🇨🇰 Cook Islands
Avarua etc
Niue and Tokelau: Similar to other islands, sex work is criminalised under local laws, with no protections or formal recognition for sex workers.
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby and Lae
Male sex work is illegal under laws prohibiting prostitution and same-sex sexual activity
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
🇻🇺 Vanuatu
Port Vila etc
Sex work is legal in private settings in Vanuatu. However, associated activities such as soliciting in public places, brothel-keeping, and procuring are criminalized under the Penal Code.
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
🇫🇯 Fiji
Suva, Nasinu, and Lautoka
Sex work is legal in Fiji; however, associated activities such as soliciting in public places, brothel-keeping, and procuring are criminalized under the Crimes Decree 2009
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
🇼🇸 Samoa
Apia etc
Sex work is illegal in Samoa. Both the act of engaging in sex work and related activities are criminalized under the Crimes Act 2013. Section 72
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
🇹🇴 Tonga
Nuku'alofa
Sex work is legal in Tonga; however, associated activities such as soliciting in public places, brothel-keeping, and procuring are criminalized under the Criminal Offences Act
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇸🇷 Suriname
Nieuw Nickerie and Lelydorp
Sex work is illegal
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers
🇬🇾 Guyana
Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam etc
Sex work is illegal in Guyana. the act of prostitution and related activities such as brothel keeping, solicitation, and living off the earnings of prostitution are prohibited
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇺🇬 Uganda
Kampala, Gulu etc
Sex work is fully criminalized in Uganda. Both the selling and buying of sexual services are illegal under the Penal Code Act
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇳🇬 Nigeria
Lagos, Kano etc
Various laws and local regulations are used to penalize sex work-related activities.
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws. Under Sharia law in some northern states, including flogging and imprisonment.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇿🇦 South Africa
Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban etc
Sex work is fully criminalized in South Africa. Both the selling and buying of sexual services are illegal.
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇵🇭 Philippines
Quezon City, Manila etc
Prostitution/sex work is illegal in the Philippines under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and other related laws.
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers
❌ 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Sex work is not explicitly criminalised at the national level in Indonesia.
However, various laws and local regulations are used to penalise sex work-related activities
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, George Town,
❌ Sex work is illegal under multiple laws whether you're male, female, or any gender.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
❌ 🇷🇺Russia
❌ Sex work is fully illegal. Male sex work is especially dangerous due to anti-LGBTQ+ laws and homophobic policing. Punishable by fines, arrest, and sometimes fabricated charges (e.g., public indecency).
💬 Example Cases / Reports
🚨 Human Rights Watch (2022) reported increasing violence and surveillance against LGBTQ+ individuals after the expansion of the “gay propaganda” ban to all ages. Click here for more information
🚨The Russian LGBT Network and other NGOs have documented police blackmail and abuse of gay and male sex workers, especially in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
(In russian- translate needed). Click here for more information
⚖️ Law
🚨 Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses: Outlines penalties for engaging in prostitution and related activities. Click here for more information
🚨 Federal Law No. 135-FZ (2013): Known as the "gay propaganda" law, it prohibits the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships among minors. Click here for more information
🚨 Supreme Court Ruling (November 2023): Classified the international LGBT public movement as extremist, leading to a ban on LGBTQ+ activism. Cick here for more information
❌ 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (UAE)
❌ Prostitution is illegal in the UAE. Engaging in or facilitating prostitution is a criminal offense under the UAE Penal Code.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
⚖️ Law
🚨 Article 368 of the UAE Penal Code criminalizes "habitually practicing prostitution," which includes male sex work. Penalties can range from 3 to 15 years of imprisonment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
❌ Homosexuality and sex work are illegal. Penalties range from flogging to capital punishment in Saudi Arabia.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Saudi Arabia's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
🧑⚖️ Penalties:
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment.
❌ 🇮🇷 Iran
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Iran's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
🧑⚖️ Penalties: Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇵🇰 Pakistan
Extremely high-risk. Same-sex acts are criminalised under sodomy laws. Police abuse and extortion are common.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Pakistan's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ Qatar 🇶🇦
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Qatar's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
❌ 🇴🇲 Oman
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Oman's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇧🇭 Bahrain
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Bahrain's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇰🇼 Kuwait
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Kuwaits's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇾🇪 Yemen
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Yemen's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇮🇶 Iraq
Sex work and same-sex activity are both illegal under Islamic law. Penalties for male sex workers include flogging, long prison sentences, or death.
⚠️ Double Jeopardy:
Male sex workers may face charges related to both prostitution and same-sex relations, leading to compounded legal penalties.
While there isn't a codified penal code, Iraq's legal system is based on Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits prostitution and same-sex relations. Click here for more information
Punishments can include imprisonment, fines, and, in some cases, corporal punishment. Click here for more information
❌ 🇸🇾 Syria
All sex work illegal
⚠️ Law enforcement varies by region (government vs. rebel-controlled areas)
❌ 🇱🇧 Lebanon
⚠️ Homosexuality criminalized
❌ Sex work is Illegal
❌ 🇯🇴 Jordan
⚠️ Homosexuality criminalized
❌ Sex work is Illegal
🇵🇸 Palestine (West Bank)
⚠️ Strong social stigma, not safe in Gaza (in war currently)
🇫🇯 Fiji
Suva, Nasinu, and Lautoka
Sex work is legal in Fiji; however, associated activities such as soliciting in public places, brothel-keeping, and procuring are criminalized under the Crimes Decree 2009
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers.
❌ 🇸🇷 Suriname
Nieuw Nickerie and Lelydorp
Sex work is illegal
⚠️ Risks and Consequences
⚠️ Legal Penalties: Individuals involved in sex work may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences under various laws.
⚠️ Police Raids: Sex workers are subject to police raids, which can result in detention, harassment, or forced rehabilitation programs.
⚠️ Health Risks: Limited access to health services and legal protections can increase health risks for sex workers
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