Prostitution

Prostitution (also known as dhillo) is the provision of sexual services by one person to another in exchange for money or other compensation. It is a practice found in many societies throughout history and is regulated through various legal and social approaches.

The English term 'prostitution' corresponds to this concept. Many international reports use the term 'sex work' to describe the activity itself; this differs from human trafficking, which is based on coercion, deception, or exploitation.

Forms

Forms of sex work vary: street-based work, work managed from private residences or hotels, and work based on online contact or intermediaries. Each form carries different levels of risk, safety measures, and involvement of intermediaries.

Legal approaches

Countries employ four main legal frameworks: full prohibition; legalization and regulation; decriminalization of the seller while maintaining penalties for the buyer (the Nordic model); and toleration of the practice in designated areas while criminalizing intermediaries and trafficking. The choice of framework affects whether people engaged in sex work report crimes to police when victimized.

Health and safety

Public health programs focus on prevention of sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV, through distribution of condoms, testing, and treatment services. Many studies show that strict criminal penalties can reduce access to health services, with implications for disease prevalence.