Prostitution in Kyrgyzstan

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Legal situation of prostitution in Asia. (Red = prohibited, green = legal and regulated, blue = legal, but organized operation prohibited)

The prostitution in Kyrgyzstan is legal since 1998, but the operation of brothels , pimping and the recruitment of persons for prostitution are illegal and threatened with imprisonment of up to five years. There are an estimated 7100 prostitutes in Kyrgyzstan . Prostitution takes place on the street, in bars, hotels and brothels.

Just like in the rest of Central Asia , prostitution increased after the collapse of the Soviet Union and sex trafficking is a problem in the country. Prostitution has been blamed for the rise in AIDS . The HIV prevalence among sex workers is 2%.

Prosecution

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and sex workers report harassment and corruption from law enforcement agencies and enforced health checks. The situation has worsened since the police set up the Department to Combat Human Trafficking and Crimes Against Public Morals in 2013. There are no longer any prostitutes on Pravda Street, the former red light district of the capital Bishkek . A few “Mamochki” (madams) are on the street, the prostitutes are in nearby hotels.

Kyrgyz police officers allegedly exploit victims of trafficking, including some under the age of 18, for sex. Concerns remain about police wrongdoing and corruption, including allegations that the police are threatening and blackmailing women, including minors. There are also reports that the police are accepting bribes from suspected human traffickers in order to drop cases.

Tais Plus

The NGO Tais Plus ( Kyrgyz : Таис Плюс) is an organization that campaigns for the rights of prostitutes and supports and educates them.

The organization was founded in 1997 by a group of prostitutes as a "union". In 2000 it was registered as an NGO and given the status of a public organization.

Tais Plus was successful against a change in the law making prostitution a criminal offense in 2005 and again against a proposed change in 2012 to make prostitution an administrative offense .

It is estimated that around 90% of prostitutes in Kyrgyzstan have reached the organization's outreach project.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ On the Situation of Women who Use Drugs, Sex Workers, and Lesbians, Bisexual Women, and Transgender People. Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b 2008 Human Rights Report: Kyrgyz Republic. February 26, 2009, accessed May 6, 2020 .
  3. ^ Countries and Their Prostitution Policies - Prostitution - ProCon.org. Retrieved May 6, 2020 (American English).
  4. ↑ Kyrgyzstan. UNAIDS , accessed on May 6, 2020 .
  5. ↑ a b c news agency: Forced Health Checks for Sex Workers in Kyrgyzstan. February 17, 2014, accessed May 6, 2020 (American English).
  6. ↑ a b 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report Country Narrative: Kyrgyz Republic. July 3, 2017, accessed May 6, 2020 .
  7. ^ Rise in prostitution threatens to fuel jump in HIV / AIDS. January 25, 2006, accessed May 6, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Kyrgyzstan: Vice Squad Driving Sex Work Underground | Eurasianet. Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
  9. ↑ a b c Tais Plus, Kyrgyzstan | SWAN. Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
  10. ↑ Nothing about us without us! Ten years of sex workers' rights activism and advocacy in Europe 1 / 45. Retrieved May 5, 2020 .