# What country has the youngest prostitutes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889 "2009-01-31T18:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/1 "2009-01-31T18:33:51Z")
Age of consent has come up in a couple threads recently and has gotten me thinking. Many countries have lower ages of consent then the US a few as young as 12. Some counties has legalized prostitution. Hopefully if a country has both they have a legal age to prostitute different then the age of consent. I found no readily available chart on any site I’d consider going to. In addition to that question is the US capable of taking legal action against someone who travels to a country for the purposes of having sex with a girl younger then 16? Not restricting this to prostitution. Are child molesters of the US heading off to other countries where they can legally do what we find to be a crime here. Do country’s with low ages of consent set different ages of consent for non-citizens? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/2 "2009-01-31T18:56:31Z")
IIRC there have been several “sex tourist” prosecutions but the US usually tries to get the host country to prosecute. SE Asian countries seem to be a magnet for this sort of thing. There was a very wealthy older American who died several years ago and he had fathered numerous babies with 11-13 year olds (he paid big money for virgins) in some SE Asian country. My google fu is failing me re his name. There we several pics of this villages where all these little girls had his babies they were carrying on thier hips. Weird and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/3 "2009-01-31T19:04:42Z")
> [@astro](#): > > IIRC there have been several “sex tourist” prosecutions but the US usually tries to get the host country to prosecute. SE Asian countries seem to be a magnet for this sort of thing. > > There was a very wealthy older American who died several years ago and he had fathered numerous babies with 11-13 year olds (he paid big money for virgins) in some SE Asian country. My google fu is failing me re his name. There we several pics of this villages where all these little girls had his babies they were carrying on thier hips. Weird and sad. [Larry Hilblom](http://dna-view.com/sfstory.htm) of DHL, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/4 "2009-01-31T19:29:30Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > [Larry Hilblom](http://dna-view.com/sfstory.htm) of DHL, perhaps? That’s it. An amazing story. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/5 "2009-01-31T19:52:19Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > In addition to that question is the US capable of taking legal action against someone who travels to a country for the purposes of having sex with a girl younger then 16? [Yes](http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/34021.htm). > [@](#): > > The United States strengthened its ability to fight child sex tourism last year through passage of the Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act and the PROTECT Act. Together these laws enhance awareness through the development and distribution of CST information and increase penalties to up to 30 years for engaging in child sex tourism. In the first eight months of “Operation Predator” (a 2003 initiative to fight child exploitation, child pornography, and child sex tourism), U.S. law enforcement authorities arrested 25 Americans for child sex tourism offenses. Overall, the global community is awakening to the horrific issue of child sex tourism and is starting to take important initial steps. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/6 "2009-01-31T20:07:11Z")
Gary Glitter recommends Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/7 "2009-01-31T21:42:00Z")
I think the OP is asking about the youngest _legal_ prostitutes. Are there countries where prositution is perfectly legal (as opposed to the police just looking the other way)? And if so, what are the age limits? And if those limits are under 18, can you be prosecuted under US sex tourism laws for going to one of those countries to have sex with an under-18 prosititute? NOTE: I’m only asking academically. I have no intention of putting this information to use. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/8 "2009-02-01T01:19:53Z")
Yes, you can and will still be prosecuted for having sex with someone under 18 (even if the age of consent is different in your current country and/or your home state.) The name of the law involved is the Protect Act. As an American abroad, I’ve been warned quite strongly and with many examples about what could happen if that law is broken. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/9 "2009-02-01T02:24:56Z")
> [@astro](#): > > That’s it. An amazing story. Crazy. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/10 "2009-02-01T02:40:40Z")
Trying to find a good vacation spot? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/11 "2009-02-01T02:50:59Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Trying to find a good vacation spot? 😉 You stole my exact response. 😛 Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/12 "2009-02-01T03:36:51Z")
Interestingly, this article was in the Toronto Star today - [Sex tourism trial gets green light from judge](http://www.thestar.com/article/580192) And this was the page on the World Vision site about [preventing child sex tourism](http://www.thestar.com/article/580192). The fundamental thing is that even if were legal in a country you are visiting, more and more governments, and certainly the US and Canada, are legislating that their citizens will be prosecuted in their home countries if they are caught having sex with child prostitutes while abroad. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/13 "2009-02-01T03:49:51Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Yes, you can and will still be prosecuted for having sex with someone under 18 (even if the age of consent is different in your current country and/or your home state.) The name of the law involved is the Protect Act. A reading of [the act](http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ021.108.pdf) (long, boring, PDF) suggests this is not entirely correct, although it does accurately apply to the OP’s scenario. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/14 "2009-02-01T04:06:16Z")
Can you give a quick summary of what is different? My only understanding of this comes only from the stern lectures they give Peace Corps volunteers before sending us off. I’m curious what the reality is. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/15 "2009-02-01T04:18:07Z")
Sure. It appears from my (admittedly incomplete) reading that the Act applies to: > [@](#): > > TRAVEL WITH INTENT TO ENGAGE IN ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT.— > A person who travels in interstate commerce or travels > into the United States, or a United States citizen or an alien > admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels > in foreign commerce, **for the purpose of engaging in any illicit > sexual conduct with another person** shall be fined under this title > or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. where > [@](#): > > DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term ‘illicit sexual > conduct’ means (1) a sexual act (as defined in section 2246) with > a person under 18 years of age that would be in violation of > chapter 109A if the sexual act occurred in the special maritime > and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or (2) any **commercial > sex act** (as defined in section 1591) with a person under 18 > years of age. It appears the intent of the law is to curtail sex tourism, rather than prosecute the guy who happens to get lucky with a 16-year-old on his vacation trip. Bolding added. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/16 "2009-02-01T04:25:03Z")
> [@Struan](#): > > Gary Glitter recommends Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos. Cuba, too. Until he got kicked out of that country. When Cuba doesn’t want you, you know you’ve got problems. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/17 "2009-02-01T09:54:45Z")
What I’m getting out of this so far is US citizens traveling to other countries can be prosecuted in the US for having sex outside the US with non-us citizens under 18. That seems fine by me. While we may have lower consent ages in the US seems like a good idea to have a higher standard to prevent us from screwing around with other countries youths. Question still not answered is what country has the youngest legal prostitutes. Is there any country in which a person under the age of 18 can sell themselves sexually without violating the law of that land? ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/18 "2009-02-01T12:30:14Z")
IAMNALawyer, so this is just a WAG, but I think that lower “age-of-consent” in Asian/African countries only applies to official marriages. I doubt that prostitution in Thailand or nearby countries is officially allowed, it’s only mostly ignored (partly because of corruption). So even in local law sleeping with a 14 year old for money might be forbidden, only not enforced, which is why the Western Countries with more clout try to persecute this at home to stop this exploitative tourism. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/19 "2009-02-01T13:37:15Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Are there countries where prositution is perfectly legal (as opposed to the police just looking the other way)? Since apparently, nobody answered that : yes, plenty.Mine, for one, and as far as I know, most of Europe. I’m aware of only one European country where prostitution is illegal (the “customer” can be prosecuted), and that would be Norway. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889/20 "2009-02-01T17:53:13Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Since apparently, nobody answered that : yes, plenty.Mine, for one, and as far as I know, most of Europe. I’m aware of only one European country where prostitution is illegal (the “customer” can be prosecuted), and that would be Norway. The Wikipedia article on prostitution in [Sweden](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sweden) says that it’s illegal to purchase sexual services there. So, while it might be technically legal to be a prostitute in countries like Sweden and the UK, in practice law enforcement treats it as a criminal enterprise. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-has-the-youngest-prostitutes/483889.md?page=2)