We only have one more stop in our “Where is Escorting Legal?” series.
After going through Europe, The US, and Latin America, we’ve kept two final
posts for the rest of the world. You’ll notice the information this time is a
little scarcer than the previous posts. That’s because many of the countries in
these regions have either not tackled the issue of prostitution as much as
others or have not developed business patterns for this industry like the West
has. With many states in these regions having harsh anti-prostitution laws due
to religious morality, corruption and money laundering in the political system
or a high rate of human trafficking, finding information proved a little more
difficult than in the previous posts. We hope this will be helpful to you
nonetheless!
Africa & the Middle East –
Where it’s legal and where it’s not:
1. Angola – While just about
everything is illegal here (prostitution, brothel ownership and pimping), the
laws are not always enforced.
2. Cyprus – Prostitution is
legal in Cyprus and the island proves a very profitable space for many escorts.
Sex trafficking is quite common, however, so the authorities are usually on the
alert. Brothel ownership and pimping are illegal.
3. Egypt – Prostitution
became illegal in 1949, but it is only illegal for the provider (most often
referred to as ‘the woman’, so there might be loopholes for male companions).
The client is considered a witness and is exempt from any punishment if he
testifies against the prostitute. Brothel ownership and pimping are both
illegal.
4. Ethiopia – Prostitution is
legal in Ethiopia, but brothel ownership and pimping are not.
5. Iran – Prostitution is not
only illegal, but punishments range from prison, lashing or even execution by
stoning. Clients are also subject to criminal penalties. Brothel ownership is
also a criminal activity, and the owner can be given anywhere between 1 to 10
years in prison. Pimping is illegal as well.
6. Iraq – Prostitution,
brothel ownership and pimping are all illegal in Iraq as well.
7. Israel – Prostitution is
legal, but brothel ownership and pimping are not.
8. Jordan – All three (prostitution,
brothel ownership and pimping) are illegal in Jordan.
9. Kenya – Same for Kenya:
all forms of prostitution are illegal.
10. Kyrgyzstan – While prostitution
is not a crime in Kyrgyzstan, the precise legal status is uncertain. Brothel
ownership and pimping are illegal.
11. Liberia – Better not, all
forms of prostitution are illegal in Liberia.
12. Rwanda – Same goes for
Rwanda; it’s all illegal here.
13. Senegal – Prostitution became
legal in Senegal in 1969. All prostitutes must be over 21-years-old, they must
register with the authorities, get tested regularly, and can even get condoms
with every visit to the clinic. Brothel ownership and pimping are illegal,
however.
14. Saudi Arabia – It’s all
illegal here, and prostitution is even punishable by prison and flogging.
15. South Africa – The same
goes here – prostitution, brothel ownership and pimping are all illegal.
16. Turkey – Prostitution is
legal in Turkey, and providers are expected to register with the authorities
and get constant medical check-ups (even as often as twice a week). Sex workers
are not allowed to marry, and their children cannot occupy a high position in
state services. Brothels are run by the state only and pimping is illegal.
17. United Arab Emirates –
Prostitution is illegal and punishable by lashing and then imprisonment.
Brothel ownership and pimping are illegal as well.
18. Uganda – Not only is it
all illegal in Uganda, but even individuals who were forced into prostitution
are considered guilty and are charged equally. There’s no bright side here in
regards to prostitution.
Stay tuned for our final article, when we will tackle the legal issues
in the Asia-Pacific Region. Afterwards we will be looking at legal loopholes
that can be applied by any escort or agency, myths and reality, as well as the
best business havens in the escorting industry.