Prostitution in Fiji

Prostitution in Fiji is legal, but most activities connected with it are illegal: brothel keeping, pimping and buying or selling sex in public.[1] Street workers make up the bulk of Fiji's prostitutes. Many of the prostitutes are Asian, especially Chinese that provide sexual services for the growing number of tourists arriving in the country and also locals.[2] Some come into the country on student visas.[3] In 2014, it was estimated that there were 857 sex workers in Fiji.[4] Even though buying and selling sex in public is illegal in Fiji, police have no legal authority to arrest prostitutes without an official report being lodged for the police to take action.[5]

Child trafficking is a problem[6] and many foundations are urging Fiji to crack down on child trafficking.[7]

  1. ^ "Sex Work Law". Sexuality, Poverty and Law Programme. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  2. ^ Chand, Shalveen (26 May 2016). "Of course it sells!". Fiji Times Online. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. ^ "RED LIGHT TURF WAR: Chinese criminal elements take over prostitution market and drive out local 'Ladies of the Night', POLICE failing to ACT". Fiji Leaks. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Sex workers: Population size estimate - Number, 2016". www.aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. ^ Gopal, Avinesh (11 May 2019). "Police: No Legal Powers To Arrest Unless Reported". Fiji Sun Online. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference state17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Fiji urged to end the silence and crackdown [sic] on child prostitution". Reuters. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.