Prostitution in Senegal

It has been legal since 1969 to sell sex as long as prostitute has registered, is over 21 years old, has a regular medical check-up, and can present an up-to-date carnet sanitaire (medical report card) to the police upon request.{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/119021.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226175550/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/119021.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2009 |title=2008 Human Rights Report: Senegal|publisher=US Department of State|date=25 February 2009}}{{cite journal|url=http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2202&context=ilj |journal=Fordham International Law Journal |volume= 33 |date=2011 |title=Sex Work and Human Rights in Africa |author1=Chi Mgbako |author2=Laura A. Smith |access-date=2017-03-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nswp.org/timeline/event/sex-work-legalised-senegal|title=Sex work is legalised in Senegal|date=27 April 2015|website=Nswp.org|access-date=12 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/119021.htm|title=Senegal|website=State.gov|access-date=12 March 2017}} Estimates of the number of prostitutes who are registered vary from 8 to 25%.{{cite web|title=Sex Work Law - Countries|url=http://spl.ids.ac.uk/sexworklaw/countries|website=Sexuality, Poverty and Law|access-date=11 March 2018|language=en}}

Solicitation is prohibited by article 318 of the Penal Code, and 3rd party involvement, such as procuring and brothel keeping, is prohibited by articles 323 - 325.{{cite web|title=Code Penal Senegal|url=http://www.equalrightstrust.org/ertdocumentbank//CODE%20PENAL.pdf|website=Equal Rights Trust|access-date=12 March 2018}}

Illegal foreign prostitutes are subject to arrest, as are pimps and underage prostitutes. Underage prostitution typically makes use of adult pimps. The maximum sentence for procuring a minor for prostitution is five years' imprisonment and a fine of 4 million CFA francs (approximately US$7,600), but the law is not generally enforced effectively.

The regulation of prostitution was enacted in 1969 to try to control the spread of STIs through regular medical check-ups and treatment. Police monitor the sex workers to ensure they attend regular health checks.{{cite web|title=Sex work is legalised in Senegal|url=http://www.nswp.org/timeline/event/sex-work-legalised-senegal|website=Global Network of Sex Work Projects|access-date=12 March 2018|language=en|date=27 April 2015}} Although the law requires two examinations per months, clinics cannot cope and this has been reduced to once a month. Any sex worker who tests positive for an infection has their carnet sanitaire suspended until treated.

In 1993 the Senegalese sex worker organisation Association for Women at risk from AIDS (AWA) was formed out of an AIDS prevention scheme at Dakar polytechnic. AWA provide support and advice to sex workers, including at the clinics, and distribute condoms.{{cite web|last1=Ebin|first1=Victoria|title=Sex Workers Promote AIDS Awareness in Senegal|url=http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2000/SexWorkersPromoteAIDSAwarenessinSenegal.aspx|website=Population Reference Bureau|access-date=12 March 2018}}

UNAIDS reported 6.6% HIV prevalence{{cite web |title=HIV prevalence amongst sex workers |url=http://www.aidsinfoonline.org/gam/stock/shared/vc/vcshare.html?id=d9c0ff12-f62c-44e7-8e2c-dbe736bbea30 |website=www.aidsinfoonline.org |publisher=UNAIDS |access-date=22 July 2018 |date=2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722130109/http://www.aidsinfoonline.org/gam/stock/shared/vc/vcshare.html?id=d9c0ff12-f62c-44e7-8e2c-dbe736bbea30 |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=dead }} and 9.7% syphilis infections amongst sex workers in 2016.{{cite web |title=Active syphilis among sex workers - Percent, 2016 |url=http://www.aidsinfoonline.org/gam/stock/shared/vc/vcshare.html?id=933c38f4-d64d-4056-a890-5a80c5eba97a |website=www.aidsinfoonline.org |publisher=UNAIDS |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212521/http://www.aidsinfoonline.org/gam/stock/shared/vc/vcshare.html?id=933c38f4-d64d-4056-a890-5a80c5eba97a |archive-date=23 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}

{{see also|Human trafficking in Senegal}}

Senegal is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Senegalese boys and girls are also subjected to sex trafficking. Internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking. Reports indicate most Senegalese sex trafficking victims are exploited within Senegal, particularly in the southeastern gold-mining region of Kédougou. West African women and girls are subjected to sex trafficking in Senegal, including for child sex tourism for sex tourists from France, Belgium, and Germany, among other countries.{{cite web|title=Senegal 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report|url=https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2017/271272.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703181453/https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2017/271272.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2017|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=11 March 2018}}{{PD-notice}}

There are reports that the entry of foreign prostitutes into the country being professionally organized. In 2016, judges convicted four sex traffickers under the pimping statute, acquitted one alleged sex trafficker, and convicted a fifth trafficker for an unknown type of exploitation. Sentences upon conviction ranged from two to three years imprisonment and fines.

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Senegal as a "Tier 2 Watch List" country.

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