In the 16th and 17th centuries, prior to colonization, European traders who stopped at ports along the Malayan coast would trade goods with local chiefs for women.
[1] The Dutch continued this practice for decades but as time progressed, growing ideas of nationalism and racial degradation put an end to these mixed marriages.
[1] Aside from these more permanent relationships, men could buy sexual encounters with local women or slaves in taverns, inns and opium dens.
[1] After the British arrived, the colonial government in Singapore imported a large number of laborers from China which resulted in a highly unbalanced sex ratio.
[2] Despite the government's attempt to enforce legislations, the colony had already built a highly sophisticated, intricately organized and prosperous sex labor network that was unable to be curbed successfully.
[1] Ultimately in an attempt to grapple with the realities of the trade that was deeply entrenched in society, brothel owners, women and law enforcement officials came to an agreement on unofficial systems that would regulate and control sex labor in the country.
[2] Many of these women were brought in through agents and are subject to heavy debts, lack of freedom to move around the country and they are unable to control if clients engage in safe and protected sex with them.
[2] In recent years Singapore has seen a rise in forest based brothels compared to the traditional venues of KTVs and massage parlors.
[5] The perpetrators of sex trafficking in Singapore are often linked to secret societies or an established network of brothels,[1] commonly in hot spots such as Geylang and Joo Chiat.
[3] While authorities have cracked down on unlicensed brothels in known hot spots like Geylang, these perpetrators merely move their businesses elsewhere, such as to heartland areas like Woodlands or Jurong.
[2] In 1896, the Women’s and Girl’s Protection Ordinance was passed and acted similarly to the CDO with the belief that consensual sex labor was possible and had to be regulated by the authorities.
[2] In 2010, Singapore was downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List which put heightened international and local pressure on the government to make changes in regards to trafficking activities.
[6] NGOs such as the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and Transient Workers Count 2 (TWC2) have worked with authorities and the public to help victims.
[7] Some organizations which were originally formed to advocate for migrant workers' rights, rebranded themselves or opened up an additional sector to raise awareness about sex trafficking.