Prostitution in Somalia

Prostitution in Somalia is officially illegal. Although forced marriages exist in areas under insurgent control, there is generally very little voluntary prostitution in the country according to the African Medical Research and Education Foundation (AMREF). HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are also quite low, estimated at 0.7% of adults. This has been attributed to Somalia's dominant Muslim tradition and adherence to Islamic morals, which generally discourage premarital and out-marriage sexual activity.