Sex Workers

The phenomenon of sex work in the Caribbean is at least as old as the settlement of the region and the forced enslavement of human beings that came with it. Sex work in the 16 th century and beyond is well documented, and continues to be a staple of Caribbean societies today. In a region dominated by underdevelopment, poor educational systems, poverty and gender inequality, men and women turn to sex work as a means of securing a livelihood and economic independence.

The regional sex trade is driven by both local and tourist demands. In many places, women from the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica, among other countries, are known to cross borders in search of a living. Women from Eastern Europe are also part of the sex trade, with some clubs offering sex with them a part of business to a niche clientele, with women travelling to sell sex from as far North as the Dominican Republic to as far South as Suriname.

Because the sex trade is a marginal activity in most places, human rights abuses against sex workers is common, especially in the English and Spanish speaking territories. Moreover, sex workers have little or no recourse to the law for protection, unless they are able to hide their status as sex workers.

In a region where sexual initiation often comes early, child sex work is also common. From the sanky panky sex work in the Dominican Republic, to the streets of Kingston and Port of Spain, teenage sex work is commonplace in the Caribbean. An added feature of the Caribbean sex trade is substance use, inclusive of the smoking of marijuana and the taking of “ecstasy". Of even greater concern is the crack epidemic, which often features women selling sex to feed their habit.