Prostitution in Moldova

Prostitutes in Moldova are known locally by a variety of names:

• Stradă (street worker) - work on the street, often drug addicts or alcoholics
• Scaun (stool) - work in bars and restaurants
• Lumânare (candle) - stand on the side of main roads
• Călători (travellers) - accompany car and truck drivers on journeys
• Prostituate cu acoperiș (prostitutes with a roof) - indoor workers
• Interdevochka (intergirls) - work in upmarket hotels, usually entertaining foreign clients
• NocinaiaBabocika (nightworkers) - work only at night for a very big amount of money

Prostitution in Moldova was first recorded in the 2nd century BC. In the 19th century there is evidence of pimps being involved.

The trade's existence was initially denied during the Soviet era and then prohibited July 27 1987.

Until May 31, 2009, punishment was a fine or administrative arrest for up to 30 days, the administrative arrest was then replaced by unpaid work for a period of 20 to 40 hours.

On December 29, 2005, it was decided that sanctions would not apply to victims of trafficking; The new law "On Offences" gave this rule a broader wording: "a person engaging in prostitution contrary to their will".

Since it is Europe's poorest country, it is a major exporter of human trafficking for the purpose of the sex trade.{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100573.htm|title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Moldova|author=|date=11 March 2008|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/flash_point/001moldova/|title=Moldova: the price of sex|author=|date=|website=pbs.org|access-date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/653 |title=Moldova: Lower prices behind sex slavery boom and child prostitution |author= |date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501093606/http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/653 |archive-date=May 1, 2008 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20602-2002Nov6?language=printer|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530064722/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20602-2002Nov6?language=printer|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2012|title=In Struggling Moldova, Desperation Drives Decisions|author=|date=|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3243679.stm|title=Trafficking troubles poor Moldova|author=Angus Roxburgh |date=7 November 2003|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/1745|title=Moldovan sex slaves released in U.K. human trafficking raids|author=|date=|website=tiraspoltimes.com|access-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501150350/http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/1745|archive-date=1 May 2008}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/02/anthonybrowne.theobserver|title=Drugs push scarred land to the brink|author=Anthony Browne|date=2 December 2001|website=the Guardian|access-date=2 November 2015}}

The CIA names human trafficking as one of the major crime issues of Moldova.[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/moldova/ CIA World factbook: Moldova] Human traffickers primarily recruit women from poor villages.{{cite news|last=Roxburgh |first=Angus |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3243679.stm |title=Europe | Trafficking troubles poor Moldova |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-11-07 |access-date=2010-03-31}} Women and children are trafficked for sexual exploitation to Turkey, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Russia, Cyprus, Greece, Albania, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Italy, and Portugal.{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119093.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226175523/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119093.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-02-26 |title=2008 Human Rights Report: Moldova |publisher=State.gov |date=2009-02-25 |access-date=2010-03-31}} The annual country human rights report from the United States Department of State pinpoints some involvement by government officials and Moldovan law enforcement in human trafficking.

The United States Department of State issued a report in 2006 on human rights violations in Moldova[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61664.htm Moldova: 2005 country report on human rights practices] stating:

"The country was a major country of origin for women and children trafficked abroad for forced prostitution and men and children who were trafficked to Russia and neighboring countries for forced labor and begging. The country was also a transit country for victims trafficked from Ukraine to Romania. Women and girls were trafficked to Turkey, Cyprus, Italy, Hungary, and the Balkan countries for prostitution. NGOs reported recent cases of victims trafficked to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. Women and girls reportedly were trafficked to Italy and Greece through Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Albania. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), victims have increasingly been directed to Asia, Russia, Turkey, Western Europe, and the Middle East. The IOM reported that the country was the main origin in Europe for women and children trafficked for forced prostitution."

The authorities have tried to lead awareness among the population about the extent of this problem, and during the early 2000s the authorities launched numerous information campaigns. One consisted of billboards in the streets of the capital Chişinău depicting a girl gripped in a huge clenched fist and being exchanged for dollars. The caption read: "You are not for sale".

E. Benjamin Skinner in his book "A Crime So Monstrous", on page 156, speculates that between 1991 and 2008, up to 400,000 women were trafficked from Moldova. {{cite web | url = http://www.havocscope.com/400000-women-sold-into-human-trafficking-from-moldova/| title= 400000 women sold into human trafficking from Moldova}}

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Moldova as a 'Tier 2' country.{{cite web |title=Moldova 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report |url=https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2018/282710.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171043/https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2018/282710.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2018 |website=U.S. Department of State |access-date=26 July 2018}}

• Prostitution in the Soviet Union
• Prostitution in Romania
• Prostitution in Transnistria
• Prostitution in Ukraine

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{{Europe in topic|Prostitution in}}

Moldova

Moldova

Category:Society of Moldova

Category:Women's rights in Moldova