Despite the fact that living off the earnings of a sex worker or operating a brothel in the country is illegal, buying sex is not, which means most urban sex work takes place in streets, hotels and shantytowns.
According to the UNFPA’s National Plan for Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health in Madagascar, 33% of Malagasy women experience violence in their lifetime. There are reports of domestic violence, rape and incest, sexual exploitation and pimping.
Travel restrictions have prevented foreigners from visiting the country, which means that many women who rely on sex work for income to support their families struggle to survive. “We are seeing more desperation among sex workers – they are lowering their prices and competing against each other,” says Timothy Irwin from UNICEF.
Sex tourism
For Nathan Stapley, director of Learn Achieve Become (L.A.B) – a UK-registered charity working
There's more to this story
Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.
cancel anytime
Already a a subscriber Sign In
