Prostitution by region

Long-distance truck drivers have been identified as a group with the high-risk behaviour of sleeping with prostitutes and a tendency to spread the infection along trade routes in the region.

In Asia, the main characteristic of the region is the very big discrepancy between the laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice.

For example, in Thailand prostitution is illegal,[4] but in practice it is tolerated and partly regulated, and the country is a destination for sex tourism.

The most common legal system in the European Union is that which allows prostitution itself (the exchange of sex for money) but prohibits associated activities (brothels, pimping, etc.).

In Sweden,[8] Northern Ireland,[9] Norway,[10] Iceland,[11] and France[12] it is illegal to pay for sex (the client commits a crime, but not the prostitute).

It was only legalized by the former communist countries that joined the European Union (except for Lithuania and Croatia, where it remains illegal).

Lithuania and Croatia remain the only countries in the European Union where women providing sexual services are punished.

In Sweden, France and Ireland only clients are punished, while in other countries both the sale and purchase of sexual services is legal.