prostitution en Inde

EN Texte en anglais Pas encore d'article dans ta langue : extrait en anglais.

Prostitution in India is governed by a legal framework that permits certain activities while strictly criminalising others. While the exchange of sex for money is legal under Indian law, numerous related activities are prohibited. These illegal activities include public solicitation, operating a brothel, and pimping. India has a substantial commercial sex industry. Estimates regarding the number of sex workers vary widely among independent studies, government reports, and international organizations. The sector is also a destination for international sex tourism. Despite prohibitions against organised sex work, red-light districts operate de facto across several major Indian cities. The industry encompasses escort services, digital cybersex platforms, street prostitution, and forced prostitution. Socio-economic factors, such as poverty and debt cycles, frequently contribute to entry into the profession. The country also experiences the sex trafficking of women and children, who face severe structural barriers within the sector. Activism and judicial interventions have influenced sex workers' rights in India. Organisations such as the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee have campaigned for labour rights and health initiatives, which have been associated with reductions in HIV transmission rates in certain areas. In a 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court of India affirmed that sex workers are entitled to equal protection, dignity, and constitutional rights under Article 21. The court directed law enforcement not to interfere with consenting adult sex workers, while maintaining that the operation of brothels remains a criminal offence.