[4] The HIV rate is the highest of any French territory, and sex workers are at risk due to inconsistent condom use.
[6] Although brothels were outlawed in 1946 by Loi Marthe Richard, the French military continued to run "Bordel militaire de campagne".
The old town centre of Pointe-à-Pitre is taken over by prostitutes from the Dominican Republic plying their trade after dark,[8][9] and abandoned houses are turned into makeshift brothels.
[14] Le Centre Associatif de Santé et d’Accompagnement sur les risques sexuels (CASA) (eng:The Associative Center for Health and Support on Sexual Risks), who provide support and information to sex workers, especially in the area of sexual health, have called for the decriminalisation of sex work and the opening of brothels.
The new laws targeted prostitution in the bars and restaurants of Fort-de-France, which the colonial authorities believed were a major factor of STIs.
Most of the prostitutes are migrants from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Haiti, Colombia, Brazil and St. Kitts and Nevis, who have come to Martinique seeking a better life.
[17] Prostitution in Mayotte occurs on the ring road[18] and in the villages of Mtsapere and Kaweni in the commune of Mamoudzou.
[19] An area in Passamainty, also part of the Mamoudzou commune, used for drugs and prostitution, was destroyed by locals in July 2016.
[18] Before being destroyed by locals, there was an area in Passamainty where underage girls engaged in prostitution to pay for drugs.
[21] Following the French law prohibiting "passive soliciting" in 2003,[22] street prostitution in Réunion was greatly reduced.
Services include advice and information, STI screening, distribution of condoms and gels and self-defence classes.
[33] Wallis had to ban shore leave for the crew for fear of the ship collapsing as so many nails had been removed from the structure.
By the time of Cook's 3rd visit in 1774, the currency had changed from nails to European clothes and red parrot feathers (considered sacred).
[38] One hotel, now closed, was reserved for French civil servants and reputedly offered the guests European prostitutes.
[42] In 1870, Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki Queen of Uvea, approved a new legal code written by French missionary Pierre Bataillon.
[43] Whilst the three kings of the islands, assisted by a prime minister and a ‘chefferie’, have limited powers to legislate on local matters, the laws of France are applicable in the country.
On 12 December 2016, the government added the French Law of June 2016 that criminalised the purchasers of sex to its Penal Code.
[47] American military police and medics were on duty at the house to keep order and prevent the spread of STIs.