The legality of prostitution in Asia varies by country. There is often a significant difference in Asia between prostitution laws and the practice of prostitution. Child prostitution is a serious problem in this region. Past surveys indicate that 30 to 35 percent of all prostitutes in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia are between 12 and 17 years of age. The Asian region has the lowest incidence 5. This page uses the UN system of subregions. In Kazakhstan prostitution itself is legal, but acts facilitating prostitution, such as operating a brothel or prostitution ring, are illegal.
Forced prostitution and prostitution connected to organized crime are prohibited. Prostitution is a serious problem. NGOs reported that criminal prostitution rings often included local law enforcement officials.
Estimates of the number of prostitutes in Kazakhstan vary from 4, [5] and 25,, [6] including a number from Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Sex workers often face harassment, extortion, arbitrary arrest , rape and violence from the police. Prostitution in Kyrgyzstan has been legal since , [8] but the operation of brothels, pimping, and recruiting persons into prostitution are illegal, with penalties of up to five years [9] [10] There are estimated to be 7, sex workers in the country.
Sex trafficking is a problem in the country. Prostitution in Tajikistan is legal, but related activities such as soliciting, procuring and brothel keeping are prohibited. Previously, as soliciting is an administrative offence, [17] arrested prostitutes are given a nominal fine and released, [18] [19] while those procuring are prosecuted, [18] potentially being punished by up to eight years in jail.
Prostitution in Turkmenistan is illegal but common. Prostitutes frequent bars, casinos and nightclubs; [25] some are addicted to heroin. Prostitution in Uzbekistan is illegal but common, [19] especially in Samarkand , [27] Fergana , [28] and the capital, Tashkent. Law enforcement is inconsistent. Officially, prostitution is illegal in mainland China , but in practice is widespread. Shortly after taking power in , the Chinese Communist Party embarked upon a series of campaigns that purportedly eradicated prostitution from mainland China by the early s.
