Prostitution in Azerbaijan explained

Prostitution in Azerbaijan is illegal[1] but common. Prostitution is an administrative offence and punishable by a fine. Keeping a brothel is a criminal offence and punishable by up to 6 years' imprisonment.[2] In 2017 a draft law proposing to add heavy fines to the punishment for keeping a brothel was before the National Assembly.[3] It has been estimated that there are 25,054 prostitutes in Azerbaijan,[4] some of which are aged 15 to 18.[5]

During the Soviet era prostitution was uncommon except for those under the control of the KGB, many of whom were informants.[6]

In the Badamdar district of the capital, Baku, there are many cafes where prostitutes solicit clients. In 2011, over 300 local residents held a protest against the situation.[7] Prostitutes can also be found in cafes in Nizami Street (known locally as "Torgovaya" – Trade Street) in downtown Baku.

The country is a sex tourism destination, particularly with men from Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.[8]

Sex trafficking

See also: Human trafficking in Azerbaijan. Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Azerbaijan, and traffickers exploit victims from Azerbaijan abroad. Women and children from Azerbaijan are subjected to sex trafficking within the country and in Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE. Azerbaijan is a destination country for sex trafficking victims from China, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. In previous years, Azerbaijan has been used as a transit country for victims of sex trafficking from Central Asia to Iran, Turkey, and the UAE.[9]

The 2005 Law on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and article 144 of the criminal code prohibit sex and lobar trafficking and prescribe penalties of five to ten years' imprisonment. The government investigated twenty-six cases of sexual exploitation in 2018, and convicted 21 sex traffickers, compared to 25 sex traffickers in 2017.

In 2019, the United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons downgraded Azerbaijan to a 'Tier 2 watch list' country.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Code of the Azerbaijan Republic On administrative violations. National Assembly of Armenia. 15 February 2018.
  2. Web site: Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. National Assembly of the Azerbaijan Republic. 15 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Azerbaijan to impose heavy fines for prostitution and gambling. APA Information Agency. 15 February 2018. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025746/http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-politics/domestic-news/azerbaijan-to-impose-heavy-fines-for-prostitution-and-gambling.html. 16 February 2018. dead.
  4. Web site: Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016 . www.aidsinfoonline.org . UNAIDS . 21 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190404121947/http://www.aidsinfoonline.org/gam/stock/shared/dv/PivotData_2018_7_22_636678151733621264.htm . 4 April 2019 . dead .
  5. Web site: Prostitution gets younger in Azerbaijan. News AM. 15 February 2018. en. 12 September 2011.
  6. Book: Nfa. Dr Farideh Heyat. Azeri Women in Transition: Women in Soviet and Post-Soviet Azerbaijan. 2014. Routledge. 9781136871702. en.
  7. Web site: Protest In Azerbaijani Capital Against Prostitution. Radio Liberty. 15 February 2018. en. 23 September 2011.
  8. Web site: Sex-tourism in Azerbaijan: an Arabian summer. JAM News. 15 February 2018. 12 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025623/https://jam-news.net/?p=58286. 16 February 2018. dead.
  9. Web site: Azerbaijan 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report . United States Department of State . 14 March 2020.

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