SEX WORK AND THE LAW - HIV/AIDS Data Hub

Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Viet Nam
The Revised Penal Code provides offences for
prostitution as a form of vagrancy (Article 202),
and for engaging in the business of prostitution,
profiting by prostitution or enlisting the services
of another person for the purpose of prostitution
(Article 341). The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
of 2003 provides an offence to maintain or hire a
person to engage in prostitution.
The Women’s Charter provides offences for
procuring (Section 140), living on the earnings of
sex work (Section 146) and managing a brothel
(Section 148). Soliciting is an offence under the
Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance)
Act (Section 19).
The Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act
(1996) provides offences for soliciting in public
(Article 5), pimping, advertising, procuring sex
workers (even with their consent) (Article 9) and
managing sex work businesses (Article 11).
The Penal Code 2009 provides offences for sexual
exploitation of a third party (a person who makes
a livelihood from, promotes, facilitates, or by any
other means, contributes toward engaging another
person in prostitution) (Article 174)
The 2003 Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention and
Control provides that sex workers may be subject to
administrative detention.
The Penal Code provides an offence for persons who
‘harbour prostitutes’ (Article 254).
South East Asia
* Generally not prohibited but exceptions apply.
370 See: 5 nabbed for alleged prostitution Brunei Times, 15 April 2011: a raid at a boarding house led to the
arrest of three female foreigners who are to be deported.
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