Prostitution in Colombia is legal, regulated and limited to brothels in designated "tolerance zones".[1][2] Sex workers are required to have regular health checks.[3] However, the laws are rarely applied and prostitution is widespread,[2] partly due to poverty and internal displacement.[4]
Domestically, organized crime networks, some related to illegal armed groups, are responsible for human trafficking for sexual slavery and the armed conflict has made a large number of internal trafficking victims vulnerable.[1]
UNAIDS estimate there to be 7,218 prostitutes in the country.[5]