Turkmenistan is facing a sexual health crisis as increasing numbers of young women move into prostitution in order to make a living in the poverty-stricken republic. The drug abuse associated with prostitution, and lack of awareness about disease prevention ā particularly with regard to HIV and AIDS infection - is leading analysts to voice grave concern. Heroin smuggled from neighbouring Afghanistan, a major opium producer, has become easily available in Turkmenistan, and is increasingly linked with prostitution.
Many families ā which are often large here ā are putting their younger daughters on the street in order to feed their other children. There were always a few prostitutes in urban centres but what has changed is the numbers of people involved, the fact that many come from rural ethnic Turkmen backgrounds, and the fall in age of those involved. On the streets of the capital Ashgabat, girls as young as 14 are now offering their services for as little as around one US dollar.
Addicts often prefer to be paid in heroin rather than cash. And then a neighbour suggested to my father that he sell his daughter to visitors, and this money would help the family to make ends meet. Despair made my father agree to it.
It happened once, and then again and again. Poverty is widespread in the capital as well as in the rural areas, as unemployment continues to rise. Deteriorating circumstances are driving women into prostitution in order to survive. He sold everything of value in our house and refused to seek treatment. Once, when I was quarrelling with my husband, he said that I should go walk the streets to earn some money, and I soon realised that I had little choice.
One day I will kill myself. Turkmen pupils graduate from high school when they are 16 years old, but they cannot go to university at this stage, as the state requires them to spend two years working in a factory first.
