Prostitution in Ethiopia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prostitution in Ethiopia is legal,[1] and widespread.[2] Procuring (operating brothels, benefiting from prostitution, etc.) is illegal according to Article 634 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, as revised May 2005,[3] however these laws are rarely enforced.[1] Some feel it has contributed to the increased incidence of AIDS.[4] UNAIDS estimate there are over 19,000 prostitutes in the major cities.[5]
Ethiopia has become a magnet for sex tourism,[6][7][8][9] including child sex tourism.[10] In a March 1978 interview the mayor of Addis Ababa, Alemu Abebe, claimed that there were around 100,000 prostitutes in the city.[11]
In 2015, Ethiopian scriptwriter and film director, Hermon Hailay, directed the film Price of Love, which was inspired by her experiences growing up close to prostitutes.[2]
