Prostitution in Fiji

Since new legislation was introduced in 2009, there has been increased enforcement, especially towards transgender sex workers, street workers and their clients.^[1][9] Sex workers report that in 2011 they were rounded up by the military and suffered humiliation and abuse and were subjected to forced labour.^[1] During police crackdowns sex workers are subjected to assault, theft and rape.^[1] Police are allegedly open to bribes.^[1]

Fiji is a source, destination, and transit country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Family members, taxi drivers, foreign tourists, businessmen, and crew on foreign fishing vessels have allegedly exploited Fijian children in sex trafficking. Some Fijian children are at risk of trafficking as families follow a traditional practice of sending them to live with relatives or families in larger cities, where they may be subjected to coerced to engage in sexual activity in exchange for food, clothing, shelter, or school fees. Women from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and other East Asian countries are deceptively recruited by the lure of legitimate jobs in their home countries or while visiting Fiji, sometimes by Chinese criminal organisations, and then exploited in illegal brothels (posing as massage parlors and spas), local hotels and private homes.^[6]

The United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Fiji as a 'Tier 2 Watch List' country.^[10]