Prostitution in Madagascar
Prostitution in Madagascar is legal,
Sex workers report law enforcement is arbitrary and abusive. Extortion by the police is also reported.[1]
Prostitution first came to the island after colonisation by the French in the late 1800s.[10] In modern times it is increasing due to an increase in tourism and the poverty suffered by most people in the county.[11][12][13]
Madagascar is a destination for sex tourism, including child sex tourism.[3][6] Human trafficking and child prostitution are problems in the country.[6][14]
Sex tourism
Madagascar has become a recognised destination for both adult and child sex tourism, particularly for French and Italian males.
Nosy Be
In the 1990s the government awarded a tuna fishing contract to the Japanese.[16] The trawlers docked at Nosy Be, an island off the north coast of Madagascar. Prostitution grew up around this fishing industry, with prostitutes migrating to the island from all over the country.[16] When tourism to Madagascar started, Nosy Be became a popular destination because of the established sex trade.[16] Subsequently, most of the "all-inclusive" resorts have been built on the island. This is the premier location for Europeans, predominantly French,[17] some of whom come to the country for sex tourism.[15] It has been estimated that 70% of the island's female population work in prostitution, half of them underage.[15]
Child prostitution
In addition to being a destination for child sex tourism, Malagasy men also use underage prostitutes. A study by UNICEF found that three quarters of the Malagasy men who use prostitutes go with underage girls.[17]
Child sex tourism has increased in the country since Mozambique tightened is laws in this area.[15]
Many families encourage their daughters to engage with white tourists for financial reasons. In some cases twelve and thirteen year olds are given French and Italian lessons in preparation for their work as prostitutes.
Police corruption means there is little action against the users of underage girls.[17]
Several
Sexual health
Although Madagascar has a low
Sex worker organisations, such as Fikambanaina Vehivavy Miavotena Toamasina (FIVEMITO) and Femmes Interessee au Development de Antalaha (FIDA) (which is partially funded by the World Bank), have reached agreements with local governments to issue sex workers over the age of 18 identity cards. These identity cards allow access to free healthcare.[20]
In 2016, the HIV prevalence amongst sex workers was 5.5%.[21]
Sex trafficking
Madagascar is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to
NGOs previously reported government officials’ complicity in obtaining falsified national identity cards facilitates the child sex trafficking in Madagascar. Previous reports indicated child sex trafficking of boys was becoming more prevalent. Child domestic labour continues to be a problem and informal employment agencies recruit child domestic workers who Malagasy men exploit as child sex trafficking victims, while most child sex tourists are French and Italian nationals, and to a lesser extent, other Westerners and Comorians.[14]
The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Madagascar as a "Tier 2 Watch List" country.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d "Sex Work Law - Countries". Sexuality, Poverty and Law. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country". ChartsBin. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ US State Department. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ a b "Madagascar travel advice". UK Government. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "General Information for Madagascar". Findaport. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Madagascar acts to curb sex tourism". BBC. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ a b c Ross, Aaron (31 January 2014). "Madagascar, where child prostitution is common, cheap and 'trivial'". Public Radio International. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "What happens after a mining rush? Photographs from Madagascar". Mongabay Environmental News. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ Braddix, Charles (8 February 2016). "Paradise Lost: A beautiful island with dirty secrets". BR Now. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Madagascar: Girls selling sex to pay for school". BBC. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ "Madagascar's ticking HIV time bomb". BBC. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ "Madagascar, where child prostitution is common, cheap and 'trivial'". Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Madagascar 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report". US Department of State. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d "Sexual tourism Madagascar". Madagascar Real Estate. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Fighting a rising tide of sex tourism". IRIN. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "The Horror of Sex Tourism in Madagascar". HuffPost UK. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- UNAIDS. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- USAID (February 2005). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Neglecting sexuality in sexual and reproductive health: A case of sex workers in Madagascar". Kumud Rana. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "HIV prevalence amongst sex workers". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.