" }, { "iso2": "KP", "name": "North Korea", "nativeName": "조선민주주의인민공화국", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution (매음) is both a crime under the Criminal Law and an administrative violation under the Administrative Penalties Law, punished with \"labour education\" or, under the Criminal Law, \"reform through labour\". Arranging, forcing or luring women into prostitution is also punishable. Current legal texts are not officially published in full, so this classification rests on a 2008 text of the Administrative Penalties Law and the government's own 2016 report to the UN.", "modelSources": [ "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ], "summary": "North Korea prohibits prostitution. In its 2016 report to the UN women's rights committee, the government stated that the Criminal Law \"defines prostitution as a crime\", with reform through labour of up to five years in serious cases (Article 249 in the version then in force), and that the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women (Article 40) subjects anyone who commits prostitution or arranges, forces or lures a woman into it to punishment under the Criminal Law. The 2008 text of the Administrative Penalties Law (Article 160) punishes anyone who engages in prostitution or encourages it with up to three months of labour education, more in serious cases. Both laws have been amended since these texts, and current article numbers and penalties could not be checked. No provision aimed specifically at buyers was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Prostitution is an administrative violation punished with up to three months of labour education (more in serious cases) and, according to the government, a crime punishable in serious cases by up to five years of reform through labour.", "details": "Administrative Penalties Law (2008 text), Article 160 (매음행위): \"매음행위를 하였거나 그것을 조장시킨자는 3개월이하의 로동교양을 시킨다. 정상이 무거운 경우에는 3개월이상의 로동교양을 시킨다.\" (Anyone who has engaged in prostitution or encouraged it is subject to labour education of up to three months; in serious cases, three months or more.) Translation ours. The government's 2016 report to CEDAW cites Criminal Law Article 249 for the criminal offence.", "provisions": [ "행정처벌법 (2008) 제160조", "형법 제249조 (as cited by the government in 2016)" ], "sources": [ "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No current official text could be checked: the Administrative Penalties Law text is the 2008 version held by WIPO Lex, and the Criminal Law article is as described by the government in 2016. Both laws have been amended since, and article numbers may have changed.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "summary": "No provision aimed specifically at people who buy sex was found. The offences in the texts checked are framed around \"prostitution acts\" (매음행위) and encouraging them, and the government's report describes prostitution as a crime without distinguishing the parties. Whether and how buyers are punished could not be established.", "provisions": [ "행정처벌법 (2008) 제160조" ], "sources": [ "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The \"illegal\" status is an assumption from the general prohibition, not from a provision naming buyers. The term 매음 usually refers to selling sex." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No venue-specific provision was found, but arranging, forcing or luring women into prostitution is punishable under the Criminal Law according to the Women's Rights Law, and encouraging prostitution is an administrative violation punished with labour education.", "provisions": [ "녀성권리보장법 제40조", "행정처벌법 (2008) 제160조" ], "sources": [ "kp-cedaw-report-2016", "kp-admin-penalties-2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on the government's description and a 2008 text; current provisions could not be checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Under Article 40 of the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women, anyone who arranges for, forces or lures a woman into prostitution is punished under the Criminal Law. The government told the UN that people who arranged or forced prostitution were put on public trials and given heavy sentences.", "provisions": [ "녀성권리보장법 제40조" ], "sources": [ "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statute text not checked; content as reported by the government to CEDAW in 2016." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specific to advertising sexual services was found. Encouraging prostitution is an administrative violation, and bringing in, making, spreading or possessing material with \"degenerate, pornographic and obscene\" content is a crime with up to five years of reform through labour, according to the government.", "provisions": [ "행정처벌법 (2008) 제160조", "형법 제183조 (as cited by the government in 2016)" ], "sources": [ "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Applying these provisions to advertising sexual services is an inference; no provision on advertising or online platforms was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "titleEn": "Administrative Penalties Law of the DPRK (text as amended to 20 May 2008)", "relevance": "Article 160 punishes prostitution and encouraging it with labour education.", "provisions": [ "제160조" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2004-07-14", "event": "Administrative Penalties Law adopted by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (No. 546); its 2008 text includes the prostitution provision in Article 160.", "sources": [ "kp-admin-penalties-2008" ] }, { "date": "2016-06-01", "event": "Government report to CEDAW states that the Criminal Law defines prostitution as a crime and cites the Women's Rights Law on arranging, forcing or luring women into prostitution.", "sources": [ "kp-cedaw-report-2016" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kp-admin-penalties-2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "조선민주주의인민공화국 행정처벌법 (2008년 5월 20일 최고인민회의 상임위원회 정령 제2712호로 수정보충)", "titleEn": "Administrative Penalties Law of the DPRK (as amended by decree No. 2712 of 20 May 2008)", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (World Intellectual Property Organization)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/es/text/331347", "published": "2008-05-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" }, { "id": "kp-cedaw-report-2016", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Combined second to fourth periodic reports of States parties: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (CEDAW/C/PRK/2-4)", "publisher": "UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (report submitted by the DPRK Government)", "url": "https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=CEDAW/C/PRK/2-4&l=en&t=pdf", "published": "2016-06-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-korea/" }, { "iso2": "MK", "name": "North Macedonia", "nativeName": "Северна Македонија", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a misdemeanour under Article 19 of the 2007 Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace; buying from an adult who is not a trafficking victim is not an offence. Mediation in prostitution, including enabling others to use sexual services for gain, is a crime under Article 191 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "mk-esem-2017", "mk-kz" ], "summary": "North Macedonia treats selling sex as a public order misdemeanour: according to the text quoted by the women's rights organisation ESE, Article 19 of the 2007 Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace fines anyone who engages in prostitution, or rents out or provides premises for it, EUR 600–800 in denar equivalent. Buying sex from an adult is not penalised, except where the buyer knew or should have known the person was a trafficking victim (six months to five years). Article 191 of the Criminal Code punishes recruiting, inducing or luring a person into prostitution (five to ten years in the consolidated text), enabling another person to use sexual services for gain (three to five years) and organising these acts (at least ten years). No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is a misdemeanour under Article 19 of the 2007 Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace, punishable by a fine of EUR 600–800 in denar equivalent. Before 2007, the misdemeanour also covered mediation; that conduct has been a crime since 1996.", "provisions": [ "чл. 19 Закон за прекршоците против јавниот ред и мир (Сл. весник 66/2007)" ], "sources": [ "mk-esem-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official text of the 2007 law (amended in 2015) could not be retrieved; wording and fine are taken from a 2017 NGO analysis that quotes it. Later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "€800 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Using, or enabling another to use, sexual services of a person whom one knew or should have known to be a trafficking victim is punishable by six months to five years.", "provisions": [ "чл. 418-а ст. 3 Кривичен законик" ], "sources": [ "mk-kz", "mk-esem-2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on an unofficial consolidated text (amendments up to about 2013–2014); later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Renting out or providing premises for prostitution is a misdemeanour (EUR 600–800). Enabling another person to use sexual services for gain is a crime punishable by three to five years, and organising such acts by at least ten years; legal persons can be fined.", "provisions": [ "чл. 19 Закон за прекршоците против јавниот ред и мир", "чл. 191 ст. 2, 4 и 5 Кривичен законик" ], "sources": [ "mk-esem-2017", "mk-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Recruiting, inducing, inciting or luring a person into prostitution, or taking part in handing a person over to another for prostitution, is punishable by five to ten years in the consolidated text (six months to five years in the original 1996 code). Forcing or deceiving a person into providing sexual services for gain carries at least eight years.", "provisions": [ "чл. 191 ст. 1 и 3 Кривичен законик" ], "sources": [ "mk-kz", "mk-kz-1996" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The consolidated text is unofficial and may not include amendments after about 2014." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the Criminal Code text checked. Advertising for a third party could fall under the broadly worded mediation offence, and an adult advertising their own services would be evidence of the selling misdemeanour.", "provisions": [ "чл. 191 Кривичен законик" ], "sources": [ "mk-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; media, advertising and electronic communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "mk-kz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1996, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 191 criminalises mediation in prostitution; Article 418-a(3) criminalises using the services of trafficking victims.", "provisions": [ "чл. 191", "чл. 418-а" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1996-07-29", "event": "New Criminal Code published, making mediation in prostitution a crime (Article 191).", "sources": [ "mk-kz-1996" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "mk-kz-1996", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кривичен законик („Службен весник на Република Македонија“ бр. 37/1996)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (original 1996 text, Official Gazette 37/1996)", "publisher": "Службен весник на Република Македонија", "url": "https://slvesnik.com.mk/Issues/90E0B29D702D49A48DBCC2239374B927.pdf", "published": "1996-07-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mk" }, { "id": "mk-kz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кривичен законик (Неофицијален пречистен текст)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (unofficial consolidated text, Public Prosecutor's Office)", "publisher": "Јавно обвинителство на Република Северна Македонија", "url": "https://jorm.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mk" }, { "id": "mk-esem-2017", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Анализа на законска рамка и институционален одговор кон насилството врз жените", "titleEn": "Analysis of the legal framework and institutional response to violence against women", "publisher": "Здружение за еманципација, солидарност и еднаквост на жените (ЕСЕ)", "url": "https://esem.org.mk/pdf/Publikacii/2017/Analiza%20na%20zakonska%20ramka.pdf", "published": "2017", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "mk" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-macedonia/" }, { "iso2": "NO", "name": "Norway", "nativeName": "Norge / Noreg", "memberships": [ "EEA", "EFTA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Buying sex has been an offence since 2009 (straffeloven § 316, the 'sexkjøpsloven') and applies to Norwegian nationals and residents abroad. Selling is not an offence. Promoting another person's prostitution, renting out premises for it and public announcements offering or mediating it are offences under § 315.", "modelSources": [ "no-strl-ch26", "no-strl-ch1", "no-stortinget-inns-428" ], "summary": "Norway criminalises the purchase of sex, not its sale. Under § 316 of the Penal Code anyone who obtains sexual intercourse or a sexual act by giving or agreeing payment faces a fine or up to one year in prison; since 2021 this also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves. § 315 punishes promoting the prostitution of others and renting out premises for prostitution with up to six years, and an unequivocal public announcement offering, mediating or requesting prostitution with a fine or up to six months. The Penal Code Council proposed decriminalising purchases between adults in 2022; the government declined, and in 2026 the Storting rejected a proposal for a public review of the law.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions are aimed at buyers and third parties; the person who sells is not penalised under § 315 or § 316.", "provisions": [ "§§ 315-316 straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26", "no-stortinget-inns-428" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Obtaining sexual intercourse or a sexual act for oneself or another by giving or agreeing payment, or benefiting from payment made by someone else, is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison. Since 1 January 2021 it also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves, which reaches paid remote acts.", "details": "§ 316 letter c was added by an amending act of 4 December 2020 (no. 135), in force 1 January 2021. Under § 5 first paragraph no. 9 the provision also applies to acts committed abroad by Norwegian nationals, people resident in Norway and companies registered in Norway, whether or not buying sex is legal where it happens.", "provisions": [ "§ 316 straffeloven", "§ 5 first paragraph no. 9 straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26", "no-strl-ch1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel is covered by the offence of promoting another person's prostitution. Renting out premises while understanding, or being grossly negligent as to whether, they will be used for prostitution is a separate limb of the same offence. Both carry a fine or up to six years.", "provisions": [ "§ 315 first paragraph letters a and b straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting the prostitution of others (hallikvirksomhet) is punishable by a fine or up to six years in prison. The provision defines prostitution as receiving payment for sexual intercourse or a sexual act, including acts performed on oneself.", "provisions": [ "§ 315 straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who, in a public announcement, unequivocally offers, mediates or requests prostitution is liable to a fine or up to six months in prison. The offence covers the person advertising their own services, a buyer posting a request, and an intermediary.", "details": "The offence is in the second paragraph of § 315. A website that publishes such announcements for payment could also be treated as promoting the prostitution of others under the first paragraph, which carries a higher penalty.", "provisions": [ "§ 315 second paragraph straffeloven" ], "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory text is clear. We did not verify case law or prosecution practice against online advertising platforms, so the platform point is a reading of the statute only." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "no-strl-ch26", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 26 on sexual offences", "relevance": "§ 315 (procuring, renting premises, public announcements) and § 316 (buying sexual services from adults).", "provisions": [ "§ 315", "§ 316" ] }, { "sourceId": "no-strl-ch1", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 1", "relevance": "§ 5 extends §§ 309-316, including the purchase offence, to acts abroad by Norwegian nationals and residents.", "provisions": [ "§ 5" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "dok8-202526-204s", "title": "Representative proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex (Dokument 8:204 S (2025–2026))", "stage": "rejected", "updated": "2026-05-28", "summary": "Four members from the Green Party proposed on 24 March 2026 that the government appoint a public committee to review the purchase and procuring provisions and their unintended effects. The justice committee, in Innst. 428 S of 28 May 2026, recommended that the proposal not be adopted, with Labour and Centre Party members citing the 2014 evaluation and agreeing with the ministry that no new evaluation is needed. The Storting has closed the case.", "sources": [ "no-stortinget-dok8-204", "no-stortinget-inns-428" ] }, { "id": "nou-2022-21-decriminalise-purchase", "title": "Penal Code Council proposal to repeal § 316 (NOU 2022: 21)", "stage": "rejected", "updated": "2026-05-28", "summary": "In NOU 2022: 21, delivered on 19 December 2022, the Penal Code Council recommended decriminalising the purchase of sex between adults. The government did not take the proposal forward in Prop. 132 L (2024–2025), and the Storting's justice committee majority endorsed that decision in May 2026.", "sources": [ "no-pion-2022", "no-stortinget-inns-428" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009", "event": "Buying sexual services criminalised, on the proposal in Ot.prp. nr. 48 (2007–2008).", "sources": [ "no-stortinget-inns-428" ] }, { "date": "2021-01-01", "event": "§ 316 extended to paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves.", "sources": [ "no-strl-ch26" ] }, { "date": "2022-12-19", "event": "The Penal Code Council delivered NOU 2022: 21, recommending repeal of the purchase offence for adults.", "sources": [ "no-pion-2022" ] }, { "date": "2026-05-28", "event": "The Storting's justice committee recommended rejecting a proposal for a public review of the purchase and procuring provisions.", "sources": [ "no-stortinget-inns-428" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "no-strl-ch26", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 26. Seksuallovbrudd", "titleEn": "Penal Code – Chapter 26. Sexual offences", "publisher": "Lovdata", "url": "https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-05-20-28/KAPITTEL_2-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "no" }, { "id": "no-strl-ch1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lov om straff (straffeloven) – Kapittel 1. Straffelovgivningens virkeområde", "titleEn": "Penal Code – Chapter 1. Scope of criminal legislation", "publisher": "Lovdata", "url": "https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-05-20-28/KAPITTEL_1-1", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "no" }, { "id": "no-stortinget-dok8-204", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Representantforslag om rettigheter og trygghet for personer som selger sex (Dokument 8:204 S (2025–2026))", "titleEn": "Representative proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex", "publisher": "Stortinget", "url": "https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Publikasjoner/Representantforslag/2025-2026/dok8-202526-204s/", "published": "2026-03-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "no" }, { "id": "no-stortinget-inns-428", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Innst. 428 S (2025–2026) Innstilling fra justiskomiteen om representantforslag om rettigheter og trygghet for personer som selger sex", "titleEn": "Recommendation of the Standing Committee on Justice on the proposal on rights and safety for people who sell sex", "publisher": "Stortinget", "url": "https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Publikasjoner/Innstillinger/Stortinget/2025-2026/inns-202526-428s/?all=true", "published": "2026-05-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "no" }, { "id": "no-pion-2022", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Straffelovrådet vil fjerne sexkjøpsloven", "titleEn": "The Penal Code Council wants to remove the sex purchase law", "publisher": "PION", "url": "https://pion-norge.no/aktuelt/straffelovradet-vil-fjerne-sexkjpsloven/", "published": "2022-12-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "no" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/norway/" }, { "iso2": "OM", "name": "Oman", "nativeName": "عُمان", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Practising prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is a crime (Art. 256, Penal Law of 2018). Clients are covered by a specific offence of being caught in a place prepared for prostitution (Art. 255) and by the general offence of consensual sex outside marriage (Art. 259). Brothels, living off earnings, procuring and incitement, including online, are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "om-penal" ], "summary": "Oman's Penal Law (Royal Decree 7/2018) punishes anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, with one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution intending to engage in it faces one month to one year (Art. 255), and consensual sex outside marriage six months to three years for both parties (Art. 259), on a complaint by a spouse or guardian or, where the accused has neither in Oman, by the Public Prosecution. Running a brothel, letting premises for one, knowingly working or living in one, or living off another's prostitution carries one to three years and OMR 500 to 1,000 (Art. 255). Inciting or helping someone into prostitution carries three to seven years (Art. 254), and doing so through an information network three to five years (Cyber Crime Law, Art. 15).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Being found in a public place inciting passers-by to prostitution by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to one year (Art. 253), and consensual sex outside marriage is a separate offence (Art. 259).", "details": "Article 256 reads, in our translation: \"Whoever practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee without distinction shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than three years.\"", "provisions": [ "Art. 256 Penal Law", "Art. 253 Penal Law", "Art. 259 Penal Law" ], "sources": [ "om-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Text read from Qanoon.om, a non-governmental site that reproduces the Official Gazette text with amendments; the translations are ours.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution or debauchery with the intention of engaging in it is punishable by one month to one year (Art. 255). Consensual sex outside marriage carries six months to three years for both parties, at least two years if either is married (Art. 259).", "details": "Under Article 259 proceedings require a complaint by the spouse or guardian. If the accused has no spouse or guardian in the country, the Public Prosecution may prosecute or deport the person; the spouse or guardian may withdraw the complaint at any time.", "provisions": [ "Art. 255 Penal Law", "Art. 259 Penal Law" ], "sources": [ "om-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Preparing or running a place for prostitution or debauchery, helping in any way to prepare or run one, letting a house or premises knowing it will be used for prostitution, or knowingly working or residing in such a place is punishable by one to three years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 500 to 1,000. In every case the court orders the place closed.", "provisions": [ "Art. 255 Penal Law" ], "sources": [ "om-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting, luring, tempting or helping a person by any means into prostitution or debauchery, where the act results, carries three to seven years; up to ten with coercion, threats or trickery, a victim under 18, or an offender who is an ascendant, carer or person in authority (Art. 254). Living wholly or partly on another person's prostitution under one's protection or control carries one to three years and a fine (Art. 255(d)).", "provisions": [ "Art. 254 Penal Law", "Art. 255(d) Penal Law" ], "sources": [ "om-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Using an information network or information technology to incite or seduce a man or woman into debauchery or prostitution, or to help them, carries three to five years' imprisonment and a fine of OMR 3,000 to 5,000; five to ten years and OMR 5,000 to 10,000 if the victim is under 18 (Art. 15, Cyber Crime Law). Public incitement of passers-by is covered by Art. 253 of the Penal Law.", "provisions": [ "Art. 15 Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree 12/2011)", "Art. 253 Penal Law" ], "sources": [ "om-cyber", "om-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether Article 15 is applied to people advertising their own services, as distinct from inciting others, was not checked against case law." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "om-penal", "titleEn": "Royal Decree 7/2018 Issuing the Penal Law", "relevance": "Book Two, Part Seven, Chapter One (Arts. 253 to 256) covers prostitution and debauchery; Art. 259 covers consensual sex outside marriage.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 253-256", "Art. 259" ] }, { "sourceId": "om-cyber", "titleEn": "Royal Decree 12/2011 Issuing the Cyber Crime Law", "relevance": "Art. 15 criminalises using an information network to incite or help a person into prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 15" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2011", "event": "The Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree 12/2011) makes inciting prostitution through an information network a separate offence.", "sources": [ "om-cyber" ] }, { "date": "2018-01-11", "event": "Royal Decree 7/2018 issues a new Penal Law, repealing the Penal Law of Royal Decree 7/74, with a chapter on prostitution and debauchery (Arts. 253 to 256). It took effect the day after publication in the Official Gazette of 14 January 2018.", "sources": [ "om-penal" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "om-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "مرسوم سلطاني رقم ٧ / ٢٠١٨ بإصدار قانون الجزاء (الصيغة المعدلة)", "titleEn": "Royal Decree 7/2018 Issuing the Penal Law (amended text)", "publisher": "Qanoon.om", "url": "https://qanoon.om/p/2018/l2018007/", "published": "2018-01-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "om-cyber", "kind": "legislation", "title": "مرسوم سلطاني رقم ١٢ / ٢٠١١ بإصدار قانون مكافحة جرائم تقنية المعلومات", "titleEn": "Royal Decree 12/2011 Issuing the Cyber Crime Law", "publisher": "Qanoon.om", "url": "https://qanoon.om/p/2011/rd2011012/", "published": "2011", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/oman/" }, { "iso2": "PK", "name": "Pakistan", "nativeName": "پاکستان", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Pakistan has no offence of selling sex as such. The general offence of fornication (section 496B of the Penal Code, inserted in 2006) covers any wilful intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other, so both parties to a paid encounter commit it. The Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979 also remains in force. Brothels, soliciting, living on earnings and procuring are separate offences under the provincial Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961.", "modelSources": [ "pk-ppc", "pk-spo" ], "summary": "Under section 496B of the Pakistan Penal Code, a man and a woman not married to each other who wilfully have sexual intercourse commit fornication, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to 10,000 rupees. This general offence applies to both seller and buyer. The 1961 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance, in force in the provinces, punishes keeping or financing a brothel, letting premises for one, soliciting in or within sight of a public place, living on or exploiting another person's prostitution, and procuring a woman for prostitution with or without her consent. Selling or buying a person for prostitution carries up to 25 years (sections 371A and 371B). The telecoms regulator can block online content on grounds of \"decency or morality\".", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is caught by the general fornication offence (up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to 10,000 rupees). Soliciting in or within sight of a street or public place is separately punishable under the 1961 Ordinance by up to six months or a fine of up to 200 rupees for a first offence.", "details": "Section 496B(1): \"A man, and woman not married to each other are said to commit fornication if they willfully have sexual intercourse with one another.\" It was inserted by Act VI of 2006 (the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act), which took the offence of zina liable to ta'zir out of the 1979 Zina Ordinance and replaced it with this Penal Code offence. The 1961 Ordinance defines prostitution as \"promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire, whether in money or kind\" and a prostitute as \"any female available or known to be available\" for it.", "provisions": [ "s. 496B PPC", "s. 4 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961" ], "sources": [ "pk-ppc", "pk-spo" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Penal Code was read on the official Pakistan Code portal. The 1961 Ordinance was read from a reproduction of the Punjab version (Nasir Law Associates) because the official provincial portals (punjablaws.gov.pk, kpcode.kp.gov.pk) did not respond. Penalties may differ slightly between provincial versions.", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 5 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no buyer-specific offence, but the client commits fornication under section 496B like the seller. Buying, hiring or otherwise obtaining possession of a person so that she will be used for prostitution carries up to 25 years' imprisonment (section 371B).", "provisions": [ "s. 496B PPC", "s. 371B PPC" ], "sources": [ "pk-ppc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing, financing or helping to manage a brothel, knowingly letting premises be used as one, or letting property knowing it will be a brothel, is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to 1,000 rupees. A brothel is any place where a sex worker lives or works, so a single woman's own home qualifies.", "details": "Section 2(a) (as substituted in 1968): a brothel \"means any house, part of a house, room or place in which a prostitute resides or carries on prostitution or any place or institution where facilities are known to be available for prostitution\". Tenants and occupiers are presumed to have knowingly permitted the use (section 3(2)). Keepers of places of public amusement or entertainment who knowingly let sex workers ply their trade there are fined (section 5).", "provisions": [ "ss. 2(a), 3, 5 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961" ], "sources": [ "pk-spo" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from an unofficial reproduction of the Punjab text; the official portals could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person over 18 who knowingly lives on another's earnings from prostitution, or exploits another's prostitution even with consent, faces up to two years and a fine. Procuring or enticing a woman for prostitution, with or without consent, carries up to three years. Selling or hiring out a person for prostitution carries up to 25 years.", "provisions": [ "ss. 6, 8, 10 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961", "s. 371A PPC", "s. 496A PPC" ], "sources": [ "pk-spo", "pk-ppc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Penal Code provisions were checked on the official portal; the Ordinance provisions only on an unofficial reproduction." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence targets advertising as such. Soliciting by words, gestures or \"otherwise\" in or within sight of a public place is an offence under the 1961 Ordinance, and offering sex for payment is offering a criminal act. The telecoms regulator can block content \"in the interest of ... decency or morality\" (PECA section 37) and order platforms to remove obscene content (section 2R, added in 2025).", "provisions": [ "s. 4 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961", "s. 292 PPC", "ss. 2R, 37 PECA 2016" ], "sources": [ "pk-spo", "pk-ppc", "pk-peca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "PECA gives the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocking and removal powers over content, not a criminal offence of advertising sexual services. The liability of websites that host such ads was not established from a court decision." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pk-ppc", "titleEn": "Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860, as amended)", "relevance": "Fornication offence (s. 496B, from 2006), selling and buying persons for prostitution (ss. 371A, 371B), enticing a woman for illicit intercourse (s. 496A), obscenity (s. 292).", "provisions": [ "s. 292", "s. 371A", "s. 371B", "s. 496A", "s. 496B" ] }, { "sourceId": "pk-spo", "titleEn": "Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961 (W.P. Ordinance II of 1961, Punjab version)", "relevance": "Provincial law on brothels, soliciting, living on earnings, procuring and keeping women in brothels.", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 3", "s. 4", "s. 6", "s. 8" ] }, { "sourceId": "pk-peca", "titleEn": "Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (as amended in 2025)", "relevance": "Powers of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to block or remove online content on decency and morality grounds and to direct social media platforms.", "provisions": [ "s. 2R", "s. 37" ], "inForce": "2016-08-19" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1961-01-07", "event": "The West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961 is published, consolidating the provincial laws on brothels, soliciting and procuring.", "sources": [ "pk-spo" ] }, { "date": "2006", "event": "Act VI of 2006 (the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act) inserts the fornication offence (section 496B) and the enticing offence (section 496A) into the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "pk-ppc" ] }, { "date": "2025", "event": "The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 adds a regime for social media platforms, including removal orders for obscene or pornographic content (section 2R).", "sources": [ "pk-peca" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pk-ppc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860)", "publisher": "The Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice", "url": "https://pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administratord5622ea3f15bfa00b17d2cf7770a8434.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pk-spo", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The [Punjab] Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance, 1961 (W.P. Ordinance II of 1961)", "publisher": "Nasir Law Associates (reproduction of the Punjab text)", "url": "http://nasirlawsite.com/laws/prostitu.htm", "published": "1961-01-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pk-peca", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (XL of 2016)", "publisher": "The Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice", "url": "https://www.pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administrator6a061efe0ed5bd153fa8b79b8eb4cba7.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/pakistan/" }, { "iso2": "PW", "name": "Palau", "nativeName": "Beluu er a Belau", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Title 17 of the Palau National Code, as revised by RPPL 9-21) makes prostitution a misdemeanour for both the person paid and the person paying (§4801), and promoting prostitution a felony (§§4803-4804).", "modelSources": [ "pw-pc" ], "summary": "In Palau, the Penal Code (17 PNC) criminalises both selling and buying sex: engaging in, or agreeing or offering to engage in, sexual conduct for a fee, and paying, agreeing or offering to pay a fee for it, are misdemeanours (§4801). Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution, which includes procuring or soliciting patrons, permitting premises to be regularly used and operating a house of prostitution, is a class B felony (§4804); doing so by force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or with a person under 18, is a class A felony (§4803). The Code also has offences of loitering for prostitution (§4805) and promoting travel for prostitution (§4806).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who engages in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual conduct with another person for a fee commits the misdemeanour of prostitution. Loitering for the purpose of engaging in or advancing prostitution is a separate offence.", "details": "Prostitution is a misdemeanour (§ 4801(c)), punishable by up to one year's imprisonment (17 PNC § 664) and a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 651(a)(4)).", "provisions": [ "17 PNC §4801(a)(1) and (c)", "17 PNC §4805" ], "sources": [ "pw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who pays, agrees to pay or offers to pay a fee to another to engage in sexual conduct commits the misdemeanour of prostitution.", "details": "Prostitution is a misdemeanour (§ 4801(c)), punishable by up to one year's imprisonment (17 PNC § 664) and a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 651(a)(4)).", "provisions": [ "17 PNC §4801(a)(2) and (c)" ], "sources": [ "pw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Permitting premises to be regularly used for prostitution, or operating or assisting in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, is 'advancing prostitution', which is promoting prostitution in the second degree, a class B felony.", "provisions": [ "17 PNC §4802(a)", "17 PNC §4804" ], "sources": [ "pw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly advancing prostitution (other than as the sex worker or client) or profiting from it is a class B felony. Advancing it by compelling or inducing a person through force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or advancing or profiting from the prostitution of a person under 18, is a class A felony.", "provisions": [ "17 PNC §4802", "17 PNC §4803", "17 PNC §4804" ], "sources": [ "pw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the annotated Penal Code (17 PNCA, Supplement 9) published by Palau's Office of the Special Prosecutor; amendments after that supplement were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no advertising-specific offence, but a sex worker's ad is an 'offer' under §4801, and anyone who 'procures or solicits patrons for prostitution' or engages in other conduct designed to 'aid, or facilitate' it advances prostitution, a class B felony. A site that knowingly publishes such ads could fall within that definition.", "provisions": [ "17 PNC §4801", "17 PNC §4802(a)", "17 PNC §4804" ], "sources": [ "pw-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the statutory definitions; no case law or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found, and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pw-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Title 17 Palau National Code (RPPL 9-21)", "relevance": "Chapter 48: prostitution (§4801), definitions (§4802), promoting prostitution in the first and second degree (§§4803-4804), loitering (§4805) and promoting travel for prostitution (§4806).", "provisions": [ "§§4801-4806" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pw-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, 17 PNCA (Palau National Code Annotated), Supplement 9", "publisher": "Office of the Special Prosecutor, Republic of Palau", "url": "https://palauosp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Penal-Code-17-PNCA.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/palau/" }, { "iso2": "PA", "name": "Panama", "nativeName": "Panamá", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Borderline. A 1949 health decree subjects prostitution to sanitary inspection and requires a Health Department permit to work as an 'alternadora' or similar in bars, cabarets and nightclubs, and the Penal Code refers to 'unauthorised' paid sexual activity. Selling has carried no sanction since 2008, but the decree's ban on prostitution inside towns was never repealed, and profit-driven facilitation or organisation of 'sexual exploitation' is a crime (Art. 180).", "modelSources": [ "pa-dto-149-1949", "pa-cp", "pa-defensoria-2019" ], "summary": "Panama regulates rather than prohibits sex work, through a 1949 health decree. Decree 149 of 1949 bans prostitution 'absolutely' within cities and towns, subjects it elsewhere to health inspection, and requires a Health Department permit for hostesses ('alternadoras'), dancers and waitresses in bars, cabarets and nightclubs. Its Art. 12, which fined 'clandestine prostitution', was repealed in 2008, and the Ombudsman states that sex work is not penalised. The Penal Code punishes facilitating, recruiting or organising the 'sexual exploitation' of others for profit (four to six years, Art. 180), moving a person for 'unauthorised paid sexual activity' (Art. 181), and trafficking, which includes advertising or arranging a person's travel to carry out acts of prostitution (fifteen to twenty years, Art. 456-A).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex carries no sanction since Executive Decree 332 of 29 July 2008 repealed Art. 12 of Decree 149 of 1949, which fined clandestine prostitution. The 1949 decree still bans prostitution within city limits, subjects it elsewhere to health inspection, and requires a health permit for hostesses and similar staff in bars, cabarets and nightclubs; registration covers venue-based workers only.", "details": "Decree 149 of 20 May 1949 (Gaceta Oficial 10914, 6 June 1949), Art. 1: 'Prohíbese de manera absoluta el ejercicio de la prostitución dentro del perímetro de las ciudades y poblaciones … En los lugares en que no se prohibe, la prostitución quedará sometida a la inspección y a la reglamentación de las autoridades sanitarias.' Art. 5 requires a special permit from the Health Department to work as 'artista, alternadora, corista, mesera, anfitriona o cajera en cantinas, cabarets o clubes nocturnos'. A 2015 newspaper report describes the work permit and health controls for nightclub work as the only legal route, and independent, online or street-based sex workers as absent from the registers.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1, 5 y 7 Decreto 149 de 20 de mayo de 1949", "Decreto Ejecutivo 332 de 29 de julio de 2008 (deroga el art. 12 del Decreto 149)" ], "sources": [ "pa-dto-149-1949", "pa-defensoria-2019", "pa-estrella-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 1949 decree was read from an OCR of the scanned Gaceta; Executive Decree 332 of 2008 itself was not opened (its effect is stated by the Ombudsman). Current Health Ministry rules on health cards were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Penal Code. Sexual exploitation of minors, including paid sexual acts, is a separate group of offences in the same chapter.", "sources": [ "pa-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 2016 consolidated text published by the Public Prosecutor's Office; later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Bars, cabarets and nightclubs employing hostesses operate under the 1949 decree's health control and permit system. Outside that, anyone who for profit facilitates, recruits or organises in any form the 'sexual exploitation' of others commits a crime punishable by four to six years and a fine (Art. 180).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 2, 4 y 5 Decreto 149 de 1949", "Art. 180 Código Penal (Texto Único)" ], "sources": [ "pa-dto-149-1949", "pa-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Where the line falls between a licensed nightclub and criminal 'sexual exploitation' is not defined in the texts checked, and case law was not reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Facilitating, instigating, recruiting or organising the sexual exploitation of others for profit: four to six years and 150–200 day-fines (Art. 180), eight to ten with aggravating factors. Moving a person into, out of or within the country to subject them to 'unauthorised paid sexual activity': four to six years (Art. 181). Living off a person held in sexual servitude by threats or violence: three to five years (Art. 182).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 180, 181 y 182 Código Penal (Texto Único)", "Art. 456-A Código Penal (Texto Único)" ], "sources": [ "pa-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Consolidated 2016 text; later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence for advertising sexual services as such, but the trafficking offence covers anyone who promotes, finances, advertises ('publicite'), invites or arranges 'by any means of individual or mass communication' a person's entry, exit or movement within the country to carry out acts of prostitution: fifteen to twenty years, with no requirement of coercion (Art. 456-A).", "provisions": [ "Art. 456-A Código Penal (Texto Único)" ], "sources": [ "pa-cp", "pa-redtrasex-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "A sex workers' organisation warns that the article could be read as covering any invitation to a sex worker to travel for work; no case law on advertisements or platforms was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pa-dto-149-1949", "titleEn": "Decree 149 of 1949 on the repression of prostitution, social hygiene and public morality", "relevance": "Bans prostitution within towns, subjects it elsewhere to health inspection and requires health permits for hostesses in bars and nightclubs.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 1–7" ], "inForce": "1949-06-06" }, { "sourceId": "pa-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law 14 of 2007, consolidated text)", "relevance": "Procuring (Art. 180), moving people for unauthorised paid sexual activity (Art. 181) and trafficking, including advertising a person's travel for prostitution (Art. 456-A).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 180–182", "Art. 456-A" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1949-06-06", "event": "Decree 149 of 20 May 1949 on the repression of prostitution and social hygiene is published in the Gaceta Oficial.", "sources": [ "pa-dto-149-1949" ] }, { "date": "2008-07-29", "event": "Executive Decree 332 repeals Art. 12 of Decree 149, removing the penalties for selling sex.", "sources": [ "pa-defensoria-2019" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pa-dto-149-1949", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decreto 149 de 20 de mayo de 1949, por el cual se desarrollan disposiciones en represión de la prostitución y se dictan medidas sobre higiene social y moralidad pública (Gaceta Oficial 10914)", "titleEn": "Decree 149 of 20 May 1949 on the repression of prostitution and on social hygiene and public morality", "publisher": "Asamblea Nacional de Panamá, LEGISPAN (copia alojada por Justia)", "url": "https://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/decretos/149-de-1949-jun-6-1949.pdf", "published": "1949-06-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "pa-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Texto Único del Código Penal de la República de Panamá (comentado), 2016", "titleEn": "Consolidated text of the Penal Code of Panama (annotated), 2016", "publisher": "Ministerio Público – Procuraduría General de la Nación", "url": "https://ministeriopublico.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/codigo-penal-2016.pdf", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "pa-defensoria-2019", "kind": "government", "title": "Defensoría del Pueblo realiza reunión para la prevención de situaciones de violencia contra las trabajadoras sexuales", "titleEn": "Ombudsman holds meeting on preventing violence against sex workers", "publisher": "Defensoría del Pueblo de Panamá", "url": "https://www.defensoria.gob.pa/defensoria-del-pueblo-realiza-reunion-para-la-prevencion-de-situaciones-de-violencia-contra-las-trabajadoras-sexuales/", "published": "2019-02-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "pa-estrella-2015", "kind": "news", "title": "En Panamá, la prostitución quedó en un “vacío legal”", "titleEn": "In Panama, prostitution was left in a 'legal vacuum'", "publisher": "La Estrella de Panamá", "url": "https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/quedo-vacio-legal-panama-prostitucion-FNLE152236", "published": "2015-10-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "pa-redtrasex-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Marco legal sobre el trabajo sexual y participación política de las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales en Panamá", "titleEn": "Legal framework on sex work and political participation of women sex workers in Panama", "publisher": "RedTraSex / Mujeres con Dignidad y Derecho de Panamá", "url": "https://redtrasex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mapeo_de_leyes_panama_rts2020.pdf", "published": "2020-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/panama/" }, { "iso2": "PG", "name": "Papua New Guinea", "nativeName": "Papua Niugini", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Low confidence. The Summary Offences Act 1977 criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 55) and brothel-keeping (ss. 56-57), and the Criminal Code Act 1974 prohibits brothels (s. 231). In Wemay v Tumdual [1978] the National Court held that a sex worker paid for her own services lives on the earnings of prostitution, so selling sex itself can be prosecuted; a 1980 decision limited this to habitual rather than isolated transactions.", "modelSources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "summary": "In Papua New Guinea, prostitution is not named as an offence, but the courts have read the Summary Offences Act 1977 offence of knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 55; a fine of up to K400 or one year) to cover sex workers' own earnings (Wemay v Tumdual, 1978), as long as they live on them habitually (Jon v Kuman, 1980). Keeping or managing a brothel, or financing one, carries a fine of up to K800 or two years (s. 56); using, permitting or letting premises for a brothel or 'for any purpose connected with prostitution' carries a fine (s. 57). Amnesty International reports that the Criminal Code Act 1974 (s. 231) also prohibits brothels, with up to three years. No offence aimed at clients or at advertising was identified.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not named as an offence, but in Wemay v Tumdual [1978] PNGLR 173 the court held that a sex worker paid for her services was living, at least in part, on the earnings of prostitution under s. 55 of the Summary Offences Act (fine up to K400 or one year). In Jon v Kuman [1980] the court required more than an isolated transaction.", "provisions": [ "s. 55 Summary Offences Act 1977" ], "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be checked: no official online text was found outside PacLII, and the consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. Provisions and penalties are as quoted in Amnesty International's 2016 report.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was identified in the sources reviewed.", "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be checked: no official online text was found outside PacLII, and the consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. Provisions and penalties are as quoted in Amnesty International's 2016 report." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel, or knowingly financing one, carries a fine of up to K800 or two years. An owner, tenant or occupier who uses or permits premises to be used as a brothel or for any purpose connected with prostitution, or who lets them knowing this, faces a fine of up to K200. Section 231 of the Criminal Code Act is reported to prohibit brothels with up to three years.", "provisions": [ "s. 56 Summary Offences Act 1977", "s. 57 Summary Offences Act 1977", "s. 231 Criminal Code Act 1974" ], "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be checked: no official online text was found outside PacLII, and the consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. Provisions and penalties are as quoted in Amnesty International's 2016 report." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries a fine of up to K400 or one year. Living with or constantly accompanying a sex worker, or exercising control over their movements, is prima facie evidence of the offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 55 Summary Offences Act 1977" ], "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be checked: no official online text was found outside PacLII, and the consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. Provisions and penalties are as quoted in Amnesty International's 2016 report." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The sources reviewed do not discuss advertising or online platforms.", "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statute could not be checked: no official online text was found outside PacLII, and the consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. Provisions and penalties are as quoted in Amnesty International's 2016 report." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pg-amnesty", "titleEn": "Summary Offences Act 1977, Part VII (Prostitution), as quoted by Amnesty International", "relevance": "Living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 55), keeping a brothel (s. 56) and suppression of brothels (s. 57).", "provisions": [ "s. 55", "s. 56", "s. 57" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1978", "event": "Wemay v Tumdual [1978] PNGLR 173: the National Court holds that a sex worker's own earnings fall under the living-on-earnings offence in s. 55 of the Summary Offences Act.", "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ] }, { "date": "1980", "event": "Jon v Kuman [1980] PGNC 26: the National Court holds that an isolated transaction is not enough for a conviction under s. 55.", "sources": [ "pg-amnesty" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pg-amnesty", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Outlawed and Abused: Criminalizing Sex Work in Papua New Guinea (ASA 34/4129/2016)", "publisher": "Amnesty International", "url": "https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/png_report_-_sex_workers_rights_-_embargoed_-_final.pdf", "published": "2016", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/papua-new-guinea/" }, { "iso2": "PY", "name": "Paraguay", "nativeName": "Paraguay", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code's third-party offences are narrow: inducing a person into prostitution is punished only where the person is under 16, or between 16 and the age of majority and abused or in the offender's care (art. 139), and exploiting a person in prostitution by taking advantage of their earnings is punished as rufianería (art. 129a). No provision specifically bans brothels, so the case is borderline between abolitionism and decriminalisation.", "modelSources": [ "py-ley-3440", "py-cp" ], "summary": "Paraguay does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults. As amended by Law 3440 of 2008, the Penal Code punishes inducing into prostitution a person under 16, or one aged between 16 and the age of majority by abusing their helplessness, trust or naivety or while responsible for their education, with up to five years or a fine (six if done commercially, eight if the victim is under 14). Exploiting a person who sells sex by taking advantage of their earnings (rufianería, now article 129a) carries up to five years. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence. No offence specifically covers keeping a brothel or advertising sexual services.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence under the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "py-cp", "py-ley-3440" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Municipal ordinances (for example on street work or venues in Asunción) and police practice were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. Sexual offences against children and adolescents apply separately.", "sources": [ "py-cp", "py-ley-3440" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the Penal Code chapters on sexual offences; later amendments after 2008 were not consolidated in the texts checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No Penal Code provision specifically bans keeping a brothel. Operators may be liable for rufianería if they exploit a person who sells sex by taking advantage of her earnings (up to five years), and for proxenetismo or trafficking where minors or coercion are involved.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 129a, 139" ], "sources": [ "py-ley-3440" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Where the line between a venue's commercial share and \"exploiting\" earnings lies was not checked in case law; municipal licensing of venues was not reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing into prostitution a person under 16, or aged 16 to the age of majority by abusing helplessness, trust or naivety or while in charge of their education, carries up to five years or a fine (six if commercial, eight if under 14). Exploiting a person who sells sex by taking advantage of their earnings carries up to five years. Inducing an adult into prostitution without exploitation is not an offence.", "details": "Law 3440 of 2008 rewrote article 139 (proxenetismo), lowering the age thresholds from 18 to 16, and moved rufianería from article 140 to a new article 129a; article 140 now covers child sexual-abuse material. Article 129b covers trafficking for sexual exploitation.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 129a, 129b, 139" ], "sources": [ "py-ley-3440", "py-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether later laws, such as the 2012 comprehensive anti-trafficking law, changed these articles was not verified." }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No Penal Code provision specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising involving minors would fall under the offences protecting children.", "sources": [ "py-cp", "py-ley-3440" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Only the Penal Code was reviewed; media, telecommunications, municipal and platform rules were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "py-cp", "titleEn": "Law 1160/97, Penal Code", "relevance": "Original text of the prostitution-related offences (arts. 129, 139, 140).", "provisions": [ "arts. 129, 139, 140 (original numbering)" ] }, { "sourceId": "py-ley-3440", "titleEn": "Law 3440 amending several provisions of the Penal Code (2008)", "relevance": "Current wording of proxenetismo (art. 139), rufianería (art. 129a) and trafficking for sexual exploitation (art. 129b).", "provisions": [ "arts. 129a, 129b, 139" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1997-11-26", "event": "Penal Code (Law 1160/97) adopted, with offences of proxenetismo and rufianería.", "sources": [ "py-cp", "py-ley-3440" ] }, { "date": "2008-07-16", "event": "Law 3440 promulgated, rewriting article 139 and moving rufianería to article 129a.", "sources": [ "py-ley-3440" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "py-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 1160, Código Penal", "titleEn": "Law No. 1160, Penal Code", "publisher": "Biblioteca y Archivo Central del Congreso de la Nación (BACN)", "url": "https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/3497/ley-n-1160-codigo-penal", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "py-ley-3440", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 3440, que modifica varias disposiciones de la Ley N° 1.160/97, Código Penal", "titleEn": "Law No. 3440 amending several provisions of Law No. 1,160/97, Penal Code", "publisher": "Biblioteca y Archivo Central del Congreso de la Nación (BACN)", "url": "https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/3485/ley-n-3440-modifica-varias-disposiciones-de-la-ley-n-116097-codigo-penal", "published": "2008-07-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/paraguay/" }, { "iso2": "PE", "name": "Peru", "nativeName": "Perú", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but the Penal Code punishes promoting or favouring another person's prostitution (art. 179), managing its proceeds (art. 180) and directing or managing it (art. 181), each with heavier penalties when done in the context of an economic activity or a legal person. In practice some municipalities have issued operating licences to brothels, which the press has reported alongside these offences.", "modelSources": [ "pe-ley-30963", "pe-larepublica-2022" ], "summary": "Prostitution by adults is not a crime in Peru, and paying an adult for sex is not an offence unless the person is a victim of sexual exploitation, which carries 9 to 12 years for the client. Law 30963 of June 2019 rewrote the third-party offences: promoting or favouring the prostitution of another person (4 to 6 years), managing the economic or other benefit of another's prostitution (4 to 8 years) and directing or managing another's prostitution (4 to 6 years), each rising to 6 to 12 years where committed in tourism, through a legal person or in the context of any economic activity. Despite these offences, press reports describe brothels holding municipal operating licences, while some municipalities have ordinances banning the activity.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code does not punish a person who sells sex; the prostitution offences are aimed at third parties who promote, favour, manage or profit from another person's prostitution.", "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963", "pe-larepublica-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Municipal ordinances that prohibit or restrict prostitution locally, and any health-card requirements, were not reviewed." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Paying for sexual acts with a victim of sexual exploitation carries 9 to 12 years (art. 153-E), and with an adolescent aged 14 to 17, 15 to 20 years (art. 179-A).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 153-E, 179-A" ], "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No national licensing regime exists, and running a brothel falls within the offences of favouring (art. 179) and directing or managing (art. 181) another person's prostitution, aggravated to 6 to 12 years when committed through a legal person or in any economic activity. Some municipalities have nonetheless issued operating licences to brothels.", "details": "La República reported in December 2022 that a brothel in Los Olivos (Lima) obtained an indefinite municipal operating licence in 2018 for the line of business \"prostíbulo, casas de citas y lenocinio\", in a district that also has an ordinance banning the activity, and that another licensed venue was later closed by court order. A municipal attorney quoted in the report said a licence is an administrative act that can be annulled and does not shield its holder from criminal liability.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 179, 181" ], "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963", "pe-larepublica-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How courts treat licensed brothel operators under arts. 179 and 181 was not checked in case law." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting or favouring another person's prostitution carries 4 to 6 years; managing the economic or other benefit of another's prostitution (rufianismo) 4 to 8 years; directing or managing another's prostitution (proxenetismo) 4 to 6 years. Each rises to 6 to 12 years with aggravating circumstances, including acting in tourism, through a legal person or in any economic activity, or where it is the offender's means of subsistence.", "details": "Forcing a person by violence, threats or other means to perform sexual acts for economic gain is sexual exploitation (art. 153-B, 10 to 15 years), and the 2019 law added offences of promoting, benefiting from and managing sexual exploitation (arts. 153-D, 153-F, 153-G). Consent of the person in prostitution is not a defence in the text of arts. 179-181, which do not require coercion.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 153-B, 153-D, 153-F, 153-G, 179, 180, 181" ], "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising adult sexual services was found. Advertising another person's sexual services could amount to promoting or favouring their prostitution under article 179; publicising child sexual-abuse material is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal, arts. 179, 183-A" ], "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the wording of article 179; no case law, media regulation or platform rules were reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pe-ley-30963", "titleEn": "Law 30963 amending the Penal Code on sexual exploitation and related offences (2019)", "relevance": "Current wording of the offences of favouring prostitution, rufianismo, proxenetismo and the sexual-exploitation offences, including the client offence.", "provisions": [ "arts. 153-B to 153-J, 179, 179-A, 180, 181" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-06-18", "event": "Law 30963 published in El Peruano, rewriting the prostitution-related offences and adding sexual-exploitation offences, including for clients of exploitation victims.", "sources": [ "pe-ley-30963" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pe-ley-30963", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 30963, Ley que modifica el Código Penal respecto a las sanciones del delito de explotación sexual en sus diversas modalidades y delitos conexos, para proteger con especial énfasis a las niñas, niños, adolescentes y mujeres", "titleEn": "Law No. 30963 amending the Penal Code on penalties for sexual exploitation in its various forms and related offences", "publisher": "Congreso de la República del Perú (El Peruano, Normas Legales)", "url": "https://leyes.congreso.gob.pe/Documentos/2016_2021/ADLP/Normas_Legales/30963-LEY.pdf", "published": "2019-06-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "pe-larepublica-2022", "kind": "news", "title": "¿Los prostíbulos son legales en Perú y pueden obtener licencia de funcionamiento? Conoce el caso de Las Sirenitas y Lady Scort", "titleEn": "Are brothels legal in Peru and can they obtain an operating licence? The cases of Las Sirenitas and Lady Scort", "publisher": "La República", "url": "https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2022/12/06/los-prostibulos-son-legales-en-peru-y-pueden-obtener-licencia-de-funcionamiento-conoce-el-caso-de-las-sirenitas-y-lady-scort", "published": "2022-12-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/peru/" }, { "iso2": "PH", "name": "Philippines", "nativeName": "Pilipinas", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended in 2012, punishes women who for money habitually engage in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence unless the person is a trafficking victim. Profiting from prostitution is a crime (Article 341), and maintaining a person in prostitution can be trafficking.", "modelSources": [ "ph-ra10158", "ph-ra10951", "ph-rpc", "ph-ra10364" ], "summary": "The Philippines criminalises the person who sells sex, defined in gendered terms. Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, rewritten by Republic Act 10158 (2012) when vagrancy was decriminalised, deems women who for money or profit habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct to be \"prostitutes\" and punishes them with arresto menor or a fine of up to ₱20,000, more for repeat offences (fines raised by RA 10951 in 2017). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence as such, but buying or engaging the services of a trafficked person for prostitution carries six to twelve years under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Engaging in the business of or profiting from prostitution is the \"white slave trade\" offence (Article 341), and maintaining or hiring a person to engage in prostitution is an act of trafficking when the means listed in the 2022 amendment are used.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Women who, for money or profit, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct commit an offence punishable by arresto menor (one to thirty days) or a fine of up to ₱20,000; for recidivists, arresto mayor in its medium period to prisión correccional in its minimum period or a fine of ₱20,000–200,000, or both.", "details": "The definition covers only women and requires habituality. RA 10158 (2012) removed the vagrancy offences from Article 202 but kept the prostitution paragraph; RA 10951 (2017) raised the fines from ₱200 and ₱2,000 to the current amounts.", "provisions": [ "Art. 202 Revised Penal Code (as amended by RA 10158 and RA 10951)" ], "sources": [ "ph-ra10158", "ph-ra10951" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Statutes read on the LawPhil Project (Arellano Law Foundation); the Official Gazette site blocked automated access.", "mapLabel": "≈€280 or 30 days" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not itself an offence. Any person who buys or engages the services of a trafficked person for prostitution faces six to twelve years and a fine of ₱50,000–100,000, with far heavier penalties where the victim is a child; probation is excluded.", "provisions": [ "Sec. 11 RA 9208 (as amended by RA 10364)" ], "sources": [ "ph-ra10364", "ph-ra11862" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether a person is \"trafficked\" depends on the means listed in Section 4 of RA 9208 as amended in 2022 (which include taking advantage of vulnerability); for children no means are required." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who in any manner engages in the business of prostitution, profits by it or enlists women for it commits the white slave trade offence (prisión correccional in its medium and maximum periods). Knowingly leasing or allowing premises, vehicles or digital platforms to be used to promote trafficking is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 341 Revised Penal Code", "Sec. 5(a) RA 9208 (as amended by RA 11862)" ], "sources": [ "ph-rpc", "ph-ra11862" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from prostitution is punished under Article 341. Recruiting, maintaining or hiring a person for prostitution is trafficking (twenty years and a fine of ₱1–2 million) when done by threat, force, coercion, fraud, abuse of power, taking advantage of vulnerability or payment to a person in control; for children, no such means are required.", "provisions": [ "Art. 341 Revised Penal Code", "Sec. 4 RA 9208 (as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862)", "Sec. 10(a) RA 9208 (as amended by RA 10364)" ], "sources": [ "ph-rpc", "ph-ra10364", "ph-ra11862" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed at advertising adult sexual services as such was found. Advertising, publishing or distributing material that promotes trafficking is a crime, and since 2022 internet intermediaries that knowingly or through gross negligence allow their infrastructure to be used to promote trafficking are liable.", "details": "RA 11862 also obliges internet intermediaries to ban child trafficking and child sexual abuse material in their terms of service and to cooperate with law enforcement. An advertisement by or for an adult sex worker could be evidence of the Article 202 or Article 341 offences.", "provisions": [ "Sec. 5(c) RA 9208", "Sec. 5(k) RA 9208 (as amended by RA 11862)", "Sec. 9 RA 9208 (as amended by RA 11862)" ], "sources": [ "ph-ra9208", "ph-ra11862" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The cybercrime law and local ordinances were not reviewed; the application of the trafficking provisions to ads for consenting adults is untested in the sources reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ph-rpc", "titleEn": "Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, 1930)", "relevance": "Article 202 (prostitution, as amended) and Article 341 (white slave trade).", "provisions": [ "Art. 202", "Art. 341" ] }, { "sourceId": "ph-ra10158", "titleEn": "Republic Act 10158 (2012) decriminalising vagrancy", "relevance": "Rewrote Article 202 so that it covers only prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Sec. 1" ] }, { "sourceId": "ph-ra9208", "titleEn": "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208), as amended by RA 10364 (2013) and RA 11862 (2022)", "relevance": "Trafficking for prostitution, promotion of trafficking, buying the services of trafficked persons, duties of internet intermediaries.", "provisions": [ "Sec. 4", "Sec. 5", "Sec. 9", "Sec. 11" ], "inForce": "2003" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2003-05-26", "event": "The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) is approved.", "sources": [ "ph-ra9208" ] }, { "date": "2012-03-27", "event": "RA 10158 decriminalises vagrancy, leaving Article 202 as an offence of prostitution by women only.", "sources": [ "ph-ra10158" ] }, { "date": "2013-02-06", "event": "The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 10364) is approved, including the offence of using trafficked persons for prostitution.", "sources": [ "ph-ra10364" ] }, { "date": "2017-08-29", "event": "RA 10951 raises the Article 202 fines to up to ₱20,000, and ₱20,000–200,000 for repeat offenders.", "sources": [ "ph-ra10951" ] }, { "date": "2022-06-23", "event": "RA 11862 amends the trafficking law, adding duties and liability for internet intermediaries and platforms.", "sources": [ "ph-ra11862" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ph-rpc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Act No. 3815, An Act Revising the Penal Code and Other Penal Laws (Revised Penal Code)", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/acts/act1930/act_3815_1930.html", "published": "1930-12-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ph-ra10158", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Republic Act No. 10158, An Act Decriminalizing Vagrancy, Amending for this Purpose Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2012/ra_10158_2012.html", "published": "2012-03-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ph-ra10951", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Republic Act No. 10951, An Act Adjusting the Amount or the Value of Property and Damage on Which a Penalty is Based and the Fines Imposed Under the Revised Penal Code", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2017/ra_10951_2017.html", "published": "2017-08-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ph-ra9208", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Republic Act No. 9208, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2003/ra_9208_2003.html", "published": "2003-05-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ph-ra10364", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Republic Act No. 10364, Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10364_2013.html", "published": "2013-02-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ph-ra11862", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Republic Act No. 11862, An Act Strengthening the Policies on Anti-Trafficking in Persons (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022)", "publisher": "The LawPhil Project, Arellano Law Foundation", "url": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11862_2022.html", "published": "2022-06-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/philippines/" }, { "iso2": "PL", "name": "Poland", "nativeName": "Polska", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Neither selling nor buying sex between adults is an offence, and there is no registration or licensing scheme. The Criminal Code instead targets third parties: inducing or facilitating another person's prostitution for financial gain, or deriving financial benefit from it, is a crime (Art. 204), which in practice covers brothel keeping and pimping. Importunate public soliciting for gain is a petty offence.", "modelSources": [ "pl-kk", "pl-kw" ], "summary": "In Poland, selling and buying sex between adults are legal and unregulated, but almost every form of third-party involvement is a crime: inducing a person into prostitution or facilitating it for financial gain, or profiting from someone else's prostitution, carries three months to five years (Art. 204 Criminal Code), and bringing a person into prostitution by abusing dependence, force or deceit carries up to fifteen years (Art. 203). Brothels are therefore illegal. Importunate soliciting in public is a petty offence. No law addresses advertising sexual services specifically.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. Proposing a sexual act to another person importunately, by imposing oneself or in another way that breaches public order, with a view to material gain, is a petty offence (Art. 142 Petty Offences Code), punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine.", "details": "Arrest lasts 5 to 30 days and a fine is PLN 20 to 5,000 (Arts. 19 and 24 § 1 of the Petty Offences Code).", "provisions": [ "Art. 142 Kodeksu wykroczeń" ], "sources": [ "pl-kw" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Petty offences (wykroczenia) are tried under a separate code; they are not crimes, although arrest is a possible sanction.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 30 days" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is legal. Having sexual intercourse or another sexual act with a minor in exchange for, or on the promise of, a financial or personal benefit is a crime (Art. 199 § 3 Criminal Code, three months to five years).", "provisions": [ "Art. 199 § 3 Kodeksu karnego" ], "sources": [ "pl-kk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific brothel offence, but running a brothel, renting rooms to sex workers or otherwise facilitating another person's prostitution for financial gain falls under Art. 204 § 1 Criminal Code (three months to five years), and deriving financial benefit from it under Art. 204 § 2.", "provisions": [ "Art. 204 § 1-2 Kodeksu karnego" ], "sources": [ "pl-kk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing a person into prostitution or facilitating it for financial gain, and deriving financial benefit from another person's prostitution, are crimes (Art. 204 §§ 1-2, three months to five years; one to ten years if the person is a minor). Bringing a person into prostitution by abusing dependence or a critical situation carries one to ten years, and by force, unlawful threat or deceit two to fifteen years (Art. 203).", "provisions": [ "Art. 203 Kodeksu karnego", "Art. 204 Kodeksu karnego" ], "sources": [ "pl-kk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services as such, and advertising one's own services is not an offence. Putting up an indecent notice, sign or drawing in a public place is a petty offence (Art. 141 Petty Offences Code). A third party who publishes ads for profit could in principle be charged with facilitating prostitution for financial gain (Art. 204 § 1 Criminal Code).", "provisions": [ "Art. 141 Kodeksu wykroczeń", "Art. 204 § 1 Kodeksu karnego" ], "sources": [ "pl-kw", "pl-kk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How courts apply Art. 204 § 1 to advertising websites was not verified; the statement on third-party liability rests on the statutory wording only." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pl-kk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 6 June 1997 (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 1342)", "relevance": "Procuring, facilitating and profiting from prostitution, and paid sexual acts with minors.", "provisions": [ "Art. 199 § 3", "Art. 203", "Art. 204" ] }, { "sourceId": "pl-kw", "titleEn": "Petty Offences Code of 20 May 1971 (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 1372)", "relevance": "Importunate public soliciting for gain and indecent public notices.", "provisions": [ "Art. 141", "Art. 142" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pl-kk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 października 2026 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy – Kodeks karny (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1342)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 6 June 1997, consolidated text announced on 2 October 2026", "publisher": "Sejm RP, Dziennik Ustaw (ELI API)", "url": "https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/1342/text.pdf", "published": "2026-10-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pl" }, { "id": "pl-kw", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 października 2026 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy – Kodeks wykroczeń (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1372)", "titleEn": "Petty Offences Code of 20 May 1971, consolidated text published on 21 October 2026", "publisher": "Sejm RP, Dziennik Ustaw (ELI API)", "url": "https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/1372/text.pdf", "published": "2026-10-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pl" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/poland/" }, { "iso2": "PT", "name": "Portugal", "nativeName": "Portugal", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Art. 169 of the Penal Code (lenocínio) punishes anyone who, professionally or with intent to profit, fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution, with no requirement of coercion or exploitation since 1998. The Constitutional Court in plenary upheld that provision in 2021 (Acórdão 72/2021).", "modelSources": [ "pt-cp-169", "pt-tc-72-2021" ], "summary": "In Portugal selling and buying sex between adults are legal, but any professional or profit-seeking involvement by a third party in another person's prostitution is the crime of lenocínio (art. 169 of the Penal Code, six months to five years; one to eight years with violence, deception or abuse of vulnerability). Since a 1998 reform the offence no longer requires that the sex worker be exploited or in need. The Constitutional Court has repeatedly upheld it; a 2020 chamber ruling finding it unconstitutional was reversed by the plenary in January 2021. Paying for sex with a minor and knowingly using the services of a trafficking victim are crimes. There is no licensing system and no specific advertising offence.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not an offence. No provision of the Penal Code penalises the person who sells sex, and there is no registration or licensing regime.", "details": "The Penal Code's offences relating to prostitution of adults are aimed at third parties (art. 169, lenocínio) and at trafficking (art. 160). The Constitutional Court's case law on art. 169 proceeds on the basis that prostitution itself is lawful and that the offence protects against third-party involvement.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169 Código Penal (third parties only)" ], "sources": [ "pt-cp-169", "pt-tc-72-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is legal. It is a crime for an adult to pay for sexual acts with a minor aged 14 to 18 (art. 174, up to two or three years), and for anyone who knows a person is a trafficking victim to use that person's services (art. 160(6), one to five years).", "details": "Art. 160(6): 'Quem, tendo conhecimento da prática de crime previsto nos n.os 1 e 2, utilizar os serviços ou órgãos da vítima é punido com pena de prisão de um a cinco anos'. The offence requires knowledge of the trafficking; there is no general offence of buying sex from an adult.", "provisions": [ "Art. 174 Código Penal", "Art. 160(6) Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "pt-cp-174", "pt-cp-160" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel or any business that profits from other people's prostitution falls under lenocínio (art. 169): six months to five years' imprisonment, even where the sex workers consent and are not exploited.", "details": "Art. 169(1) covers anyone who 'profissionalmente ou com intenção lucrativa, fomentar, favorecer ou facilitar o exercício por outra pessoa de prostituição'. The 1982 Code required exploitation of a situation of abandonment or extreme economic need; the 1995 reform softened that to 'abandono ou necessidade económica', and Law 65/98 removed the requirement altogether, as recounted by the Constitutional Court in Acórdão 72/2021. Whether a sex worker sharing premises with others is caught depends on intent to profit from the others' prostitution; this was not researched for this entry.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169(1) Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "pt-cp-169", "pt-tc-72-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Lenocínio (art. 169): six months to five years for professionally or for profit fostering, favouring or facilitating another's prostitution; one to eight years where committed with violence or serious threat, deception, abuse of authority or dependence, or exploitation of vulnerability.", "details": "The Constitutional Court has held art. 169(1) (formerly art. 170(1)) compatible with the Constitution in a long line of decisions starting with Acórdão 144/2004. Its 3rd Section broke with that line in Acórdão 134/2020 (3 March 2020), holding the offence unconstitutional for violating arts. 18(2) and 27(1) of the Constitution; the plenary reversed that ruling in Acórdão 72/2021 (27 January 2021), with dissents. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence (art. 160, three to ten years).", "provisions": [ "Art. 169 Código Penal", "Art. 160 Código Penal (trafficking)" ], "sources": [ "pt-cp-169", "pt-cp-160", "pt-tc-144-2004", "pt-tc-134-2020", "pt-tc-72-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No specific offence prohibits advertising sexual services. A sex worker advertising her own services is not committing a crime, but a publisher or website that professionally or for profit facilitates another's prostitution may fall within the broad wording of lenocínio (art. 169).", "details": "Art. 169 covers anyone who 'fomentar, favorecer ou facilitar' another's prostitution professionally or with intent to profit, without requiring exploitation. Whether this applies to newspapers or websites carrying paid adult-service ads, and how hosting providers' liability under the EU Digital Services Act interacts with it, was not established from case law for this entry.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "pt-cp-169" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on the statutory wording only. No advertising-specific provision was found, and no court decision applying art. 169 to an ad publisher or website could be verified (web search was unavailable for this part of the research)." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pt-cp-169", "titleEn": "Penal Code (as revised by Decree-Law 48/95), art. 169: procuring (lenocínio)", "relevance": "The central provision: criminalises professional or profit-seeking facilitation of another person's prostitution, without any coercion requirement.", "provisions": [ "Art. 169" ] }, { "sourceId": "pt-cp-160", "titleEn": "Penal Code, art. 160: trafficking in human beings", "relevance": "Trafficking offence, including the crime of knowingly using the services of a trafficking victim (art. 160(6)); last amended by Law 53/2026 of 19 August.", "provisions": [ "Art. 160" ] }, { "sourceId": "pt-cp-174", "titleEn": "Penal Code, art. 174: paying for sex with minors", "relevance": "Criminalises adults who pay for sexual acts with a person aged 14 to 18.", "provisions": [ "Art. 174" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "chega-exit-plan-resolution", "title": "Projeto de Resolução 557/XVII/1: national plan to support women leaving prostitution", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-02-13", "summary": "Non-binding draft resolution by the Chega group recommending that the government create a national plan to support women leaving prostitution. Admitted on 11 February 2026 and sent to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees on 13 February 2026; no vote recorded. It would not change the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "pt-ar-pjr-557" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1998-09-02", "event": "Law 65/98 removes from the lenocínio offence the requirement that the offender exploit the sex worker's abandonment or economic need.", "sources": [ "pt-tc-72-2021" ] }, { "date": "2004-03-10", "event": "Constitutional Court (Acórdão 144/2004) holds the lenocínio offence, then art. 170(1), compatible with the Constitution.", "sources": [ "pt-tc-144-2004" ] }, { "date": "2020-03-03", "event": "Constitutional Court 3rd Section (Acórdão 134/2020) holds art. 169(1) unconstitutional in a concrete case.", "sources": [ "pt-tc-134-2020" ] }, { "date": "2021-01-27", "event": "Constitutional Court plenary (Acórdão 72/2021) reverses Acórdão 134/2020 and holds art. 169(1) constitutional.", "sources": [ "pt-tc-72-2021" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-19", "event": "Law 53/2026 amends the trafficking offence in art. 160 of the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "pt-cp-160" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "pt-cp-169", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, artigo 169.º (Lenocínio), versão consolidada", "titleEn": "Penal Code, article 169 (procuring), consolidated version", "publisher": "Procuradoria-Geral Regional de Lisboa (PGRL)", "url": "https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0169&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao=", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-cp-160", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, artigo 160.º (Tráfico de seres humanos), versão consolidada", "titleEn": "Penal Code, article 160 (trafficking in human beings), consolidated version", "publisher": "Procuradoria-Geral Regional de Lisboa (PGRL)", "url": "https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0160&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao=", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-cp-174", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal, artigo 174.º (Recurso à prostituição de menores), versão consolidada", "titleEn": "Penal Code, article 174 (paying for sex with minors), consolidated version", "publisher": "Procuradoria-Geral Regional de Lisboa (PGRL)", "url": "https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0174&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao=", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-tc-144-2004", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional n.º 144/2004 (Processo n.º 566/2003)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court judgment 144/2004", "publisher": "Tribunal Constitucional", "url": "https://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20040144.html", "published": "2004-03-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-tc-134-2020", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional n.º 134/2020 (Processo n.º 1458/17)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court judgment 134/2020 (3rd Section; reversed by judgment 72/2021)", "publisher": "Tribunal Constitucional", "url": "https://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20200134.html", "published": "2020-03-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-tc-72-2021", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional n.º 72/2021 (Processo n.º 1458/2017, Plenário)", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court plenary judgment 72/2021", "publisher": "Tribunal Constitucional", "url": "https://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20210072.html", "published": "2021-01-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "pt-ar-pjr-557", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Projeto de Resolução 557/XVII/1: Recomenda ao Governo que crie um Plano Nacional de Apoio à Saída de Mulheres da Prostituição", "titleEn": "Draft resolution 557/XVII/1 recommending a national plan to support women leaving prostitution", "publisher": "Assembleia da República", "url": "https://www.parlamento.pt/ActividadeParlamentar/Paginas/DetalheIniciativa.aspx?BID=356093", "published": "2026-02-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/portugal/" }, { "iso2": "QA", "name": "Qatar", "nativeName": "قطر", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Practising prostitution as a profession or a means of living is a crime (Art. 298, Penal Code). Consensual sex outside marriage with a woman aged 16 or over is also a crime for both parties (Art. 281), so buying sex is an offence through that general provision. Under Art. 1, Sharia hudud rules apply to zina where the accused or the victim is Muslim. Brothels, procuring and public incitement are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "qa-penal" ], "summary": "Qatar criminalises prostitution under its Penal Code (Law No. 11 of 2004). Making a profession or a means of living out of prostitution or sodomy carries up to ten years' imprisonment, as does exploiting another person's prostitution (Art. 298). Sex outside marriage with a woman aged 16 or over carries up to seven years for the man and the woman (Art. 281), which covers clients. Running a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries one to three years (Art. 295); leading, inciting or luring a woman into prostitution one to five years (Art. 296), and up to fifteen with coercion or a victim under 16 (Art. 297). Inciting debauchery or prostitution in a public place by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to three years (Art. 294). For Muslims, Art. 1 also makes the Sharia hudud rules on zina applicable.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who makes prostitution or sodomy a profession or a means of living is punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment (Art. 298). A woman aged 16 or over who consents to sex outside marriage is punishable by up to seven years (Art. 281), and for Muslims the Sharia hudud rules on zina apply (Art. 1).", "details": "Article 298 reads, in our translation: \"Whoever makes the practice of prostitution or sodomy a profession or a means of living shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.\" Public incitement to prostitution (Art. 294) is a separate offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 298 Penal Code", "Art. 281 Penal Code", "Art. 1 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "qa-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official text is in Arabic; the translations are ours. Sentencing practice under the hudud rules was not examined.", "mapLabel": "up to 10 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence aimed at clients as such, but a man who has consensual sex with a woman aged 16 or over outside marriage is punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment, the same as the woman (Art. 281). For Muslims, the Sharia hudud rules on zina apply (Art. 1).", "provisions": [ "Art. 281 Penal Code", "Art. 1 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "qa-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 7 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Preparing or running a house for prostitution, or helping in any way to prepare or run one, carries one to three years' imprisonment; so does letting a house or premises one owns or manages knowing it will be used for prostitution (Art. 295). In every case the premises are closed and may reopen only for a lawful purpose with the Public Prosecution's approval (Art. 299).", "provisions": [ "Art. 295 Penal Code", "Art. 299 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "qa-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Leading a woman into prostitution, or inciting, luring or tempting her by any means to practise it or to frequent a brothel, in Qatar or abroad, carries one to five years (Art. 296). Coercion, threats, trickery or a victim under 16 raise this to up to fifteen years (Art. 297). Exploiting another person's prostitution by any means carries up to ten years (Art. 298).", "details": "Article 296 also covers bringing, offering, handing over or accepting a person for sexual exploitation, and inciting a man to sodomy or debauchery.", "provisions": [ "Art. 296 Penal Code", "Art. 297 Penal Code", "Art. 298 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "qa-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Being found in a public place inciting debauchery or prostitution by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to three years (Art. 294), and inciting a person by any means to prostitution is covered by Art. 296. Advertising, displaying or distributing indecent writings, pictures or other material carries up to one year and/or a fine of up to QAR 5,000 (Art. 292).", "provisions": [ "Art. 294 Penal Code", "Art. 296 Penal Code", "Art. 292 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "qa-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the Penal Code. Qatar's Cybercrime Law (Law No. 14 of 2014) was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "qa-penal", "titleEn": "Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code", "relevance": "Chapter Six (Arts. 294 to 299) covers incitement to debauchery and prostitution; Art. 281 covers consensual sex outside marriage; Art. 1 applies the Sharia hudud rules on zina where the accused or the victim is Muslim.", "provisions": [ "Art. 1", "Art. 281", "Arts. 294-299" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2004-06-14", "event": "The Penal Code (Law No. 11 of 2004) is published, including the chapter on incitement to debauchery and prostitution (Arts. 294 to 299).", "sources": [ "qa-penal" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "qa-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قانون رقم (11) لسنة 2004 بإصدار قانون العقوبات", "titleEn": "Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code", "publisher": "Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://almeezan.qa/legislations/415d8273-12e0-4e2c-aa02-5c0bf0a5c53c", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/qatar/" }, { "iso2": "CG", "name": "Republic of the Congo", "nativeName": "République du Congo", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Republic of the Congo still applies the colonial French Penal Code as extended to French Equatorial Africa, with the 1946 French procuring and brothel provisions (Articles 334, 334 bis and 335) extended in 1947. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences as such; procuring and keeping an establishment of prostitution are.", "modelSources": [ "cg-cp", "cg-labreve-2020" ], "summary": "The Republic of the Congo has not adopted a penal code of its own: the Ministry of Justice's reference edition is the French Penal Code as applied in French Equatorial Africa. It contains no offence of prostitution as such, which a Brazzaville court official confirmed to the press in 2020. Procuring in a broad sense, including aiding another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds and recruiting even a consenting adult, is punishable by six months to two years and a fine of 400,000 to 4 million CFA francs (Article 334), with heavier penalties for aggravated cases (Article 334 bis). Keeping, managing or habitually tolerating prostitution in an establishment open to the public is an offence (Article 335). Trafficking is covered by Law No. 22-2019 of 17 June 2019.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code contains no offence of selling sex. A court official quoted in 2020 said there is no criminal qualification for prostitution. Article 334 bis refers to \"provisions punishing public soliciting\", but no such provision was found in the reference edition. Adultery by a married woman remains an offence on her husband's complaint (Article 337), which can apply to a married woman who sells sex.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 334 bis", "Code pénal art. 337" ], "sources": [ "cg-cp", "cg-labreve-2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Ministry of Justice's 'Codes d'audience' compilation (scanned, undated, OCR text). A separate soliciting offence in police regulations or the contraventions part could not be checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision penalises paying an adult for sex. The adultery provisions (Articles 336 to 339) can reach the partner of a married woman, who is punished as her accomplice, and a husband who keeps a concubine in the marital home, but they are not aimed at buying sex.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal arts. 336–339" ], "sources": [ "cg-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inferred from the absence of a client offence in the reference edition; later amendments, if any, could not be checked against an official consolidated text." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who holds, directly or through an intermediary, manages, directs or runs an establishment of prostitution, or habitually tolerates prostitution inside a hotel, furnished house, bar, club, dance hall or other place open to the public that they hold or manage, is punished with the penalties of the preceding article; penalties double for a repeat within ten years, and the licence is withdrawn and the venue may be closed (Article 335).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 335" ], "sources": [ "cg-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 335 refers to \"the penalties of the preceding article\", which in this edition is Article 334 bis (two to five years and 1 to 10 million francs); the exact reading of that cross-reference was not confirmed by case law." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring covers knowingly aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds, living with a person who habitually sells sex without sufficient own means, recruiting or keeping a person, even a consenting adult, and acting as intermediary: six months to two years and 400,000 to 4 million francs (Article 334). Aggravated cases (minors, coercion, weapons, relatives, officials): two to five years and 1 to 10 million francs (Article 334 bis).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 334", "Code pénal art. 334 bis", "Law No. 22-2019 of 17 June 2019 (trafficking)" ], "sources": [ "cg-cp", "cg-govreport", "cg-upr-2023" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The penalty ranges in the reference edition match those cited by the Ministry of Justice in its report to the UN study on violence against children. The text of the 2019 trafficking law was not opened." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A third party who publishes or carries such advertising could be charged under Article 334 as someone who aids another's prostitution or soliciting, and exhibiting or distributing images contrary to good morals is punishable by one month to one year (Article 287).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 334", "Code pénal art. 287" ], "sources": [ "cg-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no prosecution of an advertiser or website was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "cg-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code applicable in French Equatorial Africa (Ministry of Justice reference edition)", "relevance": "Contains the procuring (334, 334 bis), brothel (335), adultery (336–339) and public-morals (287, 330) provisions.", "provisions": [ "art. 287", "art. 334", "art. 334 bis", "art. 335" ] }, { "sourceId": "cg-upr-2023", "titleEn": "Law No. 22-2019 of 17 June 2019 on combating trafficking in persons", "relevance": "The country's trafficking law, cited by the government as its response to UN recommendations on trafficking and exploitation of prostitution.", "inForce": "2019-06-17" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1947-04-25", "event": "The French law of 13 April 1946 on procuring and the closure of brothels is promulgated in French Equatorial Africa, giving Articles 334 to 335 their current form.", "sources": [ "cg-cp" ] }, { "date": "2019-06-17", "event": "Law No. 22-2019 on combating trafficking in persons is adopted.", "sources": [ "cg-upr-2023" ] }, { "date": "2022-05-04", "event": "Law No. 19-2022 (the Mouébara law) on combating violence against women is adopted, supplementing the Penal Code on violence against women.", "sources": [ "cg-upr-2023" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "cg-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Codes d'audience : Code pénal applicable en Afrique équatoriale française", "titleEn": "Court codes: Penal Code applicable in French Equatorial Africa", "publisher": "Ministère de la Justice, République du Congo (Collection DTE, Éditions Giraf), via ILGA World database", "url": "https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/CG%20-%20LEG%20-%20Penal%20Code%20(1836)%20-%20OR-OFF(fr).pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cg-govreport", "kind": "government", "title": "République du Congo, Ministère de la Justice et des Droits Humains : réponse au questionnaire de l'Étude des Nations Unies sur la violence contre les enfants", "titleEn": "Republic of the Congo, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights: response to the UN Study on Violence against Children questionnaire", "publisher": "OHCHR", "url": "https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CRC/StudyViolenceChildren/Responses/Congo.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cg-upr-2023", "kind": "government", "title": "Rapport national soumis par la République du Congo, Examen périodique universel, 45e session (A/HRC/WG.6/45/COG/1)", "titleEn": "National report submitted by the Republic of the Congo, Universal Periodic Review, 45th session", "publisher": "UN Human Rights Council (via UPR Info)", "url": "https://upr-info.org/sites/default/files/country-document/2024-01/A_HRC_WG.6_45_COG_1_FR.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "cg-labreve-2020", "kind": "news", "title": "Prostitution déguisée au Congo", "titleEn": "Disguised prostitution in the Congo", "publisher": "La Brève Online", "url": "https://labreveonline.com/prostitution-deguisee-au-congo/", "published": "2020-11-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/republic-of-the-congo/" }, { "iso2": "RO", "name": "Romania", "nativeName": "România", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prostitution was a crime under Article 328 of the 1968 Criminal Code until the new Code took effect on 1 February 2014, which has no such offence. Soliciting in public places for paid sex remains a contravention (fine) under Law No. 61/1991; private selling and buying between adults are not sanctioned. Borderline: the remaining offence targets public solicitation rather than selling as such.", "modelSources": [ "ro-l61", "ro-cp", "ro-cp-1968" ], "summary": "Romania removed prostitution from its criminal law when the 2009 Criminal Code replaced the 1968 Code on 1 February 2014; the old Article 328 had punished people who made their living from prostitution with three months to three years. Today, soliciting people in bars, parks, streets or other public places for paid sex, or urging someone to do so, is a contravention under Law No. 61/1991, fined RON 500–1,500; venue managers who tolerate it are fined and can have the venue suspended. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence unless the buyer knows the person is a trafficking victim. Procuring (\"proxenetism\"), defined as inducing or facilitating prostitution or profiting from it, carries two to seven years; its aggravated paragraphs were repealed in November 2024. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Attracting people in any form in venues, parks, streets or other public places for paid sexual relations, or urging a person to do so, is a contravention punishable by a fine of RON 500–1,500. Selling sex in private is not sanctioned.", "details": "Point numbering follows the 2020 republication of Law No. 61/1991 (Monitorul Oficial No. 125 of 18 February 2020). Article 3(1)(c), which sets the fine for points 5–10, was last amended by Law No. 92/2026 with effect from 13 June 2026.", "provisions": [ "art. 2 pct. 6) și art. 3 alin. (1) lit. c) din Legea nr. 61/1991 (republicată)" ], "sources": [ "ro-l61" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: ≈€280 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Using the services of a person whom the buyer knows to be a victim of trafficking in persons or minors is punishable by six months to three years or a fine; any sexual act with a minor who practises prostitution carries six months to three years.", "provisions": [ "art. 216 Cod penal", "art. 216^1 Cod penal" ], "sources": [ "ro-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from another person's prostitution, is procuring, punishable by two to seven years. Managers of hotels, bars, clubs and similar venues who accept or tolerate public soliciting on their premises commit a contravention, and the venue's activity can be suspended for 10 to 30 days.", "provisions": [ "art. 213 alin. (1) Cod penal", "art. 2 pct. 7) și art. 3 alin. (3) din Legea nr. 61/1991" ], "sources": [ "ro-cp", "ro-l61" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing or facilitating the practice of prostitution, or obtaining financial gain from the prostitution of one or more persons, is punishable by two to seven years and a ban on certain rights. The aggravated forms in paragraphs (2), (3) and (3^1) were repealed by Law No. 269/2024 with effect from 3 November 2024.", "details": "Article 213(4) defines prostitution as having sexual acts with different persons to obtain financial gain for oneself or another.", "provisions": [ "art. 213 Cod penal" ], "sources": [ "ro-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of another person could amount to \"facilitating\" prostitution under Article 213, and inciting a person in a public place to paid sex is covered by the Law No. 61/1991 contravention.", "provisions": [ "art. 213 Cod penal" ], "sources": [ "ro-cp", "ro-l61" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; advertising and audiovisual legislation and case law on online ads were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ro-cp", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Law No. 286/2009)", "relevance": "Defines and punishes procuring (Art. 213) and use of exploited persons (Art. 216); contains no offence of selling sex.", "provisions": [ "art. 213", "art. 216", "art. 216^1" ], "inForce": "2014-02-01" }, { "sourceId": "ro-l61", "titleEn": "Law No. 61/1991 on public order contraventions (republished 2020)", "relevance": "Fines public soliciting for paid sex and venues that tolerate it.", "provisions": [ "art. 2 pct. 6)", "art. 2 pct. 7)", "art. 3" ] }, { "sourceId": "ro-cp-1968", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 1968 (repealed)", "relevance": "Article 328 criminalised making a living from prostitution until 31 January 2014.", "provisions": [ "art. 328" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2014-02-01", "event": "New Criminal Code takes effect; the 1968 Code's Article 328 offence of prostitution lapses.", "sources": [ "ro-cp", "ro-cp-1968" ] }, { "date": "2024-11-03", "event": "Law No. 269/2024 repeals the aggravated paragraphs of the procuring offence (Article 213(2)–(3^1)).", "sources": [ "ro-cp" ] }, { "date": "2026-06-13", "event": "Law No. 92/2026 amends the fine bands of Law No. 61/1991, including the band applying to public soliciting.", "sources": [ "ro-l61" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ro-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Codul penal din 17 iulie 2009 (Legea nr. 286/2009), forma consolidată", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Law No. 286/2009), consolidated", "publisher": "Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției", "url": "https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/109855", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "ro-cp-1968", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Codul penal din 21 iunie 1968 (republicat)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of 1968 (repealed)", "publisher": "Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției", "url": "https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/38070", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" }, { "id": "ro-l61", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Legea nr. 61/1991 pentru sancționarea faptelor de încălcare a unor norme de conviețuire socială, a ordinii și liniștii publice (republicată), forma consolidată", "titleEn": "Law No. 61/1991 on sanctioning breaches of social coexistence, public order and peace", "publisher": "Portal Legislativ, Ministerul Justiției", "url": "https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/125693", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ro" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/romania/" }, { "iso2": "RU", "name": "Russia", "nativeName": "Россия", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is an administrative offence (Article 6.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences, fine of RUB 1,500–2,000). Buying from an adult is not an offence. Profiting from another person's prostitution is an administrative offence, and drawing people into prostitution or organising it are crimes.", "modelSources": [ "ru-koap-6-11", "ru-uk-241" ], "summary": "In Russia, engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence fined RUB 1,500–2,000 (Article 6.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Receiving income from another person's prostitution is fined RUB 2,000–2,500 or punished with 10 to 15 days' administrative arrest (Article 6.12). The Criminal Code punishes drawing a person into prostitution or compelling them to continue (Article 240) and organising prostitution, keeping dens or systematically providing premises for it (Article 241; fine of RUB 100,000–500,000, forced labour or up to five years). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Advertising sexual services is barred by the Federal Law on Advertising, which prohibits advertising goods and services whose sale is prohibited, and websites carrying such information can be added to the federal blocking register on the basis of a court decision.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of RUB 1,500–2,000.", "provisions": [ "ст. 6.11 КоАП РФ" ], "sources": [ "ru-koap-6-11" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official portal pravo.gov.ru could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the text was checked in the КонсультантПлюс database (version of 4 August 2026).", "mapLabel": "RUB 2,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence; Article 6.11 targets the person engaging in prostitution, and no offence directed at adult buyers exists in the provisions checked.", "sources": [ "ru-koap-6-11", "ru-uk-241" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of a buyer offence was checked in the Code of Administrative Offences (Chapter 6) and Criminal Code Articles 240–241 only." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising prostitution by others, keeping dens for prostitution or systematically providing premises for it is punishable by a fine of RUB 100,000–500,000, forced labour of up to five years or up to five years' imprisonment; up to six years in aggravated cases.", "provisions": [ "ст. 241 УК РФ" ], "sources": [ "ru-uk-241" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official portal pravo.gov.ru could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the text was checked in the КонсультантПлюс database (version of 4 August 2026)." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Receiving income from another person's prostitution is an administrative offence (RUB 2,000–2,500 or 10 to 15 days' arrest). Drawing a person into prostitution or compelling them to continue is a crime punishable by a fine of up to RUB 200,000 or other penalties, and organising prostitution falls under Article 241.", "provisions": [ "ст. 6.12 КоАП РФ", "ст. 240 УК РФ", "ст. 241 УК РФ" ], "sources": [ "ru-koap-6-12", "ru-uk-240", "ru-uk-241" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official portal pravo.gov.ru could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the text was checked in the КонсультантПлюс database (version of 4 August 2026)." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "summary": "The Federal Law on Advertising prohibits advertising goods whose sale is prohibited by law, and defines goods to include services. Sites carrying information whose distribution is prohibited can be entered in the federal blocking register on the basis of a court decision.", "provisions": [ "ст. 3 и ст. 7 п. 1 Федерального закона «О рекламе»", "ст. 15.1 ч. 5 п. 2 Федерального закона «Об информации…»" ], "sources": [ "ru-38fz-7", "ru-38fz-3", "ru-149fz-15-1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The application of these provisions to sexual-services ads is an inference from their wording; neither text names prostitution, and administrative sanctions for advertising breaches and blocking practice were not checked for this overview." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ru-koap-6-11", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (2001), Articles 6.11–6.12", "relevance": "Administrative offences of engaging in prostitution and profiting from another's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ст. 6.11", "ст. 6.12" ] }, { "sourceId": "ru-uk-241", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1996), Articles 240–241", "relevance": "Crimes of drawing people into prostitution and organising it.", "provisions": [ "ст. 240", "ст. 241" ] }, { "sourceId": "ru-38fz-7", "titleEn": "Federal Law No. 38-FZ on Advertising (2006)", "relevance": "Prohibits advertising of goods and services whose sale is prohibited.", "provisions": [ "ст. 7" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ru-koap-6-11", "kind": "legislation", "title": "КоАП РФ Статья 6.11. Занятие проституцией", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences, Article 6.11 Engaging in prostitution", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_34661/954b8f2b542e295864cb885699926c73d2836835/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-koap-6-12", "kind": "legislation", "title": "КоАП РФ Статья 6.12. Получение дохода от занятия проституцией, если этот доход связан с занятием другого лица проституцией", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences, Article 6.12 Receiving income from another person's prostitution", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_34661/f2a00a6684d3e918fc6216b6141c4d097db50e02/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-uk-240", "kind": "legislation", "title": "УК РФ Статья 240. Вовлечение в занятие проституцией", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Article 240 Drawing into prostitution", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_10699/26d5592e831f43e92f5f042b8082b6542264fb89/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-uk-241", "kind": "legislation", "title": "УК РФ Статья 241. Организация занятия проституцией", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Article 241 Organising prostitution", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_10699/3c75b4694749d34700b2195d2086060ae1171722/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-38fz-7", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Федеральный закон от 13.03.2006 N 38-ФЗ «О рекламе», Статья 7. Объекты рекламирования, реклама которых не допускается", "titleEn": "Federal Law on Advertising, Article 7 Objects whose advertising is not permitted", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_58968/3bfc26317bd01efad6f67aadf9981b248a57ef4b/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-38fz-3", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Федеральный закон от 13.03.2006 N 38-ФЗ «О рекламе», Статья 3. Основные понятия", "titleEn": "Federal Law on Advertising, Article 3 Definitions", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_58968/4f41fe599ce341751e4e34dc50a4b676674c1416/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "ru-149fz-15-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Федеральный закон от 27.07.2006 N 149-ФЗ «Об информации, информационных технологиях и о защите информации», Статья 15.1", "titleEn": "Federal Law on Information, Article 15.1 Unified register of blocked sites", "publisher": "КонсультантПлюс (unofficial consolidated text)", "url": "https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_61798/38c8ea666d27d9dc12b078c556e316e90248f551/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/russia/" }, { "iso2": "RW", "name": "Rwanda", "nativeName": "Rwanda", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Borderline. The 2018 penal law (Law No. 68/2018) contains no prostitution offence, so selling sex is no longer a crime. Law No. 51/2018 on trafficking makes it sexual exploitation, \"for the purpose of exploitation\", to induce a person into sexual relations, run or rent premises, help a person engaged in sexual exploitation, announce that one facilitates sexual relations, or pay for sexual intercourse (Art. 24). Read broadly, the last item would make the model neo-abolitionist; how courts read it was not found. People who sell sex can also be held in transit centres for \"deviant behaviour\".", "modelSources": [ "rw-penal-2018", "rw-tip-2018", "rw-hrw-2020" ], "summary": "Rwanda's 2018 law determining offences and penalties in general replaced the 2012 Penal Code and has no offence of prostitution; its 2023 amendment did not add one. Third-party activity falls under the 2018 anti-trafficking law: \"sexual exploitation\", meaning obtaining benefits through another person's involvement in prostitution or other sexual services, covers luring a person into sexual relations, hosting, assisting, announcing that one facilitates sexual relations, running or investing in houses of sexual exploitation, letting premises for it and paying for sexual intercourse, each with three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million (Art. 24). Separately, a 2018 ministerial order lets authorities hold people showing \"deviant behaviours\", including prostitution, in transit centres, a practice UN experts and Human Rights Watch have criticised.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence: Law No. 68/2018 has no prostitution article, and Law No. 059/2023 amending it did not add one. However, an April 2018 ministerial order on transit centres lists prostitution among the \"deviant behaviours\" for which a person may be admitted to a transit centre, where, according to reports raised by UN Human Rights Committee experts in 2026, people can be held for up to two months without further legal oversight. Public indecency remains an offence (Art. 143).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 68/2018 Art. 143" ], "sources": [ "rw-penal-2018", "rw-amend-2023", "rw-hrw-2020", "rw-ohchr-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of a prostitution offence was checked by reading the full English text of Law No. 68/2018 and of Law No. 059/2023. The ministerial order on transit centres was not opened; its content is taken from Human Rights Watch and the 2026 UN Human Rights Committee review. The 2012 Penal Code, which punished prostitution, was not opened." }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Article 24(2) of the 2018 anti-trafficking law lists paying \"for sexual intercourse on his/her own behalf or on behalf of another person\" among the acts of sexual exploitation, punishable by three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million, but only where done \"for the purpose of exploitation\", which the law defines by reference to obtaining benefits through another person's prostitution. Whether an ordinary client falls within it is unclear.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 51/2018 Art. 24(2)" ], "sources": [ "rw-tip-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No case law or official guidance on Art. 24(2) was found. The classification as restricted reflects this uncertainty." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running houses of sexual exploitation, investing in them, knowingly managing property derived from them, knowingly letting any place for sexual exploitation and knowingly hosting a person for that purpose are sexual exploitation, punishable by three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million, doubled where several victims or co-offenders are involved (Art. 24). The premises may be closed or seized (Art. 25).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 51/2018 Art. 24(3), (6), (7)", "Law No. 51/2018 Art. 25" ], "sources": [ "rw-tip-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article 24 requires a purpose of exploitation; whether a venue where adults sell sex independently meets it was not established." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Encouraging, inciting, misleading, manipulating or forcing a person to have sexual relations, or luring them into it, and knowingly helping, assisting or protecting a person engaged in sexual exploitation are offences carrying three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million, with heavier penalties where the victim is a child (Art. 24).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 51/2018 Art. 24(1), (5)" ], "sources": [ "rw-tip-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Announcing, by whatever means, that one facilitates sexual relations is an act of sexual exploitation when done for the purpose of exploitation, punishable by three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million (Art. 24(4)). This reaches third parties such as agencies and, arguably, ad platforms. No rule specifically on a person advertising their own services was found.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 51/2018 Art. 24(4)" ], "sources": [ "rw-tip-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "How Art. 24(4) applies to online advertising and to the person selling sex has not been tested in any case found. Online content regulation was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "rw-penal-2018", "titleEn": "Law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general", "relevance": "The general penal law; contains no prostitution offence, unlike the 2012 Penal Code it replaced.", "provisions": [ "Art. 143" ], "inForce": "2018-09-27" }, { "sourceId": "rw-amend-2023", "titleEn": "Law No. 059/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law No. 68/2018", "relevance": "Amends the general penal law; adds no prostitution offence.", "inForce": "2023-12-05" }, { "sourceId": "rw-tip-2018", "titleEn": "Law No. 51/2018 of 13/08/2018 relating to the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons and exploitation of others", "relevance": "Defines and punishes sexual exploitation, including procuring, brothel-keeping, advertising facilitation and paying for sex for the purpose of exploitation.", "provisions": [ "Art. 24", "Art. 25" ], "inForce": "2018-09-24" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2018-04", "event": "A ministerial order on transit centres lists prostitution among the \"deviant behaviours\" for which a person may be admitted.", "sources": [ "rw-hrw-2020" ] }, { "date": "2018-09-24", "event": "Law No. 51/2018 on trafficking in persons and exploitation of others is published, creating the offence of sexual exploitation.", "sources": [ "rw-tip-2018" ] }, { "date": "2018-09-27", "event": "Law No. 68/2018 determining offences and penalties enters into force without a prostitution offence; researchers describe this as decriminalising sex work.", "sources": [ "rw-penal-2018", "rw-pmc-2021" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-22", "event": "The UN Human Rights Committee questions Rwanda on detention in transit centres for \"deviant behaviour\".", "sources": [ "rw-ohchr-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "rw-penal-2018", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law Nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general (Official Gazette no. Special of 27/09/2018)", "publisher": "RwandaLII", "url": "https://rwandalii.org/akn/rw/act/law/2018/68/eng@2018-09-27", "published": "2018-09-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rw-amend-2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law Nº 059/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law Nº 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general", "publisher": "Rwanda Law Reform Commission", "url": "https://www.rlrc.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=87112&token=ac1d623da10a482e97655ad48472ab6c81e800ce", "published": "2023-12-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rw-tip-2018", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Law Nº 51/2018 of 13/08/2018 relating to the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons and exploitation of others (Official Gazette nº 39 of 24/09/2018)", "publisher": "RwandaLII", "url": "https://rwandalii.org/akn/rw/act/law/2018/51/eng@2018-09-24", "published": "2018-09-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rw-hrw-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "World Report 2020: Rwanda", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/rwanda", "published": "2020", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rw-ohchr-2026", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Experts of the Human Rights Committee Welcome Rwanda's Decriminalisation of Defamation, Raise Questions on Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and the Closure of Thousands of Places of Worship", "publisher": "OHCHR", "url": "https://www.ohchr.org/en/meeting-summaries/2026/10/experts-human-rights-committee-welcome-rwandas-decriminalisation", "published": "2026-10-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "rw-pmc-2021", "kind": "academic", "title": "The future of children of female sex workers in Rwanda: A call to address their risk and vulnerability to HIV infection", "publisher": "Public Health in Practice (via PubMed Central)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9461641/", "published": "2021", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/rwanda/" }, { "iso2": "KN", "name": "Saint Kitts and Nevis", "nativeName": "Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Small Charges Act (Cap. 4.36) penalises keeping a brothel (s. 19), permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain, and public loitering or soliciting for prostitution (s. 40). No general offence of living on the earnings of prostitution was found in the Acts reviewed.", "modelSources": [ "kn-sca", "kn-cla" ], "summary": "In Saint Kitts and Nevis, selling and buying sex in private are not offences. The Small Charges Act (Cap. 4.36) makes keeping a brothel or disorderly house punishable by a fine of up to $3,500; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution, and a woman who controls a sex worker's movements for gain, face up to six months; loitering in a public place for prostitution 'to the annoyance of the public' carries two months, and a man persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes six months. The Criminal Law Amendment Act (Cap. 4.05) covers detention in a brothel and procuring sex by threats or fraud. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Loitering or being in a public place for the purpose of prostitution or solicitation to the annoyance of the public carries up to two months; a 'common prostitute' wandering in public and behaving riotously or indecently carries up to six months.", "provisions": [ "s. 40(3) and (5) Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36" ], "sources": [ "kn-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017; no 2020 revised text of these Acts was found. Nevis Island ordinances were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. A male person who in a public place persistently solicits or importunes for immoral purposes faces up to six months, which could reach clients.", "provisions": [ "s. 40(4) Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36" ], "sources": [ "kn-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017; no 2020 revised text of these Acts was found. Nevis Island ordinances were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a disorderly house or a brothel in any town or village, or allowing one's house to be used as a brothel, is punishable by a fine of up to $3,500. A tenant, occupier or person in charge who knowingly permits premises to be used for habitual prostitution faces up to six months.", "provisions": [ "s. 19 Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36", "s. 40(1) Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36" ], "sources": [ "kn-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017; no 2020 revised text of these Acts was found. Nevis Island ordinances were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A woman who for gain controls a sex worker's movements so as to aid or compel their prostitution faces up to six months. The Criminal Law Amendment Act penalises procuring sex by threats or fraud and detaining a woman or girl in a brothel. No general offence of living on the earnings of prostitution, or of procuring an adult for prostitution, was found in the two Acts reviewed.", "provisions": [ "s. 40(2) Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36", "ss. 2 and 9 Criminal Law Amendment Act, Cap. 4.05" ], "sources": [ "kn-sca", "kn-cla" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Read from the Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017; no 2020 revised text of these Acts was found. Nevis Island ordinances were not checked. The Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act and the Offences Against the Person Act provisions on procuring were not fully reviewed, so a wider third-party offence may exist." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The Small Charges Act offences cover public loitering and soliciting only.", "provisions": [ "s. 40 Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36" ], "sources": [ "kn-sca" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kn-sca", "titleEn": "Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36 (Revised Edition, 31 December 2017)", "relevance": "Disorderly houses and brothels (s. 19) and the prostitution offences in s. 40.", "provisions": [ "s. 19", "s. 40" ] }, { "sourceId": "kn-cla", "titleEn": "Criminal Law Amendment Act, Cap. 4.05 (Revised Edition, 31 December 2017)", "relevance": "Procuring sexual intercourse by threats, fraud or drugs (s. 2) and unlawful detention, including in a brothel (s. 9).", "provisions": [ "s. 2", "s. 9" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kn-sca", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36, Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017", "publisher": "Law Commission of Saint Christopher and Nevis", "url": "https://lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-content/documents/Act17TOC/Ch-04_36-Small-Charges-Act.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "kn-cla", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law Amendment Act, Cap. 4.05, Revised Edition showing the law as at 31 December 2017", "publisher": "Law Commission of Saint Christopher and Nevis", "url": "https://lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-content/documents/Act17TOC/Ch-04_05-Criminal-Law-Amendment-Act.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-kitts-and-nevis/" }, { "iso2": "LC", "name": "Saint Lucia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money is not in itself an offence, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 3.01) criminalises brothel-keeping, including a tenant or occupier using premises 'for habitual prostitution of himself or herself' (s. 143), procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 141), public soliciting (ss. 150 and 151(1)(b)) and living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 151). The own-premises limb makes indoor work from a home one occupies an offence if habitual.", "modelSources": [ "lc-cc-143", "lc-cc-151" ], "summary": "In Saint Lucia, the Criminal Code (Cap. 3.01) does not make the exchange of sex for money an offence as such, but loitering about or importuning passers-by in a public place for prostitution carries a $1,000 fine, and persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes or knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution carries five years on indictment or two years summarily. Permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, using premises one occupies for one's own habitual prostitution, and letting premises for a brothel carry up to $15,000 or three years. Procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' carries seven years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence as such. Loitering about or importuning a passer-by in a public place for prostitution carries a $1,000 fine; persistently soliciting or importuning in public for immoral purposes carries five years on indictment or two years summarily. A tenant or occupier who uses premises for their own habitual prostitution commits an offence punishable by up to $15,000 or three years.", "provisions": [ "s. 150 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "s. 151(1)(b) Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "s. 143(2)(b) and (5) Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01" ], "sources": [ "lc-cc-150", "lc-cc-151", "lc-cc-143" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Attorney General's Chambers online Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023).", "mapLabel": "soliciting: XCD 1,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The public soliciting offences in ss. 150 and 151(1)(b) are not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 150 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "s. 151(1)(b) Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01" ], "sources": [ "lc-cc-150", "lc-cc-151" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Attorney General's Chambers online Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023). Only the prostitution sections of the Code were reviewed." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who keeps or manages, or assists in the care or management of, a brothel is deemed its keeper and commits an offence. A tenant or occupier who knowingly permits premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, and a landlord who lets premises knowing they will be so used, face up to $15,000 or three years; a police notice to the landlord fixes them with knowledge.", "provisions": [ "s. 143 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "ss. 144-146 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01 (leases)" ], "sources": [ "lc-cc-143" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Attorney General's Chambers online Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023). The penalty in s. 143(5) is expressed for subsections (2) and (3); the keeper offence in s. 143(1) states no separate penalty." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring any person to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home or Saint Lucia to frequent a brothel, carries seven years on indictment. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution carries five years on indictment or two years summarily, with a presumption against anyone who lives with or controls a sex worker; a woman who controls a sex worker for gain faces the same.", "provisions": [ "s. 141(1)(b)-(d) Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "s. 151(1)(a) and (2) Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01", "s. 149 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01" ], "sources": [ "lc-cc-141", "lc-cc-151", "lc-cc-149" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Attorney General's Chambers online Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offences are limited to public places, and a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 151 Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01" ], "sources": [ "lc-cc-151" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lc-cc-143", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01 (Revised Laws of Saint Lucia 2023)", "relevance": "Procuring (s. 141), keeping brothel (s. 143), trading in prostitution by a woman (s. 149), soliciting (s. 150) and living on earnings (s. 151).", "provisions": [ "s. 141", "s. 143", "s. 149", "s. 150", "s. 151" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lc-cc-143", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 143 Keeping brothel, Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia", "url": "http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-143", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lc-cc-141", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 141 Procuring or aiding and abetting, Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia", "url": "http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-141", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lc-cc-149", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 149 Trading in prostitution by female, Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia", "url": "http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-149", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lc-cc-150", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 150 Soliciting prostitution, Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia", "url": "http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-150", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lc-cc-151", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, s. 151 Living on earnings of prostitution, Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)", "publisher": "Attorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia", "url": "http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-151", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-lucia/" }, { "iso2": "VC", "name": "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 171) criminalises procuring a woman to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 131), a man living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 133), a woman controlling a sex worker (s. 134), living on a male sex worker's earnings (s. 135), brothel-keeping (s. 136), letting premises for a brothel (s. 137) and soliciting in public for immoral purposes (s. 285(d)).", "modelSources": [ "vc-cc" ], "summary": "In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 171) attaches fourteen-year maxima to procuring a woman to become a 'common prostitute', a man knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain, living on a male sex worker's earnings and keeping or managing a brothel; letting premises for use as a brothel carries seven years (fourteen on a repeat conviction). A brothel is a place 'resorted to by more than one prostitute'. Soliciting for any immoral purpose in a public place carries three months. A bill passed by Parliament in April 2024 raises most of these maxima to fifteen years (ten for letting premises). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. A person who solicits for any immoral purpose in any public place is deemed an idle and disorderly person and is liable to three months' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "s. 285(d) Criminal Code, Cap. 171" ], "sources": [ "vc-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Criminal Code, Cap. 171, hosted by the OAS (amendments listed to Act No. 53 of 1992); the official legal.gov.vc server returned errors when the 2023 amending text was requested.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The public soliciting offence in s. 285(d) is not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 285(d) Criminal Code, Cap. 171" ], "sources": [ "vc-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Criminal Code, Cap. 171, hosted by the OAS (amendments listed to Act No. 53 of 1992); the official legal.gov.vc server returned errors when the 2023 amending text was requested." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel carries fourteen years; letting premises, or being a party to their use, knowing they are to be used as a brothel carries seven years, or fourteen on a repeat conviction. A brothel is a house, room or other place 'resorted to by more than one prostitute' for prostitution, so a person working alone does not run one.", "provisions": [ "s. 136 Criminal Code, Cap. 171", "s. 137 Criminal Code, Cap. 171" ], "sources": [ "vc-cc", "vc-news" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Criminal Code, Cap. 171, hosted by the OAS (amendments listed to Act No. 53 of 1992); the official legal.gov.vc server returned errors when the 2023 amending text was requested. Under the bill reported passed in April 2024 the maxima become fifteen and ten years; its assent and commencement were not verified." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a woman to become a 'common prostitute' or to leave home or the country to frequent a brothel, a man knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker's movements for gain, and anyone living on a male sex worker's earnings each carry fourteen years. A man who lives with or habitually accompanies a sex worker is presumed to live on her earnings.", "provisions": [ "s. 131 Criminal Code, Cap. 171", "s. 133 Criminal Code, Cap. 171", "s. 134 Criminal Code, Cap. 171", "s. 135 Criminal Code, Cap. 171" ], "sources": [ "vc-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Criminal Code, Cap. 171, hosted by the OAS (amendments listed to Act No. 53 of 1992); the official legal.gov.vc server returned errors when the 2023 amending text was requested. The 2024 bill raises these maxima to fifteen years; see pending." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 285(d) is limited to public places; a third party profiting from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 285 Criminal Code, Cap. 171" ], "sources": [ "vc-cc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "vc-cc", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, Chapter 171", "relevance": "Procuring and living-on-earnings offences (ss. 131-135), brothels (ss. 136-137) and idle and disorderly persons, including public soliciting (s. 285).", "provisions": [ "ss. 131-137", "s. 285" ] }, { "sourceId": "vc-cca2023", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Amendment) Act (text dated 2023 on legal.gov.vc; reported passed April 2024)", "relevance": "Raises maxima for the prostitution and brothel offences in ss. 131-137 to fifteen years (ten years for s. 137)." } ], "pending": [ { "id": "vc-criminal-code-amendment", "title": "Criminal Code (Amendment) Act raising penalties for sexual offences", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2024-04-05", "summary": "Reported passed by the House of Assembly in April 2024. It raises the maxima for causing prostitution of a woman, detention in a brothel, living on earnings, a woman controlling a sex worker and keeping a brothel from fourteen to fifteen years, and for letting premises for a brothel from seven to ten years. Assent and commencement were not verified, and the official text could not be opened.", "sources": [ "vc-news", "vc-cca2023" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2024-04-05", "event": "Parliament passes a Criminal Code amendment raising the maxima for prostitution and brothel offences.", "sources": [ "vc-news" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "vc-cc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Code, Chapter 171, Laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "publisher": "Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (copy hosted by the Organization of American States, MESICIC)", "url": "https://www.oas.org/en/sla/dlc/mesicic/docs/mesicic5_svg_annex8.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vc-cca2023", "kind": "legislation", "title": "An Act to amend the Criminal Code, Chapter 171 of the Laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Revised Edition, 2009", "publisher": "Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, legal.gov.vc", "url": "https://legal.gov.vc/legal/images/PDF/Criminal_Code_Amendment_2023.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vc-news", "kind": "news", "title": "St Vincent's Parliament Passes Bill Increasing Punishment for Sexual Offences", "publisher": "St Vincent Times", "url": "https://www.stvincenttimes.com/st-vincents-parliament-passes-bill-increasing-punishment-for-sexual-offences/", "published": "2024-04-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/" }, { "iso2": "WS", "name": "Samoa", "nativeName": "Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Under the Crimes Act 2013 both parties commit an offence: a person who has, agrees to or offers sex 'for gain or reward' faces three years (s. 72), and a person who offers or agrees to pay for sex faces five years (s. 73). Brothel-keeping (s. 70), living on the earnings of another's prostitution and soliciting for a sex worker (s. 74) carry ten years.", "modelSources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "summary": "In Samoa, the Crimes Act 2013 criminalises both selling and buying sex. Having, agreeing to or offering sexual intercourse or sexual connection for gain or reward carries up to three years (s. 72), and offering or agreeing to pay another person for sex carries up to five years (s. 73), with exceptions for spouses. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries up to ten years; a brothel is any place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more' (s. 70). Living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker, carries ten years (s. 74), and procuring a woman for sex for gain seven years (s. 75).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who has sexual intercourse or sexual connection, or agrees or offers to, with another person for gain or reward is liable to up to three years' imprisonment. A woman cannot be convicted for sex with her husband.", "provisions": [ "s. 72 Crimes Act 2013" ], "sources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who offers or agrees to pay or reward another person for sexual intercourse or sexual connection is liable to up to five years' imprisonment. A man cannot be convicted in respect of sex with his wife.", "provisions": [ "s. 73 Crimes Act 2013" ], "sources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "up to 5 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or knowingly assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as one; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used carry up to ten years. A brothel is any house, room or place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more', so a single worker's premises can qualify.", "provisions": [ "s. 70 Crimes Act 2013" ], "sources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker whether paid or not, carries up to ten years. Procuring, or agreeing or offering to procure, a woman or girl for gain or reward to have sex with a man who is not her husband carries seven years.", "provisions": [ "s. 74 Crimes Act 2013", "s. 75 Crimes Act 2013" ], "sources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the Crimes Act 2013 as enacted (copy on the Government of Samoa's mygov portal); later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No advertising-specific offence was found, but a sex worker's advertisement is an 'offer' under s. 72, and anyone who knowingly 'solicits for any prostitute' (for example by placing or publishing ads for them) commits the s. 74 offence, with up to ten years.", "provisions": [ "s. 72 Crimes Act 2013", "s. 74(b) Crimes Act 2013" ], "sources": [ "ws-crimes" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability. Applying 'offers' and 'solicits for any prostitute' to advertising is an inference from the wording; no case was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ws-crimes", "titleEn": "Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013)", "relevance": "Brothel keeping (s. 70), prostitution (s. 72), solicitation by clients (s. 73), living on earnings and soliciting for a sex worker (s. 74) and procuring for gain (s. 75).", "provisions": [ "s. 70", "s. 72", "s. 73", "s. 74", "s. 75" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ws-crimes", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013)", "publisher": "Government of Samoa (mygov.gov.ws)", "url": "https://mygov.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Crimes-Act-2013.pdf", "published": "2013", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/samoa/" }, { "iso2": "SM", "name": "San Marino", "nativeName": "Repubblica di San Marino", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 1974 Penal Code does not punish the private sale or purchase of sex as such, but punishes brothel-keeping, exploitation and 'in any way' facilitating prostitution. It also has unusually broad minor offences: soliciting in public, standing ostentatiously to find clients, causing 'scandal' to neighbours, and offering one's own or another's prostitution through the mass media. Because advertising by the seller is itself an offence, the regime sits close to prohibition for advertised prostitution; it is classed here as abolitionist because private, unadvertised selling is not an offence.", "modelSources": [ "sm-cp-1974", "sm-libertas-2026" ], "summary": "San Marino's Penal Code (Law no. 17 of 25 February 1974) defines prostitution as 'trading one's own body for gain'. Keeping a brothel or letting premises for one, repeatedly exploiting another's prostitution and facilitating it in any way are crimes; inducing prostitution has been an offence against personal liberty (art. 168-bis) since 2008. A contravention in art. 278 punishes public solicitation, ostentatious loitering for clients, causing scandal to neighbours, and offering one's own or another's prostitution, or seeking contact with a sex worker, through the mass media. In a case reported in June 2026, a woman who had been contacted through a dedicated website for a home visit, and her partner, accepted plea bargains under art. 278: a EUR 400 fine for her and a suspended six-month sentence for him. No reform bill was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex privately is not in itself an offence. It is a criminal contravention (arrest or day-fine) to invite others to sex in a public place, to stand ostentatiously in public to find clients, to cause scandal to co-residents or neighbours by working at home, or to offer one's own prostitution through the mass media.", "details": "Art. 278 ('Atti di lenocinio, prostituzione scandalosa') is punished with second-degree arrest or a third-degree day-fine. In the June 2026 case, the sex worker received a fine of 20 days (EUR 400) under a plea agreement. The original code also contains art. 273, providing for the expulsion of foreign nationals who engage in prostitution in the Republic. Second-degree arrest runs from 15 days to two months and a third-degree day-fine from 20 to 60 days (arts. 83 and 85).", "provisions": [ "Art. 278 nos. 1–4 Codice penale", "Art. 149 Codice penale (definitions)", "Art. 273 Codice penale" ], "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974", "sm-libertas-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The code text checked is the 1974 original as published by the Consiglio Grande e Generale, plus the 2008 amendments. No official consolidated text was found. The 2026 court report confirms that art. 278 is in force under that number and title, but whether art. 273 (expulsion of foreigners) has been amended or repealed was not verified.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not an offence as such. Art. 278 no. 2 does, however, make it a contravention to seek to 'enter into relations with a person engaged in prostitution' by means of the mass media.", "details": "Like the other cases in art. 278, it is punished with second-degree arrest (15 days to two months) or a third-degree day-fine (20 to 60 days) (arts. 83 and 85).", "provisions": [ "Art. 278 no. 2 Codice penale" ], "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "'Comunicazioni sociali' is defined in art. 149 as communication made for public dissemination (press, recordings, radio, television, cinema 'or other similar means'). Whether a client privately replying to an online ad falls within it has not been tested in any decision found.", "mapLabel": "via mass media: 2 months" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a brothel ('casa di prostituzione') or letting property to be used as one is punished with imprisonment and disqualification; administering or working in a service role in one is also punished. Hotel, bar, club or venue operators who habitually tolerate prostitution on their premises lose their trading licence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 270 Codice penale", "Art. 279 Codice penale" ], "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Article numbers and wording are from the 1974 original text; the official site offers no consolidated version." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Repeatedly exploiting another's prostitution (art. 271) and facilitating or favouring prostitution 'in any way' to serve another's lust (art. 272) are crimes. Inducing a person into prostitution is an offence against personal liberty (art. 168-bis, formerly art. 269), aggravated by violence, threats, deceit or a minor victim.", "details": "Law no. 97 of 20 June 2008 repealed the separate offence of trafficking for prostitution (art. 268), folded it into the general trafficking offence (art. 168, aggravated where the purpose is exploitation of prostitution) and moved inducement to art. 168-bis. In the June 2026 case, the partner who waited while the sex worker visited a client was sentenced under art. 278 rather than under the exploitation articles.", "provisions": [ "Art. 168-bis Codice penale", "Art. 271 Codice penale", "Art. 272 Codice penale", "Art. 168 Codice penale" ], "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974", "sm-l97-2008", "sm-libertas-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 1974 code text and the 2008 amending law; later amendments to arts. 271–272 cannot be ruled out without a consolidated text." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Offering one's own or another person's prostitution through the mass media is a criminal contravention under art. 278 no. 2. The 2026 case shows prosecutions where contact was made through a website, so in practice advertised prostitution is exposed to fines.", "provisions": [ "Art. 278 no. 2 Codice penale", "Art. 149 Codice penale" ], "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974", "sm-libertas-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The news report says both defendants were charged under art. 278 but does not say which numbered paragraph, so it does not by itself confirm that a website counts as 'comunicazioni sociali'. No decision was found on the liability of foreign ad sites; facilitation 'in any way' (art. 272) could in principle be relevant, but this is untested." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sm-cp-1974", "titleEn": "Law no. 17 of 25 February 1974 – Penal Code of the Republic of San Marino", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and contains the offences on brothels, exploitation, facilitation, media advertising, public solicitation and expulsion of foreign sex workers.", "provisions": [ "Art. 149", "Arts. 270–273", "Arts. 278–279" ] }, { "sourceId": "sm-l97-2008", "titleEn": "Law no. 97 of 20 June 2008 on preventing and combating violence against women and gender-based violence", "relevance": "Rewrote the slavery and trafficking offences, repealed the separate prostitution-trafficking offence and moved inducement to prostitution to art. 168-bis.", "provisions": [ "Art. 8", "Art. 9" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1974-02-25", "event": "New Penal Code adopted, with prostitution offences in the chapter on crimes against public morality.", "sources": [ "sm-cp-1974" ] }, { "date": "2008-06-20", "event": "Law no. 97/2008 repeals the separate prostitution-trafficking offence and reclassifies inducement to prostitution as a crime against personal liberty (art. 168-bis).", "sources": [ "sm-l97-2008" ] }, { "date": "2026-06-05", "event": "Report of plea bargains under art. 278 for a sex worker contacted through a website and her partner (events of April 2024).", "sources": [ "sm-libertas-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sm-cp-1974", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Legge 25 febbraio 1974 n. 17 – Emanazione del nuovo codice penale", "titleEn": "Law no. 17 of 25 February 1974 – Enactment of the new Penal Code", "publisher": "Consiglio Grande e Generale della Repubblica di San Marino", "url": "https://www.consigliograndeegenerale.sm/on-line/home/archivio-leggi-decreti-e-regolamenti/documento17019121.html", "published": "1974-02-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "sm-l97-2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Legge 20 giugno 2008 n. 97 – Prevenzione e repressione della violenza contro le donne e di genere", "titleEn": "Law no. 97 of 20 June 2008 – Prevention and punishment of violence against women and gender-based violence", "publisher": "Consiglio Grande e Generale della Repubblica di San Marino", "url": "https://www.consigliograndeegenerale.sm/on-line/home/archivio-leggi-decreti-e-regolamenti/documento17023744.html", "published": "2008-06-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "sm-libertas-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "San Marino – Prostituzione sul Titano, patteggiano una escort e il suo protettore", "titleEn": "San Marino – Prostitution on Mount Titano: an escort and her 'protector' accept plea bargains", "publisher": "Libertas", "url": "https://www.libertas.sm/prostituzione-sul-titano-patteggiano-una-escort-e-il-suo-protettore/", "published": "2026-06-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/san-marino/" }, { "iso2": "ST", "name": "São Tomé and Príncipe", "nativeName": "São Tomé e Príncipe", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The 2012 Penal Code, modelled on Portugal's, has no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes anyone who professionally or for profit fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution (lenocínio, Article 173), which also covers running a venue, and taking a person abroad for prostitution by force or deceit (Article 172).", "modelSources": [ "st-cp2012" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in São Tomé and Príncipe. The Penal Code approved by Law 6/2012, which replaced the Portuguese colonial code of 1886, punishes lenocínio: fostering, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution professionally or with intent to profit carries one to five years, and two to eight years where violence, threats, deceit or the victim's vulnerability or extreme economic need is exploited (Article 173). Leading a person into prostitution abroad by violence, threats or fraud carries two to eight years (Article 172). Paying a person aged 15 to 18 for sex, and facilitating the prostitution of anyone under 18, are separate offences whose penalties were raised by Law 15/2021. There is no separate brothel offence and no provision specifically on advertising sexual services.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex, or soliciting for it, an offence for an adult. The chapter on crimes against sexual freedom and self-determination targets those who traffic, exploit or facilitate others' prostitution, and adults who pay minors.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal arts. 172–173" ], "sources": [ "st-cp2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Diário da República text of 2012 and the 2021 amending law. Municipal regulations and minor-offence (contravenção) rules, if any, were not checked; enforcement practice was not assessed." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no offence of paying an adult for sex. An adult who pays or offers anything in return for sexual acts with a person aged 15 to 18 commits prostitution of minors: two to six years, or three to eight years for intercourse, since Law 15/2021 (Article 179; before 2021 the age band was 14 to 18 and the maximum two or three years).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 179 (as amended 2021)" ], "sources": [ "st-cp2012", "st-lei15-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No article specifically on brothels was found. Running premises where others sell sex, professionally or for profit, falls within lenocínio, fostering, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution, punishable by one to five years (Article 173(1)). Legal persons can be fined and dissolved for offences involving minors (Article 182(7)).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 173", "Código Penal art. 182(7)" ], "sources": [ "st-cp2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "That a venue falls under Article 173 is an inference from its wording, which follows Portugal's lenocínio offence; no Santomean case law was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who, professionally or with intent to profit, fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution or significant sexual acts is punished by one to five years, and by two to eight years if they use violence, serious threats, deceit, or exploit mental incapacity, abandonment or extreme economic need (Article 173). Facilitating the prostitution of a person under 18 carries two to six years since 2021, and four to ten years in aggravated cases (Article 181).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 172", "Código Penal art. 173", "Código Penal art. 181 (as amended 2021)" ], "sources": [ "st-cp2012", "st-lei15-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A sex worker advertising her own services commits no offence, but a third party who publishes such advertisements professionally or for profit could be facilitating another person's prostitution under the lenocínio offence (Article 173). Distributing pornography involving minors is a separate offence (Article 180).", "provisions": [ "Código Penal art. 173", "Código Penal art. 180" ], "sources": [ "st-cp2012" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from the general lenocínio offence; no case law on advertising or ad sites was found, and media and electronic-communications laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "st-cp2012", "titleEn": "Penal Code approved by Law No. 6/2012", "relevance": "Chapter V on crimes against sexual freedom and self-determination: trafficking for prostitution, lenocínio, and offences involving minors. In force three months after publication (Article 4 of Law 6/2012).", "provisions": [ "arts. 172–173", "arts. 179–182" ], "inForce": "2012-11" }, { "sourceId": "st-lei15-2021", "titleEn": "Law No. 15/2021, first amendment to the Penal Code", "relevance": "Raised the age thresholds and penalties for sexual offences against minors, including prostitution of minors (art. 179) and facilitating the prostitution of minors (art. 181); the adult lenocínio offence was not amended.", "provisions": [ "arts. 175–183" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-08-06", "event": "Law 6/2012 approving a new Penal Code, replacing the Portuguese code of 1886, is published in the Diário da República No. 95.", "sources": [ "st-cp2012" ] }, { "date": "2021-08-10", "event": "Law 15/2021 amends the Penal Code, raising penalties for sexual offences against minors, including paying a minor for sex and facilitating the prostitution of minors.", "sources": [ "st-lei15-2021" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "st-cp2012", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 6/2012 – Aprova o Código Penal (Diário da República n.º 95, 6 de Agosto de 2012)", "titleEn": "Law No. 6/2012 approving the Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 95, 6 August 2012)", "publisher": "Diário da República de São Tomé e Príncipe (copy hosted by Centro de Integridade Pública STP)", "url": "https://cipstp.st/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/anp-lei-n%C2%BA-6-2012-c%C3%B3digo-penal-06.08.2012.pdf", "published": "2012-08-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "st-lei15-2021", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lei n.º 15/2021 – Primeira alteração ao Código Penal aprovado pela Lei n.º 6/12, de 6 de Agosto (Diário da República n.º 61, 10 de Agosto de 2021)", "titleEn": "Law No. 15/2021, first amendment to the Penal Code", "publisher": "Diário da República de São Tomé e Príncipe (copy on FAOLEX)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/sao209843.pdf", "published": "2021-08-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sao-tome-and-principe/" }, { "iso2": "SA", "name": "Saudi Arabia", "nativeName": "المملكة العربية السعودية", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Saudi Arabia has no written penal code. Sex outside marriage is prohibited by reference to sharia, either as the hadd offence of zina or as a discretionary (ta'zir) offence set by the judge, so both selling and buying sex are offences through this general prohibition. The only statutes found that touch prostitution are the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (2009) and the Anti-Cyber Crime Law (2007).", "modelSources": [ "sa-amnesty", "sa-hrw" ], "summary": "Saudi Arabia has no codified criminal law on prostitution. Judges rely on their interpretation of sharia: extramarital sex (zina) is a hadd offence, punishable by 100 lashes if the person is unmarried and death if married when the strict standard of proof is met, and otherwise punished at the judge's discretion. This applies to both parties to paid sex. No statute found defines brothel keeping or procuring, but exploitation for sexual assault falls under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (up to 15 years and/or SAR 1 million), and online material impinging on public morals carries up to five years and/or SAR 3 million (Anti-Cyber Crime Law, Art. 6). A Penal Code for Discretionary Sanctions announced in 2021 had not been issued by October 2026; a draft leaked in 2022 would criminalise sex work and inciting prostitution.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No statute defines a prostitution offence. Extramarital sex is prohibited by reference to sharia and is punished as the hadd offence of zina (100 lashes if unmarried, death if married, subject to strict proof) or at the judge's discretion with imprisonment. In April 2020 the Supreme Court replaced flogging in discretionary sentences with prison and/or fines, but not for hadd offences.", "provisions": [ "Uncodified sharia (hadd of zina; ta'zir)" ], "sources": [ "sa-amnesty", "sa-hrw" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch analyses; there is no statute to check. The Bureau of Experts legislation portal (laws.boe.gov.sa) could not be reached.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no client-specific offence, but the sharia-based prohibition of extramarital sex applies to both parties: the client commits zina or a discretionary offence just as the seller does.", "provisions": [ "Uncodified sharia (hadd of zina; ta'zir)" ], "sources": [ "sa-amnesty", "sa-hrw" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on NGO analyses of an uncodified system; sentencing in individual cases varies with the judge.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No statute found defines a brothel offence; running premises for prostitution would be punished at the judge's discretion under sharia. Where people are recruited, harboured or received for sexual assault through coercion, deception or abuse of vulnerability, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law provides up to 15 years and/or SAR 1 million (Arts. 2 and 3).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 2-3 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (Royal Decree M/40, 2009)" ], "sources": [ "sa-tip", "sa-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The statement that brothel keeping is punished as a discretionary offence is an inference from the absence of a codified penal code; no court decision was checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring is not codified. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is punished under the 2009 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law by up to 15 years and/or SAR 1 million, with heavier penalties if the victim is a woman or a child (Arts. 3 and 4). The leaked draft penal code would punish inciting or luring a person to prostitution by two to five years and up to SAR 300,000, but it is not in force.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 2-4 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (Royal Decree M/40, 2009)" ], "sources": [ "sa-tip", "sa-amnesty" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Anti-Trafficking Law was read in the English translation hosted by UNODC SHERLOC, not on the Saudi portal, which could not be reached." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Producing, preparing, transmitting or storing material impinging on public order, religious values, public morals or privacy through an information network, or building or publicising a website to promote or facilitate human trafficking, is punishable by up to five years and/or a fine of up to SAR 3 million (Art. 6(1) and (2), Anti-Cyber Crime Law).", "provisions": [ "Art. 6 Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17, 2007)" ], "sources": [ "sa-cyber" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The law does not name sexual services; applying 'public morals' to sex-work ads is our reading of the text, not a checked court decision." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sa-cyber", "titleEn": "Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17 of 8 Rabi I 1428, 26 March 2007)", "relevance": "Art. 6 criminalises online material impinging on public morals and websites that promote or facilitate human trafficking.", "provisions": [ "Art. 6" ], "inForce": "2007" }, { "sourceId": "sa-tip", "titleEn": "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (Royal Decree M/40 of 21/7/1430 H, 14 July 2009)", "relevance": "Defines and punishes trafficking in persons, including for sexual assault, with up to 15 years and/or SAR 1 million.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 2-4" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "sa-discretionary-penal-code", "title": "Penal Code for Discretionary Sanctions (draft)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2024-04", "summary": "Announced in February 2021 as one of four codification laws. A draft leaked in July 2022 would codify discretionary offences and some, but not all, hadd offences, and would criminalise sex work and inciting or luring a person to prostitution. In 2024 the authorities described the text as still under legislative review; no adoption had been found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "sa-amnesty", "sa-adhrb", "sa-hrw" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2007-03-26", "event": "The Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17) criminalises online material impinging on public morals and websites facilitating human trafficking.", "sources": [ "sa-cyber" ] }, { "date": "2009-07-14", "event": "The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (Royal Decree M/40) is issued.", "sources": [ "sa-tip" ] }, { "date": "2020-04", "event": "A Supreme Court decision replaces flogging in discretionary (ta'zir) sentences with prison terms and/or fines; flogging for hadd offences is not affected.", "sources": [ "sa-amnesty" ] }, { "date": "2021-02", "event": "The authorities announce four codification laws, including the first written Penal Code for Discretionary Sanctions.", "sources": [ "sa-hrw" ] }, { "date": "2022-07", "event": "A draft of the Penal Code for Discretionary Sanctions is leaked; it would criminalise sex work and inciting prostitution.", "sources": [ "sa-adhrb", "sa-amnesty" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sa-cyber", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Anti-Cyber Crime Law (8 Rabi 1, 1428 / 26 March 2007)", "publisher": "Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Bureau of Experts translation)", "url": "https://mcit.gov.sa//sites/default/files/anti_cyber_crime_law_en_0.pdf", "published": "2007-03-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sa-tip", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, Royal Decree No. (M/40), Dated 21/7/1430H – 14/7/2009", "publisher": "UNODC SHERLOC (English translation)", "url": "https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/anti-trafficking-in-persons-law-2009_html/Anti-Trafficking_in_Persons_Law_2009_Saudi_Arabia.pdf", "published": "2009-07-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sa-amnesty", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Manifesto for Repression: Saudi Arabia's forthcoming penal code must uphold human rights in line with international law and standards (MDE 23/7783/2024)", "publisher": "Amnesty International", "url": "https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MDE2377832024ENGLISH.pdf", "published": "2024-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sa-hrw", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Saudi Arabia: Forthcoming Penal Code Should Protect Rights", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/29/saudi-arabia-forthcoming-penal-code-should-protect-rights", "published": "2022-04-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sa-adhrb", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Analyzing the Leaked Penal Code of Saudi Arabia: Persistent Failure to Commit to Human Rights Standards", "publisher": "Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB)", "url": "https://www.adhrb.org/2024/04/analyzing-the-leaked-penal-code-of-saudi-arabia-persistent-failure-to-commit-to-human-rights-standards/", "published": "2024-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saudi-arabia/" }, { "iso2": "SN", "name": "Senegal", "nativeName": "Sénégal", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Senegal is one of very few African countries with a registration system for sex workers. Under Law No. 66-21 of 1 February 1966 and its implementing Decree No. 69-616 of 20 May 1969, a person may sell sex if registered in the health and social register and attending regular check-ups. The regime covers individuals only: brothels, procuring and public soliciting remain offences under the Penal Code, so the framework also has strong abolitionist features.", "modelSources": [ "sn-crc-2016", "sn-cp", "sn-plos-2024" ], "summary": "Senegal regulates prostitution by individuals through a health-registration system dating from 1966 and 1969. A person registered in the fichier sanitaire et social who carries an up-to-date health booklet (carnet sanitaire) and attends regular check-ups may sell sex; the statutory minimum age is 21, which the government says now reads as 18. Everything around the individual is criminalised: procuring, including living with a sex worker, carries one to three years (Penal Code Article 323), running a brothel two to five years (Article 325), and publishing an advertisement for an opportunity for debauchery is an offence (Article 257); public soliciting is a police contravention. A 2015 survey found about 80% of female sex workers unregistered. No reform of the 1960s texts was found as of October 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is lawful for a person registered in the fichier sanitaire et social who holds an up-to-date carnet sanitaire, attends the required check-ups and does not solicit in public. Working unregistered, failing to show the booklet to police or missing a medical visit can be prosecuted. People under 21 who sell sex are brought before the juvenile court for protective measures (Article 327 bis).", "details": "The government's 2016 report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child lists the conditions as: being 21, presenting an identity card (or other identity document for foreigners) and four photos, attending gynaecological visits every 15 days, presenting the booklet when stopped by police or gendarmerie, and not soliciting on the public road. The same report says that since the age of majority was lowered to 18, access to the booklet is from 18. A 2024 peer-reviewed study describes monthly visits, compulsory STI testing and treatment, and reports that failing to present the booklet can lead to two to six months in prison.", "provisions": [ "Loi n° 66-21 du 1er février 1966", "Décret n° 69-616 du 20 mai 1969", "Code pénal art. 327 bis" ], "sources": [ "sn-crc-2016", "sn-plos-2024", "sn-cp", "sn-loi-69-27" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The texts of Law 66-21 and Decree 69-616 could not be found online; their content is taken from the government's own report to a UN committee and from peer-reviewed research. Those sources differ on the check-up interval (every 15 days or monthly) and on the minimum age (21 in the statute, 18 according to the government)." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Penal Code or in official descriptions of the 1966 law. The procuring and corruption-of-youth offences (Articles 323 and 324) target those who organise, profit from or habitually encourage the prostitution or debauchery of others, not clients as such.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 323", "Code pénal art. 324" ], "sources": [ "sn-cp", "sn-crc-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 1966 law and 1969 decree themselves were not read." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, managing, running or financing a prostitution establishment, or habitually accepting or tolerating prostitution or the seeking of clients in a hotel, furnished house, bar, restaurant, club, dance hall or any place open to the public, carries two to five years and a fine of 300,000 to 4,000,000 francs (Article 325), doubled for a repeat within ten years. The court must withdraw the licence and close the premises for three months to five years (Article 326).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 325", "Code pénal art. 326" ], "sources": [ "sn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read in the consolidated text published on WIPO Lex, which includes amendments up to the late 1990s; later amendments to the Code (2016, 2020) were not checked for these articles." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A procurer is anyone who aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds or receives support from a person habitually engaged in it, knowingly lives with such a person, cannot justify their lifestyle while in habitual contact with sex workers, recruits or keeps even a consenting adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary: one to three years and 250,000 to 2,500,000 francs (Article 323), two to five years if aggravated (Article 324).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 323", "Code pénal art. 324", "Code pénal art. 327" ], "sources": [ "sn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The 'lives with' and 'cannot justify resources' limbs can reach partners and family members of registered sex workers." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement or correspondence of that kind whatever its terms, carries the penalties of Article 256: one month to two years and a fine of 25,000 to 300,000 francs (Article 257). Publicly soliciting people for debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means is a police contravention, and helping another person's soliciting is procuring (Article 323).", "details": "The soliciting contravention is in Article 9(3) of the Code des contraventions annexed to the Penal Code; police penalties are one day to one month of imprisonment and a fine of 200 to 20,000 francs (Articles 2 and 3 of that Code).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 257 al. 2", "Code des contraventions art. 9(3)", "Code pénal art. 323(1)" ], "sources": [ "sn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "No case applying Article 257 to online advertisements or to websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sn-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 65-60 of 21 July 1965), with the Code of Contraventions", "relevance": "Articles 323 to 327 criminalise procuring and brothels; Article 257 covers advertising an opportunity for debauchery; the Code of Contraventions punishes public soliciting.", "provisions": [ "art. 257", "art. 323–327 bis" ], "inForce": "1965" }, { "sourceId": "sn-loi-69-27", "titleEn": "Law No. 69-27 adding Article 327 bis to the Penal Code on prostitution by people under 21", "relevance": "Sends people under 21 who sell sex, even occasionally, to the juvenile court for protective measures rather than punishment.", "provisions": [ "art. 327 bis" ], "inForce": "1969" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1965-07-21", "event": "Law No. 65-60 adopts the Penal Code, including the procuring and brothel offences.", "sources": [ "sn-cp" ] }, { "date": "1966-02-01", "event": "Law No. 66-21 on combating venereal diseases and prostitution creates the registration and health-check regime.", "sources": [ "sn-crc-2016" ] }, { "date": "1969", "event": "Law No. 69-27 adds Article 327 bis, providing protective measures for people under 21 who sell sex.", "sources": [ "sn-loi-69-27", "sn-cp" ] }, { "date": "1969-05-20", "event": "Decree No. 69-616 implements the 1966 law.", "sources": [ "sn-crc-2016" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Female sex workers not registered", "value": "about 80% (57% in Dakar)", "year": "2015", "note": "Estimate from a 2015 national surveillance survey cited by Lépine et al. (2024); a survey estimate, not a count of the total population.", "sources": [ "sn-plos-2024" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "sn-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code pénal (loi n° 65-60 du 21 juillet 1965)", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Law No. 65-60 of 21 July 1965), consolidated, with the Code des contraventions annexed", "publisher": "WIPO Lex", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/fr/legislation/details/6336", "published": "1965-07-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "sn-loi-69-27", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 69-27 complétant le Code pénal par un article 327 bis réprimant la prostitution des mineurs de 21 ans", "titleEn": "Law No. 69-27 adding Article 327 bis to the Penal Code on prostitution by minors under 21", "publisher": "Vie Publique Sénégal", "url": "https://www.vie-publique.sn/documents/7049/69%2027.pdf", "published": "1969", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "sn-crc-2016", "kind": "government", "title": "Rapport soumis par le Sénégal en application du paragraphe 1 de l'article 12 du Protocole facultatif à la Convention relative aux droits de l'enfant, concernant la vente d'enfants, la prostitution des enfants et la pornographie mettant en scène des enfants (CRC/C/OPSC/SEN/1)", "titleEn": "Report submitted by Senegal under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography", "publisher": "Government of Senegal, via the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child", "url": "https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=9ISxTbXLrS5RN4yqbeg/z/beeLLAPEd1xUbh2/pCCZqumOOvg7pX+G4QvJHBVftBq6hSSN8RKkA65ckjss++MQ%3D%3D", "published": "2022-12-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "sn-plos-2024", "kind": "academic", "title": "Optimising the public health benefits of sex work regulation in Senegal: Results from qualitative interviews with policy stakeholders", "publisher": "PLOS ONE (Lépine, Procureur, Szawlowski, Treibich, Mbaye, Gueye, Ndour)", "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11326597", "published": "2024-08-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/senegal/" }, { "iso2": "RS", "name": "Serbia", "nativeName": "Србија / Srbija", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Since the 2016 Law on Public Order and Peace, selling sex, buying it and providing premises for it are all misdemeanours carrying the same penalty (Article 16). Inducing, procuring and advertising prostitution are crimes under Article 184 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "rs-zjrm", "rs-kz" ], "summary": "Serbia punishes both sides of a commercial sexual transaction. Article 16 of the 2016 Law on Public Order and Peace fines anyone who engages in prostitution, uses prostitution services or provides premises for it RSD 50,000–150,000, or imposes 30 to 60 days' imprisonment; the earlier law penalised only the seller. The law defines prostitution as providing sexual services for money or other value. Article 184 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing or inciting prostitution, handing a person over to another for prostitution, and propagating or advertising prostitution through public media or similar means, with six months to five years. In December 2024 the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality asked again for Articles 3 and 16 to be amended, and in December 2025 the Ombudsman published a draft that would extend the offence to conduct on social networks.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of RSD 50,000–150,000 or 30 to 60 days' imprisonment. Prostitution is defined as providing sexual services for money or other value.", "provisions": [ "чл. 3 ст. 1 тач. 15 Закона о јавном реду и миру", "чл. 16 ст. 1 Закона о јавном реду и миру" ], "sources": [ "rs-zjrm" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Equality Commissioner, citing research, states that sellers are penalised in practice far more often than buyers; no official statistics were checked for this overview.", "mapLabel": "RSD 150,000 or 60 days" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Using prostitution services is a misdemeanour carrying the same penalty as selling: a fine of RSD 50,000–150,000 or 30 to 60 days' imprisonment. Buyers were first made liable by the 2016 law.", "provisions": [ "чл. 16 ст. 1 Закона о јавном реду и миру" ], "sources": [ "rs-zjrm", "rs-poverenik-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "RSD 150,000 or 60 days" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Providing premises for prostitution is a misdemeanour (RSD 50,000–150,000 or 30 to 60 days); providing premises to a minor for prostitution carries 30 to 60 days' imprisonment. Inducing others into prostitution, or handing a person over to another for it, is a separate crime under Article 184 of the Criminal Code.", "provisions": [ "чл. 16 Закона о јавном реду и миру", "чл. 184 Кривичног законика" ], "sources": [ "rs-zjrm", "rs-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing or inciting another person to prostitution, or taking part in handing a person over to another for prostitution, is punishable by six months to five years and a fine; one to ten years where a minor is involved.", "provisions": [ "чл. 184 Кривичног законика" ], "sources": [ "rs-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Propagating or advertising prostitution through public media or other similar means is a crime under the same article as procuring, punishable by six months to five years and a fine. Unlike in Croatia, the wording is not limited to another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "чл. 184 ст. 1 Кривичног законика" ], "sources": [ "rs-kz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "How courts apply \"other similar means\" to websites and online ad platforms was not checked against case law for this overview." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "rs-zjrm", "titleEn": "Law on Public Order and Peace (2016)", "relevance": "Article 16 makes selling, buying and providing premises for prostitution misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "чл. 3", "чл. 16" ] }, { "sourceId": "rs-kz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (2005, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 184 criminalises mediation in prostitution, including advertising it.", "provisions": [ "чл. 184" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "rs-ombudsman-draft-2025", "title": "Ombudsman's draft amendments to the Law on Public Order and Peace", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2025-12-26", "summary": "A draft prepared by the office of the Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman) would extend public order offences to conduct on social networks. Under the draft, engaging in prostitution, using prostitution services or providing premises for it \"in a public place or on a social network\" would carry the existing penalty of RSD 50,000–150,000 or 30 to 60 days.", "sources": [ "rs-vreme-2025" ] }, { "id": "rs-equality-commissioner-initiative", "title": "Equality Commissioner's initiative to amend Articles 3 and 16", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2024-12-06", "summary": "The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality renewed an earlier initiative to amend the definition of prostitution (Article 3(1)(15)) and the offence in Article 16, arguing that sellers are penalised far more often than buyers. The law had not been amended accordingly at the time.", "sources": [ "rs-poverenik-2024" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-01-28", "event": "Law on Public Order and Peace published; buyers of sexual services become liable alongside sellers.", "sources": [ "rs-zjrm" ] }, { "date": "2024-12-06", "event": "Equality Commissioner resubmits initiative to amend the prostitution provisions of the public order law.", "sources": [ "rs-poverenik-2024" ] }, { "date": "2025-12-26", "event": "Ombudsman's draft would extend the prostitution misdemeanour to social networks.", "sources": [ "rs-vreme-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "rs-zjrm", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Закон о јавном реду и миру (\"Службени гласник РС\", бр. 6/2016 и 24/2018)", "titleEn": "Law on Public Order and Peace", "publisher": "Правно-информациони систем Републике Србије (Службени гласник)", "url": "https://pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/eli/rep/sgrs/skupstina/zakon/2016/6/2/reg", "published": "2016-01-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" }, { "id": "rs-kz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кривични законик (\"Службени гласник РС\", бр. 85/2005 … 94/2024, 63/2026)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code", "publisher": "Правно-информациони систем Републике Србије (Службени гласник)", "url": "https://pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/eli/rep/sgrs/skupstina/zakon/2005/85/6/reg", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" }, { "id": "rs-poverenik-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "ZAKON O JAVNOM REDU I MIRU: Inicijativa Poverenice za izmene i dopune Zakona", "titleEn": "Law on Public Order and Peace: Equality Commissioner's initiative for amendments", "publisher": "Paragraf Lex", "url": "https://www.paragraf.rs/dnevne-vesti/061224/061224-vest11.html", "published": "2024-12-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" }, { "id": "rs-vreme-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Zaštitnik građana: Zakon o javnom redu i miru odnosiće se i na društvene mreže", "titleEn": "Ombudsman: Law on Public Order and Peace to apply to social networks too", "publisher": "Vreme", "url": "https://vreme.com/drustvo/zastitnik-gradjana-zakon-o-javnom-redu-i-miru-odnosice-se-i-na-drustvene-mreze/", "published": "2025-12-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/serbia/" }, { "iso2": "SC", "name": "Seychelles", "nativeName": "Sesel", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex are not offences as such, but soliciting in a public place for prostitution (s. 154), brothels (s. 155), living on or exploiting the earnings of prostitution (s. 156) and procuring (ss. 143–144) are. Because public soliciting is itself an offence and the brothel definition covers premises used by any one person, the regime is restrictive for sex workers; a 2018 Seychelles Nation report described sex work as criminalised under ss. 154–155.", "modelSources": [ "sc-pc", "sc-nation-2018" ], "summary": "Prostitution itself is not an offence in Seychelles, but most ways of practising it are. Under the Penal Code (Cap. 158), a person who solicits another in a public place for prostitution is liable to two years' imprisonment (s. 154); a \"common prostitute\" behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public is an idle and disorderly person (s. 173). Keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries three years (s. 155), and a brothel is any premises used by any person for prostitution. Procuring, living on the earnings of or exploiting another person's prostitution carries five years (s. 156). A 2015 survey of sex workers reported that about half had been arrested. The text could only be checked as consolidated to June 2020; no later change to these provisions was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but a person who solicits another person in a public place for the purposes of prostitution is liable to two years' imprisonment (s. 154). A \"common prostitute\" behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in a public place is an idle and disorderly person, liable to one year or a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or both (s. 173(a)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 154", "Penal Code s. 173(a)" ], "sources": [ "sc-pc", "sc-nation-2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Text read in the Laws.Africa consolidation to 1 June 2020; SeyLII, which would show later amendments, refused access (403). In a 2015 integrated bio-behavioural survey cited by Seychelles Nation, 50.6% of sex workers reported having been arrested; among female sex workers the reasons included loitering (16%) and selling sex (7%).", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying for sex with an adult is not itself an offence. The soliciting offence in s. 154 is worded for \"a person who solicits another person in a public place for the purposes of prostitution\" and is not limited to the seller, so a client who solicits in public may also be covered.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 154" ], "sources": [ "sc-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Application of s. 154 to clients is a reading of the gender-neutral text; no prosecutions of clients were found.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in it, knowingly permitting premises to be used as one, or letting premises knowing they are to be used as one, is punishable by three years' imprisonment (s. 155(1)). A \"brothel\" is any premises or part of premises resorted to or used by any person for the purposes of prostitution or lewd sexual practices (s. 155(2)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 155" ], "sources": [ "sc-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Consolidation to 1 June 2020. The definition (\"any person\") appears wide enough to cover a sex worker working alone from rented premises; no case law was checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring, enticing or leading away a person for prostitution, knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of another's prostitution, knowingly exploiting it, or for gain controlling another person's movements so as to aid or compel their prostitution, carries five years (s. 156). Procuring or exploiting prostitution for gain, even with consent, is also a misdemeanour (s. 143), as is doing so without gain where the person is under 21, is sent abroad or is coerced (s. 144).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code ss. 143–144", "Penal Code s. 156" ], "sources": [ "sc-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Sections 143–144 state no specific penalty; under s. 35 an unspecified misdemeanour is punishable by up to two years or a fine or both." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Public soliciting for prostitution is an offence (s. 154), and publishing or advertising indecent material is punishable by five years (s. 152); a third party carrying adverts could also be exposed under s. 156 (exploiting the prostitution of another).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 152", "Penal Code s. 154", "Penal Code s. 156" ], "sources": [ "sc-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inferred from general provisions; whether an online advert is soliciting \"in a public place\" is untested as far as found. Cybercrime legislation was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sc-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Cap. 158)", "relevance": "Contains the soliciting, brothel, living-on-earnings, procuring and idle-and-disorderly offences.", "provisions": [ "ss. 143–144", "ss. 154–156", "s. 173" ], "inForce": "1955-02-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1955-02-01", "event": "The Penal Code (Cap. 158, Act 12 of 1952), on the British colonial model, comes into force.", "sources": [ "sc-pc" ] }, { "date": "2018-07-23", "event": "The HIV/AIDS Support Organisation (HASO) holds a workshop with law enforcement officers aimed at a partnership towards decriminalising sex work.", "sources": [ "sc-nation-2018" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sc-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Seychelles, Chapter 158: The Penal Code (consolidated to 1 June 2020)", "publisher": "Laws.Africa consolidation, hosted by VERTIC", "url": "https://www.vertic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SC_Criminal_Code.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sc-nation-2018", "kind": "news", "title": "Workshop to discuss creation of legal environment for sex workers", "publisher": "Seychelles Nation", "url": "https://www.nation.sc/archive/259731/workshop-to-discuss-creation-of-legal-environment-for-sex-workers", "published": "2018-07-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/seychelles/" }, { "iso2": "SL", "name": "Sierra Leone", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No statute found makes selling or buying sex between adults an offence. The Sexual Offences Act 2012 criminalises causing or inciting a person to become a sex worker, or controlling their activities, for gain (section 17), which places Sierra Leone in the abolitionist group. Sex workers are nonetheless arrested under general loitering laws, which the ECOWAS Court ordered the State to amend or repeal in November 2024.", "modelSources": [ "sl-soa", "sl-salc-2024" ], "summary": "Sierra Leone's Sexual Offences Act 2012, the main statute on the subject, contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Section 17 punishes anyone who intentionally causes or incites another person to become a sex worker, or controls their activities relating to prostitution, in return for or in expectation of gain, with up to ten years in prison. Clients of, and people who arrange or profit from, prostitution involving under-18s face up to fifteen years (sections 30 to 32). In practice sex workers are arrested under colonial-era loitering provisions; on 7 November 2024 the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, in AdvocAid Limited v Republic of Sierra Leone, ordered the State to amend, modify or repeal those laws. No specific brothel or advertising offence was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling sex was found. Sex workers are, however, arrested under loitering and vagrancy laws: section 7 of the Public Order Act 1965, section 13(1)(e) and (f) of the Criminal Procedure Act and section 31 of the Summary Conviction Offences Ordinance 1906. In November 2024 the ECOWAS Court found these laws discriminatory and ordered them amended or repealed.", "provisions": [ "Public Order Act 1965 s. 7", "Criminal Procedure Act s. 13(1)(e)–(f)", "Summary Conviction Offences Ordinance 1906 s. 31" ], "sources": [ "sl-soa", "sl-salc-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The older statutes (Public Order Act, Summary Conviction Offences Ordinance) could not be opened, so it cannot be ruled out that one of them contains a prostitution-specific offence. No repeal following the ECOWAS judgment was found as of October 2026." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found. Participating as a client in child prostitution (under 18) carries up to fifteen years (section 30); a defendant may show that they took reasonable steps and reasonably believed the person was 18 or over (section 33).", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 30", "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 33" ], "sources": [ "sl-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Amendments made by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019 were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No brothel-keeping offence was found in the 2012 Act. Running a venue in which the operator controls sex workers' activities for gain falls under section 17(1)(b), punishable by up to ten years.", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 17(1)(b)" ], "sources": [ "sl-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Older statutes were not checked for a separate brothel offence, and the position of a landlord who does not control the work is unclear." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who intentionally causes or incites another to become a sex worker, or controls any of their activities relating to prostitution, in return for or in expectation of gain for themselves or a third person, faces up to ten years (section 17). 'Gain' includes any financial advantage, including sexual services, and goodwill likely to bring financial advantage.", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 17", "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 31", "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 32" ], "sources": [ "sl-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. A third party who advertises in a way that causes or incites someone to become a sex worker, or as part of controlling their work, for gain could fall under section 17.", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 2012 s. 17" ], "sources": [ "sl-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Older statutes were not checked; no case on advertising or websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sl-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012)", "relevance": "Section 17 criminalises causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain; sections 30 to 32 cover child prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s. 17", "s. 30–33" ], "inForce": "2012" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "sl-loitering-laws", "title": "Amendment or repeal of the loitering laws ordered by the ECOWAS Court", "stage": "review", "updated": "2024-11-07", "summary": "In AdvocAid Limited v Republic of Sierra Leone the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered Sierra Leone to amend, modify or repeal the loitering provisions used to arrest sex workers and poor people. No legislative change was found as of October 2026.", "sources": [ "sl-salc-2024" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2012-10-09", "event": "The President signs the Sexual Offences Act 2012, consolidating the law on sexual offences, including procuring and child prostitution.", "sources": [ "sl-soa" ] }, { "date": "2024-11-07", "event": "The ECOWAS Court rules in AdvocAid Limited v Republic of Sierra Leone that the loitering laws are discriminatory and must be amended or repealed.", "sources": [ "sl-salc-2024" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sl-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012), Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette No. 60 of 1 November 2012", "publisher": "Government of Sierra Leone (copy hosted by sierra-leone.org)", "url": "https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2012-12.pdf", "published": "2012-11-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sl-salc-2024", "kind": "ngo", "title": "ECOWAS Court orders Sierra Leone to repeal loitering laws", "publisher": "Southern Africa Litigation Centre", "url": "https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/ecowas-court-orders-sierra-leone-to-repeal-loitering-laws/", "published": "2024-11-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sierra-leone/" }, { "iso2": "SG", "name": "Singapore", "nativeName": "Singapura", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "By statute, selling and buying sex between adults are legal, while brothel-keeping, living on earnings, public soliciting and online facilitation are offences. In practice police tolerate a limited number of licensed brothels in designated red-light areas, with registered workers under medical checks; this arrangement has no published legal basis, so some comparative sources call Singapore regulated.", "modelSources": [ "sg-wc", "sg-moa", "sg-projectx2017" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Singapore, but nearly everything around them is. The Women's Charter 1961 criminalises keeping, managing or letting premises for a brothel (up to five years and S$100,000), living on the earnings of a woman's prostitution (up to seven years), keeping a place of assignation, and, since 2016, using a website, app or messaging service in the course of business to offer, facilitate or organise sexual services in Singapore (s. 146A). Soliciting in a public place is an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. Alongside the statute, police tolerate licensed brothels in designated red-light areas, staffed by registered workers who undergo regular health checks under a scheme the government does not publish.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Offering sex for payment is not itself an offence, but persistently loitering or soliciting in a public road or place for prostitution is fined up to S$1,000, and up to S$2,000 or six months for a repeat. Migrant sex workers who are arrested are deported and barred from returning.", "details": "The Women's Charter defines prostitution as \"the act of a female offering her body for sexual penetration for hire, whether in money or in kind\" (s. 2). Project X, a Singapore sex workers' rights group, reports that work permits (\"yellow cards\") for licensed brothels are issued under a police-run medical surveillance scheme only to women aged 21–35 from a short list of countries.", "provisions": [ "s. 2 Women's Charter 1961", "s. 19 Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906" ], "sources": [ "sg-wc", "sg-moa", "sg-projectx2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The licensed-brothel and yellow-card arrangements are not set out in published law; they are described from sex workers' accounts (Project X, 2017) and may have changed.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: ≈€700 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Procuring or obtaining a woman or girl for prostitution, and offences involving minors, remain crimes under the Women's Charter.", "provisions": [ "s. 140 Women's Charter 1961" ], "sources": [ "sg-wc", "sg-projectx2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel, and knowingly letting or occupying a place used as one, carries up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to S$100,000 (seven years and S$150,000 for repeat offenders). A brothel is a place used habitually by two or more women for prostitution, or advertised as such. Police nonetheless tolerate licensed brothels in designated red-light areas.", "details": "Owners and agents who let premises must show reasonable diligence, such as checking the tenant's identity documents in person (s. 148(4)). Keeping a place of assignation, where contact with women is established for an immoral purpose, is a separate offence (s. 147). In a 1999 parliamentary answer the Minister for Home Affairs said there was no need to legalise prostitution and that it could be dealt with \"in a pragmatic way\".", "provisions": [ "s. 147 Women's Charter 1961", "s. 148 Women's Charter 1961" ], "sources": [ "sg-wc", "sg-projectx2017" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The tolerance of licensed brothels rests on police practice, not on any published licensing law; the parliamentary answer is cited as quoted by Project X." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of a woman's prostitution, or taking payment for a service that aids it, carries up to seven years and a fine of up to S$100,000. Procuring, buying, selling or detaining women or girls for prostitution carries the same.", "provisions": [ "s. 140 Women's Charter 1961", "s. 146 Women's Charter 1961" ], "sources": [ "sg-wc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone, in or outside Singapore, who in the course of business uses a website, app, messaging or telephone service accessible from Singapore to offer or facilitate paid sexual services by a woman in Singapore, or to organise them, faces up to five years and a S$100,000 fine. Advertising a place as used for prostitution also makes it a brothel in law.", "details": "Section 146A was added by the Women's Charter (Amendment) Act 2016 (7/2016) and extended in 2019. A service has a \"Singapore link\" if anyone physically in Singapore can access it, including behind a password; a defendant can prove they could not reasonably have known of the link. The offence reaches operators of escort and ad websites as well as agents.", "provisions": [ "s. 146A Women's Charter 1961", "s. 2 Women's Charter 1961 (\"brothel\" (c))" ], "sources": [ "sg-wc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sg-wc", "titleEn": "Women's Charter 1961 (2020 Revised Edition), Part 11", "relevance": "Brothels, places of assignation, living on earnings, procuring and the online offence in s. 146A.", "provisions": [ "s. 140", "s. 146", "s. 146A", "s. 147", "s. 148" ] }, { "sourceId": "sg-moa", "titleEn": "Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906", "relevance": "Section 19 punishes persistent loitering or soliciting for prostitution in public places.", "provisions": [ "s. 19" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1999-05-05", "event": "The Minister for Home Affairs tells Parliament that prostitution need not be legalised and can be handled pragmatically.", "sources": [ "sg-projectx2017" ] }, { "date": "2016", "event": "Women's Charter (Amendment) Act 2016 adds s. 146A on remote communication services used to offer or facilitate sexual services.", "sources": [ "sg-wc" ] }, { "date": "2019", "event": "Act 36 of 2019 raises penalties and adds repeat-offender tiers for the brothel, procuring and online offences, and gives s. 146A extraterritorial reach (s. 146A(6)).", "sources": [ "sg-wc" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sg-wc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Women's Charter 1961 (2020 Revised Edition), Part 11 Offences against women and girls", "publisher": "Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore (Singapore Statutes Online)", "url": "https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/WC1961?ProvIds=P111-", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sg-moa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906, s. 19", "publisher": "Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore (Singapore Statutes Online)", "url": "https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MOPONA1906?ProvIds=pr19-", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sg-projectx2017", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Stakeholders Report by Sex Workers in Singapore (CEDAW, 68th Session)", "publisher": "Project X", "url": "https://theprojectx.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2017-Singapore-CEDAW-Stakeholders-Report-by-Project-X-68th-Session-final.pdf", "published": "2017", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/singapore/" }, { "iso2": "SK", "name": "Slovakia", "nativeName": "Slovensko", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences and no statute regulates prostitution. The Criminal Code defines prostitution (§ 132(1)) and punishes procuring (kupliarstvo, § 367), which covers not only recruiting and profiting but also enabling another person's prostitution, so running a brothel or providing premises for it is a criminal offence. Municipalities can regulate public order by ordinance, but no national offence targets street soliciting.", "modelSources": [ "sk-tz", "sk-obce" ], "summary": "Slovakia does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults and has no law regulating prostitution: there is no registration, licence or health-check regime. The Criminal Code defines prostitution as satisfying another's sexual needs by intercourse or similar sexual contact with an adult for reward (§ 132(1)) and punishes procuring (§ 367), including recruiting or offering a person for prostitution, profiting from another's prostitution and enabling it. Paying a child for sexual acts and trafficking are separate serious offences. Municipalities may regulate public order through generally binding ordinances, and some make offering sexual services in public spaces a minor offence. Police record very few procuring cases (two in 2024 and two in 2025). No pending legislation on prostitution was identified for this profile.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Bratislava-Staré Mesto", "note": "Ordinance VZN 3/1997 (in force from 1 December 1997) makes offering and providing services aimed directly at satisfying sexual needs in the district's public spaces an offence against public order under § 48 of the Offences Act (fine up to EUR 100).", "sources": [ "sk-ba-sm-vzn-3-1997", "sk-priestupky" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not a criminal or administrative offence at national level. The Criminal Code defines prostitution only for the purpose of the offences committed by third parties. Local public-order ordinances and the general offence of causing public outrage can apply to conduct in public.", "details": "- **§ 132(1) Criminal Code**: \"Prostitúciou sa na účely tohto zákona rozumie uspokojovanie sexuálnych potrieb iného súložou, iným spôsobom pohlavného styku alebo iným obdobným sexuálnym stykom s dospelou osobou za odmenu.\"\n- No provision of the Criminal Code or of the Offences Act (No. 372/1990 Coll.) penalises the person who sells sex.\n- Unlike Czechia (§ 190 of the Czech Criminal Code), Slovakia has no offence of prostitution near schools.", "provisions": [ "§ 132 ods. 1 Trestného zákona (č. 300/2005 Z. z.)" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz", "sk-priestupky", "cz-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual abuse of a child in the form of child prostitution, i.e. sexual contact with a person under 18 for a reward or its promise, is a criminal offence under § 202(1)(b) Criminal Code (one to five years).", "details": "- **§ 132(2) Criminal Code** defines child prostitution as satisfying another's sexual needs by intercourse or similar sexual contact with a child for a reward or its promise, whether the reward goes to the child or a third person.\n- **§ 202(1)(b)**: whoever induces a child to extramarital intercourse or otherwise sexually abuses a child where it is child prostitution: one to five years; two to eight years if committed with coercion or jointly by at least two persons (§ 202(2)); three to ten years if it directly endangers the child's life (§ 202(3)).", "provisions": [ "§ 132 ods. 2 Trestného zákona", "§ 202 ods. 1 písm. b) Trestného zákona" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brothels cannot be licensed. § 367(1) Criminal Code punishes anyone who profits from prostitution carried on by another or enables it ('umožní jej vykonávanie'), so operating premises where others sell sex is procuring, punishable by up to three years and more in aggravated cases.", "details": "- The wording of § 367(1) has been the same since the Criminal Code took effect on 1 January 2006: \"Kto iného zjedná, pohne, zvedie, využije, získa alebo ponúkne na vykonávanie prostitúcie, alebo kto koristí z prostitúcie vykonávanej iným, alebo umožní jej vykonávanie, potrestá sa odňatím slobody až na tri roky.\"\n- Unlike the Czech § 189, which has no 'enabling' limb (there a landlord or operator commits procuring only by profiting), the Slovak § 367(1) also punishes whoever enables another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "§ 367 Trestného zákona" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz", "sk-tz-2006", "cz-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision addresses sex workers who share a flat. Because § 367 also punishes whoever 'enables' another person's prostitution, a sex worker who provides or sublets premises to another, or arranges clients for her, risks committing procuring even without taking a share of earnings.", "provisions": [ "§ 367 ods. 1 Trestného zákona" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the statutory wording; no Slovak court decision on shared premises among sex workers or on the scope of 'enabling' was located for this profile." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (kupliarstvo, § 367 Criminal Code) covers arranging, inducing, seducing, using, recruiting or offering another person for prostitution, profiting from another's prostitution and enabling it. Up to three years; one to five years for a more serious manner of commission; three to ten years against a protected person; seven to twelve years for substantial gain or in a dangerous group; ten to fifteen years for grievous bodily harm or death.", "details": "- **§ 367(2)–(5)** set the aggravated ranges listed in the summary.\n- **§ 179** (trafficking in human beings) separately punishes recruiting, transporting, harbouring or receiving a person, even with consent, by force, threats, deception, abuse of a position of vulnerability or similar means, for the purpose of prostitution or other sexual exploitation.\n- Enforcement figures: see *stats*.", "provisions": [ "§ 367 Trestného zákona", "§ 179 Trestného zákona" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz", "sk-minv-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No law specifically bans advertising sexual services; sex workers can advertise their own services. Offering another person for prostitution is itself one of the acts listed in § 367(1), so advertising someone else's services can be procuring. The Advertising Act bars advertisements contrary to good morals (§ 3(5)).", "details": "- **§ 367(1)**: \"... alebo ponúkne na vykonávanie prostitúcie\" (offers another for prostitution).\n- **Act No. 147/2001 Coll. on advertising, § 3(5)**: advertising may not be disseminated if it is contrary to good morals or presents products whose production, sale, provision or use is prohibited. It has no rule specific to sexual services.", "provisions": [ "§ 367 ods. 1 Trestného zákona", "§ 3 ods. 5 zákona č. 147/2001 Z. z." ], "sources": [ "sk-tz", "sk-reklama" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "How Slovak prosecutors and courts apply § 367 to advertising was not verified; no case law was located." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no statute on ad sites for sexual services. A site operator could in principle fall under § 367 if it offers persons for prostitution, profits from it or enables it; no prosecution of a Slovak ad platform was found. Hosting liability and notice-and-action follow the EU Digital Services Act, supervised by the Council for Media Services (Rada pre mediálne služby).", "details": "- Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA) applies directly; the Slovak Digital Services Coordinator is the Rada pre mediálne služby (Council for Media Services).\n- For comparison, in neighbouring Czechia the Municipal Court in Prague discontinued the prosecution of the Sex.cz operators in August 2026, holding at first instance and not finally that selling advertising space for a fixed fee is not procuring; the Slovak § 367 additionally contains an 'offering' and an 'enabling' limb, which the Czech § 189 lacks.", "provisions": [ "§ 367 Trestného zákona", "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065" ], "sources": [ "sk-tz", "eu-dsa", "ec-dsc", "cz-lupa-2026", "cz-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No Slovak case law or prosecutorial guidance on ad platforms was located; the application of § 367 to platforms is an inference from its wording." }, "street": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No national offence targets soliciting in public, but municipalities set out by ordinance activities banned or restricted at certain times or places, and some make offering sexual services in public spaces an offence (e.g. Bratislava-Staré Mesto, VZN 3/1997). Breaching an ordinance is a minor offence (fine up to EUR 100 for individuals; up to EUR 6,638 for legal persons and entrepreneurs). Causing public outrage is a separate offence.", "details": "- **Act No. 369/1990 Coll. on municipalities**: the municipality secures public order (§ 4(3)(n)) and lays down by ordinance the activities that are banned or restricted at certain times or in certain places (§ 4(5)(a)(5)); it may issue ordinances in matters of self-government (§ 6). A legal person or entrepreneur who breaches an ordinance commits an administrative delict with a fine of up to EUR 6,638 (§ 27b).\n- **Act No. 372/1990 Coll. on offences**: breaching duties set by municipal ordinances is an offence against public order if it endangers or disturbs public order (§ 48, fine up to EUR 100) or against order in administration (§ 46, up to EUR 100); causing public outrage is an offence under § 47(1)(c).\n- **Bratislava-Staré Mesto, VZN 3/1997** (in force from 1 December 1997, amended by VZN 3/2002): \"Priestupkom proti verejnému poriadku podľa § 48 zákona … je na verejných priestranstvách mestskej časti Bratislava-Staré Mesto … aj ponúkanie a poskytovanie služieb smerujúcich bezprostredne k uspokojovaniu sexuálnych potrieb\" (§ 1(1)). Public spaces include streets, squares, car parks, markets, parks and courtyards between blocks (§ 1(2)); the city police enforce it (§ 2).\n- At least Bratislava-Staré Mesto has such an ordinance in force; a nationwide list of such ordinances was not compiled.", "provisions": [ "§ 4 ods. 3 písm. n), § 4 ods. 5 písm. a) bod 5 a § 6 zákona č. 369/1990 Zb.", "§ 27b zákona č. 369/1990 Zb.", "§ 46–48 zákona č. 372/1990 Zb.", "§ 1 VZN mestskej časti Bratislava-Staré Mesto č. 3/1997" ], "sources": [ "sk-obce", "sk-priestupky", "sk-ba-sm-vzn-3-1997" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory framework and the Staré Mesto ordinance are verified from their texts. Press reports (2007–2017) say Bratislava-Nové Mesto and Podunajské Biskupice had similar ordinances; whether those remain in force, which other municipalities have one, and how any of them are enforced was not verified." }, "registration": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no registration, licence or mandatory health check for sex workers. The Slovak Trade Licensing Act, unlike its Czech counterpart, does not mention sexual services at all. Slovakia is a party to the 1950 UN Convention, whose Article 6 requires states to abolish special registration of persons in prostitution.", "details": "- Act No. 455/1991 Coll. (Slovak version, in force from 17 August 2026) contains no reference to prostitution or sexual services; whether the activity can be carried on under a trade licence was not verified.\n- Slovakia succeeded to the 1950 Convention on 28 May 1993; Czechoslovakia had acceded on 14 March 1958.", "provisions": [ "zákon č. 455/1991 Zb. (živnostenský zákon)" ], "sources": [ "sk-zivnost", "un-1950", "un-1950-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The absence of a registration regime is verified from the statutes; the trade-licence position is not settled in any source located." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Income Tax Act (No. 595/2003 Coll.) taxes income generally and contains no provision on prostitution. No Slovak court ruling or Financial Administration guidance on taxing income from prostitution was located for this profile.", "details": "- § 6 of the Income Tax Act covers income from business and from other self-employed activity, including activities that are neither a trade nor a business (§ 6(2)(b)); how income from prostitution is classified in practice was not verified.", "provisions": [ "§ 6 zákona č. 595/2003 Z. z." ], "sources": [ "sk-dane" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Statutory text only; no case law or administrative guidance was found, so the tax treatment in practice is uncertain." }, "migrants": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No immigration rule addresses prostitution. EU citizens are in the same position as Slovak nationals. Trafficking for prostitution or sexual exploitation is punished under § 179 Criminal Code.", "sources": [ "sk-tz" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Residence and work-authorisation rules for third-country nationals who sell sex were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sk-tz", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (Act No. 300/2005 Coll.)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and child prostitution (§ 132) and punishes procuring (§ 367), trafficking (§ 179) and child prostitution (§ 202).", "provisions": [ "§ 132", "§ 179", "§ 202", "§ 367" ], "inForce": "2006-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "sk-obce", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act (Act No. 369/1990 Coll.)", "relevance": "Municipalities secure public order and may issue generally binding ordinances; breaches by legal persons and entrepreneurs are fined up to EUR 6,638.", "provisions": [ "§ 4 ods. 3 písm. n)", "§ 6", "§ 27b" ] }, { "sourceId": "sk-priestupky", "titleEn": "Offences Act (Act No. 372/1990 Coll.)", "relevance": "Breaching municipal ordinances is a minor offence (§§ 46, 48; fine up to EUR 100); causing public outrage is an offence (§ 47). No prostitution-specific offence.", "provisions": [ "§ 46", "§ 47", "§ 48" ] }, { "sourceId": "sk-reklama", "titleEn": "Advertising Act (Act No. 147/2001 Coll.)", "relevance": "§ 3(5) bars advertising contrary to good morals; there is no rule specific to sexual services.", "provisions": [ "§ 3 ods. 5" ] }, { "sourceId": "eu-dsa", "titleEn": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act)", "relevance": "Directly applicable rules on hosting liability and notice-and-action for ad platforms; supervised in Slovakia by the Council for Media Services.", "inForce": "2024-02-17" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1958-03-14", "event": "Czechoslovakia accedes to the 1950 UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.", "sources": [ "un-1950" ] }, { "date": "1993-05-28", "event": "Slovakia notifies its succession to the 1950 Convention.", "sources": [ "un-1950" ] }, { "date": "2006-01-01", "event": "The new Criminal Code (Act No. 300/2005 Coll.) takes effect, with procuring in § 367 including the offering and enabling limbs.", "sources": [ "sk-tz-2006" ] }, { "date": "2024-02-17", "event": "The EU Digital Services Act becomes fully applicable. Slovakia's Digital Services Coordinator is the Council for Media Services; the Commission opened infringement proceedings over Slovakia's designation and empowerment of its coordinator on 24 April 2024 and closed them on 3 October 2024.", "sources": [ "eu-dsa", "ec-dsc" ] }, { "date": "2025", "event": "Police record two procuring offences under § 367 for the year, none of them solved by year end, after eight in 2023 and two in 2024.", "sources": [ "sk-minv-2023", "sk-minv-2024", "sk-minv-2025" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Procuring (§ 367) offences recorded by police", "value": "2", "year": "2025", "note": "Police-recorded offences ('zistené'), nationwide: 8 in 2023, 2 in 2024, 2 in 2025. Recorded crime, not a measure of prevalence.", "sources": [ "sk-minv-2023", "sk-minv-2024", "sk-minv-2025" ] }, { "label": "Persons prosecuted or investigated for procuring (§ 367)", "value": "5", "year": "2024", "note": "Police statistics, 'celkom osôb' column (persons prosecuted or investigated in the year; may relate to offences recorded in earlier years): 6 in 2023, 5 in 2024, 0 in 2025.", "sources": [ "sk-minv-2023", "sk-minv-2024", "sk-minv-2025" ] }, { "label": "Trafficking in human beings (§ 179(1)–(2)) offences recorded by police", "value": "29", "year": "2025", "note": "Sum of § 179(1) (12) and § 179(2) (17) rows; all forms of exploitation, not only sexual. 19 in 2023, 14 in 2024.", "sources": [ "sk-minv-2023", "sk-minv-2024", "sk-minv-2025" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "sk-tz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 300/2005 Z. z. Trestný zákon", "titleEn": "Act No. 300/2005 Coll., Criminal Code (version in force from 18 August 2026)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2005/300/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-tz-2006", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 300/2005 Z. z. Trestný zákon (znenie účinné od 1. 1. 2006 do 31. 12. 2006)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code, original version in force 1 January to 31 December 2006", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2005/300/20060101", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-obce", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon Slovenskej národnej rady č. 369/1990 Zb. o obecnom zriadení", "titleEn": "Municipalities Act (version in force from 15 July 2026)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/369/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-priestupky", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon Slovenskej národnej rady č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch", "titleEn": "Offences Act (version in force from 1 September 2026)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/", "published": "1990-08-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-zivnost", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 455/1991 Zb. o živnostenskom podnikaní (živnostenský zákon)", "titleEn": "Trade Licensing Act (Slovak version in force from 17 August 2026)", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1991/455/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-reklama", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 147/2001 Z. z. o reklame", "titleEn": "Advertising Act", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2001/147/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-dane", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 595/2003 Z. z. o dani z príjmov", "titleEn": "Income Tax Act", "publisher": "Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR – Slov-Lex", "url": "https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2003/595/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-minv-2023", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Štatistika kriminality za obdobie 1.1. – 31.12.2023 podľa paragrafov", "titleEn": "Crime statistics 2023 by section of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnútra SR", "url": "https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/policia/statistiky_2023/12_december/3xml_statistika_podla_paragrafov_3_31.12.2023.xml", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-minv-2024", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Štatistika kriminality za obdobie 1.1. – 31.12.2024 podľa paragrafov", "titleEn": "Crime statistics 2024 by section of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnútra SR", "url": "https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/policia/statistiky_2024/12_december/3statistika_podla_paragrafov_3_31.12.2024.xml", "published": "2025-01-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "sk-minv-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Štatistika kriminality za obdobie 1.1. – 31.12.2025 podľa paragrafov", "titleEn": "Crime statistics 2025 by section of the Criminal Code", "publisher": "Ministerstvo vnútra SR", "url": "https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/policia/statistiky_2025/12_december/3statistika_podla_paragrafov_3_31.12.2025.xml", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "un-1950", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (status of treaty)", "publisher": "United Nations Treaty Collection", "url": "https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=VII-11-a&chapter=7&clang=_en", "published": "1949-12-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "eu-dsa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act)", "publisher": "EUR-Lex", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj", "published": "2022-10-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ec-dsc", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Digital Services Coordinators", "publisher": "European Commission", "url": "https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/dsa-dscs", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sk-ba-sm-vzn-3-1997", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Všeobecne záväzné nariadenie mestskej časti Bratislava-Staré Mesto č. 3/1997, ktorým sa ustanovuje, že ponúkanie a poskytovanie služieb smerujúcich bezprostredne k uspokojovaniu sexuálnych potrieb na verejných priestranstvách mestskej časti Bratislava-Staré Mesto je priestupkom", "titleEn": "Bratislava-Staré Mesto ordinance No. 3/1997 on offering and providing sexual services in public spaces (listed as in force)", "publisher": "Mestská časť Bratislava-Staré Mesto", "url": "https://www.staremesto.sk/zverejnovanie/detail/364596/vzn-31997-ktorym-sa-ustanovuje-ze-ponukanie-a-poskytovanie-sluzieb-smerujucich-bezprostredne-k-uspokojovaniu-sexualnych-potrieb-na-verejnych-priestranstvach-mestskej-casti-bratislava-stare-mesto-j", "published": "1997-11-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sk" }, { "id": "cz-tz", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník", "titleEn": "Czech Criminal Code (Act No. 40/2009 Coll.), for the comparisons with §§ 189–190", "publisher": "Zákony pro lidi (AION CS)", "url": "https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40#p189", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "cz-lupa-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Inzerce není kuplířství. Soud smetl ze stolu žalobu kolem erotických webů Sex.cz", "titleEn": "Advertising is not procuring: court throws out the Sex.cz indictment", "publisher": "Lupa.cz", "url": "https://www.lupa.cz/aktuality/inzerce-neni-kuplirstvi-soud-smetl-ze-stolu-zalobu-kolem-erotickych-webu-sex-cz/", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "cs" }, { "id": "un-1950-text", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (text)", "publisher": "Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights", "url": "https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/trafficpersons.pdf", "published": "1949-12-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovakia/" }, { "iso2": "SI", "name": "Slovenia", "nativeName": "Slovenija", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Neither selling nor buying sex between adults is an offence and there is no registration or licensing scheme. The Criminal Code (KZ-1, Art. 175) punishes taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation and inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception. The public-order act only penalises offering sexual services in public in an importunate way. The status of non-exploitative third parties, such as venue operators, is not settled by the statute.", "modelSources": [ "si-kz1-2008", "si-zjrm1" ], "summary": "In Slovenia, selling and buying sex between adults are legal and unregulated. Offering sexual services in a public place in an importunate way that disturbs, alarms or outrages people is a minor offence punished by a fine. The Criminal Code punishes 'abuse of prostitution': taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruiting or inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception (three months to five years; one to ten years for minors, several victims or organised crime). There is no licensing of venues, and no rule specific to advertising was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence. Whoever has sexual intercourse, exposes their genitals or offers sexual services in an importunate way (\"na vsiljiv način\") in a public place, and thereby disturbs others or causes alarm or outrage, commits a minor offence punished by a fine (Art. 7(3) ZJRM-1).", "provisions": [ "7. člen (3) ZJRM-1" ], "sources": [ "si-zjrm1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the 2006 text as published in the Official Gazette (fines then in tolars); the current consolidated text on PISRS could not be opened, so later amendments and the current fine amounts are not reflected.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. Offences protecting minors and victims of trafficking apply separately.", "sources": [ "si-kz1-2008", "si-zjrm1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Based on the 2008 Criminal Code as published; amendments since then were not checked against a consolidated text." }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No law licenses or expressly bans brothels. A venue operator who takes part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation commits abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1, three months to five years). Whether a venue run without exploitation is lawful is not settled by the statute.", "provisions": [ "175. člen KZ-1" ], "sources": [ "si-kz1-2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No case law or official guidance on venues was found; treat the status as uncertain." }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Abuse of prostitution (Art. 175 KZ-1): whoever takes part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruits, obtains or incites another person into prostitution by force, threat or deception, faces three months to five years. If committed against a minor, against several persons or within a criminal association, the penalty is one to ten years.", "provisions": [ "175. člen KZ-1" ], "sources": [ "si-kz1-2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Wording and penalties are from the Criminal Code as published in 2008 (Uradni list RS, št. 55/2008); the current consolidated text on PISRS could not be opened, so amendments since then are not reflected." }, "advertising": { "status": "legal", "summary": "No provision specific to advertising sexual services was found in the Criminal Code or the public-order act. A third party who profits from advertising would only be caught by Art. 175 KZ-1 if they take part in a sex worker's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation. No rule on the liability of ad websites was found.", "provisions": [ "175. člen KZ-1" ], "sources": [ "si-kz1-2008", "si-zjrm1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Media, advertising and e-commerce legislation were not checked; a restriction elsewhere cannot be excluded." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "si-kz1-2008", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (KZ-1), Official Gazette No. 55/2008", "relevance": "Abuse of prostitution: exploitative participation in, and coerced inducement into, prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 175" ] }, { "sourceId": "si-zjrm1", "titleEn": "Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1), Official Gazette No. 70/2006", "relevance": "Minor offence of offering sexual services importunately in a public place.", "provisions": [ "Art. 7(3)" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2006", "event": "The new Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1) is published; it penalises only importunate offering of sexual services in public.", "sources": [ "si-zjrm1" ] }, { "date": "2008-06-04", "event": "The Criminal Code KZ-1 is published, with Art. 175 on abuse of prostitution.", "sources": [ "si-kz1-2008" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "si-kz1-2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kazenski zakonik (KZ-1), Uradni list RS, št. 55/2008 z dne 4. 6. 2008", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (KZ-1), Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 55/2008 (original text)", "publisher": "Uradni list Republike Slovenije", "url": "https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2008-01-2296", "published": "2008-06-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sl" }, { "id": "si-zjrm1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Zakon o varstvu javnega reda in miru (ZJRM-1), Uradni list RS, št. 70/2006", "titleEn": "Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1), Official Gazette No. 70/2006 (original text)", "publisher": "Uradni list Republike Slovenije", "url": "https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2006-01-2998", "published": "2006", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sl" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovenia/" }, { "iso2": "SB", "name": "Solomon Islands", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 26) criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution, persistent public soliciting and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 153), brothel-keeping (s. 155) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 175); since the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 it also penalises procuring a person to provide commercial sexual services (s. 142(2)).", "modelSources": [ "sb-pc", "sb-2016" ], "summary": "In the Solomon Islands, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 26) makes it a misdemeanour to knowingly live on the earnings of prostitution, to persistently solicit in a public place for immoral purposes, to control a sex worker's movements for gain, and to keep, manage, permit or let premises for a brothel. Soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, or a 'common prostitute' behaving indecently in public, carries two months or a $20 fine. The Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 added an offence of procuring a person to provide commercial sexual services, with up to fifteen years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, or a 'common prostitute' behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public, makes a person an idle and disorderly person (two months or a $20 fine); persistently soliciting or importuning in public for immoral purposes is a misdemeanour.", "details": "Persistently soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes (s. 153(1)(b)) is a misdemeanour for which no special penalty is provided, so the general maximum of two years' imprisonment, a fine or both applies (s. 41).", "provisions": [ "s. 175(c) and (f) Penal Code, Cap. 26", "s. 153(1)(b) Penal Code, Cap. 26" ], "sources": [ "sb-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) as amended to 1990 hosted by the University of Nottingham; the 2016 amending Act (a scanned copy hosted by antislaverylaw.ac.uk, read by OCR) repealed and replaced ss. 136-150 and s. 156 but not ss. 153-155 or s. 175. The consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found; the 2016 Act criminalises obtaining commercial sexual services from a child. The public soliciting offences are not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 175(f) Penal Code, Cap. 26" ], "sources": [ "sb-pc", "sb-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) as amended to 1990 hosted by the University of Nottingham; the 2016 amending Act (a scanned copy hosted by antislaverylaw.ac.uk, read by OCR) repealed and replaced ss. 136-150 and s. 156 but not ss. 153-155 or s. 175. The consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used are misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "s. 155 Penal Code, Cap. 26", "s. 154 Penal Code, Cap. 26 (search warrant)" ], "sources": [ "sb-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) as amended to 1990 hosted by the University of Nottingham; the 2016 amending Act (a scanned copy hosted by antislaverylaw.ac.uk, read by OCR) repealed and replaced ss. 136-150 and s. 156 but not ss. 153-155 or s. 175. The consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. The general penalty for a misdemeanour was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, and for gain controlling a sex worker's movements so as to aid or compel their prostitution, are misdemeanours, with a presumption against anyone who lives with or habitually accompanies a sex worker. Procuring or attempting to procure a person to provide commercial sexual services, in the Solomon Islands or elsewhere, carries up to fifteen years (twenty if the person is under 15).", "provisions": [ "s. 153(1)(a), (c) and (2) Penal Code, Cap. 26", "s. 142(2) Penal Code, as inserted by Act No. 3 of 2016" ], "sources": [ "sb-pc", "sb-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from a copy of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) as amended to 1990 hosted by the University of Nottingham; the 2016 amending Act (a scanned copy hosted by antislaverylaw.ac.uk, read by OCR) repealed and replaced ss. 136-150 and s. 156 but not ss. 153-155 or s. 175. The consolidated text on PacLII could not be used: paclii.org refused automated access (HTTP 403) and its robots.txt disallows Anthropic's crawlers. The number s. 142 is read from the page header of the OCR'd 2016 Act." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offences are limited to public places; a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings offence.", "provisions": [ "s. 153 Penal Code, Cap. 26" ], "sources": [ "sb-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sb-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Chapter 26", "relevance": "Living on earnings, persistent soliciting and aiding prostitution (s. 153), brothels (s. 155) and idle and disorderly persons (s. 175).", "provisions": [ "s. 153", "s. 155", "s. 175" ] }, { "sourceId": "sb-2016", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 (No. 3 of 2016)", "relevance": "Replaces ss. 136-150 of the Penal Code with new sexual offences, defines 'commercial sexual services' and creates the procuring offence (s. 142) and child commercial sexual exploitation offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 142" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2016-05-18", "event": "Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 assented to; it replaces the sexual offences in ss. 136-150 and adds an offence of procuring a person to provide commercial sexual services.", "sources": [ "sb-2016" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sb-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Laws of Solomon Islands, Chapter 26, Penal Code", "publisher": "Government of Solomon Islands (copy hosted by the University of Nottingham, Criminal Justice and Anti-Discrimination database)", "url": "https://cjad.nottingham.ac.uk/documents/implementations/pdf/Solomon_Islands_-_Penal_Code_1963_amended_1990.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sb-2016", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 (No. 3 of 2016)", "publisher": "National Parliament of Solomon Islands (copy hosted by Antislavery in Domestic Legislation)", "url": "https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Solomon-Islands-Penal-Code-Amdt-Sexual-Offences-Act-2016.pdf", "published": "2016-05-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/solomon-islands/" }, { "iso2": "SO", "name": "Somalia", "nativeName": "Soomaaliya / الصومال", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Penal Code of 1962 makes practising prostitution in any form an offence (Article 405). It has no offence aimed at the client, but zina (sex outside marriage) is punished where Islamic courts apply Sharia. The same Code is applied in the federal member states, in Puntland and in Somaliland, which declares itself independent; Somalia has a hybrid system of formal, Sharia and customary (xeer) law.", "modelSources": [ "so-pc1962", "so-undp2018", "so-euaa2025" ], "summary": "Prostitution is an offence in Somalia. Under the Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 5 of 16 December 1962, in force since 3 April 1964), whoever practises prostitution in any form faces two months to two years' imprisonment and a fine, increased for a married person (Article 405). Inciting anyone to lewd acts in a public place carries up to one year (Article 406). Instigating, aiding or in any way facilitating prostitution, or exploiting its proceeds, carries the same penalty as Article 405 (Article 407), and compelling a person into prostitution by violence or threats two to six years (Article 408). The Code also applies in Puntland and Somaliland. Some areas in southern Somalia with Islamic courts apply Sharia penalties for zina. In October 2026 the federal Parliament approved a Sexual Offences Bill whose final text was not public.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Somaliland", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Applies the 1962 Penal Code; under Article 130 of the Somaliland Constitution, provisions contrary to fundamental rights or to Islamic Sharia are disapplied, and fines are applied in revised Somaliland shilling scales. In August 2020 the House of Representatives passed a Rape, Fornication and Other Related Offences Bill; whether it was enacted and how it treats prostitution was not verified.", "sources": [ "so-pc1962", "so-euaa2025" ] }, { "name": "Areas under Islamic courts or Al-Shabaab control", "model": "prohibition", "note": "A 2018 UN assessment reports that some areas of southern Somalia with Islamic courts impose Sharia law, including stoning or flogging for zina (extra-marital sex). Practice in these areas was not documented further.", "sources": [ "so-undp2018" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever practises prostitution in any form is punishable with imprisonment from two months to two years and a fine of 100 to 2,000 Somali shillings; the penalty is increased for a married person (Article 405). Inciting anyone to lewd acts in a public place or place open to the public, even indirectly, carries up to one year or a fine (Article 406).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 1962 art. 405", "Penal Code 1962 art. 406" ], "sources": [ "so-pc1962", "so-undp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the semi-official English translation published on somalilandlaw.com (via FAOLEX); the authoritative text is Italian. An undated Library of Congress summary gives the penalty as two months to five years, but the translation and the 2018 UN assessment both give two years. Fine amounts are historical.", "mapLabel": "up to 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The Penal Code has no offence aimed specifically at paying for sex. Where Islamic courts apply Sharia, sex outside marriage is punished as zina, with flogging or stoning reported. A client who incites another to lewd acts in public falls under Article 406.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 1962 art. 406" ], "sources": [ "so-pc1962", "so-undp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The classification as illegal rests on Sharia-based zina enforcement in parts of the country, documented only by a 2018 UN assessment; under the Penal Code alone, buying is not a specific offence. The extent of zina prosecutions was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no brothel-specific offence; running a brothel falls under aiding or in any manner facilitating prostitution, or exploiting its proceeds (Article 407), punishable like Article 405 and increased where the person is incapable of consent, a relative or in the offender's care.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 1962 art. 407" ], "sources": [ "so-pc1962" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Classification applies the general wording of Article 407; no case law was checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Instigating another to commit prostitution, aiding or in any manner facilitating it, or exploiting its proceeds wholly or in part, carries the Article 405 penalty, increased for relatives, guardians and carers (Article 407). Compelling another into prostitution by violence or threats carries two to six years and a fine (Article 408). A 2018 UN assessment found no comprehensive anti-trafficking law.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 1962 art. 407", "Penal Code 1962 art. 408" ], "sources": [ "so-pc1962", "so-undp2018" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Semi-official English translation." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision names advertising of sexual services. Advertising one's own services in public can be inciting to lewd acts, \"even in an indirect manner\" (Article 406), and publishing ads for another person's services is facilitating prostitution (Article 407). Using publicity to facilitate the circulation of obscene objects is punished under Article 403(3).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code 1962 arts. 403, 406–407" ], "sources": [ "so-pc1962" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case law found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "so-pc1962", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Legislative Decree No. 5 of 16 December 1962", "relevance": "Based on the Italian Penal Code of 1930; Articles 402–408 cover obscene acts and publications, prostitution, incitement to lewd acts, exploitation of and compulsion to prostitution.", "provisions": [ "arts. 402–408" ], "inForce": "1964-04-03" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "so-sexual-offences-bill", "title": "Sexual Offences and Misconduct Bill", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-10-15", "next": { "what": "Further legislative steps before entry into force were not announced; the final text has not been published." }, "summary": "The federal Parliament approved the long-delayed bill in October 2026. The government announcement did not describe its provisions or the remaining steps before it takes effect, so whether it addresses prostitution or commercial sexual exploitation is not known.", "sources": [ "so-kaab2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1964-04-03", "event": "The Penal Code of 1962 comes into force, replacing the Italian code in the south and the Indian Penal Code of 1860 in the former British Somaliland.", "sources": [ "so-pc1962" ] }, { "date": "2026-10", "event": "The federal Parliament approves the long-delayed Sexual Offences and Misconduct Bill; its text is not published.", "sources": [ "so-kaab2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "so-pc1962", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Legislative Decree No. 5 of 16 December 1962 (semi-official English translation)", "publisher": "somalilandlaw.com, via FAOLEX (FAO)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/som209614.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "so-undp2018", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Somalia: Gender Justice & The Law", "publisher": "UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and UN ESCWA", "url": "https://www.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/somalia-adjusted.pdf", "published": "2018", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "so-euaa2025", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Somalia: Country Focus, 1.2.1 Gender-based violence", "publisher": "European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)", "url": "https://euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/country-focus/12-women-and-girls/121-gender-based-violence-gbv-types-prevalence-and-situation-women-somali-society-including-forced-and-child-marriage", "published": "2025-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "so-kaab2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Somalia Parliament Approves Long-Delayed Sexual Offences Bill", "publisher": "Kaab TV", "url": "https://en.kaabtv.com/somalia-parliament-approves-long-delayed-sexual-offences-bill/", "published": "2026-10-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/somalia/" }, { "iso2": "ZA", "name": "South Africa", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Both sides of the transaction are offences. Since 2007, section 20(1A)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 1957 punishes a person aged 18 or over who has sex \"for reward\", and section 11 of the 2007 Act punishes the client. Brothel-keeping, living on the earnings and procuring are also offences. Since September 2025 an internal NPA directive tells prosecutors not to enrol cases against sex workers while a constitutional challenge is pending. The statutes are unchanged; a decriminalisation bill has not yet reached Parliament.", "modelSources": [ "za-soa1957", "za-act32-2007", "za-groundup-2025" ], "summary": "South Africa criminalises the whole sex trade. Under the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (formerly the Immorality Act), a person aged 18 or over who has sex for reward commits an offence (s. 20(1A)(a), up to three years), as do brothel-keepers, those living on the earnings and anyone who for reward helps a client contact a sex worker (s. 12A). Since 2007 the client commits a separate offence (s. 11 of Act 32 of 2007). The Constitutional Court upheld the selling offence in S v Jordan (2002). A 2022 draft bill to repeal these offences was withdrawn for redrafting in 2023; the Justice department says a new draft will be published for comment and is likely to reach Parliament in 2027. Since September 2025 prosecutors have been told not to enrol cases against sex workers while a High Court challenge by SWEAT is pending.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person aged 18 or over who has unlawful carnal intercourse, or commits an act of indecency, with any other person for reward commits an offence (s. 20(1A)(a)), punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, with or without a fine of up to R6 000 (s. 22(a)). Enticing, soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes is a separate offence (s. 19(1); fine of up to R4 000 and/or up to two years).", "details": "\"Unlawful carnal intercourse\" means intercourse \"otherwise than between husband and wife\" (s. 1). The selling offence was first inserted in 1988 as s. 20(1)(aA) and was moved to s. 20(1A) by Act 32 of 2007, which limited it to people aged 18 or over. In *S v Jordan* (2002) the Constitutional Court upheld the selling offence by six votes to five and unanimously upheld the brothel provisions.\n\nEnforcement: in September 2025 GroundUp reported an NPA directive under which prosecutors are not to enrol new cases against sex workers under the impugned provisions; enrolled cases are to be withdrawn or held in abeyance until the court rules on SWEAT's challenge. The NPA confirmed that a directive had been issued. Arrests have continued, and municipal by-laws are also used.", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 23/1957 s. 20(1A)(a)", "s. 19(1)", "s. 22(a), (g)" ], "sources": [ "za-soa1957", "za-jordan", "za-groundup-2025", "za-groundup-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The text of the NPA directive was not published; its scope (for example whether it also covers clients under s. 11 of the 2007 Act) is known only from press reports.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who unlawfully and intentionally engages the services of a person aged 18 or over for financial or other reward, for the purpose of a sexual act or by committing one, commits the offence of \"engaging the sexual services of a person 18 years or older\" (s. 11, Act 32 of 2007). The offence is complete whether or not the sexual act takes place. No specific penalty is set; the court sentences within its general jurisdiction (s. 56A(1)).", "provisions": [ "Act 32/2007 s. 11", "Act 32/2007 s. 56A(1)" ], "sources": [ "za-act32-2007" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a brothel is an offence (s. 2), punishable by up to three years' imprisonment plus an optional fine of up to R6 000. Section 3 deems many people to keep a brothel, including anyone who lives in one or helps manage it, and landlords who let premises knowing they will be used as a brothel. Knowingly permitting premises to be used for any offence under the Act carries up to six years (s. 17).", "details": "A \"brothel\" includes any house or place kept or used for prostitution, or for people to visit for \"unlawful carnal intercourse or for any other lewd or indecent purpose\" (s. 1). A lease of premises used as a brothel is void (ss. 5–6), and the owner may obtain summary ejectment (s. 7).", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 23/1957 ss. 1–3", "s. 17", "s. 22(a), (f)" ], "sources": [ "za-soa1957", "za-jordan" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution is an offence (s. 20(1)(a); up to three years), as is assisting in bringing about, or receiving any consideration for, an act of indecency by another person (s. 20(1)(c)). Procuring a woman to become a prostitute or an inmate of a brothel, or enticing her to a brothel, carries up to seven years (s. 10).", "details": "A person who lives with or is habitually in the company of a sex worker and has no visible means of subsistence is presumed to live on the earnings unless they prove otherwise (s. 21(3)). Trafficking for sexual exploitation is dealt with separately by the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 (not reviewed here).", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 23/1957 s. 10", "s. 20(1)(a), (c)", "s. 21(3)", "s. 22(a), (e), (g)" ], "sources": [ "za-soa1957" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence aimed at advertising as such. Instead, s. 12A punishes anyone who, for reward, performs any act calculated to enable a person to communicate with an adult who may have sex for reward, where they intended or ought reasonably to have foreseen this. The penalty is a fine or up to five years. This wording can reach paid advertising and introduction services, including publishers and ad sites that charge for adverts.", "details": "Under s. 21(4), if the accused performed an act for reward that was calculated to enable communication with \"a prostitute\", the required intent or foresight is presumed unless the contrary is proved beyond reasonable doubt. A sex worker's own soliciting in a public place is covered by s. 19(1).", "provisions": [ "Sexual Offences Act 23/1957 s. 12A", "s. 21(4)", "s. 22(d)" ], "sources": [ "za-soa1957" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory wording was read directly. How courts have applied s. 12A to newspapers, websites or platforms in recent years was not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "za-soa1957", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (formerly the Immorality Act)", "relevance": "Criminalises selling sex (s. 20(1A)), brothels (ss. 2–3), procuring (s. 10), assistance for reward (s. 12A), public soliciting (s. 19) and living on the earnings (s. 20(1)).", "provisions": [ "ss. 1–3", "s. 10", "s. 12A", "s. 17", "ss. 19–22" ], "inForce": "1957-04-12" }, { "sourceId": "za-act32-2007", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007", "relevance": "Created the client offence (s. 11) and amended the 1957 Act (s. 68) to limit the selling offence to people aged 18 or over.", "provisions": [ "s. 11", "s. 56A", "s. 68" ], "inForce": "2007-12-16" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "za-decriminalisation-bill", "title": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill (decriminalisation of sex work)", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2026-08-17", "next": { "date": "2027", "what": "Publication of the revised draft for public comment, then Cabinet approval to introduce it in Parliament; the department expects introduction in 2027." }, "summary": "The 2022 draft bill would have repealed the 1957 Act and s. 11 of the 2007 Act, decriminalising the sale and purchase of adult sexual services and providing for the expungement of related convictions. Regulation was to follow in a second step. The draft was published for comment on 9 December 2022 (comments closed 31 January 2023) and withdrawn for redrafting in 2023. It has not been introduced in Parliament: a search of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group records found no tabled bill. In a written reply (NA question 7124, 2025) the Minister said a regulatory framework was being developed with other departments, which could include licensing and registration of brothels. In August 2026 the department said the redraft would go to Cabinet, then be gazetted for comment.", "sources": [ "za-pmg-cfc-2022", "za-sanews-2022", "za-pmg-q7124", "za-groundup-2026" ] }, { "id": "za-sweat-challenge", "title": "SH and SWEAT v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others (Western Cape High Court)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2025-09-05", "summary": "A sex worker (SH) and the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) are challenging the provisions of the 1957 Act and the 2007 Act that criminalise consensual adult sex work. They argue that these provisions infringe the rights to dignity, equality, freedom and security of the person. The respondents are the Minister and Director-General of Justice, the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the City of Cape Town; the by-law part of the case against the City has been separated. In September 2025 the court admitted dozens of organisations as respondents or amici curiae. Any declaration of invalidity would need confirmation by the Constitutional Court.", "sources": [ "za-news24-2024", "za-groundup-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1957-04-12", "event": "The Immorality Act 23 of 1957 comes into force, consolidating the laws on brothels and \"unlawful carnal intercourse\".", "sources": [ "za-soa1957" ] }, { "date": "1988-03-04", "event": "The Immorality Amendment Act 2 of 1988 makes it an offence to have unlawful carnal intercourse, or commit an act of indecency, with any other person for reward (s. 20(1)(aA)), and renames the law the Sexual Offences Act.", "sources": [ "za-soa1957" ] }, { "date": "2002-10-09", "event": "In S v Jordan the Constitutional Court upholds the selling offence by six votes to five, and unanimously upholds the brothel provisions.", "sources": [ "za-jordan" ] }, { "date": "2007-12-16", "event": "The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 comes into force. It creates the offence of engaging the sexual services of a person aged 18 or over, and moves the selling offence to s. 20(1A).", "sources": [ "za-act32-2007" ] }, { "date": "2022-12-09", "event": "The Justice department publishes the draft Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill, 2022, which would decriminalise adult sex work, for public comment until 31 January 2023.", "sources": [ "za-pmg-cfc-2022", "za-sanews-2022" ] }, { "date": "2023", "event": "The draft bill is withdrawn for redrafting after state law advisers raise concerns.", "sources": [ "za-groundup-2026" ] }, { "date": "2024-10", "event": "Reports describe the challenge by SWEAT and a sex worker in the Western Cape High Court to the laws criminalising sex work.", "sources": [ "za-news24-2024" ] }, { "date": "2025-09", "event": "The NPA confirms a directive under which prosecutors stop enrolling sex-work cases while the court challenge is pending. The High Court admits dozens of organisations to the case.", "sources": [ "za-groundup-2025" ] }, { "date": "2025-11-18", "event": "The Deputy Minister of Justice holds a two-day workshop with sex worker representatives and government departments on a regulatory framework.", "sources": [ "za-pmg-q7124" ] }, { "date": "2026-08", "event": "The Justice department says the redrafted bill will go to Cabinet and be gazetted for comment, with introduction in Parliament likely in 2027.", "sources": [ "za-groundup-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "za-soa1957", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (as amended up to Act 32 of 2007)", "publisher": "Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (Juta consolidation)", "url": "https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1957-023.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-act32-2007", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007", "publisher": "Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (Juta consolidation)", "url": "https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2007-032.pdf", "published": "2007-12-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-jordan", "kind": "case-law", "title": "S v Jordan and Others (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Task Force and Others as Amici Curiae) [2002] ZACC 22; 2002 (6) SA 642 (CC)", "publisher": "Constitutional Court of South Africa (collections)", "url": "https://collections.concourt.org.za/handle/20.500.12144/2131", "published": "2002-10-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-pmg-cfc-2022", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Draft Amendment Bill — call for comment", "publisher": "Parliamentary Monitoring Group", "url": "https://pmg.org.za/call-for-comment/1235/", "published": "2022-12-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-sanews-2022", "kind": "government", "title": "Sex work amendment bill open for public comment", "publisher": "SAnews (Government Communication and Information System)", "url": "https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/sex-work-amendment-bill-open-public-comment", "published": "2022-12-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-pmg-q7124", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Written question 7124 (Adv G Breytenbach) to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, with reply", "publisher": "National Assembly, via Parliamentary Monitoring Group", "url": "https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/35270/", "published": "2025-12-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-news24-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "'Sex work forms part of the informal sector': Court bid to decriminalise sex work", "publisher": "News24", "url": "https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/sex-work-forms-part-of-the-informal-sector-court-bid-to-decriminalise-sex-work-20241010", "published": "2024-10-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-groundup-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "No sex workers will be prosecuted while court process plays out", "publisher": "GroundUp", "url": "https://groundup.org.za/article/no-sex-workers-will-be-prosecuted-while-court-process-plays-out/", "published": "2025-09-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "za-groundup-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "South Africa: Decriminalise Sex Work Bill Back in Parliament Years Later", "publisher": "GroundUp, republished by AllAfrica", "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202608170158.html", "published": "2026-08-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-africa/" }, { "iso2": "KR", "name": "South Korea", "nativeName": "대한민국", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (2004) prohibits sex trade outright and makes both selling and buying a crime (Article 21(1)). People who are legally recognised as victims of sex trade, for example those coerced or trafficked, are not punished (Article 6(1)). Arranging, providing premises, recruiting and advertising are separate crimes.", "modelSources": [ "kr-punishment-act" ], "summary": "South Korea criminalises both selling and buying sex. The Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic, enacted with a companion victim-protection act in March 2004 and in force since 23 September 2004, bans sex trade, arranging it, trafficking for it and advertising it. Anyone who engages in sex trade faces up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to 3 million won, detention or a petty fine; people recognised as victims of sex trade are exempt. Arranging sex trade or providing premises carries up to 3 years (7 as a business), and advertising sex trade or venues up to 3 years, with separate offences for businesses that produce, publish or distribute such ads. The Constitutional Court upheld the penalty for both parties in 2016, six votes to three. A bill to stop punishing people who sell sex was introduced on 17 September 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is a crime: up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to 3 million won, detention or a petty fine. People recognised as victims of sex trade, for example those coerced by deceit or force, drug-dependent through a supervisor, minors or trafficked persons, are not punished.", "details": "Article 2(1)(1) defines \"성매매\" (sex trade) as engaging in, or being the counterpart to, sexual intercourse or similar acts with unspecified persons in return for money or other property benefits. Article 21(1): \"성매매를 한 사람은 1년 이하의 징역이나 300만원 이하의 벌금ㆍ구류 또는 과료(科料)에 처한다.\" Article 6(1) exempts \"성매매피해자\" (victims of sex trade) as defined in Article 2(1)(4). The Constitutional Court upheld Article 21(1) on 31 March 2016 (2013헌가2), 6 to 3; two of the dissenting justices would have struck it down only as regards sellers.", "provisions": [ "성매매처벌법 제2조", "성매매처벌법 제6조", "성매매처벌법 제21조 제1항" ], "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act", "kr-khan-2016" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying sex is punished under the same Article 21(1) as selling: up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to 3 million won, detention or a petty fine.", "provisions": [ "성매매처벌법 제21조 제1항" ], "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Providing a place for sex trade, or knowingly providing funds, land or buildings for it, is an \"arranging\" offence: up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won, and up to 7 years or 70 million won when done as a business.", "provisions": [ "성매매처벌법 제2조 제1항 제2호", "성매매처벌법 제19조" ], "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Arranging, soliciting, inducing or forcing sex trade, recruiting people to sell sex and introducing them to such work carry up to 3 years or 30 million won, rising to 7 years or 70 million won as a business or for payment. Forcing someone to sell sex by violence, threats, deceit or abuse of a supervisory relationship carries up to 10 years, and more in aggravated cases.", "provisions": [ "성매매처벌법 제18조", "성매매처벌법 제19조" ], "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising, including by telephone or online, to introduce people to selling sex, for venues where sex trade or arranging takes place, or inviting people to buy sex carries up to 3 years or 30 million won. Producing or supplying such ads, or publishing them, as a business carries up to 2 years or 10 million won; distributing them as a business up to 1 year.", "details": "Article 20(1) defines advertising to include acts through publications, leaflets, telephone, the internet and other media. Article 20(2) reaches anyone who, as a business, produces or supplies such advertisements or \"광고를 게재한\" (publishes the advertisement), which covers websites and other media that carry sex-trade ads for commercial purposes. Article 4(5) separately prohibits advertising sex trade and the venues where it takes place.", "provisions": [ "성매매처벌법 제4조 제5호", "성매매처벌법 제20조" ], "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "kr-punishment-act", "titleEn": "Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (Sex Trade Punishment Act)", "relevance": "Prohibits sex trade and makes selling, buying, arranging, providing premises, recruiting and advertising criminal offences.", "provisions": [ "제2조", "제4조", "제6조", "제18조–제21조" ], "inForce": "2004-09-23" }, { "sourceId": "kr-prevention-act", "titleEn": "Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection of Victims", "relevance": "Companion 2004 act on prevention and support services for victims of sex trade.", "inForce": "2004-09-23" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "kr-full-revision-2026", "title": "Full revision of the Sex Trade Punishment Act (lead sponsor Jeon Jin-sook)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-09-23", "summary": "Introduced on 17 September 2026, the bill would redefine the offence around purchasing sex and stop punishing the people whose sex is bought, while strengthening penalties for arranging and trafficking, widening forfeiture of proceeds and voiding debts claimed by brokers. It is the first full-revision bill on the act in the 22nd National Assembly; committee stage not yet reported.", "sources": [ "kr-womennews-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2004-03-22", "event": "Sex Trade Punishment Act (Law No. 7196) and the companion victim-protection act enacted; both in force 23 September 2004.", "sources": [ "kr-punishment-act-2004", "kr-prevention-act" ] }, { "date": "2016-03-31", "event": "Constitutional Court upholds Article 21(1), which punishes both parties to sex trade, by six votes to three.", "sources": [ "kr-khan-2016" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-17", "event": "Bill for a full revision of the Sex Trade Punishment Act, decriminalising people who sell sex, introduced in the National Assembly.", "sources": [ "kr-womennews-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "kr-punishment-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "성매매알선 등 행위의 처벌에 관한 법률 [시행 2026. 10. 2.] [법률 제21996호]", "titleEn": "Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (current version, in force 2 October 2026)", "publisher": "국가법령정보센터 (Korea Ministry of Government Legislation)", "url": "https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=290119&efYd=20261002", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" }, { "id": "kr-punishment-act-2004", "kind": "legislation", "title": "성매매알선등행위의처벌에관한법률 [법률 제7196호, 2004. 3. 22., 제정]", "titleEn": "Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (original 2004 text)", "publisher": "국가법령정보센터 (Korea Ministry of Government Legislation)", "url": "https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EC%84%B1%EB%A7%A4%EB%A7%A4%EC%95%8C%EC%84%A0%EB%93%B1%ED%96%89%EC%9C%84%EC%9D%98%EC%B2%98%EB%B2%8C%EC%97%90%EA%B4%80%ED%95%9C%EB%B2%95%EB%A5%A0/(07196,20040322)", "published": "2004-03-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" }, { "id": "kr-prevention-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "성매매방지 및 피해자보호 등에 관한 법률 [법률 제7212호, 2004. 3. 22.]", "titleEn": "Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection of Victims (2004 text)", "publisher": "국가법령정보센터 (Korea Ministry of Government Legislation)", "url": "https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EC%84%B1%EB%A7%A4%EB%A7%A4%EB%B0%A9%EC%A7%80%EB%B0%8F%ED%94%BC%ED%95%B4%EC%9E%90%EB%B3%B4%ED%98%B8%EB%93%B1%EC%97%90%EA%B4%80%ED%95%9C%EB%B2%95%EB%A5%A0/(07212,20040322)", "published": "2004-03-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" }, { "id": "kr-khan-2016", "kind": "news", "title": "헌재 \"자발적 성매매도 유해행위, 처벌해야\"…6대3 '합헌'", "titleEn": "Constitutional Court: voluntary sex trade is also harmful and punishable, 6–3 ruling upholds law", "publisher": "경향신문 (Kyunghyang Shinmun)", "url": "https://www.khan.co.kr/article/201603312215505", "published": "2016-03-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" }, { "id": "kr-womennews-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "[주목! 이 법안] \"성매매 아닌 '성매수'…여성 처벌법 개정해야\"", "titleEn": "[Bill in focus] 'Not sex trade but sex purchase': calls to amend the law that punishes women", "publisher": "여성신문 (Women's News)", "url": "https://www.womennews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=282531", "published": "2026-09-23", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ko" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-korea/" }, { "iso2": "SS", "name": "South Sudan", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code Act 2008 defines prostitution as \"an immoral sexual intercourse for a consideration\" but does not make the act itself an offence. Public soliciting (section 252), brothel-keeping and living off prostitution (section 253) and procuring (section 254) are offences, and the vagrancy section covers soliciting for immoral purposes in public. Human Rights Watch describes sex work as criminalised; in practice the soliciting and vagrancy offences reach most street-based work.", "modelSources": [ "ss-pc2008", "ss-hrw2021" ], "summary": "South Sudan's Penal Code Act 2008 does not penalise selling or buying sex in private, but criminalises most of what surrounds it. Publicly soliciting another person for prostitution carries up to six months' imprisonment, a fine or both (section 252), and a person who in a public place solicits or importunes for immoral purposes, or lives on the earnings of a sex worker, can be convicted as a vagabond (up to three months). Keeping a brothel, or demanding payment from a sex worker for managing, soliciting for or bringing them into the country, carries up to two years (section 253), and procuring a person to become a prostitute up to two years, or ten years where the person is a child (section 254). Adultery is an offence (section 266). Human Rights Watch documented arrests, six-month sentences and forced HIV tests of women accused of sex work in Juba in 2021.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but whoever publicly solicits another person for the purposes of prostitution commits soliciting, punishable with up to six months' imprisonment, a fine or both (section 252). A person who in any public place solicits or importunes for immoral purposes is a vagabond, punishable with up to three months or a fine (section 379(1)(d)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 252", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 379(1)(d)" ], "sources": [ "ss-pc2008", "ss-hrw2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Human Rights Watch reported in 2021 that the Juba mayor's office publicised the arrest of about 40 people, mainly women accused of witchcraft or sex work, some of whom received six-month sentences or fines and reported forced HIV testing.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes paying for sex an offence. The soliciting offence in section 252 is worded for \"whoever publicly solicits another person\" and can apply to a client who solicits in public. Sexual intercourse with a person known to be another's spouse is adultery, punishable with up to two years or a fine, or dealt with under customary law (section 266).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 252", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 266" ], "sources": [ "ss-pc2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever keeps a brothel, or demands payment from a sex worker for keeping, managing or assisting in keeping the brothel where they live, commits facilitating prostitution, punishable with up to two years' imprisonment, a fine or both (section 253). A parent or guardian who allows a child to reside in a brothel faces up to ten years (section 258).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 253", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 258" ], "sources": [ "ss-pc2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Act does not define \"brothel\"; whether sex workers sharing premises would be treated as keeping one was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring a person to become a prostitute, to leave South Sudan to become one, or to leave home to become an inmate of a brothel elsewhere carries up to two years, or up to ten years where the person is a child (section 254). Demanding payment from a sex worker for soliciting on their behalf or bringing them into the country is facilitating prostitution (section 253), and knowingly living on a sex worker's earnings is vagrancy (section 379).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2008 ss. 253–256", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 276", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 379" ], "sources": [ "ss-pc2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision names advertising of sexual services. Publicly soliciting for prostitution is an offence (section 252), soliciting on a sex worker's behalf for payment is facilitating prostitution (section 253(b)(ii)), and selling, distributing or publicly exhibiting obscene material carries up to three years (section 260).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act 2008 ss. 252–253", "Penal Code Act 2008 s. 260" ], "sources": [ "ss-pc2008" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether online advertising counts as public soliciting has not been tested in any case found; the classification is inferred from the statutory wording." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ss-pc2008", "titleEn": "Penal Code Act 2008 (Act 9)", "relevance": "Defines prostitution and sets the offences of soliciting, facilitating prostitution, procuring, child-related prostitution offences, obscenity, adultery and vagrancy.", "provisions": [ "s. 5 (definition)", "ss. 252–258", "s. 260", "s. 266", "s. 276", "s. 379" ], "inForce": "2009" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-02-10", "event": "The Penal Code Act 2008 is published in Acts Supplement No. 1 to the Southern Sudan Gazette, with a chapter of offences relating to prostitution.", "sources": [ "ss-pc2008" ] }, { "date": "2021-09", "event": "Human Rights Watch reports that the Juba mayor's office publicised the humiliation and arrest of women accused of sex work, with forced HIV tests in Juba central prison.", "sources": [ "ss-hrw2021" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ss-pc2008", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Penal Code Act, 2008 (Act 9), Acts Supplement No. 1 to the Southern Sudan Gazette No. 1 Vol. I, 10 February 2009", "publisher": "Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development (copy hosted by Antislavery in Domestic Legislation, University of Nottingham)", "url": "https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/South-Sudan-Penal-Code.pdf", "published": "2009-02-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ss-hrw2021", "kind": "ngo", "title": "South Sudanese Officials Intimidate Sex Worker on Camera", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/20/south-sudanese-officials-intimidate-sex-worker-camera", "published": "2021-09-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-sudan/" }, { "iso2": "ES", "name": "Spain", "nativeName": "España", "memberships": [ "EU", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes. Art. 187 of the Penal Code punishes coercing someone into prostitution and profiting from 'exploiting' another person's prostitution, even with consent, but only where exploitation (vulnerability or abusive conditions) is shown. Renting premises for prostitution (tercería locativa) is not an offence. Clients and sex workers in public space face administrative fines under the 2015 public-safety law and municipal ordinances.", "modelSources": [ "es-cp", "es-losc", "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill" ], "summary": "Prostitution between adults is not a crime in Spain. The Penal Code punishes coercion into prostitution and profiting from exploited prostitution, but not consensual third-party involvement without exploitation, and not renting premises. Since 2015 a national public-safety law fines clients who solicit near places used by minors or where it endangers traffic, and many municipalities, including Barcelona, fine soliciting in public space. Since October 2022 advertising that 'promotes prostitution' is unlawful advertising under the General Advertising Law. Bills to criminalise all procuring, tercería locativa and buying were taken into consideration in 2022 but lapsed, and were rejected at first reading in May 2024. The Cortes were dissolved on 6 October 2026 for elections on 29 November 2026, so all pending bills lapsed.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Barcelona (municipal ordinance)", "note": "Barcelona's 2005 civic-coexistence ordinance (Ordenança de mesures per fomentar i garantir la convivència ciutadana a l'espai públic) has a chapter on offering and demanding sexual services in public space. The city's 2019 schedule of fines lists art. 40.2 (favouring or promoting the consumption of sexual services in public space, including by advertising, EUR 1,000 to 1,200) and art. 40.3 (the client having paid sex in public space, EUR 1,500.01 to 3,000), alongside the national art. 36.11 LO 4/2015 fine for clients. A new Ordenança de convivència entered into force on 15 February 2026; its provisions on sexual services could not be read for this entry.", "sources": [ "es-bcn-nomenclator-2019", "es-bcn-ordinance-2026" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sex as an adult is not an offence under national law. On the street, police must order sex workers to stop offering services near places used by minors or where traffic is endangered; ignoring the order can be fined as disobedience under art. 36.6 LO 4/2015.", "details": "No provision of the Penal Code (Ley Orgánica 10/1995) penalises a person for selling sexual services. LO 4/2015 on the protection of public safety (art. 36.11) targets the client, but adds that officers 'will require' people offering such services in those places to refrain, and warns them that failing to comply may be the serious infringement of disobedience in art. 36.6 (fine EUR 601 to 30,000 under art. 39). Municipal ordinances add further rules for public space (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "Arts. 36.6, 36.11 and 39 Ley Orgánica 4/2015" ], "sources": [ "es-cp", "es-losc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Buying sex from an adult is not a crime. A client who requests or accepts paid sexual services in public transit areas near places used by minors, or where it endangers road safety, commits a serious administrative infringement under art. 36.11 LO 4/2015 (fine EUR 601 to 30,000). Some municipalities also fine clients.", "details": "Art. 36.11 LO 4/2015 covers 'la solicitud o aceptación por el demandante de servicios sexuales retribuidos' in public transit areas near schools, playgrounds or leisure spaces accessible to minors, or where the conduct creates a road-safety risk. Fines for serious infringements range from EUR 601 to 30,000 (art. 39.1). Paying for sex with a minor or a person with a disability needing special protection is a crime under art. 188 of the Penal Code. The PSOE bill rejected in May 2024 would have created a new art. 187 ter making it a crime to agree to sexual acts in exchange for money (fine of 12 to 24 months).", "provisions": [ "Art. 36.11 Ley Orgánica 4/2015", "Art. 39.1 Ley Orgánica 4/2015", "Art. 188 Código Penal (minors)" ], "sources": [ "es-losc", "es-cp", "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "in public: €30,000 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no offence of keeping a brothel or of renting premises for prostitution (tercería locativa). Operators of clubs and flats commit the art. 187 offence only if they profit by exploiting a sex worker, which the Code presumes where she is personally or economically vulnerable or is subject to burdensome, disproportionate or abusive conditions.", "details": "Art. 187.1, second paragraph, of the Penal Code: two to four years' imprisonment and a fine for whoever profits 'explotando la prostitución de otra persona, aun con el consentimiento de la misma'; exploitation exists in any case where (a) the victim is in a situation of personal or economic vulnerability, or (b) burdensome, disproportionate or abusive conditions are imposed. The PSOE's 2024 bill states in its preamble that this exploitation requirement has led to the provision being largely unapplied, and proposed a new art. 187 bis punishing whoever habitually and for profit uses a property, premises or establishment to promote, favour or facilitate another person's prostitution, even with consent. That bill was rejected in May 2024. Licensing of venues is a regional and municipal matter and was not researched for this entry.", "provisions": [ "Art. 187.1 Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "es-cp", "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Art. 187 punishes inducing an adult into prostitution by violence, intimidation, deception or abuse (two to five years) and profiting from exploiting another's prostitution even with consent (two to four years). Profiting without exploitation is not an offence; bills to punish all procuring 'in all its forms' failed in 2022 to 2024.", "details": "Aggravated penalties apply where the offender is a public official, belongs to a criminal organisation or group, or endangered the victim's life or health (art. 187.2). Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence (art. 177 bis). The PSOE bill of 2024 (122/000077) would have replaced the exploitation requirement with a general offence for anyone who, for profit, 'promueva, favorezca o facilite la prostitución de otra persona, aun con el consentimiento de la misma'.", "provisions": [ "Art. 187 Código Penal", "Art. 177 bis Código Penal (trafficking)" ], "sources": [ "es-cp", "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Since 7 October 2022 the General Advertising Law treats advertising that 'promotes prostitution' as unlawful advertising (art. 3.a Ley 34/1988, as amended by LO 10/2022). The remedy is civil (injunction and related actions under unfair-competition law), not a criminal or administrative fine. Barcelona's ordinance fines promotion of sexual services in public space.", "details": "LO 10/2022 on the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom (the 'solo sí es sí' law) added the phrase 'así como la que promueva la prostitución' to art. 3.a of the General Advertising Law (final provision 3) and states in art. 11.1 that advertising promoting prostitution is unlawful. Under art. 6 of that law, actions against unlawful advertising are those of the Unfair Competition Act (cessation, removal, rectification, damages). The specific standing of the Government Delegation for Gender Violence, women's institutes, women's associations and the Public Prosecutor in art. 6.2 covers discriminatory images of women and surrogacy, not the prostitution clause. No national criminal offence targets advertising by sex workers themselves; a publisher could face art. 187 only where it profits from exploited prostitution. Hosting providers are covered by the notice-based safe harbour in art. 16 Ley 34/2002 (LSSI) and by the EU Digital Services Act. How courts have applied the 2022 clause to online classified-ad sites was not verified.", "provisions": [ "Art. 3.a and 6 Ley 34/1988 General de Publicidad", "Art. 11.1 and final provision 3 Ley Orgánica 10/2022", "Art. 16 Ley 34/2002 (LSSI)", "Art. 40.2 Barcelona civic-coexistence ordinance (2005)" ], "sources": [ "es-lgp", "es-lo-10-2022", "es-lssi", "es-bcn-nomenclator-2019" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The statutory wording is verified; no case law or enforcement data on online advertising under the 2022 clause was found." }, "street": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Street-based prostitution is not banned nationally, but clients soliciting near places used by minors or where traffic is endangered are fined (art. 36.11 LO 4/2015), and sex workers who ignore a police order to stop can be fined for disobedience (art. 36.6). Municipal ordinances, such as Barcelona's, add fines for public space.", "details": "Art. 37.5 LO 4/2015 also makes acts against sexual freedom or 'exhibición obscena' a minor infringement (fine EUR 100 to 600) where not a crime. A 2024 cross-party bill to reform LO 4/2015 (122/000131) would have removed the warning and disobedience clause aimed at sex workers from art. 36.11 while keeping the fine for clients, and removed 'exhibición obscena' from art. 37.5; it lapsed with the dissolution of the Cortes on 6 October 2026.", "provisions": [ "Arts. 36.6, 36.11, 37.5 and 39 Ley Orgánica 4/2015" ], "sources": [ "es-losc", "es-bocg-2024-lopsc-reform", "es-congreso-opendata-bills" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "es-cp", "titleEn": "Organic Law 10/1995 of 23 November, Penal Code", "relevance": "Defines the prostitution-related crimes: coercion and exploitative profiting (art. 187), minors and persons with disabilities (art. 188), trafficking (art. 177 bis).", "provisions": [ "Art. 187", "Art. 188", "Art. 177 bis" ], "inForce": "1996-05-24" }, { "sourceId": "es-losc", "titleEn": "Organic Law 4/2015 of 30 March on the protection of public safety", "relevance": "Administrative fines for clients soliciting in public near places used by minors or endangering traffic, and the disobedience fine applied to sex workers who ignore a police order.", "provisions": [ "Art. 36.6", "Art. 36.11", "Art. 37.5", "Art. 39" ], "inForce": "2015-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "es-lgp", "titleEn": "Law 34/1988 of 11 November, General Advertising Law", "relevance": "Art. 3.a makes advertising that promotes prostitution unlawful advertising (since 7 October 2022).", "provisions": [ "Art. 3.a", "Art. 6" ] }, { "sourceId": "es-lo-10-2022", "titleEn": "Organic Law 10/2022 of 6 September on the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom", "relevance": "The 'solo sí es sí' law: amended the General Advertising Law to cover advertising promoting prostitution; it did not create a tercería locativa offence.", "provisions": [ "Art. 11", "Final provision 3" ], "inForce": "2022-10-07" } ], "pending": [ { "id": "psoe-abolition-bill", "title": "PSOE bill to prohibit procuring 'in all its forms' (Proposición de Ley Orgánica 122/000077)", "stage": "rejected", "updated": "2024-05-21", "summary": "Would have punished any profit-seeking promotion of another's prostitution (new art. 187.2), tercería locativa (new art. 187 bis) and paying for sex (new art. 187 ter, fine; the person selling never punished). The Congress rejected it at the taking-into-consideration stage on 21 May 2024 by 122 votes to 184 with 36 abstentions. Speakers in that debate recalled that an amendment on procuring was dropped from the 'solo sí es sí' law in 2022 and that an almost identical PSOE bill was taken into consideration on 7 June 2022 but lapsed when the 2019 to 2023 legislature ended.", "sources": [ "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill", "es-dscd-2024-05-21" ] }, { "id": "public-safety-law-reform", "title": "Reform of Organic Law 4/2015 on public safety (Proposición de Ley Orgánica 122/000131)", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2026-10-06", "next": { "date": "2026-11-29", "what": "General election; a new Cortes would have to start the bill again" }, "summary": "Bill by the Socialist, Sumar, EH Bildu, Republican and PNV groups, taken into consideration in October 2024. It would have removed from art. 36.11 the warning and disobedience clause aimed at sex workers in public space while keeping fines for clients near places used by minors. It was still at committee report stage when the Cortes were dissolved, and lapsed (caducado) on 6 October 2026.", "sources": [ "es-bocg-2024-lopsc-reform", "es-congreso-opendata-bills", "es-rd-806-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1995-11-24", "event": "New Penal Code (Organic Law 10/1995) published; it contains no offence of renting premises for prostitution.", "sources": [ "es-cp" ] }, { "date": "2015-03-31", "event": "Organic Law 4/2015 on public safety published, introducing fines for clients soliciting near places used by minors or endangering traffic (art. 36.11).", "sources": [ "es-losc" ] }, { "date": "2015-07-01", "event": "Current wording of art. 187 (exploitation presumed in cases of vulnerability or abusive conditions) enters into force, via Organic Law 1/2015.", "sources": [ "es-cp" ] }, { "date": "2022-06-07", "event": "Congress takes into consideration a PSOE bill to prohibit procuring in all its forms; it later lapses at the end of the legislature (as recalled in the 2024 debate).", "sources": [ "es-dscd-2024-05-21" ] }, { "date": "2022-10-07", "event": "Organic Law 10/2022 ('solo sí es sí') in force; advertising that promotes prostitution becomes unlawful advertising under art. 3.a of the General Advertising Law. No tercería locativa offence is included.", "sources": [ "es-lo-10-2022", "es-lgp" ] }, { "date": "2024-05-21", "event": "Congress rejects the PSOE bill to prohibit procuring in all its forms, including tercería locativa and buying, by 122 votes to 184 with 36 abstentions.", "sources": [ "es-dscd-2024-05-21" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-15", "event": "Barcelona's new civic-coexistence ordinance (Ordenança de convivència) enters into force.", "sources": [ "es-bcn-ordinance-2026" ] }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "event": "Royal Decree 806/2026 dissolves the Cortes and calls a general election for 29 November 2026; pending bills, including the public-safety law reform, lapse.", "sources": [ "es-rd-806-2026", "es-congreso-opendata-bills" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "es-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal (texto consolidado)", "titleEn": "Organic Law 10/1995 of 23 November, Penal Code (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444", "published": "1995-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-losc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley Orgánica 4/2015, de 30 de marzo, de protección de la seguridad ciudadana (texto consolidado)", "titleEn": "Organic Law 4/2015 of 30 March on the protection of public safety (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442", "published": "2015-03-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-lgp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 34/1988, de 11 de noviembre, General de Publicidad (texto consolidado)", "titleEn": "Law 34/1988 of 11 November, General Advertising Law (consolidated text)", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1988-26156", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-lo-10-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley Orgánica 10/2022, de 6 de septiembre, de garantía integral de la libertad sexual", "titleEn": "Organic Law 10/2022 of 6 September on the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-14630", "published": "2022-09-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-lssi", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley 34/2002, de 11 de julio, de servicios de la sociedad de la información y de comercio electrónico", "titleEn": "Law 34/2002 of 11 July on information society services and electronic commerce (LSSI)", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2002-13758", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-bocg-2024-psoe-bill", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Proposición de Ley Orgánica por la que se modifica la Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal, para prohibir el proxenetismo en todas sus formas (122/000077), BOCG Congreso, Serie B, núm. 89-1", "titleEn": "PSOE bill amending the Penal Code to prohibit procuring in all its forms (122/000077)", "publisher": "Congreso de los Diputados", "url": "https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L15/CONG/BOCG/B/BOCG-15-B-89-1.PDF", "published": "2024-04-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-dscd-2024-05-21", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Diario de Sesiones del Congreso de los Diputados, Pleno, XV Legislatura, núm. 40, sesión de 21 de mayo de 2024", "titleEn": "Congress plenary record, 21 May 2024 (debate and vote on bill 122/000077)", "publisher": "Congreso de los Diputados", "url": "https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L15/CONG/DS/PL/DSCD-15-PL-40.PDF", "published": "2024-05-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-bocg-2024-lopsc-reform", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Proposición de Ley Orgánica de protección de las libertades y seguridad ciudadana (122/000131), BOCG Congreso, Serie B, núm. 148-1", "titleEn": "Bill on the protection of freedoms and public safety (reform of Organic Law 4/2015)", "publisher": "Congreso de los Diputados", "url": "https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L15/CONG/BOCG/B/BOCG-15-B-148-1.PDF", "published": "2024-10-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-congreso-opendata-bills", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Datos abiertos: Proposiciones de ley, XV Legislatura (situación y tramitación)", "titleEn": "Open data: members' bills of the 15th legislature, with status and procedure", "publisher": "Congreso de los Diputados", "url": "https://www.congreso.es/webpublica/opendata/iniciativas/ProposicionesDeLey__20261030050154.json", "published": "2026-10-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-rd-806-2026", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Real Decreto 806/2026, de 5 de octubre, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones", "titleEn": "Royal Decree 806/2026 dissolving the Congress and Senate and calling elections", "publisher": "Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado", "url": "https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20742", "published": "2026-10-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "es-bcn-nomenclator-2019", "kind": "government", "title": "Tipologia de sancions per infraccions de l'Ordenança de Convivència (nomenclàtor CONV-LOPSC per naturalesa, 2019)", "titleEn": "Schedule of fines under Barcelona's civic-coexistence ordinance and the public-safety law (2019)", "publisher": "Ajuntament de Barcelona", "url": "https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/seguretatiprevencio/sites/default/files/2023-09/Nomenclator%20CONV-LOPSC%20per%20naturalesa%202019_cat_0.pdf", "published": "2019", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" }, { "id": "es-bcn-ordinance-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Ban de l'Alcalde de Barcelona: pel civisme i la convivència", "titleEn": "Mayor's proclamation on the new civic-coexistence ordinance in force from 15 February", "publisher": "Ajuntament de Barcelona", "url": "https://www.barcelona.cat/endrecembarcelona/sites/default/files/2026-02/BAN_Alcalde.pdf", "published": "2026-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ca" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/spain/" }, { "iso2": "LK", "name": "Sri Lanka", "nativeName": "ශ්‍රී ලංකාව / இலங்கை", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "No statute makes the exchange of sex for money between adults an offence; a Colombo (Fort) magistrate held in 2020 that \"prostitution is not an offence per se under our law\". Brothel keeping (Brothels Ordinance 1889), living on the earnings of prostitution and public soliciting (Vagrants Ordinance 1841) are offences. Police use the Vagrants Ordinance's \"common prostitute\" clause against women in public places, so in practice sex workers themselves face arrest.", "modelSources": [ "lk-vagrants", "lk-nsacp", "lk-sundaytimes-2021" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex in private are not offences in Sri Lanka. Two colonial-era ordinances regulate the surroundings. Under the Vagrants Ordinance, a \"common prostitute\" wandering in a public street and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner is an \"idle and disorderly person\" who can be arrested without a warrant. Soliciting any person in a public place for illicit sexual intercourse carries up to six months or a fine. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, or systematically procuring, is punishable by up to two years. The Brothels Ordinance makes it an offence to keep or manage a brothel or to let premises for one. Courts have read \"brothel\" narrowly: a guest house where couples meet is not one.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. A \"common prostitute wandering in the public street or highway, or in any place of public resort, and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner\" commits an offence (up to 14 days or a fine on first conviction), and soliciting in a public place carries up to six months, a fine of up to 100 rupees, or both.", "details": "The term \"common prostitute\" in section 3(1)(b) is not defined. Under section 3(2) police may arrest without a warrant anyone deemed an idle and disorderly person. A National STD/AIDS Control Programme guide for police states that possession of a condom does not show that any offence has been committed.", "provisions": [ "s. 3(1)(b) Vagrants Ordinance", "s. 7(1)(a) Vagrants Ordinance" ], "sources": [ "lk-vagrants", "lk-nsacp", "lk-sundaytimes-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Ordinance text was read from the consolidated Cap. 32 reproduced by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library; Sri Lanka's official LawNet portal was not reached. The 2020 magistrate's ruling is known from press reporting; a magistrate's decision does not bind other courts.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying for sex in private is not an offence. The public soliciting offence applies to \"any person\" who, in or about a public place, solicits any person for illicit sexual intercourse or indecency, so it can reach a client who solicits in public.", "provisions": [ "s. 7(1)(a) Vagrants Ordinance" ], "sources": [ "lk-vagrants" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from an unofficial reproduction of the consolidated Ordinance. How often clients are prosecuted was not found.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel, knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, and letting premises knowing they will be so used are offences. The Ordinance does not define \"brothel\". Courts require proof that the accused managed the place by providing women; a guest house used by couples is not a brothel.", "provisions": [ "s. 2 Brothels Ordinance 1889" ], "sources": [ "lk-nsacp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Brothels Ordinance was read only as quoted in the National STD/AIDS Control Programme's legal guide, which does not state the penalties; the consolidated text could not be opened." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution, or systematically procuring persons for illicit intercourse, is punishable by up to six months on summary conviction or up to two years on indictment. A man living with a sex worker, or anyone controlling her movements, is presumed to be living on her earnings unless proved otherwise.", "provisions": [ "s. 9 Vagrants Ordinance" ], "sources": [ "lk-vagrants", "lk-nsacp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Penal Code also contains procuration and trafficking offences added by amendments in 1995, 1998 and 2006 (per the police guide); their section numbers and penalties were not checked against the official text." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence aimed at advertising sexual services was found. Soliciting \"in or about any public place\" for illicit sexual intercourse is an offence under the Vagrants Ordinance, and exhibiting obscene prints or pictures in public is punishable as a rogue and vagabond.", "provisions": [ "s. 7(1)(a) Vagrants Ordinance", "s. 4(c) Vagrants Ordinance" ], "sources": [ "lk-vagrants" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Online advertising, platform liability and the Online Safety Act 2024 were not assessed because the official texts could not be opened." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "lk-vagrants", "titleEn": "Vagrants Ordinance (No. 4 of 1841, Cap. 32, as amended)", "relevance": "\"Common prostitute\" behaving riotously in public, public soliciting, living on the earnings of prostitution and procuring.", "provisions": [ "s. 3(1)(b)", "s. 7", "s. 9" ], "inForce": "1842-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "lk-nsacp", "titleEn": "Brothels Ordinance (1889), as quoted in the National STD/AIDS Control Programme's guide for police", "relevance": "Offences of keeping a brothel and permitting or letting premises for a brothel or habitual prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s. 2" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1842-01-01", "event": "The Vagrants Ordinance (No. 4 of 1841) comes into force under British colonial rule.", "sources": [ "lk-vagrants" ] }, { "date": "2020-02", "event": "A Fort (Colombo) magistrate acquits a woman arrested in a brothel, holding that \"prostitution is not an offence per se under our law\". Police thereafter rely on section 3 of the Vagrants Ordinance rather than the Brothels Ordinance.", "sources": [ "lk-sundaytimes-2021" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "lk-vagrants", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Vagrants Ordinance, Chapter 32 (Ordinances Nos. 4 of 1841 ... 20 of 1947)", "publisher": "University of Minnesota Human Rights Library (reproduction of the Legislative Enactments of Sri Lanka)", "url": "https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/srilanka/statutes/Vagrants_Ordinance.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lk-nsacp", "kind": "government", "title": "Laws Concerning Commercial Sex and HIV AIDS Prevention", "publisher": "National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka (prepared with Sri Lanka Police legal officers)", "url": "https://aidscontrol.gov.lk/images/publications/Laws_Concerning_en.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "lk-sundaytimes-2021", "kind": "news", "title": "Backlash against police use of archaic law to arrest female sex workers", "publisher": "The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)", "url": "https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210411/news/backlash-against-police-use-of-archaic-law-to-arrest-female-sex-workers-439574.html", "published": "2021-04-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sri-lanka/" }, { "iso2": "SD", "name": "Sudan", "nativeName": "السودان", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a specific offence (Article 154 of the Criminal Act 1991, rewritten in 2020), and all sex outside marriage is the hadd offence of zina (Articles 145–146), which covers the client as well. Running a place for prostitution and inducing a person into it are separate offences.", "modelSources": [ "sd-ca1991", "sd-amend2020", "sd-escwa" ], "summary": "Prostitution is prohibited in Sudan under the Criminal Act 1991. Since the July 2020 amendments, a person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a sexual service to another, with or without payment, outside a legal relationship, faces up to three years in prison (Article 154); the earlier alternative of up to 100 lashes was removed. Zina, sexual intercourse outside a lawful bond, remains punishable by 100 lashes for an unmarried person and by death by stoning for a married one (Article 146), and applies to both parties. Running or renting out a place for prostitution carries up to five years, rising to life imprisonment on a third conviction (Article 155), and inducing or hiring a person into prostitution up to five years (Article 156). Enforcement since the outbreak of war in April 2023 was not assessed.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a service of a sexual nature to another, with or without compensation and with no legal relationship between them, is punishable by up to three years in prison (Article 154 as replaced in 2020). A \"place of prostitution\" is any place intended for prostitution, or one with previous convictions or repeated complaints. Sex outside marriage is also zina (Article 146).", "details": "As zina, the act carries 100 lashes for an unmarried offender and death by stoning for a married one (Section 146).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Act 1991 s. 154", "Criminal Act 1991 ss. 145–146" ], "sources": [ "sd-amend2020", "sd-ca1991", "sd-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in REDRESS's unofficial English translations of the 1991 Act and the 2020 Official Gazette. Before 2020 the offence also allowed up to 100 lashes.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Section 154 targets the person providing the service, but a client who has intercourse outside a lawful bond commits zina: 100 lashes if unmarried (with optional expatriation for a man for one year) and death by stoning if married (Section 146). The 2020 amendments did not change these penalties.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Act 1991 ss. 145–146" ], "sources": [ "sd-ca1991", "sd-amend2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation. Section 146(4) provided lighter penalties for the former Southern States; how zina is charged in practice against clients was not checked.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a place for prostitution, or renting out or allowing the use of premises knowing they are used for it, is punishable by up to five years and possible closure or forfeiture; a second conviction carries up to ten years with forfeiture, and a third life imprisonment (Section 155). The 2020 amendments removed flogging and the death penalty from this section.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Act 1991 s. 155" ], "sources": [ "sd-ca1991", "sd-amend2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Seducing a person by inducing, taking, abducting or hiring them to commit zina, sodomy, prostitution, gross indecency or acts contrary to public morality is punishable by up to five years, and up to seven years if the person is a minor or of unsound mind or the acts are to take place abroad (Section 156, flogging removed in 2020).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Act 1991 s. 156" ], "sources": [ "sd-ca1991", "sd-amend2020" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Unofficial English translation." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Making, trading in or possessing material that violates public morals, defined as expression intended to arouse sexual instincts, is punishable by up to one month, and dealing in such material or presenting it in a public place by up to three years (Section 153 as replaced in 2020). Inducing a person into prostitution falls under Section 156.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Act 1991 s. 153", "Criminal Act 1991 s. 156" ], "sources": [ "sd-amend2020", "sd-ca1991" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions. The Cybercrime Act, which the UN describes as punishing acts that violate public morals, was not opened." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sd-ca1991", "titleEn": "Criminal Act 1991", "relevance": "Part XV covers zina, prostitution, places of prostitution, seduction and materials contrary to public morality.", "provisions": [ "ss. 145–146", "ss. 153–156" ] }, { "sourceId": "sd-amend2020", "titleEn": "Miscellaneous Amendments (Repeal or Amendment of Provisions Restricting Freedoms) Law, Law No. 12 of 2020", "relevance": "Replaced Section 154 on prostitution, removed flogging from Sections 155 and 156 and the death penalty from Section 155(3), and replaced Sections 152 and 153.", "provisions": [ "items 27–31" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1991", "event": "Criminal Act 1991 enacted, with hadd penalties for zina and flogging for prostitution offences.", "sources": [ "sd-ca1991" ] }, { "date": "2020-07-13", "event": "Law No. 12 of 2020 is published in Official Gazette No. 1904, rewriting the prostitution offence and removing flogging and the death penalty from the prostitution-related sections.", "sources": [ "sd-amend2020" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sd-ca1991", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Criminal Act 1991", "publisher": "REDRESS (unofficial English translation)", "url": "https://redress.org/storage/2021/09/Criminal-Act-1991-English.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sd-amend2020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Official Gazette Issue no. 1904 on 13-07-2020: Miscellaneous Amendments Law of 2020 (Law No. 12 of 2020)", "publisher": "REDRESS (unofficial English translation of the Official Gazette)", "url": "https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-Sudan-Amendments-July-2020-English-REDRESS-translation.pdf", "published": "2020-07-13", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sd-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Sudan — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/sudan.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sudan/" }, { "iso2": "SR", "name": "Suriname", "nativeName": "Suriname", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under the Penal Code as revised in 2015. Making a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties, the article headed \"Bordeelhouder\" (brothel keeper), is a crime, and profiting as a pimp from a woman's prostitution is a petty offence. Public soliciting is reportedly covered by the Police Penal Act.", "modelSources": [ "sr-wvs-2015" ], "summary": "Suriname's Penal Code, revised by the law of 30 March 2015, does not punish adults for selling or buying sex. Article 306, headed \"Bordeelhouder\", punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years and a fourth-category fine, which covers brothel keeping and organised procuring. Article 503 keeps a petty offence for a man who, as a pimp, draws profit from a woman's prostitution. Paying for sex with a person aged 16 or 17 carries up to six years, and trafficking for exploitation up to nine. A December 2024 newspaper report cites a Police Penal Act provision on women who solicit passers-by in the street.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. According to press reporting, article 66 of the Police Penal Act (Politiestrafwet) makes it a petty offence, punishable by a fine or up to one month's detention, for a woman of known immoral conduct to attract the attention of passers-by on the public road.", "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015", "sr-dwt-2024" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Police Penal Act text could not be opened; the description of its article 66 comes from a De Ware Tijd report of 9 December 2024.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with a person aged 16 or 17 who makes themselves available for paid sexual acts carry up to six years and a fifth-category fine.", "provisions": [ "Wetboek van Strafrecht, art. 303a" ], "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Article 306, headed \"Bordeelhouder\" (brothel keeper), punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years' imprisonment and a fourth-category fine. Press reporting describes sex work in bars and casinos in Paramaribo despite the ban.", "details": "The article reads: \"Degene die van het opzettelijk teweegbrengen of bevorderen van ontucht door anderen met derden een beroep of een gewoonte maakt, wordt gestraft met gevangenisstraf van ten hoogste twee jaren en geldboete van de vierde categorie.\" In the 2005 consolidated text the same wording, introduced in 1915, carried up to one year or a fine of up to 1,000 guilders; the 2015 revision kept the offence and doubled the maximum prison term.", "provisions": [ "Wetboek van Strafrecht, art. 306" ], "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015", "sr-dwt-2024", "sr-wvs-2005" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Habitual or professional promotion of others' sexual acts with third parties is punished under article 306 (up to two years). A man who as a pimp profits from a woman's prostitution commits a petty offence under article 503 (up to six weeks' detention and/or a fine). Procuring involving minors (art. 305) and trafficking for exploitation, including in prostitution (art. 334, up to nine years), carry heavier penalties.", "details": "The 2015 explanatory memorandum says the pimping offence in article 503 was kept so that the authorities can intervene in serious cases.", "provisions": [ "Wetboek van Strafrecht, arts. 305, 306, 334, 503" ], "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No Penal Code article specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of a venue or third party that habitually promotes others' sexual acts with clients may support liability under article 306.", "provisions": [ "Wetboek van Strafrecht, art. 306" ], "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the general procuring offence; the Police Penal Act, media law and online rules were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sr-wvs-2015", "titleEn": "Act of 30 March 2015 revising the Penal Code (S.B. 2015 no. 44)", "relevance": "Current text of the offences on procuring (art. 305), brothel keeping (art. 306), paying for sex with 16-17-year-olds (art. 303a), trafficking (art. 334) and pimping (art. 503).", "provisions": [ "arts. 303a, 305, 306, 334, 503" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2015-03-30", "event": "Penal Code revision (S.B. 2015 no. 44) adopted; the brothel-keeping offence in article 306 is retained with a maximum of two years instead of one.", "sources": [ "sr-wvs-2015", "sr-wvs-2005" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sr-wvs-2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wet van 30 maart 2015, houdende nadere wijziging van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (G.B. 1911 no. 1, zoals laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 2012 no. 70) in verband met herziening van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (S.B. 2015 no. 44)", "titleEn": "Act of 30 March 2015 further amending the Penal Code in connection with its revision", "publisher": "De Nationale Assemblée van Suriname", "url": "https://www.dna.sr/media/vo4du3gs/s-b-_2015_no-_44_wet_van_30_mrt_15_wijz-_wetboek_van_strafrecht.pdf", "published": "2015-03-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "sr-dwt-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Sekswerkers verbergen zich voor politie in casino", "titleEn": "Sex workers hide from police in casino", "publisher": "De Ware Tijd", "url": "https://dwtonline.com/sekswerkers-verbergen-zich-voor-politie-in-casino/", "published": "2024-12-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" }, { "id": "sr-wvs-2005", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wetboek van Strafrecht Suriname (2005), Titel XIV: Misdrijven tegen de zeden", "titleEn": "Penal Code of Suriname (2005 consolidated text), Title XIV: Offences against morals", "publisher": "Wikisource (transcription of the official 2005 consolidated text)", "url": "https://nl.wikisource.org/wiki/Wetboek_van_Strafrecht_Suriname_(misdrijven_tegen_de_zeden)", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "nl" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/suriname/" }, { "iso2": "SE", "name": "Sweden", "nativeName": "Sverige", "memberships": [ "EU", "EEA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Sweden is the reference case for the model: since 1 January 1999 buying sex has been an offence while selling has not. The purchase offence is now 'köp av sexuell handling' in 6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken (renamed and extended to remote/online acts on 1 July 2025); procuring (koppleri, 6 kap. 12 §) covers brothels, third-party profit, landlords who tolerate the activity and the people behind escort-ad websites.", "modelSources": [ "brb", "prop-2024-25-124", "prop-2023-24-112" ], "summary": "Selling sexual acts is not an offence in Sweden, but buying them is: 'köp av sexuell handling' (Brottsbalken 6 kap. 11 §) carries imprisonment of up to one year, with fines removed from the scale in August 2022. Since 1 July 2025 the offence also covers paid sexual acts performed at a distance, such as live webcam shows where the buyer induces the act, but not ordinary pre-recorded pornography. Procuring (koppleri, 6 kap. 12 §) criminalises anyone who promotes or improperly profits from another person's sale, including brothel-keeping, publishing other people's ads and running escort-ad websites; landlords who knowingly tolerate it are treated as procurers. In practice escort sites are hosted abroad and out of Swedish reach. Reported purchase offences reached 2,266 in 2025, the highest figure in Brå's 2016–2025 series.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling a sexual act is not an offence. The person who sells is treated in law as the exploited party; the criminal provisions target the buyer and third parties. In criminal proceedings sellers are usually treated as witnesses rather than injured parties.", "details": "No provision of Brottsbalken penalises the seller; 6 kap. 11 § targets only the person who induces another to perform or tolerate a sexual act for payment. The government restated in 2024 that a tenant who sells sexual services from her home does not herself commit an offence (prop. 2023/24:112). Brå found that sellers are in practice usually given witness status rather than status as injured party (målsägande); only about one in ten sellers in its sample were treated as injured parties, usually where other offences were also involved. Riksrevisionen (RiR 2026:18) recommended that the government examine whether sellers should, as a starting point, be treated as injured parties.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken (buyer only)" ], "sources": [ "brb", "prop-2023-24-112", "rir-2026-18" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Buying a sexual act ('köp av sexuell handling') is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year (BrB 6 kap. 11 §); attempts are also punishable. Fines were removed from the scale on 1 August 2022. Since 1 July 2025 the offence also covers acts performed at a distance where the buyer induces the act, such as paid live webcam shows.", "details": "Current text (Lag 2025:586): a person who, in cases other than those covered earlier in chapter 6, induces another person to perform or tolerate a sexual act for payment, mainly in order to take part in or be shown the act, is convicted of *köp av sexuell handling* and sentenced to imprisonment of at most one year. This applies even if the payment was promised or given by someone else. Attempt is punishable under 6 kap. 15 §.\n\n**History of the penalty.** Criminalised from 1999 by the separate *sexköpslagen* (1998:408); moved into Brottsbalken 6 kap. 11 § in the 2005 sexual-offences reform; maximum raised from six months to one year on 1 July 2011; minimum raised from a fine to imprisonment on 1 August 2022 (prop. 2021/22:231).\n\n**Remote acts (2025).** The old wording required a 'tillfällig sexuell förbindelse' (temporary sexual relation), which the inquiry SOU 2023:80 considered courts could not apply to acts without physical contact. Prop. 2024/25:124 renamed the offence and extended it to acts performed at a distance. According to the bill, buying a pre-recorded film or subscribing to an account that posts pornographic material, without influencing its content, generally falls outside the offence; where the buyer has contacted the performer in advance or during a live show and directs or orders the content, the offence can be made out.\n\n**Sentencing in practice.** Imprisonment is the only penalty in the scale, but most convictions still end in a conditional sentence (villkorlig dom): of 557 lagföringsbeslut (convictions, summary penalty orders and waivers of prosecution) in 2024, 425 were conditional sentences and 6 were prison sentences (Brå data in the police's 2025 situation report).\n\n**Abroad.** For purchases from adults committed abroad, Swedish courts' jurisdiction normally requires that the act is also punishable where it was committed (dual criminality; BrB 2 kap. 5 §). Buying from a person under 18 is a separate offence (6 kap. 9 §, up to four years) without this requirement.\n\n**Pending.** Bill 2025/26:313 would add a separate offence, up to four years, for knowingly using the services of a trafficking victim; for victims of sex trafficking the bill says it would normally absorb the purchase offence. The Riksdag vote is planned for 25 November 2026 and entry into force for 1 January 2027.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken", "6 kap. 15 § Brottsbalken (attempt)", "6 kap. 9 § Brottsbalken (buyer of a child under 18)" ], "sources": [ "brb", "prop-2024-25-124", "sou-2023-80", "polisen-lr26", "prop-2025-26-313" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 1 year" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Running a brothel or any managed venue is procuring (koppleri, BrB 6 kap. 12 §): up to four years' imprisonment, or two to ten years for aggravated procuring where the activity is large-scale, highly profitable or ruthlessly exploitative. Enforcement in recent years has focused on massage parlours and escort ads.", "details": "6 kap. 12 § punishes anyone who promotes (*främjar*) or improperly financially exploits the fact that a person is induced to perform or tolerate sexual acts for payment in the ways covered by 6 kap. 9 or 11 §. Aggravated procuring (*grovt koppleri*) takes into account in particular whether the activity was large-scale, brought significant gain or involved ruthless exploitation. Preparation and attempt to commit procuring are punishable (6 kap. 15 §). According to the inquiry, as summarised in the 2025 bill and resting on the 1984 and 2005 preparatory works, the promotion must to some degree have been 'put into system' (prop. 1983/84:105 and prop. 2004/05:45, cited in prop. 2024/25:124). The police report that offences are largely detected through online ads and joint agency inspections of massage parlours.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 12 § Brottsbalken", "6 kap. 15 § Brottsbalken" ], "sources": [ "brb", "prop-2024-25-124", "polisen-lr26" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision exempts sex workers who share premises. Anyone who provides or lets premises for the sale of sexual acts, or organises another person's sale, risks liability for procuring. A landlord who learns that a flat is wholly or largely used for paid sex and does not end the lease is deemed to have promoted it.", "details": "The landlord rule is in 6 kap. 12 § second paragraph: if a person who has let a flat (lägenhet) learns that it is wholly or to a substantial extent used for sexual acts for payment and does not do what can reasonably be required to end the arrangement, that person is regarded as having promoted the activity if it continues or resumes there.\n\nOn the civil side, since 1 July 2024 the tenancy is forfeited if the premises are used to commit serious crime or to commit crime habitually or on a larger scale (Jordabalken 12 kap. 42 § first paragraph point 12). Prop. 2023/24:112 states that use for paid sexual relations falls under this ground because the buyer's offence normally depends on access to the premises; it also states that a tenant selling sex from her home commits no offence herself and that forfeiture may be unreasonable where the tenant is a victim of procuring, trafficking or coercion. Before the 2024 change, the tenancy rule referred expressly to premises used 'wholly or to a substantial part' for temporary sexual relations for payment.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 12 § andra stycket Brottsbalken", "12 kap. 42 § första stycket 12 Jordabalken" ], "sources": [ "brb", "jb", "prop-2023-24-112", "prop-2024-25-124" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether two sex workers simply sharing a flat or co-operating meets the 'promotion' threshold of 6 kap. 12 § depends on the facts. We found no published appellate ruling on that exact situation." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Promoting, or improperly profiting financially from, another person's sale of sexual acts is procuring (koppleri), punishable by up to four years' imprisonment, or two to ten years if aggravated. Since 1 July 2025 this also covers acts performed at a distance, such as arranging live webcam shows.", "details": "6 kap. 12 § as amended by Lag 2025:586 refers to sexual acts for payment 'in the way referred to in 9 or 11 §', so it now reaches remote acts as well. The 2025 bill gives as examples a person who provides or administers a website that helps people contact someone who performs sexual acts to order in live-streamed 'camshows', and a person who hires someone to perform such shows to order for a third party. Procuring involving children falls outside dual-criminality limits; procuring involving adults does not.\n\nCase counts are small compared with purchase cases: 229 procuring offences were reported in 2025, and courts and prosecutors issued 18 lagföringsbeslut (14 procuring, 4 aggravated) with procuring as the main offence.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 12 § Brottsbalken" ], "sources": [ "brb", "prop-2024-25-124", "bra-anm-2025", "bra-lagf-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no specific offence of advertising sexual services, and a person advertising their own services commits no offence. A third party who writes or publishes ads for another person's sale of sexual acts can be convicted of procuring (koppleri), since publishing ads counts as promotion. Online ads are the main way police detect purchase offences.", "details": "Published appellate case law treats advertising as promotion within 6 kap. 12 §: in RH 2013:18 (Court of Appeal for Western Sweden, 2012) persuading a woman to start, designing an online ad offering her sexual services, helping to publish it and setting up her contact e-mail together amounted to promotion, complete before she had any customers. In RH 2010:47 (Court of Appeal for Lower Norrland, 2010) a man was convicted of aggravated procuring for advertising several women on an escort website (the prosecution relied on nearly 500 ads, most of which the court linked to his operation), arranging customers and letting out his flat. Inquiry SOU 2023:80 notes that people in Sweden who post ads for other people's sexual services commit procuring in Sweden even if the website is run from abroad.\n\nThe police's 2025 situation report states that most purchase offences reported in 2024 were detected through online advertising, and Brå (2022:3) describes police work against buyers as focused on escort sites.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 12 § Brottsbalken" ], "sources": [ "brb", "sou-2023-80", "rh-2013-18", "rh-2010-47", "polisen-lr26", "bra-2022-3" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The RH rulings are cited from the lagen.nu case-law summaries, not the full judgments. No statute addresses advertising directly; the rule comes from case law and preparatory works on the meaning of 'promotion'." }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "People who run, administer or profit from escort-ad websites can commit procuring, and since July 2025 so can those running sites that arrange paid live webcam shows. In practice the sites used in Sweden are run from abroad, and Swedish jurisdiction then requires dual criminality, so a 2021 investigation into four such sites was closed.", "details": "SOU 2023:80 states that people behind websites that broker sexual acts for payment ('eskortsidor') can be guilty of procuring under 6 kap. 12 §. In 2021 several organisations reported four sites advertising sexual services in Sweden. The prosecutor found that those operating or earning from the sites promoted prostitution, but closed the investigation: the sites were owned and run, and held bank accounts, in other countries (including England, Spain, Germany and the USA), there was no dual criminality, and there was no clear way to block them. Both the inquiry and the government (prop. 2024/25:124) decided against removing the dual-criminality requirement for procuring. The police noted in 2025 that the ad sites aimed at Sweden have their domains in countries that allow organised prostitution and so cannot be shut down from Sweden.\n\n**Notice-and-takedown.** The Swedish BBS Act (lag 1998:112) requires bulletin-board providers to remove certain plainly unlawful messages, but its list (threats, incitement, hate speech, child sexual abuse material, terrorism and similar) does not include procuring or sex-purchase ads. EU Regulation 2022/2065 (DSA) applies directly. Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) is the Digital Services Coordinator under förordning 2024:958.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 12 § Brottsbalken", "2 kap. 3 och 5 §§ Brottsbalken (jurisdiction, dual criminality)", "5 § lag (1998:112) om ansvar för elektroniska anslagstavlor", "4 § förordning (2024:958)" ], "sources": [ "sou-2023-80", "prop-2024-25-124", "brb", "polisen-lr26", "bbs", "dsa-ord" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether ads for paid sexual acts count as 'illegal content' for DSA notice-and-action has not, as far as we found, been addressed by PTS or a Swedish court." }, "street": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no soliciting or loitering offence for sellers. Street prostitution is reached only through the buyer: offering payment for a sexual act can already be an attempted purchase (BrB 6 kap. 11 and 15 §§; prop. 1997/98:55 p. 137). The 2010 government evaluation estimated that street prostitution had halved since 1999.", "details": "The official evaluation (SOU 2010:49) concluded that street prostitution in Sweden had halved since the purchase ban and considered the fall a direct result of criminalisation. In Copenhagen and Oslo, where levels had been similar before 1999, it rose sharply over the same period. The inquiry also noted that the internet had become an important contact channel but that its extent was not reliably known. The 'status' here describes the effect of the buyer offence; the seller commits no offence. The attempt threshold comes from the 1998 preparatory works, which put it at the latest at the point an offer of payment is made (prop. 1997/98:55 p. 137, as cited in prop. 2025/26:313).", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken", "6 kap. 15 § Brottsbalken" ], "sources": [ "brb", "sou-2010-49", "prop-2025-26-313" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The SOU 2010:49 finding on street prostitution is a government evaluation based on social-services and police estimates. The inquiry itself acknowledged gaps in the data, especially for indoor and online prostitution." }, "registration": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no registration, licensing or mandatory health-check scheme for people who sell sex. The state's policy treats selling as a situation of exploitation to leave rather than an occupation to regulate. Support is organised through social services and a planned national exit programme.", "details": "No Swedish statute provides for registering sex workers or licensing venues, which would be inconsistent with the procuring offence. The government's exit-programme inquiry (SOU 2023:97) proposed individual exit programmes and a clarification of social-services duties. The 2026–2028 action plan describes a national exit programme being prepared by several agencies.", "sources": [ "brb", "sou-2023-97", "regeringen-handlingsplan-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Income from selling sexual services is taxable like any other income and must be declared: Skatteverket states that the law contains no exemption and that it has no power to grant one. Skatteverket has said it does not grant F-tax (business) registration to people selling sexual services, because the business depends on customers committing a crime.", "details": "The Finance Minister's 2023 answer to a written question relayed Skatteverket's position that the seller is legally required to declare the income and may pay the tax into her own tax account. In 2023 Skatteverket's director-general wrote that all income is taxable under the main rule and that there is no legal possibility of exempting this income. Skatteverket's statement on F-tax was made on its X account on 31 March 2021.", "sources": [ "svar-2022-23-820", "skv-2023", "skv-x-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The F-tax position comes from a Skatteverket post on X (31 March 2021); it is an agency statement, not a ruling. Which income category applies (employment or business) is not settled in the sources we found." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence, but non-EU nationals can be refused entry if it is assumed they will not support themselves 'honestly' (Utlänningslagen 8 kap. 3 § 2). Border police use this and public-order grounds against sex workers, a practice Riksrevisionen in 2026 found incompatible with Sweden's anti-trafficking obligations.", "details": "Utlänningslagen 8 kap. 3 § first paragraph point 2 allows refusal of entry of a non-EEA national who can be assumed not to support themselves honestly ('på ett ärligt sätt'). In a 2022 parliamentary debate the migration minister said that this existing law allows people who sell sex to be refused entry. EEA nationals can be refused entry or expelled only on public-policy or public-security grounds, where their own conduct is a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to a fundamental interest of society (8 kap. 11–12 §§).\n\nRiksrevisionen's audit RiR 2026:18 (September 2026) found that border police detain and refuse entry to people who sell sex. In a sample of 126 detentions of women from five countries in 2024–2025, over a third showed clear signs of prostitution. Decisions cited 'dishonest' support or a threat to public order, and Schengen re-entry bans averaged about three years. The audit judged this incompatible with Sweden's obligations to identify trafficking victims (Council of Europe Convention, art. 10). It doubted that EEA nationals could lawfully be refused entry on this basis except in exceptional cases.\n\n**Vandel reform 2026.** The 2026 reform tightening conduct ('vandel') requirements for residence permits took effect on 13 July 2026. The Tidö agreement had listed prostitution as an example of poor conduct, but the government bill states that prostitution in itself is neither dishonest support nor a conduct deficiency for these purposes.", "provisions": [ "8 kap. 3 § första stycket 2 och 6 Utlänningslagen (2005:716)", "8 kap. 11–12 §§ Utlänningslagen", "5 kap. 7 § Utlänningslagen (vandel for permanent residence)" ], "sources": [ "utl", "interp-2022-23-36", "rir-2026-18", "prop-2025-26-264", "sfu36-beslut" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "brb", "titleEn": "Swedish Criminal Code (Brottsbalken, SFS 1962:700)", "relevance": "Chapter 6 contains the purchase offence (11 §), procuring incl. the landlord rule (12 §), the offence of buying a sexual act from a child (9 §) and the attempt/preparation rules (15 §). Text as amended by Lag 2025:586.", "provisions": [ "6 kap. 9 §", "6 kap. 11 §", "6 kap. 12 §", "6 kap. 15 §", "2 kap. 5 §" ], "inForce": "1965-01-01" }, { "sourceId": "prop-2024-25-124", "titleEn": "Government bill 2024/25:124 on stronger protection against sexual violations (remote purchase and procuring)", "relevance": "Renamed the purchase offence 'köp av sexuell handling' and extended both purchase and procuring to sexual acts performed at a distance; sets out what remains outside the offence (pre-recorded pornography) and rejects removing dual criminality for procuring.", "inForce": "2025-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "utl", "titleEn": "Aliens Act (Utlänningslagen, SFS 2005:716)", "relevance": "Grounds for refusal of entry of non-EEA nationals assumed not to support themselves honestly (8 kap. 3 §) and public-order grounds for EEA nationals (8 kap. 11–12 §§), used by border police against sex workers; 2026 conduct ('vandel') requirements.", "provisions": [ "8 kap. 3 §", "8 kap. 11–12 §§", "5 kap. 7 §" ] }, { "sourceId": "jb", "titleEn": "Land Code (Jordabalken, SFS 1970:994), chapter 12 (Tenancy Act)", "relevance": "Forfeiture of a tenancy where premises are used for serious or habitual crime; according to prop. 2023/24:112 this covers use for paid sexual relations from 1 July 2024. Point 12 in its current form applies from 1 July 2024.", "provisions": [ "12 kap. 42 § första stycket 12" ] }, { "sourceId": "bbs", "titleEn": "Act on Responsibility for Electronic Bulletin Boards (SFS 1998:112)", "relevance": "National notice-and-takedown duty for listed categories of plainly illegal user messages. Procuring and sex-purchase ads are not on the list; amended in 2024 to align with the DSA.", "provisions": [ "4 a §", "5 §" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "prop-2025-26-313", "title": "Bill 2025/26:313: new offence of using the services of a trafficking victim", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-10-13", "next": { "date": "2026-11-25", "what": "Riksdag vote on the Justice Committee report 2026/27:JuU9 (planned)" }, "summary": "Implementing EU Directive 2024/1712, the bill creates the offence 'olaga nyttjande av tjänst': knowingly using a service performed by a victim of trafficking or exploitation, punishable by up to four years' imprisonment, with attempt also punishable. Where the person was trafficked for sexual purposes, the bill says the new offence will normally absorb the purchase offence (BrB 6 kap. 11 §). Proposed entry into force: 1 January 2027.", "sources": [ "prop-2025-26-313", "juu9-2026-27" ] }, { "id": "riksrevisionen-2026-18", "title": "Riksrevisionen audit RiR 2026:18 on work against trafficking for sexual purposes", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-09-24", "next": { "date": "2027-01", "what": "Government's written response (skrivelse) to the Riksdag on the audit's recommendations, due within four months of receiving the report (Riksdagsordningen 9 kap. 19 §)" }, "summary": "The National Audit Office found the authorities' work against sex trafficking ineffective. It recommended that the government examine treating people who sell sexual acts as injured parties by default, and review the rules on refusal of entry and on reflection periods for possible victims. It also recommended moving procuring cases to the specialised prosecution chamber.", "sources": [ "rir-2026-18", "ro" ] }, { "id": "exit-programme", "title": "National exit programme for people exploited in prostitution (SOU 2023:97)", "stage": "review", "updated": "2026-06-30", "summary": "The 2023 inquiry proposed individual exit programmes for adults, with a coordinator and plan, and a clarification of social-services duties. The government's 2026–2028 action plan (30 June 2026) says a national exit programme is being prepared by several agencies for local and regional implementation. No bill amending social-services law had been found by October 2026.", "sources": [ "sou-2023-97", "regeringen-handlingsplan-2026" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1999-01-01", "event": "The Act prohibiting the purchase of sexual services (sexköpslagen, SFS 1998:408) enters into force, making Sweden the first country to criminalise buying but not selling sex.", "sources": [ "sou-2010-49", "prop-2024-25-124" ] }, { "date": "2005", "event": "The sexual-offences reform moves the purchase offence into the Criminal Code as 6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken.", "sources": [ "prop-2024-25-124" ] }, { "date": "2010", "event": "The government evaluation SOU 2010:49 (Skarhed inquiry) concludes that street prostitution has halved since 1999 and attributes this to the purchase ban.", "sources": [ "sou-2010-49" ] }, { "date": "2011-07-01", "event": "Maximum penalty for buying sex raised from six months' to one year's imprisonment.", "sources": [ "prop-2024-25-124" ] }, { "date": "2022-08-01", "event": "Fines removed from the penalty scale for buying sex, leaving imprisonment only (prop. 2021/22:231).", "sources": [ "prop-2024-25-124", "prop-2023-24-112" ] }, { "date": "2024-07-01", "event": "Tenancy reform: a lease can be forfeited where premises are used for serious or habitual crime, which the bill states covers paid sexual relations.", "sources": [ "prop-2023-24-112", "jb" ] }, { "date": "2025-07-01", "event": "The purchase offence is renamed 'köp av sexuell handling' and, together with procuring, extended to sexual acts performed at a distance, such as paid live webcam shows (Lag 2025:586).", "sources": [ "prop-2024-25-124", "brb" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-13", "event": "Stricter conduct ('vandel') requirements for residence permits take effect; the bill states that prostitution in itself is not a conduct deficiency.", "sources": [ "sfu36-beslut", "prop-2025-26-264" ] }, { "date": "2026-09-24", "event": "Riksrevisionen (RiR 2026:18) reports that border police detain and refuse entry to people who sell sex, contrary to Sweden's anti-trafficking obligations.", "sources": [ "rir-2026-18" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Reported sex-purchase offences (6 kap. 11 § BrB)", "value": "2,266", "year": "2025", "note": "Brå's official statistics on reported offences (final, published 31 March 2026). Up from 1,805 in 2024 and 603 in 2016. The figures mainly reflect police activity, not the size of the market: Riksrevisionen found that reports cluster around targeted operations. In each year from 2022 to 2025, between 41 and 51 of Sweden's 96 local police areas recorded no officer-initiated purchase report (Riksrevisionen; reports can also be filed at police-district or regional level).", "sources": [ "bra-anm-2025", "rir-2026-18" ] }, { "label": "Lagföringsbeslut (convictions, summary penalty orders and waivers of prosecution) with sex purchase as main offence", "value": "658", "year": "2025", "note": "Brå, Personer lagförda för brott 2025 (published 28 April 2026). Counts decisions where the purchase offence was the most serious offence (main offence); 557 in 2024 and 485 in 2023.", "sources": [ "bra-lagf-2025" ] }, { "label": "Sex-purchase convictions resulting in imprisonment", "value": "6 of 557", "year": "2024", "note": "425 of the 557 decisions were conditional sentences (villkorlig dom). Brå data as reported in the police's national trafficking situation report; counts are per suspected offence and include summary penalty orders.", "sources": [ "polisen-lr26" ] }, { "label": "Reported procuring offences (koppleri incl. aggravated) / lagföringsbeslut", "value": "229 reported / 18 lagföringsbeslut", "year": "2025", "note": "Brå official statistics. The 18 lagföringsbeslut are 14 for procuring and 4 for aggravated procuring, counted by main offence.", "sources": [ "bra-anm-2025", "bra-lagf-2025" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "brb", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Brottsbalk (1962:700)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (consolidated, amended up to SFS 2026:1656)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/brottsbalk-1962700_sfs-1962-700/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "utl", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Utlänningslag (2005:716)", "titleEn": "Aliens Act (consolidated, amended up to SFS 2026:1752)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/utlanningslag-2005716_sfs-2005-716/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "jb", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Jordabalk (1970:994)", "titleEn": "Land Code (consolidated, amended up to SFS 2026:1498)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/jordabalk-1970994_sfs-1970-994/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "bbs", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Lag (1998:112) om ansvar för elektroniska anslagstavlor", "titleEn": "Act on Responsibility for Electronic Bulletin Boards", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1998112-om-ansvar-for-elektroniska_sfs-1998-112/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "dsa-ord", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Förordning (2024:958) med kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s förordning om digitala tjänster", "titleEn": "Ordinance supplementing the EU Digital Services Act", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/forordning-med-kompletterande-bestammelser-till_sfs-2024-958/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "prop-2024-25-124", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Skärpt syn på sexuella kränkningar, bedrägerier mot äldre och brott med kön som hatbrottsmotiv (Prop. 2024/25:124)", "titleEn": "Government bill: tougher stance on sexual violations, fraud against the elderly and gender-based hate crime", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/proposition/skarpt-syn-pa-sexuella-krankningar-bedragerier_hc03124/html/", "published": "2025-03-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "prop-2023-24-112", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Åtgärder för tryggare bostadsområden (Prop. 2023/24:112)", "titleEn": "Government bill: measures for safer residential areas (tenancy forfeiture)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/proposition/atgarder-for-tryggare-bostadsomraden_hb03112/html/", "published": "2024-03-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "prop-2025-26-264", "kind": "government", "title": "Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd (Prop. 2025/26:264)", "titleEn": "Government bill: stricter and clearer conduct requirements for residence permits", "publisher": "Regeringskansliet", "url": "https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/a96eb8bb3bf24164b88f6716faf0d3d0/skarpta-och-tydligare-krav-pa-vandel-for-uppehallstillstand-prop.-202526264.pdf", "published": "2026-04-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "sfu36-beslut", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Beslut: Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd (bet. 2025/26:SfU36)", "titleEn": "Riksdag decision on stricter conduct requirements for residence permits", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/webb-tv/video/beslut/beslut-skarpta-och-tydligare-krav-pa-vandel-for_hdc320260615sfu36/", "published": "2026-06-15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "interp-2022-23-36", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Prostitution som grund för utvisning från Sverige (Interpellation 2022/23:36)", "titleEn": "Interpellation: prostitution as a ground for expulsion from Sweden", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/interpellation/prostitution-som-grund-for-utvisning-fran-sverige_ha1036/", "published": "2022-12-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "svar-2022-23-820", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Skatt för prostituerade (Svar på skriftlig fråga 2022/23:820)", "titleEn": "Answer to written question: tax for people in prostitution", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svar-pa-skriftlig-fraga/skatt-for-prostituerade_ha12820/", "published": "2023-07-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "sou-2023-80", "kind": "government", "title": "Ett starkare straffrättsligt skydd – mot sexuella kränkningar, bedrägerier i vissa fall och brott med hatmotiv avseende kön (SOU 2023:80)", "titleEn": "Government inquiry: stronger criminal-law protection against sexual violations", "publisher": "Statens offentliga utredningar (via Sveriges riksdag)", "url": "https://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/hbb380.html", "published": "2023-11-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "sou-2010-49", "kind": "government", "title": "Förbud mot köp av sexuell tjänst. En utvärdering 1999–2008 (SOU 2010:49)", "titleEn": "The ban against the purchase of sexual services: an evaluation 1999–2008", "publisher": "Statens offentliga utredningar (via Sveriges riksdag)", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/statens-offentliga-utredningar/forbud-mot-kop-av-sexuell-tjanst-en-utvardering_gyb349/html/", "published": "2010", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "sou-2023-97", "kind": "government", "title": "Ut ur utsatthet (SOU 2023:97)", "titleEn": "Out of vulnerability: exit programmes for people exploited in prostitution and trafficking", "publisher": "Regeringskansliet", "url": "https://www.regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/statens-offentliga-utredningar/2023/12/sou-202397/", "published": "2023-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "regeringen-handlingsplan-2026", "kind": "government", "title": "Handlingsplan mot utnyttjande i prostitution och människohandel", "titleEn": "Action plan against exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking 2026–2028 (press release)", "publisher": "Regeringskansliet", "url": "https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2026/06/handlingsplan-mot-utnyttjande-i-prostitution-och-manniskohandel/", "published": "2026-06-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "rir-2026-18", "kind": "government", "title": "Arbetet mot människohandel för sexuella ändamål – otillräckligt och med bristande styrning (RiR 2026:18)", "titleEn": "National Audit Office: work against trafficking for sexual purposes – insufficient and poorly steered", "publisher": "Riksrevisionen", "url": "https://www.riksrevisionen.se/granskningar/granskningsrapporter/2026/arbetet-mot-manniskohandel-for-sexuella-andamal---otillrackligt-och-med-bristande-styrning.html", "published": "2026-09-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "polisen-lr26", "kind": "government", "title": "Människohandel för sexuella och andra ändamål. Lägesrapport 26", "titleEn": "Police Authority: trafficking for sexual and other purposes, situation report 26 (covering 2024)", "publisher": "Polismyndigheten", "url": "https://polisen.se/siteassets/dokument/manniskohandel/manniskohandel-lagesrapport-26.pdf", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "bra-2022-3", "kind": "government", "title": "Köp av sexuella tjänster. En uppföljning av lagens tillämpning (Brå rapport 2022:3)", "titleEn": "Purchase of sexual services: a follow-up of how the law is applied", "publisher": "Brottsförebyggande rådet (Brå)", "url": "https://bra.se/rapporter/arkiv/2022-04-29-kop-av-sexuella-tjanster", "published": "2022-04-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "bra-anm-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Tabell 10. Anmälda brott efter brottstyp, i hela landet, 2016–2025", "titleEn": "Reported offences by offence type, 2016–2025 (final statistics)", "publisher": "Brottsförebyggande rådet (Brå)", "url": "https://bra.se/download/18.11dab50419d723e44d315606/1776153587771/10La_anm_10_ar.xlsx", "published": "2026-03-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "bra-lagf-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Tabell 40G. Lagföringsbeslut, efter huvudbrott 2016–2025", "titleEn": "Lagföringsbeslut (convictions, penalty orders, waivers) by main offence, 2016–2025", "publisher": "Brottsförebyggande rådet (Brå)", "url": "https://bra.se/download/18.717461b919d9a6b3e6510b6c/1776861695251/40GLa.xlsx", "published": "2026-04-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "skv-2023", "kind": "government", "title": "Replik: Skatteverket: Vi måste följa lagen", "titleEn": "Tax Agency reply: we must follow the law (on taxing income from prostitution)", "publisher": "Skatteverket", "url": "https://www.skatteverket.se/omoss/pressochmedia/debattartiklarochkommentarer/2023/2023/replikskatteverketvimastefoljalagen.5.7da1d2e118be03f8e4fabe.html", "published": "2023-11-27", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "skv-x-2021", "kind": "government", "title": "Skatteverket on X: F-skatt för den som säljer sexuella tjänster", "titleEn": "Tax Agency post on F-tax for people selling sexual services", "publisher": "Skatteverket", "url": "https://twitter.com/Skatteverket/status/1377239343870382081", "published": "2021-03-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "rh-2013-18", "kind": "case-law", "title": "RH 2013:18 (Hovrätten för Västra Sverige, B 2384-12)", "titleEn": "Court of Appeal ruling: writing and publishing an online ad as promotion (koppleri)", "publisher": "lagen.nu", "url": "https://lagen.nu/dom/rh/2013:18", "published": "2012-12-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "rh-2010-47", "kind": "case-law", "title": "RH 2010:47 (Hovrätten för Nedre Norrland, B 875-10)", "titleEn": "Court of Appeal ruling: aggravated procuring via escort-site advertising", "publisher": "lagen.nu", "url": "https://lagen.nu/dom/rh/2010:47", "published": "2010-09-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "prop-2025-26-313", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Ett nytt brott och andra åtgärder mot människohandel (Prop. 2025/26:313)", "titleEn": "Government bill: a new offence and other measures against human trafficking", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/proposition/ett-nytt-brott-och-andra-atgarder-mot_hd03313/", "published": "2026-09-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "juu9-2026-27", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Ett nytt brott och andra åtgärder mot människohandel (Betänkande 2026/27:JuU9)", "titleEn": "Justice Committee report on the trafficking bill (planned chamber decision)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/betankande/ett-nytt-brott-och-andra-atgarder-mot_he01juu9/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" }, { "id": "ro", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Riksdagsordning (2014:801)", "titleEn": "The Riksdag Act (9 kap. 19 §: government response to audit reports within four months)", "publisher": "Sveriges riksdag", "url": "https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/riksdagsordning-2014801_sfs-2014-801/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "sv" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sweden/" }, { "iso2": "CH", "name": "Switzerland", "nativeName": "Schweiz / Suisse / Svizzera", "memberships": [ "EFTA", "CoE", "Schengen" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Prostitution is a lawful activity. The Confederation only legislates through criminal law: exploitative procuring (Art. 195 StGB), paying for sex with minors (Art. 196) and a fine for breaching cantonal rules on the place, time and manner of prostitution (Art. 199). The cantons regulate the rest, so registration duties, permits for venues and street zones differ from canton to canton; cantonal rules must stay proportionate and may not obstruct prostitution beyond what is necessary.", "modelSources": [ "ch-stgb", "ch-br-2015", "ch-ge-lprost", "ch-ti-lprost" ], "summary": "Selling and buying sex between adults are legal in Switzerland, and since a 2021 Federal Supreme Court ruling the agreed payment enjoys criminal-law protection. Brothels and other venues are legal under cantonal rules, which in cantons such as Geneva and Ticino include registration of sex workers and a declaration or permit for venues. Procuring is a crime only where it exploits a person (Art. 195 StGB). There is no federal ban on advertising; cantonal rules vary. The National Council rejected a ban on buying sex in 2022, and in 2025 parliament asked the Federal Council to update its 2015 report on prostitution and human trafficking.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Geneva (Genève)", "model": "regulation", "note": "Loi sur la prostitution (LProst, I 2 49) of 17 December 2009: sex workers must be adults, attend an awareness course and register in person (Art. 4); salons (Art. 9-14) and escort agencies (Art. 15-21) must be declared in advance by a responsible person meeting personal conditions; street-based prostitution may be banned at places and times where it disturbs public order (Art. 7). Administrative fines of CHF 100 to 60,000 (Art. 25). The law contains no advertising rule.", "sources": [ "ch-ge-lprost" ] }, { "name": "Ticino", "model": "regulation", "note": "Legge sull'esercizio della prostituzione (LProst, 550.500) of 22 January 2018: everyone who sells or intends to sell sex must report to the cantonal police (Art. 4); an erotic venue may open only with prior authorisation (Art. 6); apartments are covered by Art. 14. Any public communication about a venue must state that it is authorised under the LProst, and roadside billboards advertising prostitution are banned within municipal perimeters (Art. 24). Fines of CHF 200 to 40,000 (Art. 27).", "sources": [ "ch-ti-lprost" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Legal throughout Switzerland. Cantons set the conditions: several require sex workers to register with the police (for example Geneva and Ticino) and may restrict street-based work to certain places and times. Breaching these cantonal rules is punished by a fine under Art. 199 StGB, a contravention rather than a misdemeanour. Since BGE 147 IV 73 (2021) the courts protect the agreed payment.", "details": "- **Art. 199 StGB** (*Unzulässige Ausübung der Prostitution*): whoever breaches cantonal rules on the place, time or manner of prostitution or on preventing nuisance is fined (*Busse*).\n- **Contract and payment:** in BGE 147 IV 73 (6B_572/2020, 8 January 2021) the Federal Supreme Court upheld the fraud conviction of a client who never intended to pay. It held that treating the contract between a sex worker and a client as immoral can no longer be upheld without qualification, and that the claim to the agreed payment has a protected financial value. The ruling is a criminal judgment; it does not say in so many words that the contract is fully enforceable in civil law.\n- **Cantonal registration:** Geneva Art. 4 LProst; Ticino Art. 4 LProst (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "Art. 199 StGB", "Art. 4 LProst (Genève)", "Art. 4 LProst (Ticino)" ], "sources": [ "ch-stgb", "ch-bge-147-iv-73", "ch-ge-lprost", "ch-ti-lprost" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is legal. Paying or promising payment for sexual acts with a person under 18 is a crime (Art. 196 StGB, up to three years). A motion to introduce a Nordic-model ban on buying sex (20.4216) was rejected by the National Council on 8 June 2022 by 172 votes to 11 with 4 abstentions; the Federal Council had recommended rejection.", "provisions": [ "Art. 196 StGB" ], "sources": [ "ch-stgb", "ch-mo-20-4216" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brothels, salons and escort agencies are legal, regulated by the cantons. Geneva requires a prior written declaration by a responsible person who meets conditions of nationality or work authorisation, good repute and solvency; Ticino requires a prior authorisation for each erotic venue. Operating in breach of cantonal rules is fined (Art. 199 StGB and cantonal penalty provisions).", "details": "- **Geneva:** salons Art. 9-14, escort agencies Art. 15-21 LProst; sanctions include temporary or definitive closure and a ban on running another venue for up to ten years (Art. 14(2), Art. 21).\n- **Ticino:** Art. 6 LProst (authorisation), Art. 14 (apartments), Art. 25 (revocation).\n- **Other cantons:** rules differ and were not checked one by one for this overview.", "provisions": [ "Art. 9-21 LProst (Genève)", "Art. 6, 14, 25 LProst (Ticino)", "Art. 199 StGB" ], "sources": [ "ch-ge-lprost", "ch-ti-lprost", "ch-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from someone else's prostitution is not in itself a crime. Art. 195 StGB punishes, with up to ten years or a monetary penalty, bringing a minor into prostitution or promoting it for gain; bringing a person into prostitution by exploiting dependence or for a financial advantage; restricting a sex worker's freedom by supervising them or deciding the place, time, extent or other conditions; and keeping a person in prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Art. 195 StGB", "Art. 182 StGB" ], "sources": [ "ch-stgb" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Federal law has no offence of advertising sexual services; cantons may regulate it as part of the manner of prostitution. Ticino requires venue advertising to state that the venue is authorised and bans roadside billboards within municipal perimeters; Geneva's law has no advertising rule. A website is only blocked where its content is illegal under federal law, such as illegal pornography (Art. 197 StGB).", "details": "- **Ticino:** Art. 24 LProst: every public communication about an erotic venue must carry the words \"locale autorizzato all'esercizio secondo la LProst\"; using them for an unauthorised venue is banned; billboards advertising prostitution are banned within perimeters set by the municipalities.\n- **Ad platforms:** in September 2026 the Federal Council answered a question (26.7855) about a website operated by a company registered in the canton of Zurich that French authorities linked to procuring cases involving minors. It said the site is hosted in the United States; if its content were illegal under Swiss law (notably Art. 197 StGB) fedpol could have access from Switzerland blocked by DNS blacklisting under Art. 46a of the Telecommunications Act, but France had not provided information giving sufficient grounds. A follow-up interpellation (26.4329) is pending.\n- **Other cantons:** advertising rules were not checked canton by canton.", "provisions": [ "Art. 24 LProst (Ticino)", "Art. 199 StGB", "Art. 197 StGB", "Art. 46a FMG" ], "sources": [ "ch-ti-lprost", "ch-ge-lprost", "ch-stgb", "ch-q-26-7855", "ch-ip-26-4329" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Only the Geneva and Ticino laws were checked; the other 24 cantons may have their own advertising rules." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ch-stgb", "titleEn": "Swiss Criminal Code (SR 311.0)", "relevance": "Exploitative procuring, paying for sex with minors, and the fine for breaching cantonal prostitution rules.", "provisions": [ "Art. 182", "Art. 195", "Art. 196", "Art. 199" ] }, { "sourceId": "ch-ge-lprost", "titleEn": "Geneva Prostitution Act (I 2 49)", "relevance": "Registration of sex workers, declaration of salons and escort agencies, street restrictions in Geneva.", "inForce": "2010-05-01" }, { "sourceId": "ch-ti-lprost", "titleEn": "Ticino Act on the Exercise of Prostitution (550.500)", "relevance": "Police registration, venue authorisation and advertising rules in Ticino." } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ch-po-25-3808", "title": "Postulate 25.3808: update of the 2015 report on human trafficking and prostitution", "stage": "review", "updated": "2025-09-15", "next": { "what": "Federal Council report updating its 2015 report \"Prostitution und Menschenhandel zum Zweck der sexuellen Ausbeutung\"" }, "summary": "Submitted by National Councillor Marianne Binder-Keller on 20 June 2025 and referred to the Federal Council, which had recommended accepting it. The Federal Council is to update its 2015 report with new and relevant developments.", "sources": [ "ch-po-25-3808", "ch-br-2015" ] }, { "id": "ch-ip-26-4329", "title": "Interpellation 26.4329 on a Swiss-linked platform used for the prostitution of minors", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-09-30", "next": { "what": "Federal Council answer" }, "summary": "Asks what is needed to prosecute Swiss residents or nationals involved in the sexual exploitation of minors abroad, how the Federal Council explains the case of a website operator registered in Switzerland, and what it can do to have such a website shut down.", "sources": [ "ch-ip-26-4329", "ch-q-26-7855" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "2015-06-05", "event": "The Federal Council adopts its report on prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, concluding that prostitution should not be banned.", "sources": [ "ch-br-2015" ] }, { "date": "2018-01-22", "event": "Ticino adopts a new prostitution act, replacing its 2001 law.", "sources": [ "ch-ti-lprost" ] }, { "date": "2021-01-08", "event": "The Federal Supreme Court (BGE 147 IV 73) holds that the agreed payment for sexual services is protected by criminal law and that the contract can no longer be treated as immoral without qualification.", "sources": [ "ch-bge-147-iv-73" ] }, { "date": "2022-06-08", "event": "The National Council rejects motion 20.4216 for a Nordic-model ban on buying sex by 172 votes to 11.", "sources": [ "ch-mo-20-4216" ] }, { "date": "2025-09-15", "event": "Postulate 25.3808, asking the Federal Council to update its 2015 report, is referred to the Federal Council.", "sources": [ "ch-po-25-3808" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ch-stgb", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Schweizerisches Strafgesetzbuch vom 21. Dezember 1937 (SR 311.0), Stand 1. Oktober 2026", "titleEn": "Swiss Criminal Code (consolidated version of 1 October 2026)", "publisher": "Fedlex, Bundeskanzlei", "url": "https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/20261001/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-54-757_781_799-20261001-de-html-2.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ch-bge-147-iv-73", "kind": "case-law", "title": "BGE 147 IV 73 (Urteil 6B_572/2020 vom 8. Januar 2021)", "titleEn": "Federal Supreme Court, BGE 147 IV 73 (judgment 6B_572/2020 of 8 January 2021)", "publisher": "Schweizerisches Bundesgericht", "url": "https://www.bger.ch/ext/eurospider/live/de/php/clir/http/index.php?highlight_docid=atf%3A%2F%2F147-IV-73%3Ade&lang=de&zoom=OUT&type=show_document", "published": "2021-01-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ch-ge-lprost", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi sur la prostitution (LProst) du 17 décembre 2009 (rsGE I 2 49)", "titleEn": "Geneva Prostitution Act of 17 December 2009", "publisher": "République et canton de Genève, Recueil systématique", "url": "https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_i2_49.htm", "published": "2009-12-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ch-ti-lprost", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Legge sull'esercizio della prostituzione (LProst) del 22 gennaio 2018 (RL 550.500), stato 15 giugno 2023", "titleEn": "Ticino Act on the Exercise of Prostitution of 22 January 2018", "publisher": "Repubblica e Cantone Ticino, Raccolta delle leggi", "url": "https://m3.ti.ch/CAN/RLeggi/public/index.php/raccolta-leggi/pdfatto/atto/9304", "published": "2018-01-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "it" }, { "id": "ch-br-2015", "kind": "government", "title": "Prostitution und Menschenhandel zum Zweck der sexuellen Ausbeutung. Bericht des Bundesrates in Erfüllung der Postulate 12.4162 Streiff-Feller, 13.3332 Caroni, 13.4033 Feri und 13.4045 Fehr", "titleEn": "Prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation: Federal Council report", "publisher": "Schweizerischer Bundesrat", "url": "https://www.newsd.admin.ch/newsd/message/attachments/80658.pdf", "published": "2015-06-05", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ch-mo-20-4216", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Motion 20.4216 Streiff-Feller: Menschen sind keine Ware. Nordisches Modell für die Schweiz (Sexkaufverbot)", "titleEn": "Motion 20.4216: People are not goods – Nordic model for Switzerland (ban on buying sex)", "publisher": "Schweizerische Bundesversammlung, Curia Vista", "url": "https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20204216", "published": "2020-09-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ch-po-25-3808", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Postulat 25.3808 Binder-Keller: Aktualisierung des 2015 erstellten Berichtes zu Menschenhandel und Prostitution", "titleEn": "Postulate 25.3808: update of the 2015 report on human trafficking and prostitution", "publisher": "Schweizerische Bundesversammlung, Curia Vista", "url": "https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20253808", "published": "2025-06-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" }, { "id": "ch-q-26-7855", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Fragestunde. Frage 26.7855 Gaillard: Prostitution von Minderjährigen in Frankreich mithilfe einer von der Schweiz aus betriebenen Website", "titleEn": "Question time, question 26.7855: prostitution of minors in France via a website operated from Switzerland (with Federal Council answer)", "publisher": "Schweizerische Bundesversammlung, Curia Vista", "url": "https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20267855", "published": "2026-09-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "ch-ip-26-4329", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Interpellation 26.4329 Tschopp: Plattform zur sexuellen Ausbeutung von Kindern durch Prostitution mit Verbindungen in die Schweiz: Welche Massnahmen ergreifen die Behörden?", "titleEn": "Interpellation 26.4329: platform for the sexual exploitation of children through prostitution with links to Switzerland", "publisher": "Schweizerische Bundesversammlung, Curia Vista", "url": "https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20264329", "published": "2026-09-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "de" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/switzerland/" }, { "iso2": "SY", "name": "Syria", "nativeName": "سوريا", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, adopted for the whole United Arab Republic and still applied in Syria, punishes the habitual practice of prostitution, procuring, brothels and advertising; the Penal Code (Articles 509–516) separately punishes practising or facilitating secret prostitution. Neither law has a specific offence for the client. Changes after the December 2024 change of government were not checked.", "modelSources": [ "sy-law10", "sy-unfpa", "sy-escwa" ], "summary": "Syria prohibits prostitution under Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, issued during the union with Egypt and applied in Syria from six months after its publication. The law repealed Syria's 1933 law on licensed prostitution and empowered the Syrian social affairs minister to place licensed women in a special institution. Habitually practising prostitution or debauchery is punishable by three months to three years and/or a fine (Article 9(c)); working or habitually living in a brothel by up to a year (Article 13). Inciting or facilitating prostitution, running a brothel and exploiting another's prostitution carry up to three years, as does advertising an invitation to prostitution (Article 14). The Penal Code of 1949 adds offences of habitually inciting young people to debauchery and of practising or facilitating secret prostitution (Article 509).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who habitually practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by three months to three years and/or a fine of 250 to 3,000 Syrian pounds (Law No. 10/1961 Article 9(c)). Anyone who works or habitually resides in a place of prostitution, knowing it, faces up to one year (Article 13). Practising secret prostitution is also an offence under Penal Code Article 509.", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 9(c)", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 13", "Penal Code art. 509" ], "sources": [ "sy-law10", "sy-unfpa", "sy-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Law No. 10 was read in the 1961 Official Gazette of the United Arab Republic, which sets separate fines for the Syrian region; later Syrian amendments, if any, were not checked. Article 509 is described from a 2022 UN review, not from the statute.", "mapLabel": "up to 3 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Law No. 10 of 1961 contains no offence of paying for sex; its offences target the person practising prostitution habitually and third parties. Adultery is a separate offence under Articles 473 and 474 of the Penal Code.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code art. 473–474" ], "sources": [ "sy-law10", "sy-escwa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Whether clients are prosecuted as accomplices or under other provisions in practice was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Opening or managing a place for debauchery or prostitution, or helping to manage it, is punishable by one to three years and a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 Syrian pounds, with closure and confiscation (Article 8). Renting out premises run for prostitution, or habitually facilitating it in furnished rooms or places open to the public, is punishable under Article 9. The 1961 law repealed Syria's 1933 law on licensed prostitution (Article 17).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 8–10", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 17–18" ], "sources": [ "sy-law10", "sy-unfpa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Fine amounts are those set in 1961 for the Syrian region." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting, assisting or facilitating a person's prostitution, or employing or luring a person for it, is punishable by one to three years and a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 Syrian pounds (Article 1). Helping a woman to practise prostitution, even financially, or exploiting another's prostitution carries six months to three years (Article 6). The Penal Code also punishes habitually inciting people under 21 to debauchery and facilitating secret prostitution (Article 509).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 1", "Law No. 10/1961 art. 6", "Penal Code art. 509" ], "sources": [ "sy-law10", "sy-unfpa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Announcing by any means of advertisement an invitation that entices to debauchery or prostitution, or draws attention to it, is punishable by up to three years and/or a fine of up to 1,000 Syrian pounds (Law No. 10/1961 Article 14).", "provisions": [ "Law No. 10/1961 art. 14" ], "sources": [ "sy-law10" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 2022 Cybercrime Law (Law No. 20 of 2022) was not checked for provisions on online advertising." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "sy-law10", "titleEn": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic", "relevance": "The core statute: habitual prostitution, procuring, brothels and advertising; repealed Syria's 1933 licensing law.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1–19" ] }, { "sourceId": "sy-unfpa", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 148 of 1949), as described by the UN", "relevance": "Articles 509 to 516 cover incitement to debauchery and secret prostitution.", "provisions": [ "art. 509–516" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1961-03-14", "event": "Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution is published in the Official Gazette of the United Arab Republic; it repeals Syria's 1933 law on licensed prostitution.", "sources": [ "sy-law10" ] }, { "date": "1961-09", "event": "The law takes effect in the Syrian region, six months after publication as its Article 19 provides.", "sources": [ "sy-law10" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "sy-law10", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قرار رئيس الجمهورية العربية المتحدة بالقانون رقم 10 لسنة 1961 في شأن مكافحة الدعارة في الجمهورية العربية المتحدة", "titleEn": "Decree-Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic (Official Gazette No. 62, 14 March 1961)", "publisher": "Manshurat Qanuniya (scan of the Official Gazette)", "url": "https://manshurat.org/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/014408.pdf", "published": "1961-03-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "sy-unfpa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "الجمهورية العربية السورية: العدالة بين الجنسين والقانون", "titleEn": "Syrian Arab Republic: Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and UN ESCWA", "url": "https://arabstates.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/2200890-gjr-syria-web.pdf", "published": "2022", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" }, { "id": "sy-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Syria — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/syria.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/syria/" }, { "iso2": "TW", "name": "Taiwan", "nativeName": "臺灣", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Since the 2011 amendment, the Social Order Maintenance Act fines both the person selling and the person buying sex (an administrative penalty), except inside zones that city and county governments may create by local ordinance under Article 91-1. No local government has created such a zone, so in practice the law operates as prohibition. On paper it is a regulation model: zones, licensed venues, registered workers and health checks. Profiting from arranging or harbouring sex is a crime under Criminal Code art. 231.", "modelSources": [ "tw-soma", "tw-criminal-code", "tw-taiwannews-2022" ], "summary": "Taiwan fines both parties to a sex transaction under Article 80 of the Social Order Maintenance Act (up to NT$30,000) and penalises brokering under Article 81. The 2011 amendment followed Constitutional Interpretation No. 666 (2009), which held that fining only the seller violated equality. Article 91-1 lets city and county governments legalise sex work in designated zones with licensed venues, registered workers and health checks; no zone has been created, and the last brothel licensed under pre-2011 local rules was reported closed in 2022. Inducing, harbouring or brokering sex for profit is a crime with up to five years under Criminal Code Article 231. Online messages that could draw minors into sex trade are a crime under the child sexual exploitation law, which reaches adult sex ads not restricted to adults.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in a sex transaction is fined up to NT$30,000, as is soliciting in a public place with intent to trade sex. The fine does not apply to transactions that comply with a local ordinance under Article 91-1, but no city or county has adopted one creating a zone.", "details": "Article 80: \"有下列各款行為之一者，處新臺幣三萬元以下罰鍰：一、從事性交易。但符合第九十一條之一第一項至第三項之自治條例規定者，不適用之。二、在公共場所或公眾得出入之場所，意圖與人性交易而拉客。\" (A fine of up to NT$30,000 for (1) engaging in a sex transaction, except as permitted under local ordinances under Article 91-1(1)–(3); (2) soliciting for a sex transaction in a public place or a place open to the public.) Translation ours. The last paragraph of Article 91-1 requires local governments to offer vocational guidance or job-training referrals to sex workers on request.", "provisions": [ "社會秩序維護法 第80條", "社會秩序維護法 第91條之1" ], "sources": [ "tw-soma", "tw-taiwannews-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "TWD 30,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Since the 2011 amendment, the same Article 80 fine of up to NT$30,000 applies to both parties to a sex transaction outside a lawful zone. Before that, only the seller was penalised, which the Council of Grand Justices held unconstitutional in 2009.", "provisions": [ "社會秩序維護法 第80條" ], "sources": [ "tw-soma", "tw-judicial-weekly-2011", "tw-ly-2011" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "TWD 30,000 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping premises where others sell sex for profit is the crime of \"harbouring\" (容留) under Criminal Code Article 231, punishable by up to five years and a fine of up to NT$100,000. Article 91-1 would allow licensed venues inside local zones, exempt from Article 231, but no zone exists.", "details": "Article 91-1(2)(4)–(6) requires venues in a zone to register and hold a licence, and bars people convicted of listed sexual-exploitation or trafficking offences from running them. Article 91-1(3) let venues already licensed under local ordinances before the 2011 amendment continue at their existing address; Article 91-1(4) exempts such lawful venues from Criminal Code Article 231. Taiwan News reported in June 2022 that the last such licensed brothel, in Taoyuan, had closed.", "provisions": [ "中華民國刑法 第231條", "社會秩序維護法 第91條之1" ], "sources": [ "tw-criminal-code", "tw-soma", "tw-taiwannews-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inducing, harbouring or brokering sexual intercourse or obscene acts between others for profit is a crime with up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to NT$100,000. Brokering a sex transaction without the criminal elements is an administrative offence: detention of up to three days plus a fine of NT$10,000–50,000.", "details": "Criminal Code art. 231(1): \"意圖使男女與他人為性交或猥褻之行為，而引誘、容留或媒介以營利者，處五年以下有期徒刑，得併科十萬元以下罰金。\" Art. 231(2) increases the penalty by up to half for public officials who shield the offence; art. 231-1 punishes using force, threats, surveillance, drugs or similar means with at least seven years. Social Order Maintenance Act art. 81 covers brokering a sex transaction and soliciting in public with intent to broker one.", "provisions": [ "中華民國刑法 第231條", "中華民國刑法 第231條之1", "社會秩序維護法 第81條" ], "sources": [ "tw-criminal-code", "tw-soma" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Spreading, transmitting or posting, including online, messages capable of inducing, brokering or hinting at sex trade involving children or young people is a crime with up to three years and a fine of up to NT$1 million (five years if for profit). Interpretation No. 623 limits this to messages not effectively restricted to adults, so unrestricted online sex ads are caught.", "details": "Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act art. 40 continues former art. 29 of the Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act. In Interpretation No. 623 (2007) the Council of Grand Justices upheld that provision but read it down: messages that do not have child sex trade as their content and whose sender has taken the measures needed to restrict recipients to adults fall outside it. Separately, Social Order Maintenance Act art. 91-1(2)(10) requires zone ordinances to ban advertising sex transactions in public places.", "provisions": [ "兒童及少年性剝削防制條例 第40條", "司法院釋字第623號", "社會秩序維護法 第91條之1第2項第10款" ], "sources": [ "tw-cyse-act", "tw-interpretation-623", "tw-soma" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The text of Article 40 was checked on an official government portal; the national law database and the Constitutional Court site could not be reached, so the content of Interpretation No. 623 is taken from search results quoting the official page." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tw-soma", "titleEn": "Social Order Maintenance Act", "relevance": "Article 80 fines both parties to a sex transaction and public soliciting; Article 81 penalises brokering; Article 91-1 allows local zones with licensed venues and registered workers.", "provisions": [ "第80條", "第81條", "第91條之1" ] }, { "sourceId": "tw-criminal-code", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of China", "relevance": "Article 231 criminalises inducing, harbouring or brokering sex between others for profit.", "provisions": [ "第231條", "第231條之1" ] }, { "sourceId": "tw-cyse-act", "titleEn": "Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act", "relevance": "Article 40 criminalises disseminating messages that may lead children or young people into sex trade, including online.", "provisions": [ "第40條" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-11-06", "event": "Interpretation No. 666 holds that penalising only the person selling sex under the Social Order Maintenance Act violates the constitutional principle of equality; the provision is to lapse within two years.", "sources": [ "tw-judicial-weekly-2011" ] }, { "date": "2011-11-04", "event": "Legislative Yuan passes and the President promulgates the amendment that fines both parties outside designated zones and adds Article 91-1 on local sex-trade zones.", "sources": [ "tw-judicial-weekly-2011", "tw-ly-2011" ] }, { "date": "2022-06", "event": "Taiwan News reports the closure of Tiantianle in Taoyuan, the last brothel licensed under pre-2011 local rules, and that no city or county has set up a zone.", "sources": [ "tw-taiwannews-2022" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tw-soma", "kind": "legislation", "title": "社會秩序維護法", "titleEn": "Social Order Maintenance Act (amended to 11 June 2025)", "publisher": "臺北市法規查詢系統 (Taipei City Government law database)", "url": "https://laws.gov.taipei/Law/LawSearch/LawArticleContent/FL004501", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-criminal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "中華民國刑法", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of China (amended to 22 July 2026)", "publisher": "法務部主管法規查詢系統 (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://mojlaw.moj.gov.tw/LawContent.aspx?LSID=FL001424", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-cyse-act", "kind": "legislation", "title": "兒童及少年性剝削防制條例", "titleEn": "Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act", "publisher": "臺北市法規查詢系統 (Taipei City Government law database)", "url": "https://laws.gov.taipei/Law/LawSearch/LawArticleContent/FL002523", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-interpretation-623", "kind": "case-law", "title": "司法院釋字第623號解釋", "titleEn": "Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 623", "publisher": "全國法規資料庫 (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/ExContent.aspx?ty=C&CC=D&CNO=623", "published": "2007", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-judicial-weekly-2011", "kind": "government", "title": "社維法修正 性交易專區外娼嫖皆罰", "titleEn": "Social Order Maintenance Act amended: both parties penalised outside sex-trade zones", "publisher": "司法院 司法周刊 (Judicial Yuan, Judicial Weekly No. 1568)", "url": "https://www.judicial.gov.tw/tw/cp-1429-71172-d77b6-1.html", "published": "2011-11-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-ly-2011", "kind": "parliament", "title": "社會秩序維護法三讀通過！", "titleEn": "Social Order Maintenance Act passes third reading", "publisher": "立法院 (Legislative Yuan), office of Legislator Huang Shu-ying", "url": "https://www.ly.gov.tw/Pages/Detail.aspx?nodeid=5666&pid=48981", "published": "2011-11-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "zh" }, { "id": "tw-taiwannews-2022", "kind": "news", "title": "Taiwan's last legal brothel closes its doors", "publisher": "Taiwan News", "url": "https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4563678", "published": "2022-06-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/taiwan/" }, { "iso2": "TJ", "name": "Tajikistan", "nativeName": "Тоҷикистон", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 130 of the 2008 Code of Administrative Offences). A repeat within a year can lead to 10 to 15 days' administrative arrest. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Brothels, procuring for gain, pimping and drawing people into prostitution by coercion or deception are crimes (Articles 238-239 of the Criminal Code).", "modelSources": [ "tj-koap", "tj-uk" ], "summary": "Tajikistan penalises the person who sells sex. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators, and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days (Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping a brothel, procuring for mercenary motives and pimping are crimes carrying a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group (Article 239 of the Criminal Code). Drawing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, abuse of dependency, blackmail or deception carries a fine or up to two years (Article 238).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators. A repeat within one year after an administrative penalty is punishable by 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days.", "provisions": [ "ст. 130 КоАП РТ" ], "sources": [ "tj-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Russian and Tajik consolidated texts hosted by WIPO Lex; the Tajik text, amended to February 2026, shows the same amounts after Law No. 2051 of 20 June 2024. The Ministry of Justice database (adlia.tj) could not be reached.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found in the Code of Administrative Offences or the Criminal Code; Article 130 targets the person engaging in prostitution.", "sources": [ "tj-koap", "tj-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Checked by searching the consolidated texts for references to prostitution." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping a brothel for prostitution is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group.", "provisions": [ "ст. 239 УК РТ" ], "sources": [ "tj-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Russian consolidated text on WIPO Lex, which is labelled as amended to December 2025." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (сводничество) for mercenary motives and pimping carry the same penalty as brothel keeping. Drawing a person into prostitution by violence or threats, abuse of a dependent position, blackmail, destruction of property or deception carries a fine of 500 to 1,000 indicators, up to three years' restriction of liberty or up to two years' imprisonment, and two to five years if repeated or by an organised group.", "provisions": [ "ст. 238 УК РТ", "ст. 239 УК РТ" ], "sources": [ "tj-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in either code. A third party who advertises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for procuring or pimping, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ст. 239 УК РТ", "ст. 130 КоАП РТ" ], "sources": [ "tj-uk", "tj-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on Advertising was not checked. Applying Article 239 to advertisements is an inference from its wording, not a reported case." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tj-koap", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences (2008, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 130 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence, with arrest for a repeat.", "provisions": [ "ст. 130" ] }, { "sourceId": "tj-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1998, as amended)", "relevance": "Drawing into prostitution (Art. 238); brothels, procuring and pimping (Art. 239).", "provisions": [ "ст. 238", "ст. 239" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tj-koap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс Республики Таджикистан об административных правонарушениях / Кодекси ҳуқуқвайронкунии маъмурии Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон (amended up to Law No. 2238 of 16 February 2026)", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Tajikistan", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (copy of the official text)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23714", "published": "2008", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "tj-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Уголовный кодекс Республики Таджикистан (amended up to Law No. 2206 of 17 December 2025)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (copy of the official text)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23720", "published": "1998", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tajikistan/" }, { "iso2": "TZ", "name": "Tanzania", "nativeName": "Tanzania", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "On the mainland the Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but criminalises loitering or soliciting in public by a \"common prostitute\" (s. 176(a)), living on the earnings of prostitution (ss. 145–146), keeping a brothel (s. 148) and procuring any person, even consenting, to become a prostitute (s. 139). Online content related to prostitution is prohibited by regulation. Zanzibar has its own penal legislation, which was not reviewed here.", "modelSources": [ "tz-penal-code" ], "summary": "On mainland Tanzania, the Penal Code (Cap. 16, R.E. 2023) does not prohibit selling sex itself but criminalises almost everything around it. A common prostitute loitering or soliciting in a public place for prostitution, or behaving there in a disorderly or indecent way, is an idle and disorderly person liable to a fine of up to TZS 100,000 and/or three months (s. 176(a)). Living on the earnings of prostitution and persistent soliciting by a man (s. 145), a woman living on such earnings or controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), and keeping any place for prostitution (s. 148) are offences; procuring any person, with or without consent, to become a prostitute carries 10 to 20 years and/or a fine (s. 139). Online content related to prostitution is prohibited under the 2020 Online Content Regulations. Zanzibar's own penal law was not reviewed.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence on the mainland, but a common prostitute behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in a public place, or loitering or soliciting in a public place for prostitution, is an idle and disorderly person, liable to a fine of up to TZS 100,000, up to three months' imprisonment, or both (s. 176(a)). Anyone soliciting in a public place for immoral purposes is covered by s. 176(g).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 176(a), (g)" ], "sources": [ "tz-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Mainland law only; Zanzibar has separate penal legislation, which could not be checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code has no offence aimed at clients. Soliciting in a public place for immoral purposes (s. 176(g)) applies to any person, and persistent soliciting in public by a male person is an offence under s. 145(1)(b), so a client who solicits in public can be charged.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 145(1)(b)", "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 176(g)" ], "sources": [ "tz-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Mainland law only. Enforcement against clients was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for the purposes of prostitution is an offence (s. 148), and a magistrate may issue a warrant to search a house suspected of being used for prostitution (s. 147). A keeper of a bar, hotel, shop or other place of public resort who knowingly lets common prostitutes assemble there for prostitution is liable to a fine of up to TZS 50,000, or TZS 500,000 on repeat (s. 176A).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 16) ss. 147–148", "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 176A" ], "sources": [ "tz-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Section 148 states no specific penalty; the applicable general penalty was not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure any person, with or without consent, to become a prostitute in or outside Tanzania carries 10 to 20 years and/or a fine of TZS 100,000 to 300,000 (s. 139). A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, and a woman who does so or controls a sex worker's movements for gain, commit offences (ss. 145–146); a man living with a sex worker is presumed to live on the earnings, and a repeat s. 145 conviction may add corporal punishment.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 139", "Penal Code (Cap. 16) ss. 145–146" ], "sources": [ "tz-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2020 include content related to prostitution (and adultery) in their list of prohibited online content, and empower the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority to order its removal; breaches carry a fine of at least TZS 5 million and/or at least 12 months. Public soliciting is also an offence (s. 176).", "provisions": [ "Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2020", "Penal Code (Cap. 16) s. 176" ], "sources": [ "tz-article19-2020", "tz-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The regulations' gazetted text was not opened; their content and penalties are taken from ARTICLE 19's 2020 analysis, which does not quote the exact wording on prostitution. Later amendments to the regulations were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tz-penal-code", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Cap. 16, Revised Edition 2023)", "relevance": "Procuration, living on earnings, brothels, harbouring sex workers in bars and the idle-and-disorderly soliciting offence (mainland Tanzania).", "provisions": [ "s. 139", "ss. 145–148", "ss. 176–176A" ] }, { "sourceId": "tz-article19-2020", "titleEn": "Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2020", "relevance": "List content related to prostitution among prohibited online content, removable on order of the regulator.", "provisions": [ "list of prohibited content" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2020", "event": "The Online Content Regulations 2020 list content related to prostitution among prohibited online content.", "sources": [ "tz-article19-2020" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tz-penal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Penal Code Act [Cap. 16 R.E. 2023]", "publisher": "Office of the Attorney General, Tanzania (PDF hosted by the National Prosecutions Service)", "url": "https://www.nps.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1751356809-THE%20PENAL%20CODE.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tz-article19-2020", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Tanzania: New Content Regulations Criminalise Free Speech Online", "publisher": "ARTICLE 19", "url": "https://www.article19.org/resources/tanzania-regulations-criminalise-free-speech/", "published": "2020-08-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tanzania/" }, { "iso2": "TH", "name": "Thailand", "nativeName": "ประเทศไทย", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) has no offence of selling sex as such, but it penalises the usual ways of doing so: soliciting in public (s. 5, an administrative 'phinai' fine since the 2022 Fine Act), being in a prostitution establishment for prostitution (s. 6, criminal) and advertising (s. 7, criminal). Buying from an adult is not an offence, so the case sits between prohibition and abolitionism; it is classed as prohibition because selling is sanctioned.", "modelSources": [ "pspa-1996", "ocs-878-2567", "nhrc-naewna-2025" ], "summary": "Prostitution is unlawful in Thailand under the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996). Sex workers can be fined up to 1,000 baht for soliciting in public (s. 5, now an administrative fine imposed by social-development ministry officials, not the police) and imprisoned or fined for being in a prostitution establishment (s. 6) or advertising (s. 7). Buying sex from an adult is not itself an offence. Brothel-keeping (s. 11) and procuring (s. 9) carry long prison terms. Massage parlours, hostess bars and karaoke lounges are licensed under the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (1966), which does not permit prostitution. A citizen bill to repeal the 1996 Act and treat sex work as work reached the House on 28 May 2026; classed as a financial bill, it cannot be debated without the Prime Minister's endorsement, and none had been reported by 30 October 2026.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision makes the sale of sex as such an offence, but the Act penalises the usual ways of selling it: soliciting in public (s. 5, administrative fine up to 1,000 baht), being in a prostitution establishment for one's own or another's prostitution (s. 6, up to one month's imprisonment and/or 1,000 baht) and advertising (s. 7, criminal).", "details": "Section 4 defines *prostitution* (การค้าประเวณี) as accepting sexual intercourse or any other act, or doing any other act, to gratify another person's sexual desire 'in a promiscuous manner' for remuneration or any other benefit, whether the persons are of the same or different sex (our translation).\n\n- **s. 5 (soliciting)**: approaching, soliciting, introducing oneself to, following or importuning a person in a street or public place, or elsewhere, for prostitution, in a manner that is open and shameful or a nuisance to the public. Originally a criminal fine of up to 1,000 baht; since the Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (2022) it is a *phinai* offence, a non-criminal fine imposed by state officials (see the *street* topic).\n- **s. 6 (frequenting a prostitution establishment)**: a person who 'associates' (มั่วสุม) in a prostitution establishment for the purpose of their own or another's prostitution faces up to one month's imprisonment, a fine of up to 1,000 baht, or both. There is no offence where the person acted under compulsion or under a power they could not avoid or resist.\n- **s. 7 (advertising)**: see the *advertising* topic.\n\nThe Committee on Fines (Office of the Council of State) confirmed in opinion 878/2567 that s. 5 alone became a *phinai* offence; ss. 6 to 12 and s. 41 remain criminal. The same opinion found that arranging a sale in private, for example by telephone or in a massage room without others being made aware, does not meet s. 5.\n\nFor offenders under 18 under ss. 5 to 7, the court may order protection and vocational development instead of punishment (s. 34); adults may ask to be sent to a protection and occupational development centre (ss. 33 and 34).", "provisions": [ "s. 4 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (definition)", "s. 5 (soliciting; phinai fine)", "s. 6 (frequenting a prostitution establishment)", "s. 7 (advertising)", "ss. 33-34 (protection and occupational development)" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "ocs-878-2567", "fine-act-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Rated 'illegal' because every usual way of selling is an offence, although no provision penalises a private sale arranged without public soliciting or advertising. Translations of the Thai statute are our own.", "mapLabel": "up to 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the 1996 Act, which has no purchase offence. A buyer can still commit an offence: s. 8 punishes sexual acts with a person aged 15 to 18 in a prostitution establishment, consent or not (1 to 3 years and a 20,000 to 60,000 baht fine; 2 to 6 years if the child is 15 or under).", "details": "The Act's offences aimed at sellers are not worded as limited to them. Section 5 covers 'whoever' approaches or solicits a person in public for prostitution, and the Committee on Fines discussed s. 5 in terms of contacts to buy and sell sexual services. Section 6 covers anyone who frequents a prostitution establishment for the purpose of their own or another person's prostitution. We found no official data on buyers penalised under either section.\n\nSection 8 applies to a person who has sexual intercourse or commits any other act for their own or another's gratification with a person over 15 but not over 18 in a prostitution establishment, whether or not that person consents. The government draft protection bill of 2023 and the 2026 citizen bill would both keep penalties for buying from minors.", "provisions": [ "s. 8 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (minors in a prostitution establishment)", "ss. 5-6 (wording not limited to sellers)" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "ocs-878-2567", "ilaw-2025-04-06", "pattayamail-2026-08-11" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Sexual-offence provisions of the Penal Code protecting minors outside prostitution establishments were not checked for this profile." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, supervising or managing a prostitution business or establishment, or controlling sex workers in one, carries 3 to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of 60,000 to 300,000 baht (s. 11), rising to 5 to 15 years if a person aged 15 to 18 works there and 10 to 20 years if a child of 15 or under does.", "details": "A *prostitution establishment* (สถานการค้าประเวณี) is a place arranged for prostitution or where prostitution is allowed, including a place used for contacting or procuring other persons for prostitution (s. 4).\n\n**Licensed venues.** Bars with hostesses, karaoke lounges, dance halls and bath, massage or sauna establishments with attendants are *entertainment places* (สถานบริการ) under the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (s. 3). No one may open one without a licence from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in Bangkok or the provincial governor elsewhere (s. 4). The licensee must be at least 20 and must not have been punished for sexual offences under the Penal Code or under the law on the suppression of prostitution (s. 6). The licence can be suspended or revoked where the venue is run contrary to public order or good morals (s. 21). The Act does not authorise prostitution; selling and buying sex inside a licensed venue remain subject to the 1996 Act.\n\n**Practice.** The US State Department reports that children are exploited in commercial sex in 'brothels, massage parlors, bars, karaoke lounges, hotels, and private residences', and that corrupt officials protect brothels and other commercial sex venues from enforcement and inspections.", "provisions": [ "s. 11 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539", "s. 4 (definition of prostitution establishment)", "ss. 3, 4, 6, 21 Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "epa-1966", "tip-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision exempts sex workers who share premises. A place arranged for or allowing prostitution is a prostitution establishment (s. 4); anyone in it for their own or another's prostitution commits s. 6, and whoever manages it or controls the workers commits s. 11.", "details": "The Act draws no distinction between a managed brothel and a flat or room used by several self-employed sex workers. On the statutory definitions, two workers sharing a room would each risk s. 6 (up to one month's imprisonment and/or 1,000 baht), and anyone who organises the premises would risk s. 11 (3 to 15 years). We found no court ruling or official guidance on shared premises.", "provisions": [ "ss. 4, 6, 11 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Reasoned from the statutory definitions; no case law or enforcement data on shared premises was found." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring, luring or taking away any person for prostitution, even with their consent and whether inside or outside Thailand, carries 1 to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 baht (s. 9). Penalties rise for minors and by one third where deception, threats, force or undue influence are used.", "details": "- **s. 9**: 1 to 10 years and 20,000 to 200,000 baht for an adult; 5 to 15 years and 100,000 to 300,000 baht if the person is over 15 but not over 18; 10 to 20 years and 200,000 to 400,000 baht if 15 or under; one third more with deception, threats, violence, undue influence or coercion. Receiving a person known to have been procured, or supporting the offence, carries the same penalty.\n- **s. 10**: a parent or guardian of a person under 18 who knows of and connives in procuring faces 4 to 20 years and 80,000 to 400,000 baht.\n- **s. 12**: detaining, confining or threatening a person to compel prostitution carries 10 to 20 years and 200,000 to 400,000 baht; life imprisonment for grievous harm; death or life imprisonment if the victim dies; 15 to 20 years where the offender is a police or administrative officer or staff of a protection centre.\n\nTrafficking offences are prosecuted separately. In 2024 the government reported prosecuting 547 suspects and convicting 328 for sex trafficking.", "provisions": [ "ss. 9, 10, 12 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "tip-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Penal Code provisions on procuring and on living on a sex worker's earnings were not checked for this profile." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Advertising, or accepting to publish an advertisement, or soliciting or introducing by documents, printed matter or any other means of making it known to the public, in a way that is evidently a request or contact for one's own or another person's prostitution, carries 6 months to 2 years' imprisonment, a fine of 10,000 to 40,000 baht, or both (s. 7).", "details": "Section 7 covers both the advertiser, including a sex worker advertising herself or himself, and whoever 'accepts to advertise' (รับโฆษณา), which on its wording reaches publishers. The phrase 'by any other means' (ด้วยวิธีใด) is not limited to print. The 1996 Act's explanatory note says the offence was created because advertisements soliciting contact for prostitution had become widespread.\n\nThe Committee on Fines confirmed in opinion 878/2567 that s. 7 remained a criminal offence after the 2022 Fine Act. Where a person both solicits in public and advertises, the officials must impose the *phinai* fine for s. 5 and refer the s. 7 conduct to the police for prosecution.", "provisions": [ "s. 7 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "ocs-878-2567" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no platform-specific rule in the prostitution law, but s. 7 penalises whoever 'accepts to advertise' prostitution by any means of public dissemination, so a website or app operator publishing ads for sexual services risks 6 months to 2 years' imprisonment. Running a place used to contact or procure people for prostitution is brothel-keeping (s. 11).", "details": "Section 4 includes in *prostitution establishment* a place used for contacting or procuring other persons for prostitution; whether an online service is a 'place' has not been tested in any decision we found. The US State Department reports that children are recruited into commercial sex through the internet, chat and dating apps and social networks, and that in 2024 the Thai Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated 76 cases of internet-facilitated child trafficking.", "provisions": [ "ss. 4, 7, 11 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "tip-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No case law on websites under s. 7 or s. 11 was found, and the Computer Crime Act's intermediary-liability rules were not checked." }, "street": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Soliciting in a street or public place in a manner that is open and shameful or a nuisance to the public is a 'phinai' offence: since the 2022 Fine Act it is punished only by a non-criminal fine of up to 1,000 baht. The power to fine was transferred to officials of the social-development ministry from 25 October 2023, so police may not fine for it themselves.", "details": "**Fine Act.** The Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (2022) turned offences punishable by a fine only into *phinai* offences, which are not criminal penalties. Section 5 of the 1996 Act was among them. According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a Ministry of Social Development and Human Security notification gave its own officials the fining power from 25 October 2023, extended by a second notification from 26 September 2024.\n\n**Scope (Committee on Fines, opinion 878/2567).** Asked by the Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development (letter of 30 May 2024), the Committee held that:\n- 'elsewhere' in s. 5 must be read like 'street or public place' (*ejusdem generis*);\n- 'open and shameful' means visible to the public, as in Supreme Court judgment 508-510/2513 (sex workers waiting in a hotel lobby to be seen by men);\n- contact arranged privately, for example by telephone or in a massage room, does not meet s. 5;\n- evidence from a police decoy purchase is admissible unless the police induced an offence the person had no prior intent to commit.\n\n**Enforcement.** On 4 April 2025 the NHRC found that police in Khon Kaen had acted without legal authority when, on 3 June 2024, they arrested nine women in a street, took them to the station, recorded criminal histories and fined them 50 baht each, citing 'loitering', an offence of the Prostitution Suppression Act B.E. 2503 (1960) repealed in 1996. It also found that police had passed the women's personal data to media through a LINE group, and recommended that the ministry and the police agree guidelines for s. 5 cases.", "provisions": [ "s. 5 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539", "Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (schedule)" ], "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "fine-act-2022", "ocs-878-2567", "nhrc-naewna-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Royal Gazette text of the Fine Act could not be opened (HTTP 403); its effect on s. 5 is taken from the Council of State opinion, and the 25 October 2023 date from the NHRC as reported by Naewna." }, "registration": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "There is no registration, licence or health-check scheme for sex workers, since the activity is unlawful. Licensed entertainment venues must keep a history card for every employee before they start work (s. 14 Entertainment Places Act), must not employ anyone under 18 (s. 16(1)) and must check photo ID to keep out non-employees under 20 (s. 16/1).", "details": "Under the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 the licensee registers staff, not sex workers. The history card may not state the employee's duties in a way that harms them (s. 14). Opening hours, layout, lighting and employee number badges are set by ministerial regulation (s. 17). Licences run to 31 December of the year of issue (s. 10).\n\nThe 1996 Act provides 'protection and occupational development' instead: reception centres and protection centres run by the state or licensed foundations offer rehabilitation, medical treatment and vocational training (ss. 4, 26 to 38). Adults are sent there only if they wish (ss. 33 and 34).", "provisions": [ "ss. 10, 14, 16, 16/1, 17 Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509", "ss. 26-38 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539" ], "sources": [ "epa-1966", "pspa-1996" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "tax": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "Sex work is not a recognised occupation, so sex workers have no labour-law status or social security as sex workers. Sex-worker groups report that they could not get state COVID-19 relief. We could not verify how the Revenue Department treats income from prostitution.", "details": "The citizen bill submitted in May 2026 would recognise adult sex workers as workers with social security; social-security enrolment costs are one reason Parliament classified it as a financial bill (see *pending*). In February 2024 the SWING Foundation, the NHRC and UNDP discussed an interim draft ministerial regulation under ss. 6 and 22 of the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 to protect sex workers employed in entertainment venues. In a survey of sex workers presented at that meeting, 77% of respondents said they wanted such protection.", "sources": [ "ilaw-2026-05-28", "thaiexaminer-2026-07-11", "theactive-2024-02-09" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Revenue Code and social-security law were not checked; the labour-status statements rely on news and NGO reporting." }, "migrants": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Foreign nationals are subject to the same offences as Thai nationals, and undocumented migrants also risk detention and deportation. The US State Department reports that the law protects victims from prosecution for commercial sex only where it is a direct result of trafficking, and that undocumented migrants are not consistently screened for trafficking.", "details": "The Committee on Fines advised in opinion 878/2567 that a *phinai* fine for s. 5 against a foreigner who has left Thailand can be pursued through mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (Act B.E. 2535, 1992). It also advised the Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development to pass offenders' details to the Immigration Bureau so the case can resume if they return within the limitation period.\n\nThe 2025 TIP report says victims come from Thailand, other Southeast Asian countries, Sri Lanka, Russia, Uzbekistan and some African countries. It says undocumented foreign victims may not report exploitation for fear of arrest and deportation, and that corrupt officials protect brothels and commercial sex venues.", "sources": [ "ocs-878-2567", "tip-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The Immigration Act B.E. 2522 could not be opened for this profile; any entry ban relating to prostitution is not described here." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "pspa-1996", "titleEn": "Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996)", "relevance": "The core statute: it defines prostitution and penalises soliciting, frequenting a prostitution establishment, advertising, procuring, brothel-keeping and forced prostitution. It also sets up the protection and occupational development system.", "provisions": [ "ss. 4-13", "ss. 26-38" ], "inForce": "1996-12-21" }, { "sourceId": "epa-1966", "titleEn": "Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (1966), as amended (No. 2) 1978, (No. 3) 1982, (No. 4) 2003 and (No. 5) 2017", "relevance": "Licenses the venues where most commercial sex is arranged in practice (hostess bars, karaoke, massage and bath establishments), with zoning, age limits, employee history cards and grounds for suspending or revoking the licence. It took effect in Bangkok the day after publication and elsewhere by royal decree. It does not legalise prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ss. 3-7", "ss. 14-17", "s. 21" ], "inForce": "1966-10-05" }, { "sourceId": "fine-act-2022", "titleEn": "Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (2022)", "relevance": "Turned the fine-only soliciting offence (s. 5 of the 1996 Act) into a non-criminal 'phinai' offence imposed by state officials; the other offences of the 1996 Act remain criminal.", "provisions": [ "schedule (s. 5 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act)" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "citizen-sex-worker-protection-bill-2026", "title": "Sex Service Provider Protection Bill B.E. ... (ร่าง พ.ร.บ.คุ้มครองผู้ให้บริการทางเพศ), citizens' initiative", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-08-11", "next": { "what": "Prime Minister's endorsement as a financial bill; the Constitution sets no deadline and no endorsement had been reported by 30 October 2026" }, "summary": "Drafted by the Empower Foundation and partner groups and submitted to the Speaker of the House on 28 May 2026 with 11,765 signatures. It would repeal the 1996 Act, recognise voluntary adult sex work as work with labour and social-security protection, keep penalties for trafficking, coercion and minors, and create protection centres under the social-development ministry. On 10 July 2026 a joint meeting of the Speaker and House committee chairs voted 17 to 6, with 2 abstentions, to classify it as a financial bill under s. 134 of the 2017 Constitution, citing the protection centres and social-security costs. It therefore needs the Prime Minister's endorsement before the House can debate it. Empower petitioned Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on 11 August 2026. Reports differ on the minimum age (18 according to Pattaya Mail, 20 according to Thai Examiner) and on authorship: iLaw describes it as the sex-worker groups' alternative to the ministry draft, while Thai Examiner says it was prepared jointly with the ministry.", "sources": [ "ilaw-2026-05-28", "thaiexaminer-2026-07-11", "pattayamail-2026-08-11", "hrrc-2026-08-14" ] }, { "id": "msdhs-sex-work-protection-draft", "title": "Government draft Sex Service Protection Bill (ร่าง พ.ร.บ.คุ้มครองการให้บริการทางเพศ), Ministry of Social Development and Human Security", "stage": "stalled", "updated": "2025-04-06", "summary": "Prepared under the Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development with sex-worker representatives, including Empower, and completed in late 2023. It was due to reach the minister in November 2023 and the cabinet in December 2023, but the final hearing was halted and the ministry asked for more time. The draft would repeal the 1996 Act and replace it with licensing: venues registered with the provincial authorities on three-year permits, kept at least 200 m from temples, schools, hospitals and dormitories, and a minimum age of 18 for workers. In October 2024 the department said that after the change of government the draft was still being followed up. We found no record of cabinet approval. Sex-worker groups called it controlling in nature and drafted the 2026 citizen bill instead.", "sources": [ "ilaw-2025-04-06", "theactive-2025-02-25", "thaipost-2024-10-02", "ilaw-2026-05-28" ] }, { "id": "entertainment-places-act-bills-2025", "title": "Members' bills to replace or amend the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509", "stage": "consultation", "updated": "2026-02", "summary": "Two bills by members of the House: a new Entertainment Places Act by Khattiya Sawasdipol and others, and an amending bill by Phantin Nuamcherm and others. They went through the House's public hearing in October to December 2025, with hearing reports in early 2026. They would revise the definition of entertainment places, zoning and opening hours; the amending bill would move licensing fees to local government and align the entry age with the alcohol-control law. Neither addresses prostitution directly. Their status later in 2026 was not checked.", "sources": [ "epa-bill-khattiya-2025", "epa-bill-amend-2025" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1960", "event": "Prostitution Suppression Act B.E. 2503 enacted, including a criminal offence of loitering for prostitution; it was repealed by the 1996 Act.", "sources": [ "pspa-1996", "nhrc-naewna-2025" ] }, { "date": "1966-10-04", "event": "Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 published in the Royal Gazette (vol. 83, part 88), introducing licences for dance halls, hostess bars and bath and massage establishments.", "sources": [ "epa-1966" ] }, { "date": "1996-12-21", "event": "Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 enters into force (Royal Gazette vol. 113, part 54 Kor, 22 October 1996), repealing the 1960 Act and adding offences for advertising and for buyers of minors in prostitution establishments.", "sources": [ "pspa-1996" ] }, { "date": "2003", "event": "Entertainment Places Act (No. 4) B.E. 2546 redefines entertainment places, adds the ban on admitting non-employees under 20 and revises the employee history-card rules.", "sources": [ "epa-1966" ] }, { "date": "2023-10-25", "event": "The social-development ministry's officials receive the power to impose phinai fines for soliciting (s. 5), which the 2022 Fine Act turned into a non-criminal offence.", "sources": [ "nhrc-naewna-2025", "fine-act-2022" ] }, { "date": "2023-12", "event": "The ministry's draft Sex Service Protection Bill misses its planned cabinet submission after the final public hearing is halted.", "sources": [ "theactive-2025-02-25" ] }, { "date": "2024", "event": "The Committee on Fines (opinion 878/2567) holds that s. 5 covers only soliciting visible to the public, not contact arranged privately by phone or in a massage room.", "sources": [ "ocs-878-2567" ] }, { "date": "2025-04-04", "event": "The National Human Rights Commission finds that Khon Kaen police unlawfully arrested and fined nine women for soliciting in June 2024, citing an offence repealed in 1996.", "sources": [ "nhrc-naewna-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-05-28", "event": "Empower Foundation submits the citizen Sex Service Provider Protection Bill to the House with 11,765 signatures.", "sources": [ "ilaw-2026-05-28" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-10", "event": "The Speaker and House committee chairs classify the bill as a financial bill (17 to 6), making the Prime Minister's endorsement a precondition for debate.", "sources": [ "thaiexaminer-2026-07-11" ] }, { "date": "2026-08-11", "event": "Empower petitions Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to endorse the bill.", "sources": [ "pattayamail-2026-08-11" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Sex trafficking: cases investigated / suspects prosecuted / traffickers convicted", "value": "316 / 547 / 328", "year": "2024", "note": "Government data as reported in the US TIP report; trafficking cases only, not offences under the 1996 Prostitution Act. 2023 totals for all forms of trafficking: 312 investigations, 542 prosecutions, 211 convictions.", "sources": [ "tip-2025" ] }, { "label": "Individuals arrested for child commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking", "value": "130 (197 in 2023)", "year": "2024", "note": "Government figure reported in the US TIP report.", "sources": [ "tip-2025" ] }, { "label": "Soliciting (s. 5) cases referred by police and awaiting a phinai fine decision", "value": "about 7", "year": "2024", "note": "Snapshot given by the Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development to the Committee on Fines; not an annual total of enforcement.", "sources": [ "ocs-878-2567" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "pspa-1996", "kind": "legislation", "title": "พระราชบัญญัติป้องกันและปราบปรามการค้าประเวณี พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๙", "titleEn": "Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996)", "publisher": "Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Legal Division (text as published in the Royal Gazette vol. 113, part 54 Kor)", "url": "https://law.m-society.go.th/law/download/167/th", "published": "1996-10-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "epa-1966", "kind": "legislation", "title": "พระราชบัญญัติสถานบริการ พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๙ (ฉบับปรับปรุง)", "titleEn": "Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (1966), consolidated text by the Office of the Council of State", "publisher": "Department of Provincial Administration (Office of the Council of State consolidation)", "url": "https://report.dopa.go.th/laws/document/1/35.pdf", "published": "1966-10-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "fine-act-2022", "kind": "legislation", "title": "พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการปรับเป็นพินัย พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๕", "titleEn": "Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (2022)", "publisher": "Royal Gazette (ราชกิจจานุเบกษา)", "url": "https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/A/066/T_0022.PDF", "published": "2022", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "ocs-878-2567", "kind": "government", "title": "เรื่องเสร็จที่ ๘๗๘/๒๕๖๗ บันทึกคณะกรรมการว่าด้วยการปรับเป็นพินัย เรื่อง การดำเนินการตามกฎหมายว่าด้วยการปรับเป็นพินัย กรณีการกระทำความผิดตามมาตรา ๕ แห่งพระราชบัญญัติป้องกันและปราบปรามการค้าประเวณี พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๙", "titleEn": "Opinion 878/2567 of the Committee on Fines: applying the Fine Act to offences under s. 5 of the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act", "publisher": "Office of the Council of State (สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)", "url": "https://comment.ocs.go.th/main/download/1721879522/pdf/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88_878-2567", "published": "2024", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "nhrc-naewna-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "'กรรมการสิทธิฯ' ย้ำทำความเข้าใจมาตรา 5 พ.ร.บ.ค้าประเวณี อำนาจปรับเป็นพินัยอยู่ที่ 'พม.' ไม่ใช่ตำรวจ", "titleEn": "NHRC stresses understanding of s. 5 of the Prostitution Act: the power to impose phinai fines lies with the social-development ministry, not the police", "publisher": "Naew Na", "url": "https://www.naewna.com/local/875319", "published": "2025-04-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "tip-2025", "kind": "government", "title": "2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Thailand", "publisher": "U.S. Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/thailand/", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ilaw-2025-04-06", "kind": "ngo", "title": "เปิดร่างพ.ร.บ. \"คุ้มครอง\" ผู้ให้บริการทางเพศ กำกับสถานบริการให้ปลอดภัย เลิกแนวคิดที่มุ่ง \"ปราบปราม\"", "titleEn": "Inside the draft Sex Service Provider Protection Bill: regulating venues for safety instead of 'suppression'", "publisher": "iLaw", "url": "https://www.ilaw.or.th/articles/52099", "published": "2025-04-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "ilaw-2026-05-28", "kind": "ngo", "title": "ถึงสภาแล้ว! ภาคประชาชนยื่น 11,765 ชื่อ เสนอร่างพ.ร.บ. \"คุ้มครอง\" ผู้ให้บริการทางเพศ เตรียมเข้าสภาพิจารณาต่อไป", "titleEn": "Citizens submit 11,765 signatures for the Sex Service Provider Protection Bill", "publisher": "iLaw", "url": "https://www.ilaw.or.th/articles/58057", "published": "2026-05-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "theactive-2025-02-25", "kind": "news", "title": "3 ทศวรรษ ที่เขาว่าจะยกเลิก 'เอาผิดโสเภณี' ตอนนี้...มีแค่ร่างฯ", "titleEn": "Three decades of promises to stop penalising sex workers, and still only drafts", "publisher": "The Active (Thai PBS)", "url": "https://theactive.thaipbs.or.th/data/sex-worker-rights", "published": "2025-02-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "theactive-2024-02-09", "kind": "news", "title": "SWING – กสม. รับฟังความเห็น 'กฎกระทรวงคุ้มครองพนักงานบริการ พ.ศ. …' บรรเทาความเสี่ยง Sex Worker ถูกเอาเปรียบ ละเมิดสิทธิ์", "titleEn": "SWING and NHRC consult on a draft ministerial regulation protecting service workers", "publisher": "The Active (Thai PBS)", "url": "https://theactive.thaipbs.or.th/news/lawrights-20240209", "published": "2024-02-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "thaipost-2024-10-02", "kind": "news", "title": "กลุ่มคนกลางคืนบุกทำเนียบฯ ทวงความคืบหน้ากม.คุ้มครองบริการทางเพศ", "titleEn": "Night-economy workers at Government House demand progress on the sex service protection law", "publisher": "Thai Post", "url": "https://www.thaipost.net/x-cite-news/666649/", "published": "2024-10-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "thaiexaminer-2026-07-11", "kind": "news", "title": "Procedural move in parliament may well stall the Sex Workers Act making prostitution in Thailand legal", "publisher": "Thai Examiner", "url": "https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2026/07/11/procedural-move-in-parliament-may-well-stall-the-sex-workers-act-making-prostitution-in-thailand-legal/", "published": "2026-07-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pattayamail-2026-08-11", "kind": "news", "title": "Thailand sex workers press government to back landmark rights bill", "publisher": "Pattaya Mail", "url": "https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-sex-workers-press-government-to-back-landmark-rights-bill-560895", "published": "2026-08-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hrrc-2026-08-14", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Decriminalising Sex Work in Thailand", "publisher": "Human Rights Research Center", "url": "https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/decriminalising-sex-work-in-thailand", "published": "2026-08-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "epa-bill-khattiya-2025", "kind": "parliament", "title": "ร่างพระราชบัญญัติสถานบริการ พ.ศ. .... (นางสาวขัตติยา สวัสดิผล สมาชิกสภาผู้แทนราษฎรกับคณะ เป็นผู้เสนอ) รายงานผลการรับฟังความคิดเห็นและการวิเคราะห์ผลกระทบ", "titleEn": "Draft Entertainment Places Act (Khattiya Sawasdipol MP and others): hearing and impact-analysis report", "publisher": "Secretariat of the House of Representatives", "url": "https://www.parliament.go.th/section77/manage/files/file_20260108023329_2_500.pdf", "published": "2026-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" }, { "id": "epa-bill-amend-2025", "kind": "parliament", "title": "ร่างพระราชบัญญัติสถานบริการ (ฉบับที่ ..) พ.ศ. .... (นายภัณฑิล น่วมเจิม สมาชิกสภาผู้แทนราษฎรกับคณะ เป็นผู้เสนอ) รายงานผลการรับฟังความคิดเห็นและการวิเคราะห์ผลกระทบ", "titleEn": "Draft Entertainment Places Act (No. ..) amendment (Phantin Nuamcherm (ภัณฑิล น่วมเจิม) MP and others): hearing and impact-analysis report", "publisher": "Secretariat of the House of Representatives", "url": "https://web.parliament.go.th/section77/manage/files/file_20260203064522_2_507.pdf", "published": "2026-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "th" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/thailand/" }, { "iso2": "GM", "name": "The Gambia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Criminal Offences Act 2025, which repealed the colonial-era Criminal Code (Cap. 10:01), makes it a misdemeanour for a man (section 114) or a woman (section 115) to commit, or be an accomplice in the commission of, prostitution. Selling sex is therefore an offence, and the accomplice wording may also reach clients, although no case applying it to a client was found. Brothel-keeping and living on the earnings of prostitution are also offences.", "modelSources": [ "gm-coa" ], "summary": "The Gambia's Criminal Offences Act 2025, passed by the National Assembly in March 2025 and being applied by the courts by July 2025, replaced the 1933 Criminal Code. Part XVI makes it a misdemeanour for any person to commit, or be an accomplice in the commission of, prostitution; for a man to persistently solicit or importune in a public place for immoral purposes; for anyone knowingly to live on the earnings of prostitution or to control a sex worker's movements for gain; and to keep or manage any place used for prostitution. Misdemeanours without a specific penalty are punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison, or both (section 38). Magistrates may issue warrants to search premises suspected of being used for prostitution (section 116).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A man or a woman who 'commits, or is an accomplice in the commission of prostitution' commits a misdemeanour (sections 114(1)(c) and 115(c)), punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison, or both under the general penalty for misdemeanours (section 38).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 114(1)(c)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 115(c)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 38" ], "sources": [ "gm-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "'Prostitution' is not defined in the Act. The repealed Criminal Code was not checked, so it is not known whether the 'commits prostitution' limb is new in 2025. No prosecution figures were found.", "mapLabel": "up to 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence names clients, but sections 114(1)(c) and 115(c) also cover anyone who 'is an accomplice in the commission of prostitution', and section 26 treats those who aid or abet an offence as principal offenders. Read literally, a client can be prosecuted as an accomplice; no case doing so was found.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 114(1)(c)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 115(c)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 26" ], "sources": [ "gm-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "This is a reading of the statutory text; no court decision or official guidance on whether clients are 'accomplices' was found.", "mapLabel": "up to 2 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A person who keeps or manages a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for purposes of prostitution commits a misdemeanour (section 117). A magistrate may issue a warrant to search a house suspected of being used for prostitution and to arrest a person living on the earnings or controlling a sex worker there (section 116).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 116", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 117", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 38" ], "sources": [ "gm-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A man who knowingly lives wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution commits a misdemeanour; living with or habitually being in the company of a sex worker, or controlling their movements, raises a presumption that he does (section 114). A woman commits the same offence by living on the earnings or, for gain, controlling a sex worker's movements in a way that shows she is aiding, abetting or compelling prostitution (section 115).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 114(1)(a), (2)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 115(a), (b)" ], "sources": [ "gm-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specific to advertising sexual services was found. Because prostitution itself is a misdemeanour, a person who advertises their own or another's services could be charged as a party to it (sections 26, 114 and 115), and a man who persistently solicits or importunes in a public place for immoral purposes commits an offence (section 114(1)(b)).", "details": "The obscene-publications offence (section 142(1)(d)) also covers advertising or making known by any means that an obscene object can be procured, but it concerns obscene material rather than sexual services.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 26", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 114(1)(b)", "Criminal Offences Act 2025 s. 142" ], "sources": [ "gm-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "No case applying these provisions to advertisements or to websites was found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "gm-coa", "titleEn": "Criminal Offences Act 2025", "relevance": "Part XVI (sections 114 to 117) criminalises prostitution, soliciting by men, living on the earnings and brothel-keeping; section 344 repeals the Criminal Code, Cap. 10:01.", "provisions": [ "s. 38", "s. 114–117", "s. 344" ], "inForce": "2025" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2025-03-28", "event": "The National Assembly passes the Criminal Offences Act 2025, repealing the Criminal Code of 1933 (Cap. 10:01).", "sources": [ "gm-coa" ] }, { "date": "2025-07", "event": "Courts are hearing charges under the newly enacted Criminal Offences Act 2025, showing it is in force.", "sources": [ "gm-foroyaa-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "gm-coa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Offences Act, 2025 (assent copy, passed 28 March 2025)", "publisher": "Ministry of Justice, The Gambia", "url": "https://moj.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Assent-Copy-Criminal-Offences-Act-2025-Passed-28th-March-2025.pdf", "published": "2025-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gm-foroyaa-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "First Witness Takes Stand in Trial of Woman Accused of Insulting President Barrow", "publisher": "Foroyaa", "url": "https://foroyaa.net/first-witness-takes-stand-in-trial-of-woman-accused-of-insulting-president-barrow/", "published": "2025-07-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/the-gambia/" }, { "iso2": "TL", "name": "Timor-Leste", "nativeName": "Timor-Leste", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code (Decree-Law 19/2009) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution (Article 174), and child prostitution below age 17 (Article 175).", "modelSources": [ "tl-cp2009" ], "summary": "Timor-Leste's Penal Code, approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April 2009, does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. Under Article 174 (sexual exploitation of a third party), anyone who with intent to profit, or making it a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person practising prostitution faces three to ten years' imprisonment, rising to four to twelve years where the offender exploits the victim's abandonment or economic need, uses violence or threats, moves the victim to another country or keeps their identity documents. Exploiting the prostitution of a person under 17 carries four to twelve years (five to fifteen if aggravated) even with the minor's consent, as does offering, obtaining or delivering a minor for prostitution (Article 175). Trafficking is covered by Articles 163–164.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of selling sex between adults was found in the Penal Code. The prostitution offences target third parties who profit from or contribute to another person's prostitution.", "provisions": [ "Artigo 174.º Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "tl-cp2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the 2010 annotated edition published by the Court of Appeal on the Ministry of Justice site; amendments after 2010 and minor-offence or municipal rules were not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with minors, including through child prostitution, are separate crimes.", "provisions": [ "Artigo 175.º Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "tl-cp2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the 2010 annotated edition; later amendments not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no separate brothel offence, but running a venue for profit from others' prostitution falls within Article 174, which punishes fostering or facilitating another's prostitution with intent to profit (three to ten years).", "provisions": [ "Artigo 174.º Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "tl-cp2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Inference from the wording of Article 174; no case law was reviewed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Fostering, facilitating or in any way contributing to another person's prostitution, with intent to profit or as a way of life, carries three to ten years; four to twelve where there is exploitation of need, violence, threats, cross-border movement or retention of identity documents.", "details": "Article 174(1) reads: \"Quem, com intenção lucrativa ou fazendo disso modo de vida, fomentar, facilitar ou de qualquer maneira contribuir para que outra pessoa exerça a prostituição ou pratique outros actos sexuais é punido com pena de prisão de 3 a 10 anos.\"", "provisions": [ "Artigo 174.º Código Penal", "Artigos 163.º–164.º Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "tl-cp2009", "tl-tip2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Translation of the Portuguese text by the editor of this entry; later amendments not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A sex worker advertising their own services commits no offence, but anyone who advertises another person's services for profit could be \"contributing in any way\" to that person's prostitution under Article 174.", "provisions": [ "Artigo 174.º Código Penal" ], "sources": [ "tl-cp2009" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the broad wording of Article 174; media and communications rules were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tl-cp2009", "titleEn": "Penal Code (approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April, amended by Law 6/2009 of 15 July)", "relevance": "Article 174 on sexual exploitation of a third party, Article 175 on child prostitution, Articles 163–164 on trafficking.", "provisions": [ "Artigo 163.º", "Artigo 164.º", "Artigo 174.º", "Artigo 175.º" ], "inForce": "2009" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2009-04-08", "event": "Decree-Law 19/2009 approves the Penal Code, including the offence of sexual exploitation of a third party.", "sources": [ "tl-cp2009" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tl-cp2009", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal / Kódigu Penál, aprovado pelo Decreto-Lei 19/2009, de 8 de Abril, e alterado pela Lei 6/2009, de 15 de Julho (2.ª edição anotada, Tribunal de Recurso, 2010)", "titleEn": "Penal Code, approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April and amended by Law 6/2009 of 15 July (2nd annotated edition, Court of Appeal, 2010)", "publisher": "Ministério da Justiça, República Democrática de Timor-Leste", "url": "https://www.mj.gov.tl/jornal/files/Codigo_Penal.pdf", "published": "2010-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "pt" }, { "id": "tl-tip2026", "kind": "government", "title": "2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: Timor-Leste", "publisher": "U.S. Department of State", "url": "https://www.state.gov/reports/2026-trafficking-in-persons-report/timor-leste", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/timor-leste/" }, { "iso2": "TG", "name": "Togo", "nativeName": "Togo", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "modelNote": "Borderline. Selling sex is not an offence, but public soliciting is fined (Art. 398). The 2015 Penal Code ends its procuring article with a clause punishing the client of a person in prostitution in the same way as the procurer (Art. 402), which the national police read as covering clients. Running venues and procuring are crimes. Treated as buyer criminalisation, with public soliciting penalised.", "modelSources": [ "tg-cp2015", "tg-cp2015-text", "tg-actulome-2025" ], "summary": "Togo's Penal Code of 24 November 2015 does not make selling sex an offence, but publicly soliciting by any means, even passively, in order to prostitute oneself is fined 100,000 to 300,000 CFA francs, with community service for a repeat within a year. Procuring, defined broadly as aiding, protecting or profiting from another person's prostitution, carries five to ten years and a fine of 5 to 20 million CFA francs, and the same article says the client of the person in prostitution is punished in the same way. Running, financing or tolerating prostitution in an establishment, or providing premises or vehicles for it, carries the same penalty. Procuring through a telecommunications network aimed at the public is an aggravating circumstance. In April 2025 the national police warned that clients are among those liable.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not an offence, but racolage is: publicly soliciting another person by any means, including a merely passive attitude, to induce them into sexual relations for payment or the promise of it (Art. 397). Doing so in order to prostitute oneself is fined 100,000 to 300,000 CFA francs; a repeat within a year is fined 300,000 to 500,000 and 10 to 30 days of community service (Art. 398).", "details": "Art. 410 allows people who have sold sex to be required to undergo health examinations and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, at the cost of the procurers who exploited them.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2015 art. 397", "Code pénal 2015 art. 398", "Code pénal 2015 art. 410" ], "sources": [ "tg-cp2015", "tg-cp2015-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a transcription of the Journal officiel of 24 November 2015; the official gazette PDF was downloaded but not read page by page. Loi n° 2016-027 amended the Code; its text was not found, so changes to these articles cannot be ruled out. The 2022 amendment (loi n° 2022-018) concerns other articles.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: XOF 300,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Art. 402, which sets the penalty for procuring, ends: the client of the person delivered to prostitution is punished under the same conditions as the procurer, that is five to ten years of criminal imprisonment and a fine of 5 to 20 million CFA francs. The national police cited Arts. 401 and 402 in April 2025 in warning that clients themselves are liable.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2015 art. 402" ], "sources": [ "tg-cp2015-text", "tg-actulome-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The clause sits in the procuring article and refers to \"la personne livrée à la prostitution\"; whether it covers every client or only clients of a person who is being procured is open to interpretation. No prosecution of a client was found.", "mapLabel": "up to 10 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Owning, managing, running, financing or helping to finance a prostitution establishment; habitually tolerating prostitution or the seeking of clients in any establishment open to the public; and selling or making available non-public premises or vehicles knowing they are used for prostitution are punished by five to ten years and a fine of 5 to 20 million CFA francs (Art. 403). Courts may close the establishment (Art. 402).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2015 art. 403", "Code pénal 2015 art. 402" ], "sources": [ "tg-cp2015", "tg-cp2015-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Art. 403(3) on making premises available covers premises used by one or more people for prostitution, so on its face it could reach a landlord of a sex worker working alone or with others." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring is aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, or recruiting or pressuring a person into it (Art. 401): five to ten years and 5 to 20 million CFA francs (Art. 402). Acting as an intermediary, or living or associating with sex workers without being able to justify one's income, is treated as procuring (Art. 404). Aggravated forms carry up to 20 years (Arts. 405–407).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2015 arts. 401–407" ], "sources": [ "tg-cp2015", "tg-cp2015-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in a transcription of the official gazette. Art. 405 gives the same five-to-ten-year range as Art. 402 with a higher fine (10 to 30 million CFA francs)." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No advert-specific offence was found, but racolage covers public soliciting by any means (Art. 397), and publicly spreading incitements to practices contrary to good morals by any means of communication carries six months to two years (Art. 394). Procuring by messages to the public over a telecommunications network is aggravated (Art. 405(9)), and aiding another's prostitution is procuring (Art. 401), which on its face could reach an ad site.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal 2015 art. 394", "Code pénal 2015 art. 397", "Code pénal 2015 art. 401", "Code pénal 2015 art. 405(9)" ], "sources": [ "tg-cp2015-text" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Classification inferred from general provisions; no case applying them to online adverts or ad sites was found. Togo's cybersecurity and electronic communications laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tg-cp2015", "titleEn": "Law No. 2015-10 of 24 November 2015 on the new Penal Code", "relevance": "Book II, sections on soliciting (Arts. 397–398) and on procuring and related offences (Arts. 401–410), including the client clause in Art. 402.", "provisions": [ "arts. 394", "arts. 397–398", "arts. 401–410" ], "inForce": "2015-11-24" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2015-11-24", "event": "The new Penal Code (Law No. 2015-10) is published in the Journal officiel, with offences of soliciting, procuring and running prostitution establishments, and a clause punishing clients like procurers.", "sources": [ "tg-cp2015", "tg-cp2015-text" ] }, { "date": "2025-04-11", "event": "The Togolese national police issue a warning that procuring is a crime, naming clients among those liable under Arts. 401 and 402 of the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "tg-actulome-2025" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tg-cp2015", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Loi n° 2015-10 du 24 novembre 2015 portant nouveau code pénal (Journal officiel de la République togolaise, 60e année, n° 30 spécial)", "titleEn": "Law No. 2015-10 of 24 November 2015 on the new Penal Code (Official Gazette, special issue No. 30)", "publisher": "FAOLEX (copy of the Journal officiel de la République togolaise)", "url": "https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Tog186175.pdf", "published": "2015-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "tg-cp2015-text", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Journal officiel 60è année n°30 (24 novembre 2015): transcription", "titleEn": "Official Gazette, year 60, No. 30 (24 November 2015): transcription", "publisher": "jo-togo.darkaa.com (unofficial transcription of the Journal officiel)", "url": "https://jo-togo.darkaa.com/journal/2015-11-24-1dacb4f6922e", "published": "2015-11-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "tg-actulome-2025", "kind": "news", "title": "Togo : La Police nationale alerte - Toute forme de proxénétisme est un crime", "titleEn": "Togo: the national police warns that every form of procuring is a crime", "publisher": "Actulomé", "url": "https://actulome.com/togo-police-nationale-proxenetisme/", "published": "2025-04-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/togo/" }, { "iso2": "TO", "name": "Tonga", "nativeName": "Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) criminalises brothel-keeping and letting or permitting premises for a brothel or habitual prostitution (s. 80), a man living on the earnings of prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain and public soliciting for immoral purposes (s. 81), and procuring a woman to frequent a brothel (s. 126).", "modelSources": [ "to-coa" ], "summary": "In Tonga, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) penalises the activities around them. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, carries a fine of up to T$5,000 or one year (s. 80). A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution faces two years, and on a repeat conviction may also be ordered to be whipped; a woman who controls a sex worker for gain faces T$5,000 or two years; soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes carries six months (s. 81). Procuring a woman to leave home to frequent a brothel carries five years (s. 126). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Any person who in a public place solicits or importunes for immoral purposes is liable to up to six months; a man who, while soliciting in public for an immoral purpose, presents himself as a woman to deceive another person faces a fine of up to T$1,000 or one year, or both.", "provisions": [ "s. 81(4) Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04", "s. 81(5) Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04" ], "sources": [ "to-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2020 Revised Edition of the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) on the Attorney General's Office portal; amendments after that edition were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The public soliciting offence in s. 81(4) applies to 'any person' and could reach clients.", "provisions": [ "s. 81(4) Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04" ], "sources": [ "to-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2020 Revised Edition of the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) on the Attorney General's Office portal; amendments after that edition were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel; a landlord letting premises knowing they will be used as a brothel; and a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution are offences punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to T$5,000 or one year. A brothel is any place 'kept, used or resorted to for purposes of prostitution', and the section extends to premises used for 'lewd homosexual practices'.", "provisions": [ "s. 80 Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04" ], "sources": [ "to-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2020 Revised Edition of the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) on the Attorney General's Office portal; amendments after that edition were not checked." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A man who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution faces up to two years, and on a second or later conviction the court may also order whipping; a man living with or controlling a sex worker is presumed to do so. A woman who for gain controls a sex worker's movements faces up to T$5,000 or two years. Procuring a woman or girl to leave home to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel carries five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 81(1)-(3) Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04", "s. 126(b) Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04" ], "sources": [ "to-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2020 Revised Edition of the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) on the Attorney General's Office portal; amendments after that edition were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offence in s. 81(4) is limited to public places; a third party who profits from advertising others could face s. 81.", "provisions": [ "s. 81 Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04" ], "sources": [ "to-coa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "to-coa", "titleEn": "Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04 (2020 Revised Edition)", "relevance": "Keeping a brothel (s. 80), trading in prostitution and public soliciting (s. 81) and procuring the defilement of females, including for brothels (s. 126).", "provisions": [ "s. 80", "s. 81", "s. 126" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "to-coa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Offences Act, Chapter 4.04, 2020 Revised Edition", "publisher": "Attorney General's Office, Kingdom of Tonga", "url": "https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1924/1924-0010/CriminalOffencesAct_3.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tonga/" }, { "iso2": "TT", "name": "Trinidad and Tobago", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 11:28) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 17), brothel-keeping (s. 22), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 23) and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 24); the Summary Offences Act (Ch. 11:02) adds a street offence for women soliciting passers-by (s. 46(j)).", "modelSources": [ "tt-soa", "tt-summary" ], "summary": "In Trinidad and Tobago, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. The Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 11:28, as updated to 31 December 2016) makes procuring another person for prostitution punishable by fifteen years, and keeping or managing a brothel, letting or permitting premises to be used as one, knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes, and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain each punishable by five years. Under the Summary Offences Act, a woman loitering about and soliciting passers-by for prostitution may be dealt with as a 'rogue and vagabond' (two months). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. A person who 'in any place solicits for immoral purposes' is liable to five years under the Sexual Offences Act, and under the Summary Offences Act 'any woman loitering about and soliciting passers-by for the purpose of prostitution' may be deemed a rogue and vagabond and imprisoned for two months.", "provisions": [ "s. 23(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28", "s. 46(j) Summary Offences Act, Ch. 11:02" ], "sources": [ "tt-soa", "tt-summary" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the Sexual Offences Act uses a substituted font encoding; the text was decoded by hand and the section numbers were read from its arrangement of sections, so section numbers are medium confidence. How courts read 'immoral purposes' in s. 23(1)(b) was not researched.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision making it an offence to pay an adult for sex was found. The soliciting offence in s. 23(1)(b) of the Sexual Offences Act is not limited to sellers.", "provisions": [ "s. 23(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28" ], "sources": [ "tt-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of an offence in the two acts reviewed; the Trafficking in Persons Act was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in managing, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used each carry five years. A brothel is 'a place resorted to by persons of either sex for the purpose of prostitution'.", "provisions": [ "s. 22 Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28", "s. 2 Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28 (definitions)" ], "sources": [ "tt-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the Sexual Offences Act uses a substituted font encoding; the text was decoded by hand and the section numbers were read from its arrangement of sections, so section numbers are medium confidence." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring another for prostitution, whether or not that person is already a sex worker, or procuring a person to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel, carries fifteen years. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution and, for gain, controlling a sex worker's movements so as to aid or compel their prostitution each carry five years.", "provisions": [ "s. 17 Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28", "s. 23(1)(a) and (3) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28", "s. 24 Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28" ], "sources": [ "tt-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official PDF of the Sexual Offences Act uses a substituted font encoding; the text was decoded by hand and the section numbers were read from its arrangement of sections, so section numbers are medium confidence." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The Summary Offences Act penalises exhibiting obscene prints or representations to public view (s. 46(g)), and the soliciting offence in s. 23(1)(b) of the Sexual Offences Act applies 'in any place'.", "provisions": [ "s. 46(g) Summary Offences Act, Ch. 11:02", "s. 23(1)(b) Sexual Offences Act, Ch. 11:28" ], "sources": [ "tt-summary", "tt-soa" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the acts reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tt-soa", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 11:28 (updated to 31 December 2016)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 17), suppression of brothels (s. 22), living on earnings and soliciting (s. 23) and aiding prostitution for gain (s. 24).", "provisions": [ "s. 17", "s. 22", "s. 23", "s. 24" ] }, { "sourceId": "tt-summary", "titleEn": "Summary Offences Act, Chapter 11:02 (updated to 31 December 2016)", "relevance": "Women loitering and soliciting passers-by for prostitution as rogues and vagabonds (s. 46(j)); permitting 'known prostitutes' to remain in places of public resort (s. 53).", "provisions": [ "s. 46", "s. 53" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tt-soa", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 11:28, Laws of Trinidad and Tobago (unofficial version updated to 31 December 2016)", "publisher": "Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs", "url": "https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/11.28.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tt-summary", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Summary Offences Act, Chapter 11:02, Laws of Trinidad and Tobago (unofficial version updated to 31 December 2016)", "publisher": "Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs", "url": "https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/11.02.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/" }, { "iso2": "TN", "name": "Tunisia", "nativeName": "تونس", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Borderline. A decree of 30 April 1942 and a 1977 Interior Ministry circular still provide for licensed houses with registered women, so Tunisia is often listed as a regulated country. Outside that system, Article 231 of the Penal Code punishes women who sell sex and, as accomplices, their clients. The last licensed houses, in Tunis and Sfax, have been shut since March 2020, so in practice no legal route was found to exist in 2026.", "modelSources": [ "tn-cp", "tn-escwa", "tn-nawaat-2021" ], "summary": "Tunisia keeps a colonial-era licensing system on paper but criminalises prostitution outside it. Article 231 of the Penal Code punishes women who, outside the cases provided for by regulations, offer themselves to passers-by or engage in prostitution, even occasionally, with six months to two years in prison, and treats anyone who has sex with them as an accomplice liable to the same penalty. Procuring carries one to three years (Article 232), and publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, including by electronic messages, carries six months (Article 226 bis). The 1942 decree regulates registered sex work in licensed houses, subject to medical checks, a special tax and Interior Ministry registration. The last houses, in Tunis and Sfax, were closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis; no reopening was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Outside the cases provided for by the regulations in force, women who offer themselves to passers-by by gestures or words, or engage in prostitution even occasionally, face six months to two years in prison and a fine of 20 to 200 dinars (Article 231). The only exception is registered work in a licensed house under the 1942 decree, and no such house was found to be operating in 2026.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 231" ], "sources": [ "tn-cp", "tn-escwa", "tn-nawaat-2021" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Article 231 is worded for women only. The status of licensed houses after 2021 could not be confirmed.", "mapLabel": "up to 2 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who has sexual relations with a woman covered by Article 231 is treated as an accomplice and faces the same penalty of six months to two years and a fine of 20 to 200 dinars. This paragraph was added in 1968.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 231 al. 2" ], "sources": [ "tn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "up to 2 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A decree of 30 April 1942 still provides for licensed houses in which registered women may work, subject to medical tests, a special tax and Interior Ministry registration. In practice the remaining houses in Tunis (Sidi Abdallah Guech) and Sfax have been closed since March 2020. Running prostitution outside that system falls under the procuring offence (Article 232).", "provisions": [ "Arrêté du 30 avril 1942", "Code pénal art. 232" ], "sources": [ "tn-escwa", "tn-nawaat-2021", "tn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The 1942 decree itself could not be opened; its content is taken from the UN ESCWA country matrix. Nawaat reported in 2021 that no authority had ordered the Sfax houses closed for good; their status since then was not confirmed." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who knowingly aids, protects or assists another's prostitution or soliciting, shares its proceeds, lives with a person habitually engaged in it without sufficient resources of their own, recruits or keeps a person for prostitution even with consent, or acts as an intermediary is a procurer, punishable by one to three years and a fine of 100 to 500 dinars (Article 232). Aggravating circumstances raise this to three to five years (Article 233).", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 232", "Code pénal art. 233", "Code pénal art. 235" ], "sources": [ "tn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity to commit debauchery by writings, recordings, or audio, visual, electronic or optical messages is punishable by six months in prison and a fine of 1,000 dinars (Article 226 bis). Offering oneself to passers-by by gestures or words is covered by Article 231, and assisting another's soliciting is procuring under Article 232.", "provisions": [ "Code pénal art. 226 bis al. 2", "Code pénal art. 231", "Code pénal art. 232" ], "sources": [ "tn-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tn-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Decree of 9 July 1913), as amended", "relevance": "Article 231 criminalises selling sex outside the regulated system and its clients; Articles 232 to 235 cover procuring; Article 226 bis covers publicly drawing attention to debauchery.", "provisions": [ "art. 226 bis", "art. 231–235" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1942-04-30", "event": "Decree regulating prostitution in licensed houses, still cited as in force by the UN in 2024.", "sources": [ "tn-escwa" ] }, { "date": "1964-07-02", "event": "Law No. 64-34 reinserts Articles 231 to 235 on prostitution and procuring into the Penal Code.", "sources": [ "tn-cp" ] }, { "date": "1968-03-08", "event": "Law No. 68-1 adds the paragraph making clients accomplices under Article 231.", "sources": [ "tn-cp" ] }, { "date": "2004-08-02", "event": "Law No. 2004-73 adds Article 226 bis, including the offence of publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery.", "sources": [ "tn-cp" ] }, { "date": "2020-03", "event": "The licensed houses in Tunis and Sfax are closed during the COVID-19 health crisis.", "sources": [ "tn-nawaat-2021" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tn-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Décret du 9 juillet 1913 portant promulgation du Code Pénal", "titleEn": "Decree of 9 July 1913 promulgating the Penal Code (consolidated)", "publisher": "DCAF, Tunisia security-sector legal database", "url": "https://legislation-securite.tn/latest-laws/decret-du-9-juillet-1913-portant-promulgation-du-code-penal/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" }, { "id": "tn-escwa", "kind": "intergovernmental", "title": "Country matrix 2024: Tunisia — Gender Justice and the Law", "publisher": "UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women", "url": "https://genderjustice.unescwa.org/extracts2025/tunisia.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tn-nawaat-2021", "kind": "news", "title": "A Tunis et à Sfax: Les travailleuses du sexe, victimes collatérales du Covid-19", "titleEn": "In Tunis and Sfax: sex workers, collateral victims of Covid-19", "publisher": "Nawaat", "url": "https://nawaat.org/2021/08/17/a-tunis-et-a-sfax-les-travailleuses-du-sexe-victimes-collaterales-du-covid-19/", "published": "2021-08-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "fr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tunisia/" }, { "iso2": "TR", "name": "Turkey", "nativeName": "Türkiye", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "A 1961 regulation (Tüzük) issued under the 1930 Public Hygiene Law provides for licensed brothels (genelev) and the registration of women as \"genel kadın\", with commission oversight and compulsory medical checks. Outside that system, the Penal Code criminalises encouraging, facilitating or mediating prostitution and providing a place for it (Article 227); buying is not an offence.", "modelSources": [ "tr-tuzuk", "tr-tck" ], "summary": "Turkey runs a state-licensed brothel system under the 1961 regulation on registered women and brothels, issued under Public Hygiene Law No. 1593 and last amended in 1973. Local commissions register women as \"genel kadın\", who must be at least 21, Turkish citizens and not stateless, and subject them to compulsory medical examinations; opening a genelev requires an application to the highest local civil administrator, commission review and police permission. Article 227 of the Penal Code punishes encouraging, facilitating or mediating prostitution or providing a place for it with two to four years, and since 2016 distributing material prepared to facilitate or mediate prostitution with one to three years. Under Law No. 5651, online content raising sufficient suspicion of an Article 227 offence can be removed or access to it blocked. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Women may sell sex legally within the registration system: a commission registers them as \"genel kadın\" if they are at least 21, Turkish citizens and not stateless, and they must undergo periodic official medical examinations. The Penal Code does not make selling sex itself an offence.", "provisions": [ "Tüzük md. 15, 20–22, 25–26", "TCK md. 227" ], "sources": [ "tr-tuzuk", "tr-tck" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The regulation is written for women only. How people selling sex outside the registration system are sanctioned in practice (for example under misdemeanour law) was not checked for this overview." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. Article 227 targets those who encourage, facilitate or mediate prostitution or provide a place for it.", "provisions": [ "TCK md. 227" ], "sources": [ "tr-tck" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Genel evler (brothels) may operate with permission: the applicant applies to the highest local civil administrator, the commission inspects the building and the people involved, and police grant permission. Operators may not admit women under 21 or women not registered by the commission. Providing a place for prostitution outside this system is a crime under Article 227(2).", "provisions": [ "Tüzük md. 16, 50–52, 62", "TCK md. 227/2" ], "sources": [ "tr-tuzuk", "tr-tck" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Encouraging a person into prostitution, facilitating it, mediating it or providing a place for it is punishable by two to four years' imprisonment and a judicial fine of up to 3,000 days; living wholly or partly off the earnings of a person drawn into prostitution counts as encouragement. Force, threats, deceit or exploiting helplessness increase the penalty by half to double.", "provisions": [ "TCK md. 227/2", "TCK md. 227/4" ], "sources": [ "tr-tck" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Giving, distributing or disseminating products containing images, texts or words prepared to facilitate or mediate prostitution is punishable by one to three years and a judicial fine of 200 to 2,000 days. The paragraph was reintroduced by Law No. 6763 in 2016.", "details": "Law No. 5651, Article 8(1)(a)(6), lists prostitution (TCK Article 227) among the offences for which a decision to remove content and/or block access is taken where there is sufficient suspicion that online publications constitute the offence.", "provisions": [ "TCK md. 227/3", "5651 sayılı Kanun md. 8/1-a-6" ], "sources": [ "tr-tck", "tr-5651" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tr-tuzuk", "titleEn": "Regulation on registered women and brothels and on combating venereal diseases spread through prostitution (1961)", "relevance": "Sets up the commissions, registration of \"genel kadın\", medical checks and the permit procedure for brothels.", "provisions": [ "md. 15–22", "md. 50–52", "md. 62" ], "inForce": "1961-04-19" }, { "sourceId": "tr-tck", "titleEn": "Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 (2004)", "relevance": "Article 227 criminalises encouraging, facilitating, mediating and providing a place for prostitution, and distributing material that facilitates it.", "provisions": [ "md. 227" ] }, { "sourceId": "tr-5651", "titleEn": "Law No. 5651 on internet publications", "relevance": "Article 8 provides for removal of and blocking access to online content relating to Article 227 offences.", "provisions": [ "md. 8" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1961-04-19", "event": "Regulation on registered women and brothels published in the Official Gazette (No. 10786).", "sources": [ "tr-tuzuk" ] }, { "date": "1973-01-31", "event": "Council of Ministers decision 7/5786 amends the regulation, including the definition of \"genel kadın\".", "sources": [ "tr-tuzuk" ] }, { "date": "2016-11-24", "event": "Law No. 6763 reintroduces Article 227(3) of the Penal Code on distributing material that facilitates prostitution.", "sources": [ "tr-tck" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tr-tck", "kind": "legislation", "title": "5237 sayılı Türk Ceza Kanunu", "titleEn": "Turkish Penal Code No. 5237", "publisher": "Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Hukuk ve Mevzuat Genel Müdürlüğü)", "url": "https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5237&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "tr" }, { "id": "tr-5651", "kind": "legislation", "title": "5651 sayılı İnternet Ortamında Yapılan Yayınların Düzenlenmesi ve Bu Yayınlar Yoluyla İşlenen Suçlarla Mücadele Edilmesi Hakkında Kanun", "titleEn": "Law No. 5651 on Regulating Internet Publications and Combating Crimes Committed through Them", "publisher": "Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Hukuk ve Mevzuat Genel Müdürlüğü)", "url": "https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5651&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "tr" }, { "id": "tr-tuzuk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Genel Kadınlar ve Genelevlerin Tabi Olacakları Hükümler ve Fuhuş Yüzünden Bulaşan Zührevi Hastalıklarla Mücadele Tüzüğü", "titleEn": "Regulation on the Provisions Governing Registered Women and Brothels and on Combating Venereal Diseases Spread through Prostitution", "publisher": "Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Hukuk ve Mevzuat Genel Müdürlüğü)", "url": "https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5984&MevzuatTur=2&MevzuatTertip=4", "published": "1961-04-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "tr" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkey/" }, { "iso2": "TM", "name": "Turkmenistan", "nativeName": "Türkmenistan", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Both selling and buying sex are offences. Engaging in prostitution and paying for sex with a person engaged in prostitution are administrative offences (Articles 360-361 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Prostitution repeated within a year of an administrative penalty becomes a crime carrying up to two years' imprisonment (Article 138 of the Criminal Code). Brothels, procuring and pimping are separate crimes.", "modelSources": [ "tm-koap", "tm-uk" ], "summary": "Turkmenistan penalises both parties. Engaging in prostitution is fined 10 to 20 times the base amount. Having sexual relations with a person engaged in prostitution for payment is fined 5 to 10 times the base amount (Articles 360 and 361 of the Code of Administrative Offences). People suspected of either offence may be detained for up to 24 hours pending the case. Repeating prostitution within a year of an administrative penalty is a crime punishable by a fine, up to two years' corrective labour or up to two years' imprisonment (Article 138 of the Criminal Code). Organising or keeping a brothel and procuring each carry up to five years, and pimping two to six years. These figures come from texts consolidated to 2013-2014, the latest available.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence fined at 10 to 20 times the base amount. A repeat within a year after an administrative penalty is a crime punishable by a fine of 20 to 40 average monthly wages, up to two years' corrective labour or up to two years' imprisonment.", "provisions": [ "ст. 360 КоАП Туркменистана", "ст. 138 УК Туркменистана" ], "sources": [ "tm-koap", "tm-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in Russian texts hosted by WIPO Lex: the Administrative Code as published around 2014, the Criminal Code as amended to 9 November 2013. The Ministry of Justice's online database (law.minjust.gov.tm) requires registration with a Turkmen phone number and could not be checked, so later amendments may be missing.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Having sexual relations with a person engaged in prostitution, with payment of remuneration, is an administrative offence fined at 5 to 10 times the base amount. Persons suspected of it may be detained for up to 24 hours pending the case.", "provisions": [ "ст. 361 КоАП Туркменистана" ], "sources": [ "tm-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "As for selling: text consolidated around 2014; later amendments could not be checked.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping a brothel for debauchery or prostitution is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment, with or without confiscation of property and an obligation to live in a designated locality for two to five years; three to eight years for a repeat.", "provisions": [ "ст. 140 УК Туркменистана" ], "sources": [ "tm-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Code as amended to 9 November 2013." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring (сводничество) for debauchery or prostitution carries up to five years' imprisonment. Pimping, defined as using a person engaged in prostitution for sexual exploitation for mercenary motives, carries two to six years. Drawing a person into prostitution carries up to two years, and three to eight years with violence, blackmail, deception or a minor.", "provisions": [ "ст. 139 УК Туркменистана", "ст. 141 УК Туркменистана", "ст. 142 УК Туркменистана" ], "sources": [ "tm-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Criminal Code as amended to 9 November 2013." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Because both selling and buying are offences, an advertisement offers an unlawful act. A third party who arranges contacts between clients and sex workers commits procuring, which carries up to five years.", "provisions": [ "ст. 141 УК Туркменистана", "ст. 360 КоАП Туркменистана" ], "sources": [ "tm-uk", "tm-koap" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on Advertising and internet regulation were not checked. Applying the procuring offence to advertisers is an inference from the text." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tm-koap", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of Turkmenistan (text as hosted by WIPO Lex, c. 2014)", "relevance": "Engaging in prostitution (Art. 360) and paying for sex with a person engaged in prostitution (Art. 361) are administrative offences; suspects may be detained for up to 24 hours.", "provisions": [ "ст. 360", "ст. 361" ] }, { "sourceId": "tm-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Turkmenistan No. 222-I of 12 June 1997 (as amended to 9 November 2013)", "relevance": "Repeated prostitution (Art. 138), drawing into prostitution (Art. 139), brothels (Art. 140), procuring (Art. 141) and pimping (Art. 142).", "provisions": [ "ст. 138", "ст. 139", "ст. 140", "ст. 141", "ст. 142" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tm-koap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс Туркменистана об административных правонарушениях", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Offences of Turkmenistan", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (copy of the official text)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/13824", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" }, { "id": "tm-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Уголовный Кодекс Туркменистана № 222-I от 12.06.1997 г. (по состоянию на 09.11.2013 г.)", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Turkmenistan (as of 9 November 2013)", "publisher": "WIPO Lex (copy of the official text)", "url": "https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/14676", "published": "1997-06-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkmenistan/" }, { "iso2": "TV", "name": "Tuvalu", "nativeName": "Tuvalu", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition) criminalises procuring a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 136), a man living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting (s. 145), a woman controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), brothel-keeping (s. 148) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 167).", "modelSources": [ "tv-pc" ], "summary": "In Tuvalu, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition), inherited from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, penalises the activities around them. Procuring or attempting to procure a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home to frequent a brothel, carries two years. A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicits in public for immoral purposes, a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, and anyone who keeps, manages, permits or lets premises for a brothel commits a misdemeanour (two years and a fine where no penalty is specified). Soliciting for immoral purposes in public carries two months or a $20 fine. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex in private is not an offence. Any person who solicits for immoral purposes in a public place, and any 'common prostitute' behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public, is an idle and disorderly person liable to two months or a $20 fine.", "provisions": [ "s. 167(c) and (f) Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "tv-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2022 Revised Edition on the official Tuvalu legislation portal.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 2 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of paying an adult for sex was found. The public soliciting offences apply to 'any person' and could reach clients; a man persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes commits a misdemeanour under s. 145(1)(b).", "provisions": [ "s. 145(1)(b) Penal Code", "s. 167(f) Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "tv-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the 2022 Revised Edition on the official Tuvalu legislation portal." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping or managing, or assisting in the management of, a brothel; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution; and a landlord letting premises knowing they will be so used are misdemeanours, punishable by up to two years and a fine under the general misdemeanour penalty.", "provisions": [ "s. 148 Penal Code", "s. 147 Penal Code (search warrant)" ], "sources": [ "tv-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2022 Revised Edition on the official Tuvalu legislation portal." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring or attempting to procure any woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home or the country to frequent a brothel, carries two years (corroboration required). A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, presumed if he lives with or controls a sex worker, and a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, commit misdemeanours.", "provisions": [ "s. 136(1)(b)-(d) Penal Code", "s. 145(1)(a) and (2) Penal Code", "s. 146 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "tv-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Read from the 2022 Revised Edition on the official Tuvalu legislation portal." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found. The soliciting offences are limited to public places; a third party who profits from advertising others could face the living-on-earnings or control offences.", "provisions": [ "s. 145 Penal Code", "s. 146 Penal Code" ], "sources": [ "tv-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "tv-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition)", "relevance": "Procuration (s. 136), male living on earnings or persistent soliciting (s. 145), female control of a sex worker (s. 146), brothels (s. 148) and idle and disorderly persons (s. 167).", "provisions": [ "s. 136", "s. 145", "s. 146", "s. 148", "s. 167" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "tv-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition", "publisher": "Office of the Attorney-General, Tuvalu Legislation Online", "url": "https://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1965/1965-0007/1965-0007_2.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tuvalu/" }, { "iso2": "UG", "name": "Uganda", "nativeName": "Uganda", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Practising or engaging in prostitution is a specific offence under s. 139 of the Penal Code Act, punishable by seven years, alongside offences of living on the earnings of prostitution, soliciting, keeping a brothel and procuration. There is no offence aimed specifically at clients; bills that would have added one (2019, 2024) were not enacted.", "modelSources": [ "ug-penal-code" ], "summary": "Prostitution is prohibited in Uganda. Under the Penal Code Act, any person who practises or engages in prostitution is liable to seven years' imprisonment (s. 139); a prostitute is a person who regularly or habitually holds himself or herself out as available for sexual intercourse or other sexual gratification for monetary or other material gain (s. 138). Living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes in any place (s. 136), keeping a brothel (s. 137) and procuring a woman or girl into prostitution (s. 131) carry seven years each. No offence targets clients: the Sexual Offences Bill, which would have punished them, was passed in 2021 but refused assent, and its 2024 version was withdrawn in March 2026. Section numbers follow Cap. 120; the 2023 Revised Edition re-issued the Act as Cap. 128.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person who practises or engages in prostitution commits an offence punishable by seven years (s. 139). Soliciting or importuning for immoral purposes in any place also carries seven years (s. 136(1)), and a prostitute behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in a public place, or anyone soliciting or loitering in public for immoral purposes, is an idle and disorderly person liable to three months or a fine (s. 167).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) ss. 136, 138, 139", "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 167" ], "sources": [ "ug-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read in the Laws.Africa consolidation as at 2014-05-09 (Cap. 120). Uganda's 2023 Revised Edition of the laws, launched in 2024, re-issued the Act as Cap. 128, reportedly with renumbered sections (not verified); that edition could not be opened (ULII blocked automated access), so current numbering and any later amendments were not verified.", "mapLabel": "up to 7 years" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "The Penal Code Act has no offence aimed at clients. Soliciting or importuning for immoral purposes \"in any place\" (s. 136) applies to every person and can reach a client who solicits. The Sexual Offences Bill passed in May 2021, which kept prison terms for clients, was refused assent, and its 2024 re-introduction was withdrawn in March 2026.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 136(1)" ], "sources": [ "ug-penal-code", "ug-hrw-2021", "ug-76crimes-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Whether clients are prosecuted as parties to the s. 139 offence of the person selling sex was not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any person who keeps a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for purposes of prostitution commits an offence punishable by seven years (s. 137). Detaining a person in a brothel, including by withholding clothing or property, is a separate offence (s. 134).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 137", "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 134" ], "sources": [ "ug-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Cap. 120 numbering (2014 consolidation); see the note under selling." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution carries seven years; living with or habitually accompanying a sex worker, or controlling their movements, raises a rebuttable presumption (s. 136). Procuring or attempting to procure a woman or girl to become a common prostitute, or to leave home or Uganda to frequent a brothel, also carries seven years, with a corroboration requirement (s. 131).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 131", "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) s. 136" ], "sources": [ "ug-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Cap. 120 numbering (2014 consolidation); see the note under selling." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found, but holding oneself out as available for sex for gain is part of the statutory definition of a prostitute (s. 138), so an advertisement by a person selling sex is evidence of the s. 139 offence, and soliciting \"in any place\" is itself an offence (s. 136). A third party publishing such ads for profit could fall under living on the earnings of prostitution, but no case law was found.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120) ss. 136, 138, 139" ], "sources": [ "ug-penal-code" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inferred from the general provisions. The Anti-Pornography Act 2014 and the Computer Misuse Act as amended in 2022 were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ug-penal-code", "titleEn": "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120; Cap. 128 in the 2023 Revised Edition)", "relevance": "Prohibition of prostitution, living on earnings and soliciting, brothels, procuration and the idle-and-disorderly offence.", "provisions": [ "ss. 131, 134, 136–139", "s. 167" ], "inForce": "1950-06-15" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2021-05-03", "event": "Parliament passes the Sexual Offences Bill, 2019, keeping prison terms for sex workers, clients and brothel keepers; President Museveni declined to assent on 3 August 2021.", "sources": [ "ug-hrw-2021" ] }, { "date": "2024-10-14", "event": "The Sexual Offences Bill, 2024 is re-tabled for first reading by Anna Adeke Ebaju.", "sources": [ "ug-parliament-2024" ] }, { "date": "2026-03-12", "event": "The Sexual Offences Bill, 2024 is withdrawn after the Speaker said the government considered its offences already covered by existing law.", "sources": [ "ug-76crimes-2026" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ug-penal-code", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code Act (Cap. 120), legislation as at 2014-05-09", "publisher": "Laws.Africa / ULII (PDF hosted by JurisAfrica)", "url": "https://www.jurisafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Uganda-Penal-Code-Act.pdf.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ug-parliament-2024", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Bill to criminalise sexual offences re-tabled", "publisher": "Parliament of Uganda", "url": "https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/3370/bill-criminalise-sexual-offences-re-tabled", "published": "2024-10-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ug-hrw-2021", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Uganda: Reject Sexual Offenses Bill", "publisher": "Human Rights Watch", "url": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/06/uganda-reject-sexual-offenses-bill", "published": "2021-05-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ug-76crimes-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Uganda Parliament drops proposed sexual offenses bill", "publisher": "76crimes / Erasing 76 Crimes", "url": "https://76crimes.com/2026/05/08/uganda-drops-sexual-offenses-bill/", "published": "2026-05-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uganda/" }, { "iso2": "UA", "name": "Ukraine", "nativeName": "Україна", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is an administrative offence under Article 181-1 of the Code on Administrative Offences (warning or small fine). Buying is not an offence. Keeping places of debauchery, pandering, pimping and involving others in prostitution are crimes (Articles 302 and 303 of the Criminal Code).", "modelSources": [ "ua-kupap", "ua-protocol-181-1", "ua-kk" ], "summary": "Ukraine penalises the person who sells sex with an administrative sanction: under Article 181-1 of the Code on Administrative Offences, engaging in prostitution is punishable by a warning or a fine of 5 to 10 non-taxable minimum incomes, rising to 8 to 15 for a repeat within a year. Buying sex is not an offence. The Criminal Code punishes creating or maintaining places of debauchery and pandering (Article 302; fines or restriction of liberty, up to five years' imprisonment where done for gain or by an organised group) and pimping or drawing a person into prostitution by deception, blackmail, exploiting vulnerability or violence (Article 303; three to five years, more in aggravated cases). Article 302 was last amended in 2023. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found in the provisions checked.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punishable by a warning or a fine of 5 to 10 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens; a repeat within a year after a penalty is fined 8 to 15.", "details": "The article was added to the Code by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of 12 June 1987 and amended by Law No. 55/97-ВР of 7 February 1997.", "provisions": [ "ст. 181-1 КУпАП" ], "sources": [ "ua-kupap", "ua-protocol-181-1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official portal zakon.rada.gov.ua could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the wording was checked against the copy on protocol.ua, a private legal database.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Code on Administrative Offences or the Criminal Code provisions checked; Article 181-1 is directed at the person engaging in prostitution.", "sources": [ "ua-kupap", "ua-protocol-181-1", "ua-kk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official portal zakon.rada.gov.ua could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the wording was checked against the copy on protocol.ua, a private legal database." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Creating or maintaining places of debauchery, or pandering for debauchery, is punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 non-taxable minimum incomes, probation supervision or restriction of liberty of up to two years; up to five years' restriction or deprivation of liberty where done for gain, by a repeat offender or by an organised group.", "provisions": [ "ст. 302 ККУ" ], "sources": [ "ua-kk", "ua-protocol-302" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official portal zakon.rada.gov.ua could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the wording was checked against the copy on protocol.ua, a private legal database." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pimping (defined as actions ensuring another person's prostitution), or drawing a person into prostitution or compelling them to engage in it by deception, blackmail, exploiting their vulnerability or by violence or its threat, is punishable by three to five years; four to seven years for aggravated forms and more where minors are involved.", "provisions": [ "ст. 303 ККУ" ], "sources": [ "ua-kk", "ua-protocol-303" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The official portal zakon.rada.gov.ua could not be reached from our location on 2026-10-30; the wording was checked against the copy on protocol.ua, a private legal database." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence specifically targeting the advertising of sexual services was found in the provisions checked. Advertising that ensures another person's prostitution could fall within the definition of pimping in Article 303.", "provisions": [ "ст. 303 ККУ" ], "sources": [ "ua-kk", "ua-protocol-303" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision; the Law on Advertising and media legislation could not be checked because the official portal was unreachable." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ua-kupap", "titleEn": "Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences (1984, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 181-1 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence.", "provisions": [ "ст. 181-1" ] }, { "sourceId": "ua-kk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Ukraine (2001, as amended)", "relevance": "Articles 302 and 303 criminalise brothel keeping, pandering, pimping and drawing people into prostitution.", "provisions": [ "ст. 302", "ст. 303" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1987-06-12", "event": "Article 181-1 (engaging in prostitution) added to the Code on Administrative Offences.", "sources": [ "ua-protocol-181-1" ] }, { "date": "2023-08-23", "event": "Law No. 3342-IX amends Article 302 of the Criminal Code.", "sources": [ "ua-protocol-302" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ua-kupap", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кодекс України про адміністративні правопорушення", "titleEn": "Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences", "publisher": "Верховна Рада України (zakon.rada.gov.ua)", "url": "https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/80731-10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uk" }, { "id": "ua-kk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Кримінальний кодекс України", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of Ukraine", "publisher": "Верховна Рада України (zakon.rada.gov.ua)", "url": "https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2341-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uk" }, { "id": "ua-protocol-181-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Стаття 181-1. Заняття проституцією – Кодекс України про адміністративні правопорушення", "titleEn": "Article 181-1 Engaging in prostitution (Code on Administrative Offences)", "publisher": "Protocol (private legal database, copy of the official text)", "url": "https://protocol.ua/ua/kodeks_ukraini_pro_administrativni_pravoporushennya_stattya_181_1/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uk" }, { "id": "ua-protocol-302", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Стаття 302. Створення або утримання місць розпусти і звідництво – Кримінальний кодекс України", "titleEn": "Article 302 Creating or maintaining places of debauchery and pandering (Criminal Code)", "publisher": "Protocol (private legal database, copy of the official text)", "url": "https://protocol.ua/ua/kriminalniy_kodeks_ukraini_stattya_302/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uk" }, { "id": "ua-protocol-303", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Стаття 303. Сутенерство або втягнення особи в заняття проституцією – Кримінальний кодекс України", "titleEn": "Article 303 Pimping or involving a person in prostitution (Criminal Code)", "publisher": "Protocol (private legal database, copy of the official text)", "url": "https://protocol.ua/ua/kriminalniy_kodeks_ukraini_stattya_303/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uk" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ukraine/" }, { "iso2": "AE", "name": "United Arab Emirates", "nativeName": "الإمارات العربية المتحدة", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Selling sex is a crime: a 'habitual prostitute or debauchee' faces temporary imprisonment (Art. 422, Crimes and Penalties Law). There is no offence aimed at clients as such, but sex between unmarried adults remains an offence under Art. 409, prosecutable only on a complaint by a spouse or guardian. Brothels, procuring and incitement, including online, are crimes. The same federal code applies in all seven emirates, including Dubai.", "modelSources": [ "ae-penal", "ae-cyber" ], "summary": "Prostitution is illegal in the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi: the federal Crimes and Penalties Law (Decree-Law 31/2021, in force since 2 January 2022) applies to any crime on the State's territory. Habitual prostitution carries temporary imprisonment (three to fifteen years by default). Running or facilitating a brothel carries temporary imprisonment and at least AED 100,000; inciting or assisting prostitution at least two years and a fine since December 2025; exploiting another's prostitution up to five years. Inciting prostitution online carries temporary imprisonment and AED 250,000 to 1,000,000 (Decree-Law 34/2021). The 2020 and 2021 reforms on consensual relations did not legalise paid sex: sex between unmarried adults is still an offence (Art. 409), prosecutable only on a complaint by a spouse or guardian.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Any habitual prostitute or debauchee is punished with temporary imprisonment, which lasts three to fifteen years unless the law states otherwise (Art. 422 with Art. 69). Soliciting passers-by on a public road is a separate offence (Art. 414: up to six months and/or up to AED 100,000), as is inciting prostitution through an information network (Art. 33, Decree-Law 34/2021).", "details": "Article 422 requires habituality. A single paid encounter between adults falls under the general consensual-relations offence of Article 409(1)(a) (at least six months' imprisonment for both parties), which under Article 409(5) can be brought only on a complaint by the spouse or guardian, who may withdraw it at any time. The English text on the official portal states that the Arabic text prevails.", "provisions": [ "Art. 422 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 409 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 414 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 69 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 33 Federal Decree-Law 34/2021" ], "sources": [ "ae-penal", "ae-cyber" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Whether Article 33 of the cybercrime law, which targets inciting 'third parties' to prostitution, is applied to people advertising their own services was not checked against case law.", "mapLabel": "up to 15 years" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets clients as such. Paying an adult for sex is covered by the general offence of consensual intercourse outside marriage (Art. 409(1)): at least six months' imprisonment for both parties. Under Art. 409(5) no prosecution may be brought except on a complaint by the spouse or guardian, and withdrawing the complaint ends the case or suspends the sentence.", "details": "Article 409(1) sets only a minimum; under Article 70, incarceration may not exceed three years unless the law provides otherwise.", "provisions": [ "Art. 409 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ae-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Status is 'illegal' because the act is an offence, but prosecution depends on a private complaint. Whether a client found in a brothel can be charged with assisting prostitution (Art. 417) or facilitating a brothel (Art. 419) was not checked against case law.", "mapLabel": "extramarital sex: 3 years" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Establishing or running a house for debauchery or prostitution, facilitating such practices, or assisting in any way in establishing or running such a house is punishable by temporary imprisonment and a fine of at least AED 100,000. The court must order the premises closed; they may reopen only for lawful business with the Public Prosecution's approval.", "provisions": [ "Art. 419 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ae-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting, enticing or seducing anyone to prostitution, or assisting in it, carries at least two years' imprisonment and a fine (Art. 417, as amended in December 2025; previously at least one year). Using coercion, trickery or threats carries up to ten years' temporary imprisonment (Art. 418), and taking advantage of another person's prostitution by any means up to five years (Art. 420).", "details": "Article 421 makes it an aggravating circumstance if the offender is an ascendant, a close relative, a carer, a person in authority over the victim or that person's employee. Penalties rise where the victim is under 18 (Arts. 417 and 418). After a sentence of one year or more for any offence in this Part, the convicted person is placed on probation for a period equal to the sentence (Art. 423).", "provisions": [ "Art. 417 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 418 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 420 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 421 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ae-penal", "ae-2025-amend" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting or tempting others to prostitution, or assisting them, through an information network is punishable by temporary imprisonment and a fine of AED 250,000 to 1,000,000 (Art. 33, Decree-Law 34/2021). Publicly prompting others to debauchery by any means is a further offence (Art. 415, up to one month and/or up to AED 100,000).", "provisions": [ "Art. 33 Federal Decree-Law 34/2021", "Art. 415 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 417 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ae-cyber", "ae-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Creating, managing or supervising a website that displays obscene material or anything that violates public morals is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 250,000 to 500,000 (Art. 34, Decree-Law 34/2021). A site operator hosting sex-work ads would also be exposed to the offences of assisting online incitement (Art. 33) and facilitating prostitution (Art. 419 of the Crimes and Penalties Law).", "provisions": [ "Art. 33 Federal Decree-Law 34/2021", "Art. 34 Federal Decree-Law 34/2021", "Art. 419 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ae-cyber", "ae-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "This applies the statutory wording to ad sites; no prosecution of an ad-site operator was checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ae-penal", "titleEn": "Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law", "relevance": "Replaced the 1987 Penal Code. Part three of Chapter Five (Arts. 414 to 424) covers instigation of debauchery and prostitution; Art. 409 covers consensual intercourse outside marriage.", "provisions": [ "Art. 409", "Arts. 414-424" ], "inForce": "2022-01-02" }, { "sourceId": "ae-cyber", "titleEn": "Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes", "relevance": "Art. 33 criminalises inciting or assisting prostitution through an information network; Art. 34 covers websites carrying obscene material or content violating public morals.", "provisions": [ "Art. 33", "Art. 34" ], "inForce": "2022-01-02" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2020", "event": "Federal Decree-Law 15/2020 rewrites Article 356 of the 1987 Penal Code, so that consensual sex between unmarried adults is no longer an offence.", "sources": [ "ae-sj-2020" ] }, { "date": "2021-09-20", "event": "Federal Decree-Laws 31/2021 (Crimes and Penalties Law) and 34/2021 (Rumours and Cybercrimes) are issued; both take effect on 2 January 2022. Article 409 again penalises consensual sex outside marriage, but only on a complaint by a spouse or guardian.", "sources": [ "ae-penal", "ae-cyber" ] }, { "date": "2025-12-12", "event": "A Federal Decree-Law amending the Crimes and Penalties Law is announced: Article 409 adds at least ten years and AED 100,000 for adults having sex with a person under 18, and Article 417's minimum for inciting prostitution rises to two years.", "sources": [ "ae-2025-amend", "ae-penal" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ae-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law", "publisher": "UAE Legislation Platform (uaelegislation.gov.ae)", "url": "https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1529", "published": "2021-09-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ae-cyber", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes", "publisher": "UAE Legislation Platform (uaelegislation.gov.ae)", "url": "https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1526", "published": "2021-09-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ae-2025-amend", "kind": "news", "title": "UAE Government issues Federal Decree-Law amending certain provisions of the Crimes and Penalties Law", "publisher": "Aletihad News Center", "url": "https://en.aletihad.ae/news/uae/4629449/uae-government-issues-federal-decree-law-amending-certain-pr", "published": "2025-12-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ae-sj-2020", "kind": "news", "title": "UAE: reforms in personal status and criminal law", "publisher": "Solicitors Journal", "url": "https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjarticle/uae-reforms-in-personal-status-and-criminal-law", "published": "2023-04-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-arab-emirates/" }, { "iso2": "GB", "name": "United Kingdom", "memberships": [ "CoE" ], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The classification describes England and Wales: selling and buying sex between adults are not in themselves offences, but brothel-keeping (two or more people working from the same premises), causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain, persistent street soliciting and kerb crawling are. Scotland follows a similar pattern under its own statutes. Northern Ireland has criminalised paying for sexual services since 1 June 2015 and is shown separately as neo-abolitionist.", "modelSources": [ "soa-1956-s33a", "soa-2003-s53", "soa-2003-s53a", "sto-1959-s1", "cps-prostitution", "ni-2015-s15" ], "summary": "Criminal law on prostitution is devolved, so the UK has three regimes. In England and Wales selling and buying sex are legal, but almost everything around them is restricted: brothel-keeping, profiting from or controlling another person's prostitution, persistent street soliciting, kerb crawling, cards in phone boxes, and paying for sex with someone a third party has coerced (a strict-liability offence). Advertising one's own services online is not an offence, and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 without any of the amendments that would have criminalised publishing prostitution adverts. Adult services websites are instead regulated through the Online Safety Act 2023, which makes causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain priority illegal content. Scotland is broadly similar; Northern Ireland criminalises buying.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Scotland", "model": "abolitionism", "note": "Paying for or receiving payment for sex is not in itself an offence. A person in prostitution who loiters, solicits or importunes in a public place commits an offence under s.46 Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (fine up to level 2, no persistence requirement); soliciting or loitering to buy sex in a public place is an offence under s.1 Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007. Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 penalises brothel-keeping, landlords and occupiers who permit it, a male person living on the earnings of prostitution (control of a sex worker's movements is presumed to be living on the earnings) and a female who controls a sex worker's movements for gain (up to 7 years); s.7 of the same Act penalises procuring. Ash Regan MSP's member's bill to criminalise paying for sex, repeal s.46 and quash past convictions was introduced on 20 May 2025 as the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill and fell at Stage 1 on 3 February 2026 (54 for, 64 against). None of the Scottish prostitution offences is listed as a priority offence in Schedule 7 of the Online Safety Act 2023 (Scottish human trafficking is).", "sources": [ "cgsa-1982-s46", "clcsa-1995-s11", "ppsa-2007-s1", "sp-bill-regan", "spice-sb-25-33", "osa-2023-sch7" ] }, { "name": "Northern Ireland", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "note": "Since 1 June 2015 Article 64A of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, substituted by s.15 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, makes it an offence to obtain sexual services in exchange for payment (up to 1 year on indictment). The offence requires physical presence and sexual touching; remote services are outside it. The same section repealed the seller's offence of loitering or soliciting (Article 59), and the seller cannot be liable as an accessory. Brothel-keeping (Article 64) and causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain (Articles 62-63, both Online Safety Act priority offences) remain offences. The statutory three-year review (Department of Justice, 17 September 2019, research by Queen's University Belfast) recorded 15 arrests and two convictions for buying from June 2015 to December 2018 and found no evidence that the offence had reduced demand or supply.", "sources": [ "ni-2015-s15", "ni-order-2008-a64a", "ni-order-2008-a64", "doj-ni-2019-page", "doj-ni-2019-assessment", "doj-ni-2019-report", "osa-2023-sch7" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Selling sexual services as an adult is not an offence in England and Wales. The law targets what surrounds it: persistent loitering or soliciting in a street or public place (Street Offences Act 1959), working with others from the same premises (brothel-keeping) and third parties who profit.", "details": "For ss.51A-53A of the 2003 Act, \"prostitute\" means a person who, on at least one occasion and whether or not compelled to do so, offers or provides sexual services to another person in return for payment or a promise of payment to them or a third person (s.54(2) SOA 2003, as substituted from 3 May 2015). There is no offence of selling as such. CPS legal guidance (revised 25 April 2024) says that those who sell sex should not be routinely prosecuted as offenders and gives priority to diversion and support.\n\nThe seller-side offence that remains is s.1 Street Offences Act 1959 (persistent loitering or soliciting, see `street`). A sole worker working from their own premises does not keep a brothel; two or more working together may (see `sharedPremises`).", "provisions": [ "s.54 Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.1 Street Offences Act 1959" ], "sources": [ "soa-2003-s54", "sto-1959-s1", "cps-prostitution" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is legal in England and Wales, with two exceptions: soliciting in a street or public place to buy sex (s.51A SOA 2003), and paying for the services of someone a third party has subjected to force, threats, coercion or deception (s.53A). Section 53A is strict liability: the buyer's knowledge is irrelevant. Both carry a fine up to level 3.", "details": "Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, inserted by s.14 Policing and Crime Act 2009 and in force since 1 April 2010, applies where a third person (C) has engaged in exploitative conduct likely to induce the seller to provide the services and did so for gain. Subsection (2)(b) makes it irrelevant whether the buyer is, or ought to be, aware of that conduct, and it is irrelevant where in the world the services are to be provided. The penalty is a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (summary only). Level 3 on the standard scale is £1,000 (s. 122 Sentencing Act 2020).\n\nSection 51A (also from 1 April 2010) replaced the earlier kerb-crawling offences; CPS guidance notes that persistence and nuisance need not be proved. Paying for the sexual services of a child is a separate, serious offence (s.47).\n\nAmendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that would have made paying for sex an offence (Lords 311 at committee and 304 at report, Baroness Goudie, \"Paying for sex acts\") were not moved, nor were those creating a general offence of facilitating prostitution (Commons NC1; Lords 310, 303, 306A). Northern Ireland criminalises buying (see subnational).", "provisions": [ "s.51A Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.53A Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.14 Policing and Crime Act 2009" ], "sources": [ "soa-2003-s51a", "soa-2003-s53a", "pca-2009-prostitution", "cps-prostitution", "bills-api-3938-committee-lords", "bills-api-3938-amd-311", "bills-api-3938-amd-304" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "soliciting: ≈€1,200 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel is an offence. Section 33A of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (brothel used for prostitution) carries up to 7 years on indictment; the older s.33 offence and the landlord and tenant offences (ss.34-36) are summary only. Police can also close premises linked to causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain or to child sexual exploitation (Part 2A SOA 2003).", "details": "There is no statutory definition of a brothel; the case law relied on by the CPS (Stevens v Christy) treats premises as a brothel where two or more people use them at the same time for prostitution. Offences:\n\n- s.33 SOA 1956: keeping or managing a brothel (summary; maxima in Schedule 2 of the Act, higher after a previous conviction).\n- s.33A SOA 1956 (inserted by s.55 SOA 2003 from 1 May 2004): keeping, managing or assisting in managing a brothel to which people resort for practices involving prostitution: 6 months summarily, 7 years on indictment.\n- s.34: a landlord letting premises knowing they will be used as a brothel.\n- s.35: a tenant or occupier permitting use as a brothel.\n- s.36: a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution.\n\nPart 2A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (from s.136A) lets the police issue closure notices and courts make closure orders for premises associated with specified prostitution offences. The specified offences are ss.52-53 and the child-exploitation offences (s.136A(2)), not brothel-keeping itself.\n\nBrothel-keeping is not listed as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act 2023, unlike ss.52-53 SOA 2003. The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's 2026 report notes that some commentators describe adult services websites as \"virtual brothels\", but that case law largely limits a brothel to physical premises.", "provisions": [ "s.33 Sexual Offences Act 1956", "s.33A Sexual Offences Act 1956", "ss.34-36 Sexual Offences Act 1956", "Sch. 2 Sexual Offences Act 1956", "Part 2A (s.136A ff.) Sexual Offences Act 2003" ], "sources": [ "soa-1956-s33", "soa-1956-s33a", "soa-1956-s34", "soa-1956-s35", "soa-1956-s36", "soa-1956-sch2", "soa-2003-s136a", "cps-prostitution", "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf", "osa-2023-sch7" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "A single worker selling sex from their own premises does not keep a brothel, but two or more sex workers sharing premises, even for safety and with no manager, can make the premises a brothel. Each of them can then be prosecuted for keeping or assisting in the management of it, and the landlord or tenant can also be liable.", "details": "This follows from the case-law definition summarised in the CPS guidance (two or more people using the same premises at the same time for prostitution) combined with the wide wording of s.33A SOA 1956 (\"keep, or manage, or act or assist in the management of\"). There is no statutory exemption for small co-operative arrangements. Sections 34-36 SOA 1956 extend liability to landlords, tenants and occupiers who permit the use.\n\nCPS guidance (2024) treats this low-culpability end as unlikely to warrant prosecution: sex workers who \"simply play a minor role in maintaining a premises where more than one person is selling sex\" are \"less likely to require prosecution\", and maintaining such premises is unlikely, without more (e.g. a recruiting role or anti-social behaviour), to require a prosecution in the public interest.", "provisions": [ "s.33A Sexual Offences Act 1956", "ss.34-36 Sexual Offences Act 1956" ], "sources": [ "soa-1956-s33a", "soa-1956-s34", "soa-1956-s35", "soa-1956-s36", "cps-prostitution" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Intentionally causing or inciting another person to become a prostitute (s.52 SOA 2003), or controlling any of their activities relating to prostitution (s.53), is an offence when done for or in the expectation of gain, with up to 7 years on indictment. Gain includes goodwill likely to bring financial advantage. Control does not require force: the Court of Appeal held in R v Massey that the person need not have acted against their free will.", "details": "Both offences apply \"in any part of the world\" and require gain for the defendant or a third person (ss.52(1)(b), 53(1)(b); \"gain\" is defined in s.54(1)). CPS guidance states that s.52 \"cannot be committed if the 'other person' was already a prostitute\", so encouraging someone who already sells sex is outside it. CPS guidance (2024) states that \"control\" includes, but is not limited to, compulsion, coercion and force, citing R v Massey [2007] EWCA Crim 2664, and that a person can be controlled while in an intimate relationship with the controller. The guidance also covers \"sex for rent\" adverts under s.52. There is no general offence of living on the earnings of prostitution in England and Wales; that older offence survives only in Scotland (s.11 Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995).\n\nTrafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence under s.2 Modern Slavery Act 2015 (England and Wales), irrespective of consent.\n\nAt Commons committee in 2025 (NC1, Tonia Antoniazzi) and Lords report stage in February-March 2026 (306A, Lord Hacking), amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill proposed an offence of assisting, facilitating, controlling or inciting prostitution \"by any means\" whether or not for gain, including publishing adverts, with up to 10 years. Both were not moved. A Lords committee amendment (316A/316B, Baroness Ritchie) for an offence of operating platforms selling personalised sexual content for gain was not moved either. A Commons committee amendment creating a specific sex-for-rent offence (NC41, Matt Vickers) was defeated on division.", "provisions": [ "s.52 Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.53 Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.54 Sexual Offences Act 2003", "s.2 Modern Slavery Act 2015" ], "sources": [ "soa-2003-s52", "soa-2003-s53", "soa-2003-s54", "msa-2015-s2", "cps-prostitution", "bills-api-3938-committee-commons", "bills-api-3938-report-lords", "bills-api-3938-committee-lords" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no general offence of advertising sexual services, and sex workers advertise their own services legally, mostly online. The one specific offence is placing a prostitution advert on or near a public telephone (s.46 CJPA 2001). Third-party adverts can be evidence of brothel-keeping, inciting or controlling for gain. Every amendment to criminalise publishing prostitution adverts was not moved before the Crime and Policing Act 2026.", "details": "Section 46 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (\"cards in phone boxes\") applies to an advertisement for sexual services, or one indicating premises where such services are offered, placed on or in the immediate vicinity of a public telephone. Anything a reasonable person would consider such an advert is presumed to be one. Penalty: up to 6 months or a level 5 fine. The section applies to England and Wales only.\n\nAdverts are not an offence in themselves, but an advert placed by a third party may be relevant evidence for ss.52-53 SOA 2003 or for brothel-keeping; the CPS guidance discusses adverts in \"sex for rent\" cases under s.52.\n\nThe Crime and Policing Bill (bill 3938) received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 as the Crime and Policing Act 2026. The UK Parliament bills API records every amendment that would have made it an offence to \"cause or allow to be displayed or published, including digitally, any advertisement\" for prostitution as \"NotMoved\": Commons NC1 (committee, 2025), Lords 310 (committee) and 303 and 306A (report stage, 25 February-18 March 2026). Lords 316A/316B on platforms for personalised sexual content were also not moved. The prostitution-related clauses that were agreed (308 and 309, now ss.116-117 of the Act) only disregard and pardon Street Offences Act convictions of people who were under 18.\n\nThe Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's report \"Behind the Profile\" (26 February 2026) points out that offline advertising of selling sex is restricted while equivalent online activity remains broadly permissible, and recommends a public consultation on prohibiting adult services websites.", "provisions": [ "s.46 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001" ], "sources": [ "cjpa-2001-s46", "cps-prostitution", "bills-api-3938-stages", "bills-api-3938-committee-commons", "bills-api-3938-committee-lords", "bills-api-3938-report-lords", "cpa-2026", "iasc-behind-the-profile", "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Hosting prostitution adverts is not itself an offence. Adult services websites that let users post profiles are regulated user-to-user services under the Online Safety Act 2023: since 17 March 2025 they must assess and mitigate the risk of illegal content and remove it once aware. Causing, inciting and controlling prostitution for gain are priority offences. Ofcom can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater (Sch. 13 para. 4).", "details": "Schedule 7 of the Online Safety Act 2023 lists ss.52-53 SOA 2003 and Articles 62-63 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 as priority offences (\"sexual exploitation\"), alongside human trafficking under the three UK trafficking statutes. Brothel-keeping, the s.53A purchase offence, the Northern Ireland purchase offence and the Scottish prostitution offences are not in Schedule 7. Section 10 sets the illegal-content safety duties for user-to-user services; the Crime and Policing Act 2026 amended it from 29 June 2026 (ss.100-101, a 48-hour takedown duty for reported intimate image content). The government's explainer confirms the illegal content duties have been enforceable since 17 March 2025.\n\nCriminal liability of the site operator under ss.52-53 or the brothel offences is untested. The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's legal review (2026) considers that these offences require direct control and are hard to apply to passive intermediaries, and that the hosting defence in reg. 19 of the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 (no criminal liability without actual knowledge, or with expeditious removal) protects most sites, though perhaps not those that pre-moderate or promote profiles. It reports that Ofcom has issued no codes specific to adult services websites, quotes Ofcom's Illegal Content Judgements Guidance as saying that third-party advertising \"can act as a safety measure for some consenting adult sex workers\", and recommends tougher Ofcom requirements on third-party-managed profiles, age assurance and trafficking reporting.\n\nThe EU Digital Services Act does not apply in the UK.", "provisions": [ "s.10 Online Safety Act 2023", "Sch. 7 paras 24-28 Online Safety Act 2023", "Sch. 13 para. 4 Online Safety Act 2023", "reg. 19 Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002" ], "sources": [ "osa-2023-s10", "osa-2023-sch7", "osa-2023-sch13", "govuk-osa-explainer", "ecommerce-regs-2002-r19", "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Ofcom's own pages and guidance PDFs returned HTTP 403 when fetched, so the content of the Illegal Content Judgements Guidance is taken from the Anti-Slavery Commissioner's report rather than from Ofcom directly. Whether ad-site operators can be criminally liable under ss.52-53 SOA 2003 has not been decided by a court." }, "street": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "In England and Wales a person aged 18 or over who persistently loiters or solicits in a street or public place to offer sex commits an offence (s.1 Street Offences Act 1959): persistent means twice or more in three months. The fine is up to level 2 (level 3 after a previous conviction), or instead an order to attend three meetings with a supervisor. Buyers who solicit commit an offence under s.51A SOA 2003.", "details": "The persistence requirement, the replacement of \"common prostitute\" by \"person\" and the Engagement and Support Orders (s.1(2A)-(2D) and s.1A) were introduced by ss.16-17 Policing and Crime Act 2009 from 1 April 2010; \"(whether male or female)\" had been added by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 from 1 May 2004, and the age limit by the Serious Crime Act 2015 from 3 May 2015. If the court makes an order under s.1(2A) it may not impose any other penalty. CPS guidance notes that persistence can be evidenced by informal \"prostitute's cautions\", but that a caution which has already led to a prosecution should not be relied on again.\n\nSections 116 and 117 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 provide for convictions and cautions under s.1 of the 1959 Act to be automatically disregarded, and pardoned, where the person was under 18 at the time; both were not yet in force at Royal Assent. Lords amendments to abolish the loitering and soliciting offence altogether (312 at committee, 305 at report) were not moved.\n\nScotland penalises soliciting by sellers without a persistence requirement (s.46 Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982); Northern Ireland repealed its seller offence in 2015.", "provisions": [ "s.1 Street Offences Act 1959", "s.1A Street Offences Act 1959", "s.51A Sexual Offences Act 2003", "ss.16-17 Policing and Crime Act 2009", "ss.116-117 Crime and Policing Act 2026" ], "sources": [ "sto-1959-s1", "sto-1959-s1a", "soa-2003-s51a", "pca-2009-prostitution", "cpa-2026-s116", "cpa-2026-s117", "bills-api-3938-committee-lords", "bills-api-3938-report-lords", "cps-prostitution" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "There is no registration, licensing or mandatory health-check regime for sex workers anywhere in the UK. Because organised and shared venues are offences, there is no licensing of brothels either.", "details": "None of the statutes regulating prostitution in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland establishes a register or licence for people who sell sex, and none requires health checks. The legal framework consists only of criminal offences (Sexual Offences Acts 1956 and 2003, Street Offences Act 1959) and the general law.", "sources": [ "soa-2003-s54", "soa-1956-s33a", "cps-prostitution" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Stated from the absence of any such regime in the legislation reviewed; no single official source states it in these terms." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income from prostitution is taxable like any other trade. HMRC's Business Income Manual states that income tax on trading profits is not affected by the fact that an activity is wholly or partly illegal, and selling sex itself is legal throughout the UK. Self-employed sex workers are subject to the normal rules on income tax and National Insurance.", "details": "HMRC's Business Income Manual (BIM22005-BIM22010) sets out that illegality does not prevent an activity being a taxable trade and that the UK courts apply no moral test. In Inland Revenue Commissioners v Aken the High Court (7 December 1987) held that \"a trade was a trade whether it was lawful or unlawful for the purposes of the Taxes Acts\", that prostitution was not itself illegal and that the taxpayer's earnings from it were trading income; the Court of Appeal ([1990] 1 WLR 1374, 18 May 1990) upheld the assessment.", "provisions": [ "BIM22005", "BIM22008" ], "sources": [ "hmrc-bim22005", "hmrc-bim22008", "irc-v-aken-1987", "irc-v-aken-1990" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The HMRC manual pages do not mention prostitution expressly. The Aken holding is taken from the vLex headnote of the 1987 High Court judgment; the vLex page for the 1990 Court of Appeal judgment shows only an excerpt that does not reach the taxability point, so the appeal outcome rests on the law-report citation rather than on the judgment text." }, "migrants": { "status": "restricted", "summary": "There is no immigration rule specific to prostitution. Whether a non-UK national may sell sex depends on general immigration status: visitors may not work, paid or unpaid, for a UK company or as self-employed. Potential victims of trafficking are referred to the National Referral Mechanism; in 2025 sexual exploitation was the exploitation type most often reported for female referrals.", "details": "Migrants with unrestricted permission to work (for example settled status) are in the same position as UK nationals. Those on visitor or other work-restricted permission breach their conditions by working as self-employed sex workers. Trafficking with a view to sexual exploitation is an offence regardless of consent under s.2 Modern Slavery Act 2015 in England and Wales, s.1 Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 and s.2 of the 2015 Northern Ireland Act, and identified potential victims are referred into the UK-wide National Referral Mechanism.", "provisions": [ "s.2 Modern Slavery Act 2015" ], "sources": [ "govuk-standard-visitor", "msa-2015-s2", "nrm-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The consequences of breaching visa conditions (curtailment, removal, the illegal-working offence) were not reviewed in detail for this profile." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "soa-1956-s33a", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 1956", "relevance": "Brothel-keeping (ss.33, 33A) and landlord/tenant offences (ss.34-36) in England and Wales; s.33A carries up to 7 years.", "provisions": [ "s.33", "s.33A", "s.34", "s.35", "s.36", "Sch. 2" ] }, { "sourceId": "sto-1959-s1", "titleEn": "Street Offences Act 1959", "relevance": "Offence of persistent loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution by a person aged 18 or over; Engagement and Support Orders.", "provisions": [ "s.1", "s.1A" ] }, { "sourceId": "cjpa-2001-s46", "titleEn": "Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001", "relevance": "Section 46: offence of placing an advertisement relating to prostitution on or near a public telephone.", "provisions": [ "s.46" ] }, { "sourceId": "soa-2003-s53", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences Act 2003", "relevance": "Statutory definition of prostitution; causing, inciting and controlling prostitution for gain; kerb crawling; strict-liability offence of paying for sex with a person subjected to force; closure orders.", "provisions": [ "s.51A", "s.52", "s.53", "s.53A", "s.54", "Part 2A" ], "inForce": "2004-05-01" }, { "sourceId": "pca-2009-prostitution", "titleEn": "Policing and Crime Act 2009", "relevance": "Created the s.53A purchase offence and s.51A soliciting offence, introduced the persistence test and Engagement and Support Orders in the Street Offences Act.", "provisions": [ "s.14", "s.16", "s.17", "s.19" ], "inForce": "2010-04-01" }, { "sourceId": "msa-2015-s2", "titleEn": "Modern Slavery Act 2015", "relevance": "England and Wales: human trafficking offence (s.2) covering travel arranged with a view to sexual exploitation, irrespective of consent (Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent 2015 Acts).", "provisions": [ "s.2" ] }, { "sourceId": "osa-2023-sch7", "titleEn": "Online Safety Act 2023", "relevance": "Illegal-content duties for user-to-user services, including adult services websites, enforceable from 17 March 2025; ss.52-53 SOA 2003 and their NI equivalents are priority offences (Sch. 7, in force since Royal Assent on 26 October 2023).", "provisions": [ "s.10", "s.59", "Sch. 7 paras 24-28" ] }, { "sourceId": "cpa-2026", "titleEn": "Crime and Policing Act 2026", "relevance": "Royal Assent 29 April 2026; commenced in stages by regulations under s.255. Passed without any advertising or pimping-website offence; ss.116-117 disregard and pardon soliciting convictions of under-18s (not yet in force).", "provisions": [ "s.116", "s.117", "s.255" ] }, { "sourceId": "ecommerce-regs-2002-r19", "titleEn": "Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002", "relevance": "Regulation 19 hosting defence: no criminal sanction for stored user content without actual knowledge, or if removed expeditiously once known.", "provisions": [ "reg. 19" ] }, { "sourceId": "cgsa-1982-s46", "titleEn": "Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982", "relevance": "Scotland: offence for a person in prostitution to loiter, solicit or importune in a public place.", "provisions": [ "s.46" ] }, { "sourceId": "clcsa-1995-s11", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995", "relevance": "Scotland: procuring (s.7); living on the earnings of prostitution, control for gain and brothel-keeping offences (s.11, up to 7 years).", "provisions": [ "s.11" ] }, { "sourceId": "ppsa-2007-s1", "titleEn": "Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007", "relevance": "Scotland: offence of soliciting or loitering in a public place to obtain the services of a person engaged in prostitution.", "provisions": [ "s.1" ], "inForce": "2007-10-15" }, { "sourceId": "ni-2015-s15", "titleEn": "Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015", "relevance": "Northern Ireland: substituted Article 64A (paying for sexual services an offence), repealed the seller's soliciting offence and required a three-year review.", "provisions": [ "s.15" ], "inForce": "2015-06-01" }, { "sourceId": "ni-order-2008-a64a", "titleEn": "Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008", "relevance": "Northern Ireland: purchase offence (Art. 64A), brothel-keeping (Art. 64), causing, inciting and controlling prostitution for gain (Arts 62-63).", "provisions": [ "Art. 62", "Art. 63", "Art. 64", "Art. 64A" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "iasc-asw-consultation", "title": "Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner: call for a consultation on prohibiting adult services websites", "stage": "proposed", "updated": "2026-06-17", "summary": "The Commissioner's report \"Behind the Profile\" (26 February 2026) recommends that the Government consult on prohibiting adult services websites, ban them for under-18s, and that Ofcom tighten its guidance and codes for them. Amendments in this direction to the Crime and Policing Bill were not moved, and the Commissioner's annual report (17 June 2026) records no government commitment.", "sources": [ "iasc-behind-the-profile", "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf", "iasc-annual-2025-26", "bills-api-3938-report-lords" ] }, { "id": "cpa-2026-under-18-disregards", "title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026, ss.116-117: disregards and pardons for under-18 soliciting convictions", "stage": "adopted", "updated": "2026-04-29", "next": { "what": "Commencement by regulations under s.255 (no date set when reviewed)" }, "summary": "Convictions and cautions under s.1 Street Offences Act 1959 of people who were under 18 at the time are to be automatically disregarded and the people pardoned. Both sections were not in force at Royal Assent.", "sources": [ "cpa-2026-s116", "cpa-2026-s117" ] }, { "id": "scotland-prostitution-bill", "title": "Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill", "stage": "rejected", "updated": "2026-02-03", "summary": "Ash Regan MSP's member's bill to criminalise paying for sex, repeal s.46 Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, quash past convictions and give a right to support. Introduced 20 May 2025; the Scottish Parliament rejected its general principles at Stage 1 on 3 February 2026 by 64 votes to 54, so the bill fell before the May 2026 election.", "sources": [ "sp-bill-regan", "spice-sb-25-33" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1956", "event": "Sexual Offences Act 1956 consolidates the brothel offences for England and Wales (ss.33-36).", "sources": [ "soa-1956-s33" ] }, { "date": "1959", "event": "Street Offences Act 1959 creates the offence of loitering or soliciting in a street or public place for the purposes of prostitution.", "sources": [ "sto-1959-s1" ] }, { "date": "2001", "event": "Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.46 makes it an offence to place prostitution adverts in or near public telephones.", "sources": [ "cjpa-2001-s46" ] }, { "date": "2004-05-01", "event": "Sexual Offences Act 2003 comes into force, creating the offences of causing, inciting and controlling prostitution for gain and inserting s.33A into the 1956 Act.", "sources": [ "soa-1956-s33a", "soa-2003-s53" ] }, { "date": "2007-10-15", "event": "Scotland: the kerb-crawling offence of the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 comes into force.", "sources": [ "ppsa-2007-s1" ] }, { "date": "2010-04-01", "event": "Policing and Crime Act 2009 changes take effect: strict-liability offence of paying for sex with a person subjected to force (s.53A), new soliciting offence for buyers (s.51A), persistence test and Engagement and Support Orders for sellers.", "sources": [ "pca-2009-prostitution", "soa-2003-s53a", "sto-1959-s1" ] }, { "date": "2015-06-01", "event": "Northern Ireland: paying for sexual services becomes an offence (Art. 64A) and the seller's soliciting offence is repealed.", "sources": [ "ni-2015-s15", "ni-order-2008-a64a" ] }, { "date": "2019-09-17", "event": "Northern Ireland Department of Justice publishes its statutory review of the purchase offence, finding no evidence of reduced demand or supply.", "sources": [ "doj-ni-2019-page", "doj-ni-2019-assessment", "doj-ni-2019-report" ] }, { "date": "2025-03-17", "event": "Online Safety Act 2023 illegal-content duties become enforceable, covering adult services websites; controlling prostitution for gain is a priority offence.", "sources": [ "govuk-osa-explainer", "osa-2023-sch7" ] }, { "date": "2025-05-20", "event": "Scotland: Ash Regan MSP introduces the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill to criminalise buying sex.", "sources": [ "sp-bill-regan" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-03", "event": "Scottish Parliament rejects the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1, 54 votes to 64.", "sources": [ "sp-bill-regan" ] }, { "date": "2026-02-26", "event": "The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner publishes \"Behind the Profile\" on sexual exploitation through adult services websites.", "sources": [ "iasc-behind-the-profile" ] }, { "date": "2026-03", "event": "Lords report stage of the Crime and Policing Bill (25 February-18 March 2026): amendments to create an offence of facilitating prostitution, including publishing adverts (303, 306A), and to criminalise paying for sex (304) are not moved.", "sources": [ "bills-api-3938-report-lords" ] }, { "date": "2026-04-29", "event": "Crime and Policing Act 2026 receives Royal Assent with no offence of publishing prostitution adverts; it adds disregards and pardons for under-18 soliciting convictions.", "sources": [ "bills-api-3938-stages", "cpa-2026" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Northern Ireland: arrests and convictions for paying for sexual services", "value": "15 arrests, 2 convictions", "year": "2015-2018", "note": "June 2015 to 31 December 2018, from the Department of Justice's statutory review. Over the same period there were 31 arrests and five convictions for trafficking for sexual exploitation.", "sources": [ "doj-ni-2019-assessment" ] }, { "label": "UK: potential victims of modern slavery referred to the National Referral Mechanism", "value": "23,411 (females: 28% (1,679) most often reported sexual exploitation)", "year": "2025", "note": "Home Office official statistics. Potential victims identified by first responders, not confirmed victims; does not capture all victims. UK-wide.", "sources": [ "nrm-2025" ] }, { "label": "Adult services website listings in the UK on 12 sites, single point in time", "value": "nearly 63,000 listings; 59% with three or more trafficking indicators", "year": "2026", "note": "Snapshot by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (data collected 4-18 January 2026). Counts adverts, not people: one person can have several listings and one number can appear in many. The indicators are risk flags, not findings of trafficking.", "sources": [ "iasc-behind-the-profile", "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "soa-1956-s33", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 33", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/33", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-1956-s33a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 33A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/33A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-1956-s34", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 34", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/34", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-1956-s35", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 35", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/35", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-1956-s36", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 36", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/36", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-1956-sch2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 1956, Second Schedule", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/schedule/SECOND", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sto-1959-s1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Street Offences Act 1959, section 1", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/57/section/1", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sto-1959-s1a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Street Offences Act 1959, section 1A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/57/section/1A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cjpa-2001-s46", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, section 46", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/16/section/46", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s51a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 51A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/51A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s52", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 52", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/52", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s53", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 53", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/53", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s53a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 53A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/53A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s54", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 54", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/54", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "soa-2003-s136a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 136A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/136A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pca-2009-prostitution", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Policing and Crime Act 2009, Part 2: Prostitution (ss.14-21)", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/26/part/2/crossheading/prostitution", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "msa-2015-s2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Modern Slavery Act 2015, section 2", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/section/2", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "osa-2023-s10", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Online Safety Act 2023, section 10", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/section/10", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "osa-2023-sch7", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Online Safety Act 2023, Schedule 7 (Priority offences)", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/schedule/7", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "osa-2023-sch13", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Online Safety Act 2023, Schedule 13, paragraph 4 (maximum amount of penalty)", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/schedule/13/paragraph/4", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cpa-2026", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026 (c. 20)", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/contents", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cpa-2026-s116", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 116", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/116", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cpa-2026-s117", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 117", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/117", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ecommerce-regs-2002-r19", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, regulation 19", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2013/regulation/19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cgsa-1982-s46", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 46", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/46", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "clcsa-1995-s11", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 11", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ppsa-2007-s1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007, section 1", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/11/section/1", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ni-2015-s15", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, section 15", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2015/2/section/15", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ni-order-2008-a64a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Article 64A", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2008/1769/article/64A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ni-order-2008-a64", "kind": "legislation", "title": "The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Article 64", "publisher": "legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2008/1769/article/64", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cps-prostitution", "kind": "government", "title": "Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution (legal guidance)", "publisher": "Crown Prosecution Service", "url": "https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/prostitution-and-exploitation-prostitution", "published": "2024-04-25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-stages", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill (bill 3938): stages", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages?Take=50", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-committee-commons", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill: Commons committee stage amendments matching \"prostitution\"", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages/19748/Amendments?SearchTerm=prostitution&Take=50", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-committee-lords", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill: Lords committee stage amendments matching \"prostitution\"", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages/20237/Amendments?SearchTerm=prostitution&Take=50", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-report-lords", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill: Lords report stage amendments matching \"prostitution\"", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages/20491/Amendments?SearchTerm=prostitution&Take=50", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-amd-311", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill: Lords committee amendment 311 (Paying for sex acts)", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages/20237/Amendments/10027819", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "bills-api-3938-amd-304", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Crime and Policing Bill: Lords report stage amendment 304 (Paying for sex acts)", "publisher": "UK Parliament Bills API", "url": "https://bills-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Bills/3938/Stages/20491/Amendments/10032978", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "govuk-osa-explainer", "kind": "government", "title": "Online Safety Act: explainer", "publisher": "Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer", "published": "2025-04-24", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "iasc-behind-the-profile", "kind": "government", "title": "Report: Behind the Profile: Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking through Adult Services Websites", "publisher": "Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner", "url": "https://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/news-insights/report-behind-the-profile-sexual-exploitation-and-trafficking-through-adult-services-websites/", "published": "2026-02-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "iasc-behind-the-profile-pdf", "kind": "government", "title": "Behind the Profile: Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking through Adult Services Websites (full report)", "publisher": "Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner", "url": "https://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/media/dadhuq0a/report_behind-the-profile_sexual-exploitation-and-trafficking-through-adult-services-websites.pdf", "published": "2026-02-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "iasc-annual-2025-26", "kind": "government", "title": "Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's annual report 2025 to 2026", "publisher": "Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (GOV.UK)", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-anti-slavery-commissioners-annual-report-2025-to-2026/independent-anti-slavery-commissioners-annual-report-2025-to-2026-accessible", "published": "2026-06-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nrm-2025", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics UK, end of year summary 2025", "publisher": "Home Office", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/modern-slavery-nrm-and-dtn-statistics-end-of-year-summary-2025/modern-slavery-national-referral-mechanism-and-duty-to-notify-statistics-uk-end-of-year-summary-2025", "published": "2026-02-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "govuk-standard-visitor", "kind": "government", "title": "Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor", "publisher": "UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK)", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hmrc-bim22005", "kind": "government", "title": "BIM22005 - Meaning of trade: exceptions and alternatives: illegal activities - introduction", "publisher": "HM Revenue & Customs", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/business-income-manual/bim22005", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hmrc-bim22008", "kind": "government", "title": "BIM22008 - Meaning of trade: exceptions and alternatives: illegal activities - no moral test", "publisher": "HM Revenue & Customs", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/business-income-manual/bim22008", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irc-v-aken-1987", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Aken (High Court, Queen's Bench Division, 7 December 1987)", "publisher": "vLex United Kingdom", "url": "https://vlex.co.uk/vid/commissioners-of-inland-revenue-806334097", "published": "1987-12-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irc-v-aken-1990", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Aken [1990] EWCA Civ J0518-5, [1990] 1 WLR 1374", "publisher": "vLex United Kingdom", "url": "https://vlex.co.uk/vid/commissioners-of-inland-revenue-793445265", "published": "1990-05-18", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sp-bill-regan", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill", "publisher": "Scottish Parliament", "url": "https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/prostitution-offences-and-support-scotland-bill", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "spice-sb-25-33", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (SPICe briefing SB 25-33)", "publisher": "Scottish Parliament Information Centre", "url": "https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/research-prepared-for-parliament/research-briefings/2025/8/20/sb-2533", "published": "2025-08-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doj-ni-2019-page", "kind": "government", "title": "Assessment of impact criminalisation of purchasing sexual services", "publisher": "Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)", "url": "https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/assessment-impact-criminalisation-purchasing-sexual-services", "published": "2019-09-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doj-ni-2019-assessment", "kind": "government", "title": "Assessment of review of operation of Article 64A of the Sexual Offences Order (Northern Ireland) 2008: offence of purchasing sexual services", "publisher": "Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)", "url": "https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/justice/assessment-of-impact-criminalisation-of-purchasing-sexual-services.pdf", "published": "2019-09-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doj-ni-2019-report", "kind": "academic", "title": "Review of the criminalisation of paying for sexual services in Northern Ireland", "publisher": "Queen's University Belfast for the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)", "url": "https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/justice/report-criminalisation-paying-for-sex.pdf", "published": "2019-09-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-kingdom/" }, { "iso2": "US", "name": "United States", "memberships": [], "depth": "profile", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Prohibition, because selling sex is a criminal offence in 49 states and the District of Columbia and buying in all 50. There is no federal offence of selling or buying sex as such; federal law targets interstate transport and enticement (Mann Act), online promotion (18 U.S.C. § 2421A) and trafficking. Nevada, where licensed brothels operate in some rural counties, is shown as regulation, and Maine, which since 2023 criminalises only buying, as neo-abolitionist.", "modelSources": [ "dc-22-2701", "me-853-a", "me-ld-1435", "nv-nrs-244", "usc-18-2421", "usc-18-2421a" ], "summary": "Prostitution is not legal in Las Vegas or Reno. In the United States prostitution is mainly a matter of state law, and selling and buying sex are crimes in every state except in licensed brothels in some rural Nevada counties, and except that Maine (since 2023) no longer punishes selling. Nevada bars brothel licences in any county of 700,000 or more people, which is Clark County (Las Vegas); Washoe County (Reno) bans them by ordinance. Federal law adds the Mann Act (taking a person across state lines for prostitution) and, since FOSTA-SESTA in 2018, a crime of running a website with intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person; Section 230 no longer shields such sites from state prosecution or civil sex-trafficking claims. Backpage was seized in 2018 and its owners prosecuted.", "subnational": [ { "name": "Alabama", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Selling and buying sex, and promoting prostitution, are prohibited by Ala. Code § 13A-12-121; each violation is a Class A misdemeanour (§ 13A-12-122).", "sources": [ "al-13a-12-121", "al-13a-12-122" ] }, { "name": "Alaska", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Selling sex is a class B misdemeanour under AS 11.66.100; promoting prostitution is graded in three degrees (AS 11.66.110-130). The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-ak" ] }, { "name": "Arizona", "model": "prohibition", "note": "A.R.S. § 13-3214 makes both receiving and paying a fee for sexual conduct an offence; it is a class 1 misdemeanour with a mandatory minimum of 15 consecutive days in jail for a first conviction. Cities and towns may also enact prostitution ordinances.", "sources": [ "az-13-3214" ] }, { "name": "Arkansas", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Selling sex is prohibited by Ark. Code § 5-70-102 (class B misdemeanour for a first offence, class A thereafter); patronising is a separate offence (§ 5-70-103). The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-ar" ] }, { "name": "California", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Penal Code § 647(b) makes soliciting, agreeing to or engaging in prostitution a form of disorderly conduct (a misdemeanour), both for the person paid (§ 647(b)(1)) and the person paying (§ 647(b)(2)). SB 357, approved on 1 July 2022, repealed the offence of loitering with intent to commit prostitution (former Penal Code § 653.22).", "sources": [ "ca-pen-647", "ca-sb-357" ] }, { "name": "Colorado", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution remains an offence under C.R.S. § 18-7-201 but has been a petty offence (the lowest grade) since 1 March 2022 (SB 21-271). SB26-097, which would have repealed the prostitution, soliciting, patronising and brothel-keeping offences and pre-empted local ordinances, was postponed indefinitely by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 11 March 2026.", "sources": [ "co-18-7-201", "co-sb26-097" ] }, { "name": "Connecticut", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution by a person aged 18 or over is a class A misdemeanour (C.G.S. § 53a-82); buying is the separate offence of soliciting sexual acts (§ 53a-83, renamed from \"patronizing a prostitute\" by P.A. 21-102). Promoting prostitution is a felony in three degrees (§§ 53a-86 to 53a-88).", "sources": [ "ct-chap-952" ] }, { "name": "Delaware", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution by a person aged 18 or over is a class B misdemeanour (11 Del. C. § 1342), a class A misdemeanour with a $500 minimum fine within 1,000 feet of a school, residence or place of worship. Patronising carries a mandatory $500 minimum fine (§ 1343). Running a prostitution business with two or more workers, including an illicit massage establishment, is a class E felony (§ 1352).", "sources": [ "de-11-1342" ] }, { "name": "District of Columbia", "model": "prohibition", "note": "D.C. Code § 22-2701 makes it unlawful to engage in or solicit for prostitution (up to 90 days for a first offence). The Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0318), which as introduced would have decriminalised prostitution between adults, had a public hearing on 17 October 2019 and was not enacted.", "sources": [ "dc-22-2701", "dc-b23-0318" ] }, { "name": "Florida", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Fla. Stat. § 796.07(2)(e) makes it unlawful for a person aged 18 or over to offer to commit or to commit prostitution: a second-degree misdemeanour for a first violation, rising to a third-degree felony for a third. Soliciting or procuring another to commit prostitution (§ 796.07(2)(f)) is a first-degree misdemeanour for a first violation and a felony thereafter (§ 796.07(5)).", "sources": [ "fl-796-07" ] }, { "name": "Georgia", "model": "prohibition", "note": "O.C.G.A. § 16-6-9 makes it an offence for a person aged 18 or over to perform, offer or consent to perform a sexual act for money or other items of value.", "sources": [ "ga-16-6-9" ] }, { "name": "Hawaii", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution, including agreeing or offering to engage in sexual conduct for a fee, is a petty misdemeanour under HRS § 712-1200 (a violation, not a crime, if committed by a minor).", "sources": [ "hi-712-1200" ] }, { "name": "Idaho", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Since 2024 (2024 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 147) the offence is called \"providing commercial sexual activity\" (Idaho Code § 18-5613): a misdemeanour, but a felony on a third or subsequent conviction.", "sources": [ "id-18-5613" ] }, { "name": "Illinois", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class A misdemeanour under 720 ILCS 5/11-14, with an affirmative defence for victims of involuntary servitude or trafficking.", "sources": [ "il-11-14" ] }, { "name": "Indiana", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is an offence under Ind. Code § 35-45-4-2 and patronising under § 35-45-4-3. The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date. The reproduced text still refers to a \"Class D felony\", a class Indiana abolished in 2014, which suggests it is out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-in" ] }, { "name": "Iowa", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Iowa Code § 725.1 makes both selling and buying a sex act an aggravated misdemeanour; buying from a person under 18 is a class D felony.", "sources": [ "ia-725-1" ] }, { "name": "Kansas", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Selling sexual relations is a class B nonperson misdemeanour under K.S.A. 21-6419; buying is a separate offence.", "sources": [ "ks-21-6419" ] }, { "name": "Kentucky", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class B misdemeanour under KRS 529.020.", "sources": [ "ky-529-020" ] }, { "name": "Louisiana", "model": "prohibition", "note": "La. R.S. 14:82 punishes prostitution with a fine of up to $500 or up to six months' imprisonment for a first conviction, rising to up to four years with hard labour for a third.", "sources": [ "la-14-82" ] }, { "name": "Maine", "model": "neo-abolitionism", "note": "Maine is the only state where selling sex is not an offence. LD 1435, \"An Act to Reduce Commercial Sexual Exploitation\" (Public Law 2023, chapter 316, enacted and signed on 26 June 2023), repealed the offence of engaging in prostitution (17-A M.R.S. § 853-A). Buying remains a crime: engaging a person for prostitution is a Class E crime, and a Class D crime with a prior conviction within two years (§ 853-B). The sex trafficking offences in chapter 35 of Title 17-A remain in force.", "sources": [ "me-853-a", "me-853-b", "me-ld-1435" ] }, { "name": "Maryland", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Md. Code, Crim. Law § 11-303 prohibits knowingly engaging in prostitution or assignation by any means or occupying a building or vehicle for prostitution: a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year or a $500 fine.", "sources": [ "md-11-303" ] }, { "name": "Massachusetts", "model": "prohibition", "note": "M.G.L. c. 272 § 53A(a) punishes engaging in sexual conduct for a fee with up to one year in a house of correction or a $500 fine; paying (§ 53A(b)) carries up to two and a half years.", "sources": [ "ma-272-53a" ] }, { "name": "Michigan", "model": "prohibition", "note": "MCL 750.448 makes it a crime for a person aged 16 or over to accost, solicit or invite another in a public place, or from a building or vehicle, to commit prostitution.", "sources": [ "mi-750-448" ] }, { "name": "Minnesota", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Under Minn. Stat. § 609.324 engaging in prostitution with an adult is a misdemeanour (subd. 7), and a gross misdemeanour in a public place (subd. 6); hiring is also an offence.", "sources": [ "mn-609-324" ] }, { "name": "Mississippi", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in prostitution, soliciting and keeping a brothel are prohibited by Miss. Code § 97-29-49. The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date. A 2025 law (HB 1189) reportedly added mandatory fines for solicitation; that was not checked.", "sources": [ "dsw-ms" ] }, { "name": "Missouri", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a class B misdemeanour under RSMo § 567.020 (a class B felony if the person knew they were HIV-positive).", "sources": [ "mo-567-020" ] }, { "name": "Montana", "model": "prohibition", "note": "MCA § 45-5-601 penalises the person selling only for sexual intercourse (up to $500 or six months), while a buyer can also be convicted for direct sexual contact.", "sources": [ "mt-45-5-601" ] }, { "name": "Nebraska", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class II misdemeanour for a first or second conviction under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-801, which also grants immunity from prosecution in some circumstances.", "sources": [ "ne-28-801" ] }, { "name": "Nevada", "model": "regulation", "note": "Prostitution is legal in Nevada only inside a brothel licensed by a rural county, and it is NOT legal in Las Vegas or Reno. NRS 244.345(8) bars licensing a house of prostitution in any county of 700,000 or more people, which is Clark County (Las Vegas), and Washoe County (Reno), Carson City, Douglas, Eureka, Lincoln and Pershing ban brothels by ordinance. In 2026 the Nevada Brothel Association counted 16 licensed brothels in seven counties (Elko, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey, White Pine); Churchill, Esmeralda and Humboldt allow them but have none operating. Outside a licensed brothel, selling (NRS 207.030(1)(b)) and buying (NRS 201.354: a fine of at least $400 plus a civil penalty of at least $200 for a first offence) are misdemeanours, including in Las Vegas hotels. Escort services can be licensed by counties (NRS 244.345), but that does not make paying for sex legal. Advertising a brothel is an offence in any county where prostitution is prohibited (NRS 201.430).", "sources": [ "nv-nrs-244", "nv-nrs-201", "nv-nrs-207", "nv-independent-2026" ] }, { "name": "New Hampshire", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Soliciting, agreeing to perform or engaging in sexual contact or penetration for consideration is a misdemeanour under RSA 645:2.", "sources": [ "nh-645-2" ] }, { "name": "New Jersey", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Offering sexual activity for something of economic value is a disorderly persons offence under N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1(b)(8), a fourth-degree crime on a repeat conviction; buying is also a disorderly persons offence (2C:34-1(b)(1)).", "sources": [ "nj-2c-34-1" ] }, { "name": "New Mexico", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a petty misdemeanour (a misdemeanour on a repeat conviction) under NMSA § 30-9-2. The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-nm" ] }, { "name": "New York", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a class B misdemeanour under Penal Law § 230.00. The offence of loitering for prostitution (§ 240.37) was repealed by chapter 23 of 2021, and chapter 686 of 2025 (signed 19 December 2025) added § 230.45, immunity from prosecution for people in prostitution who report or help prosecute a crime. Cecilia's Act (S2513-A / A3251), which would decriminalise sex between consenting adults, was amended and recommitted to the Senate Codes Committee on 12 May 2026.", "sources": [ "ny-pen-230-00", "ny-s1351-2021", "ny-s3967b-2025", "ny-s2513-2025" ] }, { "name": "North Carolina", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class 1 misdemeanour under G.S. § 14-204, with conditional discharge for first offenders.", "sources": [ "nc-14-204" ] }, { "name": "North Dakota", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution by an adult is a class B misdemeanour (N.D.C.C. § 12.1-29-03), as is hiring for a first offence (§ 12.1-29-06).", "sources": [ "nd-12-1-29" ] }, { "name": "Ohio", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in sexual activity for hire is prostitution, a third-degree misdemeanour (R.C. § 2907.25).", "sources": [ "oh-2907-25" ] }, { "name": "Oklahoma", "model": "prohibition", "note": "21 O.S. § 1029 prohibits engaging in prostitution; violations are misdemeanours carrying 30 days to a year in jail or fines up to $2,500 for a first conviction (§ 1031). The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-ok" ] }, { "name": "Oregon", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution (ORS 167.007) and commercial sexual solicitation (ORS 167.008) are both Class A misdemeanours.", "sources": [ "or-ors-167" ] }, { "name": "Pennsylvania", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in sexual activity as a business is a third-degree misdemeanour (18 Pa.C.S. § 5902). Act 41 of 2026 (SB 45, signed 20 July 2026) moved promoting (§ 3027) and patronising (§ 3028) into the human trafficking chapter: patronising becomes a felony on a third offence, with minimum fines of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000.", "sources": [ "pa-5902", "pa-act-41-2026" ] }, { "name": "Rhode Island", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a misdemeanour under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-34.1-2 (up to six months or a fine of $250 to $1,000). From a 1980 amendment until 2009 the state had no offence covering sex for money in private, only street soliciting and related acts, so indoor prostitution was in practice legal. The loophole was closed by the law Governor Carcieri signed on 3 November 2009 (P.L. 2009, ch. 185 and 186).", "sources": [ "ri-11-34-1-2", "projo-2009-05", "projo-2009-11" ] }, { "name": "South Carolina", "model": "prohibition", "note": "S.C. Code § 16-15-90 makes it unlawful to engage in prostitution, with an affirmative defence for coercion or trafficking and immunity for minors.", "sources": [ "sc-16-15-90" ] }, { "name": "South Dakota", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging or offering to engage in sexual activity for a fee is a Class 1 misdemeanour (SDCL 22-23-1).", "sources": [ "sd-22-23-1" ] }, { "name": "Tennessee", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class B misdemeanour under Tenn. Code § 39-13-513 (Class A near a school or church). The official text could not be opened from here (the state portal is unreachable from this network or behind a bot check); the citation and grade are taken from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO and may be out of date.", "sources": [ "dsw-tn" ] }, { "name": "Texas", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class B misdemeanour under Penal Code § 43.02, rising to a state jail felony after three prior convictions. Since 1 September 2021 buying is a separate and more serious offence, solicitation of prostitution, a state jail felony (§ 43.021). Running a prostitution enterprise with two or more workers is a first-degree felony (§ 43.04).", "sources": [ "tx-pe-43" ] }, { "name": "Utah", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Engaging in prostitution is a class B misdemeanour under Utah Code § 76-5d-202, with immunity for a person who reports a serious crime they witnessed or suffered. The prostitution offences were renumbered from Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 13 into the new Chapter 76-5d on 7 May 2025.", "sources": [ "ut-76-5d-202", "ut-76-10-p13" ] }, { "name": "Vermont", "model": "prohibition", "note": "13 V.S.A. § 2632(a)(8) prohibits engaging in prostitution (a fine of up to $100 or up to one year).", "sources": [ "vt-13-2632" ] }, { "name": "Virginia", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class 1 misdemeanour under Va. Code § 18.2-346.", "sources": [ "va-18-2-346" ] }, { "name": "Washington", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a misdemeanour under RCW 9A.88.030; the current text, in force since 1 January 2024 (2020 c 331), applies to a person aged 18 or over.", "sources": [ "wa-9a-88-030" ] }, { "name": "West Virginia", "model": "prohibition", "note": "W. Va. Code § 61-8-5(b) punishes engaging in prostitution with 60 days to six months in jail and a fine for a first offence.", "sources": [ "wv-61-8-5" ] }, { "name": "Wisconsin", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a Class A misdemeanour under Wis. Stat. § 944.30; patronising, soliciting, pandering and keeping a place of prostitution are separate offences (§§ 944.31-944.34). The section titles were checked on the legislature's site; the grade comes from a reproduction of the statute by an advocacy NGO.", "sources": [ "wi-944", "dsw-wi" ] }, { "name": "Wyoming", "model": "prohibition", "note": "Prostitution is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months or a $750 fine (W.S. § 6-4-101); paying is the separate offence of soliciting an act of prostitution (§ 6-4-102).", "sources": [ "wy-title-6" ] } ], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is a crime, usually a misdemeanour, in the District of Columbia and in every state except Maine. In Nevada it is legal only inside a brothel licensed by a rural county, so it is illegal in Las Vegas (Clark County) and Reno (Washoe County). Maine repealed its offence of engaging in prostitution in 2023. There is no federal offence of selling sex as such.", "details": "Prostitution law is state law. Each state's own offence is listed under the subnational entries below; the grade ranges from a **petty offence** in Colorado (since 1 March 2022) and a petty misdemeanour in Hawaii to an **aggravated misdemeanour** in Iowa. Several states escalate repeat offences to felonies, for example Idaho on a third conviction (\"providing commercial sexual activity\", Idaho Code § 18-5613) and Texas after three prior convictions (Penal Code § 43.02).\n\n**Exceptions.** Maine's LD 1435 (Public Law 2023, chapter 316) repealed 17-A M.R.S. § 853-A, so selling sex is not an offence there. In Nevada, offering, agreeing to or engaging in prostitution is a misdemeanour under NRS 207.030(1)(b) unless it happens in a licensed house of prostitution; NRS 244.345(8) prevents any licence in a county of 700,000 or more people (Clark County, which contains Las Vegas).\n\n**Immunity when reporting crimes.** A growing number of states protect people who sell sex from prosecution when they report a crime: New York added Penal Law § 230.45 by chapter 686 of 2025, and Utah's § 76-5d-202(4) bars prosecution of a person who reports a serious offence they witnessed or suffered. Nebraska (§ 28-801) and Rhode Island also have immunity provisions.\n\n**Recent recodifications.** Utah moved its prostitution offences into a new Chapter 76-5d on 7 May 2025, and Idaho renamed the offence in 2024; both remain offences.", "provisions": [ "Selling: state codes (see subnational entries)", "NRS 207.030(1)(b)", "NRS 244.345(8)", "17-A M.R.S. § 853-A (repealed 2023)" ], "sources": [ "az-13-3214", "tx-pe-43", "ny-pen-230-00", "dc-22-2701", "co-18-7-201", "ia-725-1", "id-18-5613", "me-853-a", "me-ld-1435", "nv-nrs-207", "nv-nrs-244", "ny-s3967b-2025", "ut-76-5d-202" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The statute pages of Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee could not be opened from here; their entries rely on an NGO's reproduction of the statute. The Nevada Legislature's site blocks this network, so NRS chapters 201, 207 and 244 were read from Internet Archive copies captured in August-October 2026." }, "buying": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Paying for sex is a crime in every state, including Maine, and in the District of Columbia; the only exception is a brothel licensed in one of Nevada's rural counties. Buying sex is illegal in Las Vegas. Several states now punish buyers more heavily than sellers: Texas made solicitation of prostitution a state jail felony in 2021, and Pennsylvania's Act 41 of 2026 makes a third offence a felony with minimum fines from $2,500.", "details": "In most states buying is either part of the same offence as selling (for example Arizona's § 13-3214 and Iowa's § 725.1, both of which treat seller and buyer alike) or a separate offence such as patronising or soliciting. Where the grades differ, the buyer's is now often higher: Massachusetts punishes paying with up to two and a half years against one year for selling (c. 272 § 53A); Texas made buying a state jail felony from 1 September 2021 (Penal Code § 43.021) while selling stayed a Class B misdemeanour; and Pennsylvania's Act 41 of 2026 created § 3028 (patronising prostitution), a third-degree felony on a third offence, with minimum fines of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 that fund victim services.\n\nIn Nevada, NRS 201.354 makes it unlawful for a customer to engage in or solicit prostitution except in a licensed house of prostitution: a misdemeanour with a fine of at least $400 for a first offence, plus a civil penalty of at least $200. In Maine, engaging a person for prostitution remains a Class E crime (Class D with a prior conviction within two years) under 17-A M.R.S. § 853-B.", "provisions": [ "NRS 201.354", "17-A M.R.S. § 853-B", "Tex. Penal Code § 43.021", "18 Pa.C.S. § 3028" ], "sources": [ "tx-pe-43", "pa-act-41-2026", "me-853-b", "ma-272-53a", "nv-nrs-201", "az-13-3214", "ia-725-1", "or-ors-167" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Nevada Legislature's site blocks this network, so NRS chapters 201, 207 and 244 were read from Internet Archive copies captured in August-October 2026." }, "brothels": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brothels are illegal everywhere except licensed houses in Nevada counties under 700,000 people that choose to license them. There are none in Las Vegas: state law forbids a brothel licence in Clark County, and Washoe County (Reno), Carson City, Douglas, Eureka, Lincoln and Pershing ban them by ordinance. In 2026 the Nevada Brothel Association counted 16 licensed brothels in seven counties.", "details": "**Nevada.** NRS 244.345 lets the county licence board license businesses outside incorporated cities; subsection 8 provides that in a county whose population is 700,000 or more the board \"shall not grant any license\" for a house of ill fame or any business employing a person for prostitution. Clark County is the only county above that threshold. The other counties decide for themselves: the Nevada Independent (2026), citing the Nevada Brothel Association, lists 16 brothels operating in Elko, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey and White Pine counties, three more counties (Churchill, Esmeralda, Humboldt) that allow brothels but have none open, and six that ban them by ordinance. Brothels may not be within 400 yards of a school or church (NRS 201.380) or front a principal business street (NRS 201.390).\n\n**Everywhere else** keeping a house of prostitution is a crime, often a felony. Examples: operating a prostitution business is a class C felony in North Dakota when the actor owns or manages it (§ 12.1-29-01); Delaware's promoting prostitution in the second degree covers a business with two or more workers, including an illicit massage establishment (class E felony, § 1352); Texas punishes owning or managing a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more workers as a first-degree felony (§ 43.04).", "provisions": [ "NRS 244.345(8)", "NRS 201.380", "NRS 201.390", "Tex. Penal Code § 43.04", "11 Del. C. § 1352", "N.D.C.C. § 12.1-29-01" ], "sources": [ "nv-nrs-244", "nv-nrs-201", "nv-independent-2026", "tx-pe-43", "de-11-1342", "nd-12-1-29", "pa-act-41-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The brothel count is the industry association's, reported by the press; there is no official statewide register. The Nevada Legislature's site blocks this network, so NRS chapters 201, 207 and 244 were read from Internet Archive copies captured in August-October 2026." }, "sharedPremises": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Outside Nevada's licensed brothels, two or more sex workers working from the same place are generally caught by state offences of keeping a house of prostitution, promoting prostitution or permitting premises to be used for prostitution, and a landlord who knowingly lets premises for it commits an offence too.", "details": "State codes typically define a \"house of prostitution\" or \"prostitution business\" by reference to prostitution carried on there by more than one person or under another's control (for example N.D.C.C. § 12.1-29-05), and several grade the offence by the number of workers: Texas § 43.04 (\"a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes\") and Delaware § 1352 (\"2 or more prostitutes\"). Letting or permitting premises to be used for prostitution is a separate offence in most states, e.g. Fla. Stat. § 796.07(2), N.D.C.C. § 12.1-29-02(1)(c), Delaware § 1355 (permitting prostitution) and Pennsylvania's new § 3027(a)(8). There is no general exemption for sex workers sharing premises for safety.", "provisions": [ "Tex. Penal Code § 43.04", "11 Del. C. §§ 1352, 1355", "N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-29-02, 12.1-29-05", "Fla. Stat. § 796.07(2)", "18 Pa.C.S. § 3027" ], "sources": [ "tx-pe-43", "de-11-1342", "nd-12-1-29", "pa-act-41-2026", "fl-796-07", "nv-nrs-201" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Profiting from or organising another person's prostitution is a crime in every state, including Nevada outside the licensed system and Maine. Federal law adds the Mann Act: transporting a person across state lines for prostitution (up to 10 years) and persuading or enticing a person to travel for it (up to 20 years), plus the sex-trafficking offence in 18 U.S.C. § 1591.", "details": "**Federal.** The Mann Act provisions, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2421-2424, apply to prostitution \"or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense\": § 2421 (knowingly transporting an individual in interstate or foreign commerce with intent that they engage in prostitution, up to 10 years), § 2422(a) (persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing an individual to travel for that purpose, up to 20 years). Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, or of anyone under 18, is punished under § 1591. Because the Mann Act turns on prostitution being unlawful where it takes place, the federal layer reinforces state law rather than replacing it.\n\n**State.** Every state has promoting, pandering or pimping offences. Pennsylvania's Act 41 of 2026 rewrote them as § 3027 (promoting prostitution), a third-degree felony for keeping a prostitution business, inducing a person into prostitution or being supported by its proceeds; New Jersey's 2C:34-1 grades promoting from a fourth- to a first-degree crime; Texas punishes receiving money under an agreement to share in the proceeds of prostitution as a third-degree felony (§ 43.03).", "provisions": [ "18 U.S.C. § 2421", "18 U.S.C. § 2422", "18 U.S.C. § 1591", "18 Pa.C.S. § 3027", "Tex. Penal Code § 43.03", "N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1" ], "sources": [ "usc-18-2421", "usc-18-2422", "usc-18-1591", "pa-act-41-2026", "tx-pe-43", "nd-12-1-29", "nj-2c-34-1" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no general federal ban on advertising, but because almost every state makes offering sex for a fee an offence, an advert offering sex for money is itself evidence of soliciting. Nevada also bans advertising a brothel in any county where prostitution is prohibited, which covers Las Vegas and Reno, and on public streets and highways. Adult advertising websites face federal liability under FOSTA (see platforms).", "details": "**Offering is the offence.** State definitions of prostitution almost always include *offering* or *agreeing* to engage in sexual conduct for a fee (e.g. Arizona § 13-3214, New York Penal Law § 230.00, Washington RCW 9A.88.030), so an advert that offers sex for money can found a prosecution of the person who places it. Advertising non-sexual companionship or escort services is lawful in itself, and in Nevada counties may license escort services (NRS 244.345).\n\n**Nevada.** NRS 201.430 forbids anyone engaged in unlawful prostitution, or any owner, operator, agent or employee of a house of prostitution, to advertise it in any public theatre, on public streets or highways, or \"in any county, city or town where prostitution is prohibited by local ordinance or where the licensing of a house of prostitution is prohibited by state statute\", and makes it an offence to prepare or print such an advert. Printing a brothel's address, telephone number or directions is prima facie evidence of advertising. NRS 201.440 penalises any business that knowingly lets a brothel advertise on its premises in such a county. Penalties: up to six months or a $1,000 fine for a first violation within three years.\n\n**Federal.** 18 U.S.C. § 1591 makes advertising a person for a commercial sex act a sex-trafficking offence where the advertiser knows force, fraud or coercion will be used or the person is a minor (for advertising, reckless disregard is not enough). For the liability of websites see *platforms*.", "provisions": [ "NRS 201.430", "NRS 201.440", "18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)" ], "sources": [ "nv-nrs-201", "az-13-3214", "ny-pen-230-00", "usc-18-2421a", "usc-18-1591", "wa-9a-88-030" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The Nevada Legislature's site blocks this network, so NRS chapters 201, 207 and 244 were read from Internet Archive copies captured in August-October 2026." }, "platforms": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Since FOSTA-SESTA (signed 11 April 2018), 18 U.S.C. § 2421A makes it a federal crime to own, manage or operate an online service with intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person (up to 10 years; 25 years for five or more people or reckless disregard of trafficking), and Section 230 no longer blocks state prosecutions for that or federal sex-trafficking claims. Backpage was seized and its owners prosecuted.", "details": "**FOSTA-SESTA** (Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, Public Law 115-164, approved 11 April 2018):\n- **§ 2421A(a)** — owning, managing or operating an interactive computer service with intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person: fine and up to 10 years.\n- **§ 2421A(b)** — aggravated violation where the conduct promotes or facilitates the prostitution of 5 or more persons, or acts in reckless disregard of the fact that it contributed to sex trafficking: up to 25 years, with a civil damages action (§ 2421A(c)) and, for the reckless-disregard limb, mandatory restitution (§ 2421A(d)).\n- **§ 2421A(e)** — affirmative defence that the promotion or facilitation was legal in the jurisdiction where it was targeted (e.g. a licensed Nevada brothel).\n- **47 U.S.C. § 230(e)(5)** — Section 230 does not impair civil claims under 18 U.S.C. § 1595 where the conduct violates § 1591, or state criminal charges for conduct that would violate § 1591 or § 2421A where prostitution is illegal in the targeted jurisdiction. Section 2 of the Act records the \"sense of Congress\" that Section 230 \"was never intended to provide legal protection to websites that unlawfully promote and facilitate prostitution\".\n\n**Courts.** In *Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. United States* (D.C. Cir., 7 July 2023) the court upheld FOSTA against First Amendment challenges, reading \"promote or facilitate\" in § 2421A as aiding or abetting the prostitution of another person, not general advocacy or harm-reduction information. The Ninth Circuit requires civil plaintiffs using the § 230(e)(5)(A) carve-out to show that the platform's *own* conduct violated § 1591; mere association with traffickers is not enough (*Does 1-6 v. Reddit*, 2022, applied in *Doe 1 v. Twitter*, 1 August 2025).\n\n**Backpage.** The Justice Department seized Backpage.com on 6 April 2018 and announced a 93-count indictment of seven people on 9 April 2018, before FOSTA was signed; the charges were facilitating prostitution using a facility in interstate commerce (the Travel Act) and money laundering. After a 2023 trial co-founder Michael Lacey was convicted on one count of international concealment money laundering and sentenced in August 2024 to five years; the Ninth Circuit granted him bail pending appeal on 21 November 2024, and the counts on which the jury could not agree await a possible third trial. Executives Scott Spear and John Brunst were convicted of conspiracy and other counts.\n\n**Effect.** The GAO found (June 2021) that the Backpage seizure and FOSTA led many operators to move platforms overseas and fragmented the market, and that by then DOJ had brought only one case under the new § 2421A (June 2020), preferring older statutes.", "provisions": [ "18 U.S.C. § 2421A", "47 U.S.C. § 230(e)(5)", "18 U.S.C. § 1591", "18 U.S.C. § 1595", "Pub. L. 115-164" ], "sources": [ "usc-18-2421a", "pl-115-164", "usc-47-230", "woodhull-2023", "doj-backpage-2018", "cns-lacey-2024", "gao-21-385", "doe-twitter-2025" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The outcome of Lacey's Ninth Circuit appeal was not found as of 2026-10-30; the case status is from a November 2024 report." }, "street": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting in public is an offence in every state that criminalises prostitution, and some add higher penalties for public places or near schools and churches. Two large states have repealed their offences of loitering with intent to commit prostitution: New York in 2021 and California in 2022. In Maine selling, including soliciting, is no longer an offence.", "details": "Examples: Minnesota makes prostitution in a public place a gross misdemeanour rather than a misdemeanour (§ 609.324 subd. 6); Michigan's core offence is accosting, soliciting or inviting in a public place or from a building or vehicle (MCL 750.448); Delaware raises the grade within 1,000 feet of a school, residence or place of worship (§ 1342(b)).\n\nNew York repealed Penal Law § 240.37 (loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offence) by chapter 23 of 2021, signed on 2 February 2021. California's SB 357, approved on 1 July 2022, repealed Penal Code § 653.22, which had prohibited loitering in a public place with intent to commit prostitution. Soliciting and engaging in prostitution remain offences in both states.", "provisions": [ "Minn. Stat. § 609.324 subd. 6", "MCL 750.448", "N.Y. Penal Law § 240.37 (repealed 2021)", "Cal. Penal Code § 653.22 (repealed 2022)" ], "sources": [ "ny-s1351-2021", "ca-sb-357", "mn-609-324", "mi-750-448", "de-11-1342", "me-853-a", "nv-nrs-207" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "registration": { "status": "varies", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no registration of sex workers anywhere except in Nevada's licensed brothels, where the county issues work cards after background checks and workers must undergo weekly testing for sexually transmitted infections. Selling sex outside that system is a misdemeanour.", "details": "Licensing is local. NRS 244.345 sets up county licence boards (in counties under 700,000 people, the county commissioners and the sheriff) that license, condition and may revoke licences, and its subsection 8 forbids brothel licences in counties of 700,000 or more; each rural county decides by ordinance whether to license brothels. Workers in licensed brothels need a county work card. The Nevada Independent (2026) reports weekly STI tests costing a worker around $130 a week, background checks costing $150 every quarter, and registration cards costing about $60 in Lander and Storey counties and up to $250 in Elko City.", "provisions": [ "NRS 244.345" ], "sources": [ "nv-nrs-244", "nv-independent-2026", "nv-nrs-207" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The state health regulations that require testing in licensed brothels (Nevada Administrative Code chapter 441A) could not be opened from here; the testing and fee details come from a 2026 news report. The Nevada Legislature's site blocks this network, so NRS chapters 201, 207 and 244 were read from Internet Archive copies captured in August-October 2026." }, "tax": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Income from sex work is taxable like any other income. The Internal Revenue Service states that income from illegal activities must be reported, either as other income or, for self-employment, on Schedule C. Workers in Nevada's licensed brothels also pay county work-card and licence fees.", "details": "IRS Publication 525 (2025): \"Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.\" Brothel and liquor licence fees and workers' cards brought Lyon County, Nevada, about $340,000 in 2025, according to a UNLV report cited by the Nevada Independent.", "provisions": [ "IRS Publication 525: illegal activities" ], "sources": [ "irs-p525", "nv-independent-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The IRS guidance is general and does not mention prostitution specifically; whether licensed Nevada brothel workers are employees or independent contractors was not checked." }, "migrants": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "A non-citizen who comes to the United States to engage in prostitution, or has engaged in it within the previous 10 years, is inadmissible under federal immigration law, even if the work was legal where it took place, such as a licensed Nevada brothel. Procuring people for prostitution or receiving its proceeds is also a ground of inadmissibility.", "details": "8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(D) makes inadmissible any alien who \"is coming to the United States solely, principally, or incidentally to engage in prostitution, or has engaged in prostitution within 10 years of the date of application for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status\", anyone who procures or imports persons for prostitution or receives its proceeds within that period, and anyone coming to engage in any other unlawful commercialised vice. The ground applies to visa applications, admission at the border and adjustment of status.", "provisions": [ "8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(D)" ], "sources": [ "usc-8-1182" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "Waivers and the separate protections for trafficking victims (T visas) are not covered here." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "usc-18-2421", "titleEn": "Mann Act (18 U.S.C. chapter 117)", "relevance": "Federal offences of transporting a person across state or national borders for prostitution (§ 2421, up to 10 years) and persuading or enticing a person to travel for it (§ 2422, up to 20 years).", "provisions": [ "18 U.S.C. § 2421", "18 U.S.C. § 2422", "18 U.S.C. § 2423", "18 U.S.C. § 2424" ] }, { "sourceId": "pl-115-164", "titleEn": "Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA-SESTA)", "relevance": "Created 18 U.S.C. § 2421A (operating an online service with intent to promote or facilitate prostitution) and the Section 230(e)(5) carve-out that exposes websites to state prosecution and civil sex-trafficking claims.", "provisions": [ "§ 3 (18 U.S.C. § 2421A)", "§ 4 (47 U.S.C. § 230(e)(5))" ], "inForce": "2018-04-11" }, { "sourceId": "usc-47-230", "titleEn": "Communications Decency Act, Section 230", "relevance": "Immunity of online services for third-party content, limited since 2018 by § 230(e)(5) for sex-trafficking claims and state charges mirroring § 2421A.", "provisions": [ "47 U.S.C. § 230(c)", "47 U.S.C. § 230(e)(5)" ] }, { "sourceId": "usc-18-1591", "titleEn": "Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion", "relevance": "Federal sex-trafficking offence, including benefiting from participation in a trafficking venture and advertising a trafficked person; the basis of civil claims against platforms under § 1595.", "provisions": [ "18 U.S.C. § 1591" ] }, { "sourceId": "nv-nrs-244", "titleEn": "Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 244.345; NRS chapters 201 and 207)", "relevance": "The legal basis of Nevada's county-licensed brothels and the ban on licensing them in counties of 700,000 or more people (Clark County, Las Vegas), plus the offences for selling, buying and advertising outside the licensed system.", "provisions": [ "NRS 244.345(8)", "NRS 201.354", "NRS 201.380", "NRS 201.430", "NRS 207.030(1)(b)" ] }, { "sourceId": "me-ld-1435", "titleEn": "Maine: An Act to Reduce Commercial Sexual Exploitation (Public Law 2023, chapter 316)", "relevance": "Repealed the offence of engaging in prostitution, making Maine the only state where selling sex is not a crime while buying remains one.", "provisions": [ "17-A M.R.S. § 853-A (repealed)", "17-A M.R.S. § 853-B" ], "inForce": "2023" }, { "sourceId": "pa-act-41-2026", "titleEn": "Pennsylvania Act 41 of 2026 (SB 45)", "relevance": "Moved promoting and patronising prostitution into the human trafficking chapter and made patronising a felony on a third offence, with minimum fines of $2,500 to $10,000.", "provisions": [ "18 Pa.C.S. § 3027", "18 Pa.C.S. § 3028", "18 Pa.C.S. § 5902" ] }, { "sourceId": "usc-8-1182", "titleEn": "Immigration and Nationality Act, inadmissibility", "relevance": "Makes non-citizens who come to engage in prostitution, or did so within 10 years, inadmissible.", "provisions": [ "8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(D)" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "ny-cecilias-act", "title": "New York: Cecilia's Act for Rights in the Sex Trades (S2513-A / A3251)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2026-05-12", "summary": "Would decriminalise prostitution offences between consenting adults by repealing and amending Penal Law Article 230, keep the offences involving minors, force, coercion and trafficking, and let people vacate past convictions. Amended and recommitted to the Senate Codes Committee on 12 May 2026; the Assembly bill is in committee.", "sources": [ "ny-s2513-2025" ] }, { "id": "co-sb26-097", "title": "Colorado: SB26-097 Decriminalize Adult Commercial Sexual Activity", "stage": "rejected", "updated": "2026-03-11", "summary": "Would have repealed the state offences of prostitution, soliciting, keeping a place of prostitution and patronising, and pre-empted local ordinances, keeping pimping and coercive pandering as crimes. The Senate Judiciary Committee laid it over and then postponed it indefinitely on 11 March 2026 at the sponsor's request.", "sources": [ "co-sb26-097" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1980", "event": "Rhode Island amends its prostitution law, leaving no offence that covers sex for money in private; indoor prostitution is in practice legal until 2009.", "sources": [ "projo-2009-05" ] }, { "date": "2009-11-03", "event": "Rhode Island's governor signs the law that makes indoor prostitution a crime again (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-34.1-2).", "sources": [ "projo-2009-11", "ri-11-34-1-2" ] }, { "date": "2018-04-06", "event": "Federal authorities seize Backpage.com; on 9 April the Justice Department announces a 93-count indictment of its founders and executives.", "sources": [ "doj-backpage-2018" ] }, { "date": "2018-04-11", "event": "FOSTA-SESTA becomes law: new federal offence for online services that promote or facilitate prostitution (18 U.S.C. § 2421A) and the Section 230(e)(5) carve-out.", "sources": [ "pl-115-164" ] }, { "date": "2021-02-02", "event": "New York repeals the offence of loitering for the purpose of prostitution (Penal Law § 240.37).", "sources": [ "ny-s1351-2021" ] }, { "date": "2021-06-21", "event": "GAO reports that DOJ had brought only one prosecution under FOSTA's § 2421A and that the online sex market had moved overseas and fragmented.", "sources": [ "gao-21-385" ] }, { "date": "2022-07-01", "event": "California's SB 357 is approved, repealing the offence of loitering with intent to commit prostitution.", "sources": [ "ca-sb-357" ] }, { "date": "2023-06-26", "event": "Maine enacts LD 1435, repealing the offence of engaging in prostitution while keeping buying a crime.", "sources": [ "me-ld-1435", "me-853-a" ] }, { "date": "2023-07-07", "event": "The D.C. Circuit upholds FOSTA against First Amendment challenges in Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. United States.", "sources": [ "woodhull-2023" ] }, { "date": "2024-08", "event": "Backpage co-founder Michael Lacey is sentenced to five years for international concealment money laundering; in November the Ninth Circuit grants bail pending appeal.", "sources": [ "cns-lacey-2024" ] }, { "date": "2025-05-07", "event": "Utah's recodified prostitution offences take effect in the new Chapter 76-5d of its criminal code.", "sources": [ "ut-76-10-p13", "ut-76-5d-202" ] }, { "date": "2025-12-19", "event": "New York's chapter 686 of 2025 is signed, giving people in prostitution immunity from prosecution when they report or help prosecute a crime.", "sources": [ "ny-s3967b-2025" ] }, { "date": "2026-03-11", "event": "Colorado's bill to decriminalise adult commercial sex (SB26-097) is postponed indefinitely in committee.", "sources": [ "co-sb26-097" ] }, { "date": "2026-07-20", "event": "Pennsylvania's Act 41 of 2026 makes patronising prostitution a felony on a third offence and raises buyers' minimum fines.", "sources": [ "pa-act-41-2026" ] } ], "stats": [ { "label": "Estimated arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice", "value": "26,713", "year": "2019", "note": "FBI national estimate from the Summary Reporting System, the last year of that series; it counts arrests (not people) for all prostitution-related offences, buyers and sellers together, and is not comparable with later NIBRS-based figures.", "sources": [ "fbi-cius-2019-t29" ] }, { "label": "Federal criminal cases against operators of online commercial-sex platforms", "value": "at least 11, of which 1 under 18 U.S.C. § 2421A", "year": "2014-2020", "note": "GAO count of DOJ cases against those who control platforms (including three against Backpage); the single FOSTA case was brought in June 2020.", "sources": [ "gao-21-385" ] }, { "label": "Licensed brothels operating in Nevada", "value": "16, in 7 counties", "year": "2026", "note": "Count by the Nevada Brothel Association, an industry body, reported by the Nevada Independent; there is no official statewide register. None is in Clark County (Las Vegas) or Washoe County (Reno).", "sources": [ "nv-independent-2026" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "usc-18-2421", "kind": "legislation", "title": "18 U.S. Code § 2421 - Transportation generally", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2421", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "usc-18-2421a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "18 U.S. Code § 2421A - Promotion or facilitation of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2421A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "usc-18-2422", "kind": "legislation", "title": "18 U.S. Code § 2422 - Coercion and enticement", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2422", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "usc-18-1591", "kind": "legislation", "title": "18 U.S. Code § 1591 - Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1591", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "usc-47-230", "kind": "legislation", "title": "47 U.S. Code § 230 - Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "usc-8-1182", "kind": "legislation", "title": "8 U.S. Code § 1182 - Inadmissible aliens", "publisher": "Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School", "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pl-115-164", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Public Law 115-164: Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017", "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)", "url": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ164/html/PLAW-115publ164.htm", "published": "2018-04-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doj-backpage-2018", "kind": "government", "title": "Justice Department Leads Effort to Seize Backpage.Com, the Internet's Leading Forum for Prostitution Ads, and Obtains 93-Count Federal Indictment", "publisher": "U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-leads-effort-seize-backpagecom-internet-s-leading-forum-prostitution-ads", "published": "2018-04-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "cns-lacey-2024", "kind": "news", "title": "Backpage co-founder granted bail pending appeal", "publisher": "Courthouse News Service", "url": "https://www.courthousenews.com/backpage-co-founder-granted-bail-pending-appeal/", "published": "2024-11-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "gao-21-385", "kind": "government", "title": "Sex Trafficking: Online Platforms and Federal Prosecutions (GAO-21-385)", "publisher": "U.S. Government Accountability Office", "url": "https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-385", "published": "2021-06-21", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "woodhull-2023", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Woodhull Freedom Foundation v. United States, 72 F.4th 1286 (D.C. Cir. 2023), No. 22-5105", "publisher": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (via CourtListener)", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/9412003/woodhull-freedom-foundation-v-united-states/", "published": "2023-07-07", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "doe-twitter-2025", "kind": "case-law", "title": "Doe 1 v. Twitter, Inc., No. 24-177 (9th Cir. 2025)", "publisher": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (via CourtListener)", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10646240/doe-1-v-twitter-inc/", "published": "2025-08-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "irs-p525", "kind": "government", "title": "Publication 525 (2025), Taxable and Nontaxable Income", "publisher": "Internal Revenue Service", "url": "https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fbi-cius-2019-t29", "kind": "statistics", "title": "Crime in the United States 2019, Table 29: Estimated Number of Arrests, United States, 2019", "publisher": "Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program", "url": "https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/table-29", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nv-nrs-201", "kind": "legislation", "title": "NRS Chapter 201 - Crimes Against Public Decency and Good Morals (NRS 201.354, 201.380, 201.430, 201.440)", "publisher": "Nevada Legislature", "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-201.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nv-nrs-244", "kind": "legislation", "title": "NRS Chapter 244 - Counties: Government (NRS 244.345)", "publisher": "Nevada Legislature", "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-244.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nv-nrs-207", "kind": "legislation", "title": "NRS Chapter 207 - Miscellaneous Crimes (NRS 207.030)", "publisher": "Nevada Legislature", "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-207.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nv-independent-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "Sex workers at a Nevada brothel are making headlines. How do legal brothels in Nevada work?", "publisher": "The Nevada Independent", "url": "https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sex-workers-at-a-nevada-brothel-are-making-headlines-how-much-do-you-know-about-the-industry", "published": "2026-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "me-853-a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A, §853-A: Engaging in prostitution (REPEALED)", "publisher": "Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes", "url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec853-A.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "me-853-b", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A, §853-B: Engaging person for prostitution", "publisher": "Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes", "url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec853-B.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "me-ld-1435", "kind": "parliament", "title": "LD 1435 (HP 931), An Act to Reduce Commercial Sexual Exploitation - Public Law 2023, chapter 316", "publisher": "Maine Legislature", "url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1435&snum=131", "published": "2023-06-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ri-11-34-1-2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Rhode Island General Laws § 11-34.1-2. Prostitution", "publisher": "State of Rhode Island General Assembly", "url": "https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE11/11-34.1/11-34.1-2.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "projo-2009-05", "kind": "news", "title": "Behind closed doors: How R.I. decriminalized prostitution", "publisher": "The Providence Journal (Internet Archive copy)", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20090601211914/http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROSTITUTION_LAW31_05-31-09_NVEHGBH_v161.3e90048.html", "published": "2009-05-31", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "projo-2009-11", "kind": "news", "title": "Bill signing finally outlaws indoor prostitution in R.I.", "publisher": "The Providence Journal (Internet Archive copy)", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20131113205521/http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2009/11/governor-carcieri-signed-into.html", "published": "2009-11-03", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ny-pen-230-00", "kind": "legislation", "title": "New York Penal Law § 230.00 Prostitution", "publisher": "New York State Senate (Open Legislation)", "url": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/230.00", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ny-s3967b-2025", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Senate Bill S3967B (2025-2026): limited immunity from prosecution (Penal Law § 230.45), signed as chapter 686 of 2025", "publisher": "New York State Senate", "url": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3967/amendment/B", "published": "2025-12-19", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ny-s1351-2021", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Senate Bill S1351 (2021-2022): repeal of Penal Law § 240.37, signed as chapter 23 of 2021", "publisher": "New York State Senate", "url": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S1351", "published": "2021-02-02", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ny-s2513-2025", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Senate Bill S2513 (2025-2026): Cecilia's act for rights in the sex trades", "publisher": "New York State Senate", "url": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2513", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "co-18-7-201", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-7-201 (2023) - Prostitution prohibited", "publisher": "Justia (unofficial compilation of the state code)", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-18/article-7/part-2/section-18-7-201/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "co-sb26-097", "kind": "parliament", "title": "SB26-097 Decriminalize Adult Commercial Sexual Activity", "publisher": "Colorado General Assembly", "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-097", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ca-pen-647", "kind": "legislation", "title": "California Penal Code § 647", "publisher": "California Legislative Information", "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=647.", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ca-sb-357", "kind": "legislation", "title": "SB-357 Crimes: loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense (2021-2022)", "publisher": "California Legislative Information", "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB357", "published": "2022-07-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pa-5902", "kind": "legislation", "title": "18 Pa.C.S. § 5902. Prostitution", "publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly", "url": "https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=18&div=0&chapter=59§ion=2&subsctn=0", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "pa-act-41-2026", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Act of Jul. 20, 2026, P.L. 492, No. 41 (SB 45) - Crimes Code omnibus amendments", "publisher": "Pennsylvania General Assembly", "url": "https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information?sessYr=2026&sessInd=0&actNum=41", "published": "2026-07-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dc-22-2701", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code of the District of Columbia § 22-2701. Engaging in prostitution or soliciting for prostitution", "publisher": "Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)", "url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-2701", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dc-b23-0318", "kind": "parliament", "title": "B23-0318 - Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019", "publisher": "Council of the District of Columbia (LIMS)", "url": "https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B23-0318", "published": "2019-06-04", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "al-13a-12-121", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code of Alabama § 13A-12-121 Prohibited Activities", "publisher": "Alabama Legislature (ALISON)", "url": "https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=13A-12-121", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "al-13a-12-122", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code of Alabama § 13A-12-122 Violations", "publisher": "Alabama Legislature (ALISON)", "url": "https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=13A-12-122", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-ak", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Alaska Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/alaska-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "az-13-3214", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3214. Prostitution; classification", "publisher": "Arizona State Legislature", "url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03214.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-ar", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Arkansas Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/arkansas-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ct-chap-952", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 952 - Penal Code: Offenses (Secs. 53a-82 to 53a-89)", "publisher": "Connecticut General Assembly", "url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_952.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "de-11-1342", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 5, Subchapter VII (§§ 1342-1356)", "publisher": "Delaware Code Online", "url": "https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/index.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "fl-796-07", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Florida Statutes 796.07 Prohibiting prostitution and related acts", "publisher": "The Florida Legislature", "url": "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0796/Sections/0796.07.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ga-16-6-9", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Georgia Code § 16-6-9 (2023) - Prostitution", "publisher": "Justia (unofficial compilation of the state code)", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-16/chapter-6/section-16-6-9/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "hi-712-1200", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes §712-1200 Prostitution", "publisher": "Hawaii State Legislature", "url": "https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0712/HRS_0712-1200.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "id-18-5613", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Idaho Code 18-5613. Providing commercial sexual activity", "publisher": "Idaho State Legislature", "url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch56/sect18-5613/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "il-11-14", "kind": "legislation", "title": "720 ILCS 5/11-14 Prostitution", "publisher": "Illinois General Assembly", "url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K11-14", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-in", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Indiana Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/indiana-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ia-725-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Iowa Code 2026, Section 725.1 Prostitution", "publisher": "Iowa Legislature", "url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/725.1.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ks-21-6419", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kansas Statutes 21-6419. Selling sexual relations", "publisher": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes", "url": "https://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_064_0019.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ky-529-020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Kentucky Revised Statutes 529.020 (2025) Prostitution", "publisher": "Justia (unofficial compilation of the state code)", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/chapter-529/section-529-020/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "la-14-82", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:82. Prostitution; definition; penalties; enhancement", "publisher": "Louisiana State Legislature", "url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=78677", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "md-11-303", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 11-303 (2024)", "publisher": "Justia (unofficial compilation of the state code)", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/criminal-law/title-11/subtitle-3/section-11-303/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ma-272-53a", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Massachusetts General Laws, Part IV, Title I, Chapter 272, Section 53A", "publisher": "The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts", "url": "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter272/Section53A", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mi-750-448", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Michigan Compiled Laws 750.448 Soliciting, accosting, or inviting to commit prostitution or immoral act", "publisher": "Michigan Legislature", "url": "https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-750-448", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mn-609-324", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Minnesota Statutes 609.324 Patrons; prostitutes; housing individuals engaged in prostitution; penalties", "publisher": "Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes", "url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.324", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-ms", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Mississippi Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/mississippi-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mo-567-020", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Revised Statutes of Missouri 567.020 Prostitution", "publisher": "Missouri Revisor of Statutes", "url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=567.020", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "mt-45-5-601", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Montana Code Annotated 2025, 45-5-601. Prostitution -- patronizing prostitute -- exception", "publisher": "Montana Legislature", "url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0450/chapter_0050/part_0060/section_0010/0450-0050-0060-0010.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ne-28-801", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Nebraska Revised Statute 28-801. Prostitution; penalty; affirmative defense; immunity from prosecution", "publisher": "Nebraska Legislature", "url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-801", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nh-645-2", "kind": "legislation", "title": "New Hampshire RSA 645:2 Prostitution and Related Offenses", "publisher": "New Hampshire General Court", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LXII/645/645-2.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nj-2c-34-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "New Jersey Revised Statutes 2C:34-1 (2023) Prostitution and related offenses", "publisher": "Justia (unofficial compilation of the state code)", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2023/title-2c/section-2c-34-1/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-nm", "kind": "ngo", "title": "New Mexico Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/new-mexico-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nc-14-204", "kind": "legislation", "title": "North Carolina General Statutes § 14-204. Prostitution", "publisher": "North Carolina General Assembly", "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-204.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "nd-12-1-29", "kind": "legislation", "title": "North Dakota Century Code Chapter 12.1-29 Prostitution", "publisher": "North Dakota Legislative Branch", "url": "https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t12-1c29.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "oh-2907-25", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.25", "publisher": "Ohio Legislative Service Commission", "url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2907.25", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-ok", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Oklahoma Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/oklahoma-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "or-ors-167", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 167 - Offenses Against General Welfare and Animals (ORS 167.007-167.017)", "publisher": "Oregon State Legislature", "url": "https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors167.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sc-16-15-90", "kind": "legislation", "title": "South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 16, Chapter 15 (Section 16-15-90)", "publisher": "South Carolina Legislature", "url": "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t16c015.php", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "sd-22-23-1", "kind": "legislation", "title": "South Dakota Codified Laws 22-23-1. Prostitution--Misdemeanor", "publisher": "South Dakota Legislature", "url": "https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/22-23-1.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-tn", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Tennessee Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/tennessee-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "tx-pe-43", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Texas Penal Code Chapter 43. Public Indecency (Secs. 43.02, 43.021, 43.03, 43.04)", "publisher": "Texas Legislature", "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.43.htm", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ut-76-5d-202", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Utah Code 76-5d-202. Engaging in prostitution", "publisher": "Utah State Legislature", "url": "https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5D/76-5d-S202.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "ut-76-10-p13", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Utah Code Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 13 Prostitution (Renumbered 5/7/2025)", "publisher": "Utah State Legislature", "url": "https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter10/C76-10-P13_1800010118000101.html", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vt-13-2632", "kind": "legislation", "title": "13 V.S.A. § 2632. Prostitution", "publisher": "Vermont General Assembly", "url": "https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/13/059/02632", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "va-18-2-346", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Code of Virginia § 18.2-346. Prostitution; commercial sexual conduct; penalties", "publisher": "Virginia General Assembly (LIS)", "url": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-346/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wa-9a-88-030", "kind": "legislation", "title": "RCW 9A.88.030 Prostitution", "publisher": "Washington State Legislature", "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.88.030", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wv-61-8-5", "kind": "legislation", "title": "West Virginia Code §61-8-5. Houses of ill fame and assignation", "publisher": "West Virginia Legislature", "url": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/61-8-5/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wi-944", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 944 - Crimes Against Sexual Morality", "publisher": "Wisconsin State Legislature", "url": "https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/944", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "dsw-wi", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Wisconsin Prostitution Laws", "publisher": "Decriminalize Sex Work (advocacy NGO; reproduces statute text)", "url": "https://decriminalizesex.work/wisconsin-prostitution-laws/", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "wy-title-6", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Wyoming Statutes Title 6 - Crimes and Offenses (W.S. 6-4-101, 6-4-102)", "publisher": "Wyoming Legislature", "url": "https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title06.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-states/" }, { "iso2": "UY", "name": "Uruguay", "nativeName": "Uruguay", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "regulation", "modelNote": "Law 17.515 of 2002 declares sex work lawful when carried out under its conditions: workers over 18 must be in the National Sex Work Register and hold a valid health card, and brothels, whiskerías and similar venues need a municipal licence and police authorisation. The 1927 procuring law (Law 8.080) still punishes exploiting another person's prostitution for profit, and Law 17.515 presumes that offence where a venue operator takes an excessive share.", "modelSources": [ "uy-17515", "uy-8080" ], "summary": "Uruguay regulates sex work under Law 17.515 of 2002. Sex work is lawful for people over 18 who are listed in the National Sex Work Register, kept by the Ministries of Public Health and the Interior, and who hold a health card issued free of charge after periodic medical checks; registered workers may not be detained for the activity alone. Sex work may be offered in zones set by each departmental government and in licensed brothels, whiskerías and similar venues, which need municipal and police authorisation and may be run only by a natural person. Breaches by workers or venue owners carry fines of 5 to 100 indexed units. Exploiting another person's prostitution for profit remains a crime under Law 8.080. A 2024 bill backed by a Chamber committee would abolish the register and the health card.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Sex work is lawful for people over 18 who are listed in the National Sex Work Register and hold a valid health card. Registration is voluntary or ex officio, the card is valid nationwide for three years, and workers who skip health checks for a year are struck off. Working in breach of the law's conditions is fined 5 to 100 UR; registered workers cannot be detained by police for the activity alone.", "details": "Registration data are confidential and may be used for health or police purposes, at the request of a court or the Ministry of Public Health, or by the person concerned (art. 13). A person found working unregistered who declares they will stop may avoid registration with a warning (art. 10). Sex work may be offered in zones and hours fixed by each Intendencia with the health and police authorities, after a non-binding consultation of the local sex workers' organisation, and never where there are schools (arts. 18-21).", "provisions": [ "Ley 17.515, arts. 1-3, 7-17, 18-21, 31" ], "sources": [ "uy-17515" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Law 17.515 regulates sex workers and venues and contains no sanction for clients.", "sources": [ "uy-17515" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "brothels": { "status": "regulated", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Brothels (any premises offering sex work, whatever their name), whiskerías and \"bares de camareras\" may operate with a municipal licence and authorisation from the departmental police headquarters. Only a natural person may apply and is liable for violations; minors may not be employed in any role; gambling and noisy entertainment are banned. Therapeutic massage houses may not host sex work.", "provisions": [ "Ley 17.515, arts. 22-30" ], "sources": [ "uy-17515" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Exploiting another person's prostitution for profit, by contributing to it in any way, is punished with 2 to 8 years even with the person's consent; inducing or determining someone into prostitution for profit carries 3 to 12 months. A venue operator who takes a price giving an excessive benefit may be presumed guilty of this offence.", "details": "Article 1 of Law 8.080 (as amended by Law 16.707 of 1995) states that the victim's consent does not exclude liability. Article 2 sets a minimum of four years where the victim is under 18, force or deceit is used, or the offender is a police officer, relative or partner. Article 34 of Law 17.515 links the procuring offence to venue charges that give the operator or a third party an excessive benefit.", "provisions": [ "Ley 8.080, arts. 1-2", "Ley 17.515, art. 34" ], "sources": [ "uy-8080", "uy-17515" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Law 17.515 has no specific rules on advertising. It allows brothels to display signs that do not offend public morals or order; a breach falls under the law's general fines.", "provisions": [ "Ley 17.515, arts. 26, 31" ], "sources": [ "uy-17515" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Other laws on media, advertising or online platforms were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "uy-17515", "titleEn": "Law 17.515 on sex work (2002)", "relevance": "Declares sex work lawful under its conditions and sets up the register, health card, zoning and venue licensing.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1-35" ] }, { "sourceId": "uy-8080", "titleEn": "Law 8.080 on procuring (1927)", "relevance": "Criminalises exploiting and inducing prostitution for profit.", "provisions": [ "arts. 1-5" ] } ], "pending": [ { "id": "uy-carpeta-4431-2024", "title": "Proyecto de ley de protección del trabajo sexual (Carpeta N° 4431 de 2024)", "stage": "in-parliament", "updated": "2024-08", "summary": "Bill drawn up after repeated hearings with sex workers and recommended for approval by a majority of the Chamber of Deputies' Labour and Social Security Committee in August 2024. It would replace Law 17.515, abolish the National Sex Work Register and the health card, which the committee considered a source of discrimination, and drop the chapter on fines. Its status after the change of legislature in 2025 could not be confirmed.", "sources": [ "uy-4431" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1927-05-27", "event": "Law 8.080 on procuring promulgated.", "sources": [ "uy-8080" ] }, { "date": "2002-07-04", "event": "Law 17.515 on sex work promulgated; it is published on 9 July 2002.", "sources": [ "uy-17515" ] }, { "date": "2024-08", "event": "Chamber of Deputies Labour Committee recommends a bill to replace Law 17.515 and abolish the sex work register.", "sources": [ "uy-4431" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "uy-17515", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 17.515, Trabajo sexual", "titleEn": "Law No. 17,515 on sex work", "publisher": "IMPO, Centro de Información Oficial", "url": "https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/17515-2002", "published": "2002-07-09", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "uy-8080", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ley N° 8.080, Proxenetismo", "titleEn": "Law No. 8,080 on procuring", "publisher": "IMPO, Centro de Información Oficial", "url": "https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/8080-1927", "published": "1927-06-01", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" }, { "id": "uy-4431", "kind": "parliament", "title": "Comisión de Legislación del Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Anexo I al Repartido N° 1160, Carpeta N° 4431 de 2024: Protección del trabajo sexual", "titleEn": "Labour and Social Security Committee report on the bill for the protection of sex work (file 4431 of 2024)", "publisher": "Cámara de Representantes del Uruguay", "url": "https://documentos.diputados.gub.uy/docs/L49/Repartid/R1160-A01.pdf", "published": "2024-08", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uruguay/" }, { "iso2": "UZ", "name": "Uzbekistan", "nativeName": "Oʻzbekiston", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (fines, and up to 15 days' administrative arrest for a repeat). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code.", "modelSources": [ "uz-koao", "uz-uk" ], "summary": "In Uzbekistan the person who sells sex is penalised. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of three to seven times the base calculation amount (BCA), and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries seven to ten BCA or up to 15 days' administrative arrest (Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, sanctions as amended in 2019). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping \"for mercenary or other base motives\" and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code. Brothel keeping carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment, rising to five to eight years where a minor is involved or an organised group is responsible. Trafficking for the purpose of drawing a person into prostitution carries five to ten years.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of three to seven BCA. A repeat within a year after an administrative penalty is punishable by seven to ten BCA or administrative arrest of up to 15 days.", "details": "Article 190 is headed \"Фоҳишалик билан шуғулланиш\" (engaging in prostitution). The current sanctions were set by Law ЎРҚ-586 of 3 December 2019.", "provisions": [ "190-модда МЖтК" ], "sources": [ "uz-koao" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The text was read in Uzbek on lex.uz and translated here. The BCA (базавий ҳисоблаш миқдори) is revised periodically.", "mapLabel": "fine" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Code of Administrative Responsibility or the Criminal Code. Sex with a person under 16 in exchange for material goods or other benefit is a crime (Article 128 of the Criminal Code). A 2026 commentary notes that the Criminal Code has no general offence of child sexual exploitation.", "provisions": [ "128-модда ЖК" ], "sources": [ "uz-koao", "uz-uk", "uz-gazeta-2026" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Absence of a buyer offence was checked by searching both codes for the prostitution terms; Article 128 is cited from the Gazeta.uz commentary, not read in the code." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Organising or keeping a brothel is punishable by a fine of 50 to 75 BCA, 360 to 480 hours of compulsory community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment. A group acting by prior agreement faces three to five years, and the involvement of a minor, a repeat offence or an organised group five to eight years.", "provisions": [ "131-модда 2-қисм ЖК", "131-модда 3-4-қисм ЖК" ], "sources": [ "uz-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Pimping (қўшмачилик) for mercenary or other base motives is punishable by a fine of 25 to 50 BCA, up to 360 hours of community work or up to three years' corrective labour, with heavier penalties for groups, repeat offenders and cases involving minors. Trafficking in persons for the purpose of drawing them into prostitution carries five to ten years.", "provisions": [ "131-модда 1-қисм ЖК", "135-модда ЖК" ], "sources": [ "uz-uk" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the two codes. A third party who publicises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for pimping under Article 131, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution under Article 190.", "provisions": [ "131-модда ЖК", "190-модда МЖтК" ], "sources": [ "uz-uk", "uz-koao" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "The Law on Advertising and the rules on online content were not checked. Applying Article 131 to advertising is an inference from its wording, not a reported case." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "uz-koao", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Responsibility (1994, as amended)", "relevance": "Article 190 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence.", "provisions": [ "190-модда" ] }, { "sourceId": "uz-uk", "titleEn": "Criminal Code (1994, as amended)", "relevance": "Pimping and brothel keeping (Art. 131); trafficking, including for prostitution (Art. 135).", "provisions": [ "131-модда", "135-модда" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2019-12-03", "event": "Law ЎРҚ-586 sets the current sanctions for engaging in prostitution (Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility) and for pimping and brothel keeping (Article 131 of the Criminal Code).", "sources": [ "uz-koao", "uz-uk" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "uz-koao", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Маъмурий жавобгарлик тўғрисидаги кодекси", "titleEn": "Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan", "publisher": "LexUZ, National Database of Legislation (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://lex.uz/docs/97664", "published": "1994-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uz" }, { "id": "uz-uk", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Жиноят кодекси", "titleEn": "Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan", "publisher": "LexUZ, National Database of Legislation (Ministry of Justice)", "url": "https://lex.uz/docs/111453", "published": "1994-09-22", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "uz" }, { "id": "uz-gazeta-2026", "kind": "news", "title": "«Продаётся детство». В Узбекистане до сих пор нет наказания за сексуальную эксплуатацию детей", "titleEn": "\"Childhood for sale\": Uzbekistan still has no penalty for the sexual exploitation of children", "publisher": "Gazeta.uz", "url": "https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2026/05/11/sexual-expluatation/", "published": "2026-05-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ru" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uzbekistan/" }, { "iso2": "VU", "name": "Vanuatu", "nativeName": "Ripablik blong Vanuatu", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "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).", "modelSources": [ "vu-pc" ], "summary": "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.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "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.", "provisions": [ "s. 148(a) and (d) Penal Code, Cap. 135" ], "sources": [ "vu-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 3 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "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.", "provisions": [ "s. 148(d) Penal Code, Cap. 135", "s. 101B Penal Code, Cap. 135" ], "sources": [ "vu-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "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.", "provisions": [ "s. 101 Penal Code, Cap. 135" ], "sources": [ "vu-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "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." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "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.", "provisions": [ "s. 101 Penal Code, Cap. 135" ], "sources": [ "vu-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the Consolidated Edition 2006 of the Penal Code (copy hosted by WIPO Lex); later amendments were not checked." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "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.", "provisions": [ "s. 101 Penal Code, Cap. 135" ], "sources": [ "vu-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the absence of a specific provision in the code reviewed; electronic-communications, obscenity and trafficking laws were not reviewed for platform liability." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "vu-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code, Chapter 135 (Consolidated Edition 2006)", "relevance": "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).", "provisions": [ "s. 101", "ss. 101A-101D", "s. 148" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "vu-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code [Cap 135], Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu, Consolidated Edition 2006", "publisher": "Republic of Vanuatu (copy hosted by WIPO Lex)", "url": "https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/vu/vu034en.pdf", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vanuatu/" }, { "iso2": "VE", "name": "Venezuela", "nativeName": "Venezuela", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. It punishes whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution of any person, which reaches third parties who organise or profit from prostitution, including brothel keepers. Other provisions protect minors and punish coercion by relatives or husbands.", "modelSources": [ "ve-cp" ], "summary": "Venezuelan law does not punish people who sell sex or their adult clients. The Penal Code makes it an offence, punishable by one to six years, to induce, facilitate or favour the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, with a higher penalty where the person is a minor. Separate provisions in the chapter on corrupters punish inducing or facilitating the prostitution of minors and forcing a descendant, wife or ward into prostitution by violence or threats. This overview could only check the text through a copy of the 2000 version of the Code; the Code has been reformed since and current secondary copies number the chapter on corrupters one article lower, so provision numbers here are approximate.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes selling sex between adults an offence; the prostitution offences target those who induce, facilitate or profit from the prostitution of others.", "sources": [ "ve-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on a secondary copy of the 2000 Penal Code text; the official current text could not be opened. Municipal ordinances and police practice were not checked." }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "Paying an adult for sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. Sexual acts with minors are covered by separate offences.", "sources": [ "ve-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Based on a secondary copy of the 2000 Penal Code text; the official current text could not be opened." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No licensing regime for brothels was found. Running a venue where others sell sex, for profit, falls within the offence of inducing, facilitating or favouring the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit, punishable by one to six years.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (texto de 2000), art. 382, segundo párrafo" ], "sources": [ "ve-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "That the facilitation offence covers brothel keeping is an interpretation of its wording; no case law was checked. Article number is from the 2000 text and may have changed in later reforms." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution or corruption of any person is punished with one to six years; if the person is a minor, the penalty is applied between the midpoint and the maximum.", "details": "The 2000 text reads: \"El que reiteradamente o con fines de lucro y para satisfacer las pasiones de otro, induzca, facilite o favorezca la prostitución o corrupción de alguna persona, será castigado con prisión de uno a seis años.\" The chapter \"De los corruptores\" adds offences of inducing or facilitating the prostitution of minors and of forcing a descendant, a wife (even an adult) or a ward into prostitution by violence or threats. Trafficking is dealt with in separate laws not reviewed here.", "provisions": [ "Código Penal (texto de 2000), art. 382, segundo párrafo", "Código Penal, capítulo \"De los corruptores\"" ], "sources": [ "ve-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Quoted from a copy of the 2000 Penal Code (Gaceta Oficial N° 5.494 Extraordinario) supplied by the National Assembly's legislative information service to Justia; the official consolidated current text could not be opened, so the wording and numbering may differ." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising a third party's sexual services for profit could fall within the facilitation offence; self-advertising by an adult who sells sex is not addressed.", "sources": [ "ve-cp" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Not verified against current official law, telecommunications or media regulation; treat as unconfirmed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ve-cp", "titleEn": "Penal Code (2000 text; later reformed)", "relevance": "Contains the offences of inducing, facilitating or favouring prostitution and the chapter on corrupters of minors.", "provisions": [ "art. 382 (2000 text)", "\"De los corruptores\"" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ve-cp", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Código Penal (Gaceta Oficial N° 5.494 Extraordinario, 20 de octubre de 2000)", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Official Gazette No. 5,494 Extraordinary, 20 October 2000)", "publisher": "Justia Venezuela (text supplied by the Servicio Autónomo de Información Legislativa)", "url": "https://venezuela.justia.com/federales/codigos/codigo-penal/gdoc/", "published": "2000-10-20", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "es" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/venezuela/" }, { "iso2": "VN", "name": "Vietnam", "nativeName": "Việt Nam", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention 2003 prohibits both buying and selling sex (Article 4). Both are administrative violations punished with warnings or fines, since 15 December 2025 under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP. Harbouring, brokering and organising prostitution are crimes under the Penal Code.", "modelSources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-nd282-en" ], "summary": "Vietnam prohibits both buying and selling sex but treats both as administrative violations rather than crimes. The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11) bans buying, selling, harbouring, organising, brokering and protecting prostitution. Fines are set by Government decree: Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025 and replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, fines buyers VND 1–2 million and people who sell sex a warning or VND 300,000–500,000, more where several people are involved. Harbouring (\"chứa mại dâm\") and brokering (\"môi giới mại dâm\") are criminal offences under Articles 327 and 328 of the Penal Code 2015. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a crime.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Selling sex is prohibited. It is punished with a warning or a fine of VND 300,000–500,000, or VND 1–2 million for selling sex to two or more people at the same time; foreign nationals may be expelled and illicit profits must be surrendered.", "details": "The Ordinance defines selling sex (\"bán dâm\") as sexual intercourse with another person in return for money or other material benefit (Article 3(1)) and lists it among prohibited acts (Article 4(2)). Article 23 provides for administrative sanctions and, in its 2003 text, for education measures in the commune or placement in a treatment establishment. A 2018 legal review by Asia Catalyst and the Vance Center reports that compulsory detention of sex workers ended in 2012 and that they are now fined instead. Knowingly transmitting HIV remains a criminal matter (Article 23(2)).", "provisions": [ "Điều 3, 4, 23 Pháp lệnh 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11", "Điều 33 Nghị định 282/2025/NĐ-CP" ], "sources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-nd282-en", "vn-ca-laichau", "vn-asiacatalyst" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "VND 500,000 fine" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "Buying sex is prohibited and fined VND 1–2 million, or VND 2–5 million for buying sex from two or more people at the same time. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a criminal offence.", "provisions": [ "Điều 4, 22 Pháp lệnh 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11", "Điều 32 Nghị định 282/2025/NĐ-CP" ], "sources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-nd282-en", "vn-ca-laichau" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "VND 2,000,000 fine" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Harbouring prostitution, defined as using, renting or lending premises or vehicles for buying and selling sex, is a criminal offence under Article 327 of the Penal Code. Service businesses used for prostitution are fined and can lose their licences.", "details": "Article 3(4) of the Ordinance defines \"chứa mại dâm\" and Article 24(2) requires criminal prosecution for it. Article 25 provides fines, confiscation and withdrawal of licences for service businesses used for prostitution, and administrative or criminal liability for managers who negligently allow it.", "provisions": [ "Điều 3(4), 24(2), 25 Pháp lệnh 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11", "Điều 327 Bộ luật Hình sự 2015" ], "sources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-vks-hanoi" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Brokering, organising and forcing prostitution must be prosecuted as crimes (Ordinance Article 24(2); Penal Code Articles 327–328). Where brokering is not serious enough for prosecution, Decree 282/2025 fines it VND 30–50 million; protecting prostitution is fined VND 5–10 million, or VND 50–75 million when done by abusing an official position.", "details": "The Ordinance defines brokering (\"môi giới mại dâm\") as enticing or leading people, as an intermediary, so that buying and selling sex take place (Article 3(7)). Article 34 of Decree 282/2025 also fines assisting, enticing or coercing others into prostitution (VND 10–20 million) and contributing money or property to it (VND 30–50 million).", "provisions": [ "Điều 3(5)–(8), 24 Pháp lệnh 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11", "Điều 327, 328 Bộ luật Hình sự 2015", "Điều 34 Nghị định 282/2025/NĐ-CP" ], "sources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-nd282-en", "vn-vks-hanoi" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "administrative", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Offering one's own services is part of the prohibited act of selling sex, and advertising on behalf of others would fall under brokering, which is fined or prosecuted.", "provisions": [ "Điều 4 Pháp lệnh 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11", "Điều 34(4)(c) Nghị định 282/2025/NĐ-CP" ], "sources": [ "vn-pl2003", "vn-nd282-en" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "Inference from the general prohibitions. The official Decree 282/2025 PDF is a scanned image and was read through an unofficial English translation; laws on cybersecurity, advertising and online content were not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "vn-pl2003", "titleEn": "Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11)", "relevance": "Prohibits buying, selling, harbouring, organising, brokering and protecting prostitution and sets out how each is sanctioned.", "provisions": [ "Điều 3", "Điều 4", "Điều 22–25" ], "inForce": "2003-07-01" }, { "sourceId": "vn-nd282", "titleEn": "Decree 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for security, public order and social safety, social evils and domestic violence", "relevance": "Sets the fines for buying sex, selling sex and related acts; replaced Decree 144/2021/ND-CP.", "provisions": [ "Điều 32", "Điều 33", "Điều 34" ], "inForce": "2025-12-15" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2003-03-17", "event": "The National Assembly Standing Committee adopts the Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention; it takes effect on 1 July 2003.", "sources": [ "vn-pl2003" ] }, { "date": "2025-10-30", "event": "The Government issues Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, raising the fines for buying and selling sex.", "sources": [ "vn-nd282", "vn-nd282-en" ] }, { "date": "2025-12-15", "event": "Decree 282/2025/ND-CP enters into force, replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP.", "sources": [ "vn-ca-laichau" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "vn-pl2003", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Pháp lệnh số 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 ngày 17 tháng 3 năm 2003 phòng, chống mại dâm", "titleEn": "Ordinance No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 of 17 March 2003 on prostitution prevention", "publisher": "Cổng Thông tin điện tử Chính phủ (Government of Viet Nam)", "url": "https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=80891", "published": "2003-03-17", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "vi" }, { "id": "vn-nd282", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Nghị định số 282/2025/NĐ-CP quy định xử phạt vi phạm hành chính trong lĩnh vực an ninh, trật tự, an toàn xã hội; phòng, chống tệ nạn xã hội; phòng, chống bạo lực gia đình", "titleEn": "Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for security, public order and social safety, prevention of social evils and domestic violence (signed PDF)", "publisher": "Chính phủ (Government of Viet Nam)", "url": "https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2025/11/282-cp.signed.pdf", "published": "2025-10-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "vi" }, { "id": "vn-nd282-en", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP dated October 30, 2025 of the Government prescribing sanctions for administrative violations of regulations on security, public order and social safety", "publisher": "LuatVietnam (unofficial English translation)", "url": "https://english.luatvietnam.vn/decreeno282-2025-nd-cpdatedoctober302025ofthegovernmentprescribingsanctionsforadministrativeviolationsofregulationsonsecuritypub-417708-doc1.html", "published": "2025-10-30", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "vn-ca-laichau", "kind": "government", "title": "Từ ngày 15/12/2025 tăng cường xử lý tệ nạn mại dâm theo nghị định mới", "titleEn": "From 15 December 2025, prostitution is dealt with more strictly under the new decree", "publisher": "Công an tỉnh Lai Châu (Lai Chau Provincial Police)", "url": "https://congan.laichau.gov.vn/an-ninh-trat-tu/tu-ngay-15-12-2025-tang-cuong-xu-ly-te-nan-mai-dam-theo-nghi-dinh-moi-3892.html", "published": "2025-12-16", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "vi" }, { "id": "vn-vks-hanoi", "kind": "government", "title": "Bàn về việc xác định tội danh trong trường hợp người phạm tội vừa có hành vi “chứa mại dâm”, vừa có hành vi “môi giới mại dâm”", "titleEn": "On classifying the offence where the offender both harbours and brokers prostitution", "publisher": "Viện kiểm sát nhân dân thành phố Hà Nội (Hanoi People's Procuracy)", "url": "https://vkshanoi.gov.vn/Chi-ti%E1%BA%BFt/b224n-v%E1%BB%81-vi%E1%BB%87c-x225c-%C4%91%E1%BB%8Bnh-t%E1%BB%99i-danh-trong-tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng-h%E1%BB%A3p-ng%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Di-ph%E1%BA%A1m-t%E1%BB%99i-v%E1%BB%ABa-c243-h224nh-vi-ch%E1%BB%A9a-m%E1%BA%A1i-d226m-v%E1%BB%ABa-c243-h224nh-vi-m244i-gi%E1%BB%9Bi-m%E1%BA%A1i-d226m", "published": "2026", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "vi" }, { "id": "vn-asiacatalyst", "kind": "ngo", "title": "A Legal Review of Detention Centers for Sex Workers in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam", "publisher": "Asia Catalyst and Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice", "url": "https://asiacatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Legal-Review-of-Detention-Centers-.pdf", "published": "2018-06", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vietnam/" }, { "iso2": "YE", "name": "Yemen", "nativeName": "اليمن", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "prohibition", "modelNote": "Practising prostitution is a crime (Art. 278, Crimes and Penalties Law of 1994), and both parties to paid sex also commit zina, a hadd offence (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution, running a brothel and consenting to a female relative's prostitution are separate crimes. This entry describes the 1994 statute; enforcement by the authorities that control different parts of the country was not examined.", "modelSources": [ "ye-penal" ], "summary": "Yemen's Crimes and Penalties Law (Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994) punishes anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution with up to three years' imprisonment or a fine (Art. 278). Paid sex is also zina: the hadd punishment is 100 lashes for an unmarried man or woman, plus up to a year's imprisonment at the court's discretion, and stoning to death for a muhsan (married) offender (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution carries up to three years, up to seven if the act follows, and up to ten or fifteen where the person incited is under 15 or the inciter lives on their earnings (Art. 279). Running a house or place for prostitution carries up to ten years, closure for up to two years and confiscation (Art. 281). A man who consents to prostitution by his wife or a female relative in his care faces up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine (Art. 278). The act is also zina: 100 lashes as a hadd punishment if the offender is not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan (Art. 263).", "details": "Article 265 defines a muhsan person as one who has had intercourse with a spouse under a valid marriage contract that is still continuing, among other conditions.", "provisions": [ "Art. 278 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 263 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 265 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ye-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "note": "The official text is in Arabic; the translations are ours. Enforcement in the areas held by the different authorities was not examined.", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "buying": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "There is no client-specific offence, but Art. 263 punishes both the man and the woman for zina: 100 lashes if not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan.", "provisions": [ "Art. 263 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ye-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high", "mapLabel": "flogging; death if married" }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Anyone who runs a house or any place for debauchery or prostitution is punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment. In every case the court orders the house or place closed for up to two years and confiscates the furniture, equipment and other items found there during the activity.", "provisions": [ "Art. 281 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ye-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution carries up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279). If the person incited is under 15, or the inciter relies for a living on that person's prostitution, the penalty may reach ten years, and fifteen if both apply. Consenting to prostitution by one's wife or a female relative or ward carries up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).", "provisions": [ "Art. 279 Crimes and Penalties Law", "Art. 280 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ye-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "high" }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found, but inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution by any means is an offence carrying up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279).", "provisions": [ "Art. 279 Crimes and Penalties Law" ], "sources": [ "ye-penal" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Applying the incitement offence to advertisements is our reading of the text. Yemen's press and telecommunications laws were not checked." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "ye-penal", "titleEn": "Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties", "relevance": "Chapter 4 of the section on zina, indecent assault and corruption of morals (Arts. 278 to 281) covers debauchery and prostitution; Art. 263 sets the hadd punishment for zina.", "provisions": [ "Art. 263", "Arts. 278-281" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "1994", "event": "Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties is issued and published in the Official Gazette, issue 19/3, with a chapter on debauchery, prostitution and corruption of morals.", "sources": [ "ye-penal" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "ye-penal", "kind": "legislation", "title": "قرار جمهوري بالقانون رقم (12) لسنة 1994م بشأن الجرائم والعقوبات", "titleEn": "Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties", "publisher": "Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (agoye.gov.ye)", "url": "https://agoye.gov.ye/page.php?id=285&lng=arabic", "published": "1994", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "ar" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/yemen/" }, { "iso2": "ZM", "name": "Zambia", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex as such. It criminalises brothel-keeping, procuring, living on the earnings and public soliciting, with unusually high penalties since 2005. Sex worker groups report that police mostly use the soliciting, idle-and-disorderly and rogue-and-vagabond provisions against sex workers.", "modelSources": [ "zm-pc", "zm-upr-2022" ], "summary": "Zambia's Penal Code does not make the exchange of sex for money itself an offence, but the surrounding conduct is heavily criminalised. Since a 2005 amendment, keeping a brothel is a felony with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 25 years (s. 149). Living on the earnings of prostitution, or persistently soliciting in a public place, is a felony carrying up to 15 years (s. 146), as is controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 147). Procuring carries at least 20 years (s. 140). Soliciting in public is also a minor \"idle and disorderly\" offence (s. 178(g)). Sex worker organisations report that arrests rely mainly on the vagrancy and nuisance provisions.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence. A person who persistently solicits or importunes for immoral purposes in a public place commits a felony carrying up to 15 years (s. 146(1)(b)). Soliciting in a public place, or a \"common prostitute\" behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner there, makes a person \"idle and disorderly\" (s. 178(a), (g)). That carries up to one month or a fine of up to 60 penalty units.", "details": "A 2022 joint submission by the Zambia Sex Workers Alliance, the African Sex Workers Alliance and the Sexual Rights Initiative to the UN Universal Periodic Review describes the framework as \"partial criminalisation\": selling and buying are not illegal, but related activities are. It reports that the morality offences are seldom enforced because they need evidence. Instead, police use the vagrancy and nuisance provisions to arrest and detain sex workers, notably the rogue-and-vagabond offence of being found in a public place \"for an illegal or disorderly purpose\" (s. 181(d)). Section 146(1)(a) (living on the earnings) has been gender-neutral since 2005. The submission notes that it is widely, if in its view wrongly, read as covering sex workers themselves.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code (Cap. 87) s. 146(1)(b)", "s. 178(a), (g)", "s. 181(d)" ], "sources": [ "zm-pc", "zm-upr-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The text was read from ZambiaLII's consolidation as at 26 December 2023, through the Internet Archive's copy because ZambiaLII blocks automated access. A Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2026 (No. 75 of 2026) is not yet applied in that consolidation; its visible text concerns stolen produce, but it was not read in full. Enforcement practice is as reported by sex worker organisations.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 1 month" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision of the Penal Code makes paying an adult for sex an offence. Sex worker organisations describe buying, like selling, as not illegal. A client who persistently solicits in a public place could fall under s. 146(1)(b) or s. 178(g), which apply to any person.", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 146(1)(b)", "s. 178(g)" ], "sources": [ "zm-pc", "zm-upr-2022" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "No official statement or case law on clients was found." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for prostitution is a felony punishable by not less than 15 and not more than 25 years' imprisonment (s. 149, as substituted in 2005). Detaining a person in a brothel against their will carries at least 20 years (s. 144).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 149", "s. 144" ], "sources": [ "zm-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the December 2023 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Procuring any person to become a \"common prostitute\", or to become an inmate of a brothel, carries at least 20 years and up to life (s. 140). Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 146(1)(a)) and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain (s. 147) are felonies carrying up to 15 years. A person who lives with, or is habitually in the company of, a sex worker is presumed to live on the earnings (s. 146(2)).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 140", "s. 146(1)(a), (2)", "s. 147" ], "sources": [ "zm-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the December 2023 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "advertising": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "No provision targets advertising sexual services as such. Soliciting is an offence only in a public place (ss. 146(1)(b), 178(g)). A third party who places or carries adverts for gain could face prosecution for aiding prostitution for gain (s. 147). Separately, publishing \"obscene\" material, or advertising how it can be obtained, carries up to five years (s. 177).", "provisions": [ "Penal Code s. 146(1)(b)", "s. 147", "s. 177(1)(d)", "s. 178(g)" ], "sources": [ "zm-pc" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "low", "note": "A reading of the statutory text only; no prosecutions of advertisers or websites were found, and newer cyber-crime legislation was not reviewed." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "zm-pc", "titleEn": "Penal Code (Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia)", "relevance": "Procuring (s. 140), living on the earnings and persistent soliciting (s. 146), controlling for gain (s. 147), brothels (s. 149) and idle-and-disorderly soliciting (s. 178).", "provisions": [ "ss. 140–149", "s. 177", "s. 178", "s. 181" ] } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2005-10-07", "event": "Penal Code (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2005 makes the prostitution offences gender-neutral and sharply raises their penalties, including a 15–25 year range for brothel-keeping.", "sources": [ "zm-pc" ] }, { "date": "2022-12", "event": "Zambian and African sex worker alliances tell the UN Universal Periodic Review that police use vagrancy and nuisance offences to arrest, detain and extort sex workers.", "sources": [ "zm-upr-2022" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "zm-pc", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Penal Code, 1930 (Chapter 87; consolidated to 26 December 2023)", "publisher": "ZambiaLII", "url": "https://zambialii.org/akn/zm/act/1930/42/eng@2023-12-26", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "zm-upr-2022", "kind": "ngo", "title": "Universal Periodic Review of Zambia, 42nd Session: Joint stakeholder report", "publisher": "Zambia Sex Workers Alliance, African Sex Workers Alliance and Sexual Rights Initiative", "url": "https://www.sexualrightsinitiative.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2022-12/UPR%2042%20Zambia,%20ZASWA,%20ASWA%20and%20SRI%20(1).pdf", "published": "2022-12", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zambia/" }, { "iso2": "ZW", "name": "Zimbabwe", "memberships": [], "depth": "overview", "lastReviewed": "2026-10-30", "model": "abolitionism", "modelNote": "The Criminal Law Code defines a \"prostitute\" but does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It criminalises publicly soliciting (in person, in print or online), keeping a brothel, demanding money from a sex worker, and procuring. In 2015 the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the arrest and prosecution of nine women for soliciting where there was no evidence of a solicited man.", "modelSources": [ "zw-cl", "zw-herald-2015" ], "summary": "Zimbabwe's Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] treats prostitution itself as lawful but criminalises the activities around it. Publicly soliciting another person for prostitution is an offence, either in a public place or by publication in any printed or electronic medium (s. 81, up to six months). Keeping a brothel, or demanding payment from a sex worker for managing a brothel, soliciting clients for her or bringing her into the country, carries up to two years (s. 82). Procuring an adult to become a prostitute also carries up to two years (s. 83). In May 2015 the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the arrest and prosecution of nine women for soliciting where the State had no evidence that anyone had been solicited.", "subnational": [], "topics": { "selling": { "status": "restricted", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Selling sex is not itself an offence, but any person who \"publicly solicits another person for the purposes of prostitution\" commits the crime of soliciting. The penalty is a fine up to level five and/or up to six months' imprisonment (s. 81(2)). \"Publicly solicits\" covers soliciting in any place the public can access, and soliciting by publication in any printed or electronic medium.", "details": "On 27 May 2015 the Constitutional Court, with Deputy Chief Justice Malaba presiding, declared by consent the arrest, remand and prosecution of nine women on soliciting charges unconstitutional. The State had conceded it had no evidence that soliciting took place. Women had long been arrested in police sweeps on charges of \"loitering for the purposes of prostitution\" without any man testifying that he had been approached.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law Code s. 81" ], "sources": [ "zw-cl", "zw-herald-2015" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "The text was read from ZimLII's consolidation as at 11 March 2022, through the Internet Archive's copy because ZimLII blocks automated access. Two 2024 amending Acts (protection of children and young persons; death penalty abolition) are not yet applied there and were not checked.", "mapLabel": "soliciting: 6 months" }, "buying": { "status": "legal", "penalty": "none", "summary": "No provision makes paying an adult for sex an offence. The soliciting offence in s. 81 applies to \"any person\", so a client who publicly solicits a person for prostitution can also commit it.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law Code s. 81" ], "sources": [ "zw-cl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the March 2022 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "brothels": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Keeping a brothel is the crime of \"living off or facilitating prostitution\", punishable by a fine up to level seven and/or up to two years (s. 82(a)). A brothel is any place occupied or used for prostitution, or visited for extra-marital sex for money or reward (s. 61).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law Code s. 82(a)", "s. 61" ], "sources": [ "zw-cl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the March 2022 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "procuring": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Demanding payment from a sex worker for keeping a brothel she lives in, for soliciting clients on her behalf, for getting her into a brothel or for bringing her into Zimbabwe is an offence (s. 82(b)), as is demanding payment for a past or present \"immoral connection\" with her (s. 82(c)). The penalty is up to two years. Procuring a person to become a prostitute, or to leave Zimbabwe or their home for that purpose, carries up to two years for an adult and ten for a young person (s. 83).", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law Code s. 82(b), (c)", "s. 83" ], "sources": [ "zw-cl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the March 2022 consolidation, via the Internet Archive." }, "advertising": { "status": "illegal", "penalty": "criminal", "summary": "Soliciting for prostitution \"by publication of the solicitation in any printed or electronic medium for reception by the public\" counts as publicly soliciting (s. 81(1)(b)), so a public advert for sexual services is an offence (up to six months). A third party who solicits clients on a sex worker's behalf and demands payment for it commits a separate offence (s. 82(b)(ii)).", "details": "The statute does not mention websites or platforms specifically. Whether a site that hosts such adverts could be liable as an accomplice was not checked.", "provisions": [ "Criminal Law Code s. 81(1)(b)", "s. 82(b)(ii)" ], "sources": [ "zw-cl" ], "verified": "2026-10-30", "confidence": "medium", "note": "Read from the March 2022 consolidation, via the Internet Archive; no prosecutions for online adverts were found." } }, "laws": [ { "sourceId": "zw-cl", "titleEn": "Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]", "relevance": "Chapter V, Part III, Division E: soliciting (s. 81), living off or facilitating prostitution (s. 82) and procuring (s. 83).", "provisions": [ "s. 61", "ss. 81–87" ], "inForce": "2006-07-01" } ], "pending": [], "timeline": [ { "date": "2006-07-01", "event": "The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act comes into force, codifying the soliciting, brothel and procuring offences.", "sources": [ "zw-cl" ] }, { "date": "2015-05-27", "event": "The Constitutional Court declares unconstitutional the arrest, remand and prosecution of nine women for soliciting where the State had no evidence that anyone had been solicited.", "sources": [ "zw-herald-2015" ] } ], "stats": [], "sources": [ { "id": "zw-cl", "kind": "legislation", "title": "Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (consolidated to 11 March 2022)", "publisher": "ZimLII", "url": "https://zimlii.org/akn/zw/act/2004/23/eng@2022-03-11", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" }, { "id": "zw-herald-2015", "kind": "news", "title": "Hooker arrests outlawed", "publisher": "The Herald (Harare)", "url": "https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/hooker-arrests-outlawed/", "published": "2015-05-28", "accessed": "2026-10-30", "lang": "en" } ], "url": "https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zimbabwe/" } ] }