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Venezuela’s economic collapse, which reached peak severity in 2014 when the nation entered economic recession, has led to one of the single largest instances of mass migration in Latin American history.[i] As of mid-2019, an estimated 4 million Venezuelans have already sought refuge in other countries, according to the UNHCR.[ii]
Among the refugees are many, most of whom are women, who find themselves turning to prostitution in order to provide for their families. While some enter the sex trade independently, others are coerced into it by gangs, guerilla groups, or human traffickers.
For those who choose to enter the sex industry, they do so out of desperation to feed their families back home. Venezuela’s currency, the bolívar, has undergone severe depreciation and hyperinflation rendering it virtually worthless. At its current value, a month’s minimum wage in Venezuela can only afford an individual a meager one kilogram of rice, or one carton of eggs.[iii] Yet, just one hour of sex work in a neighbouring country with a stronger currency can earn an individual the equivalent of an entire month of work in Venezuela.[iv] One day’s labour as a sex worker can thus provide enough money to sustain their families in Venezuela for over a month.
Other refugees involved in prostitution did not necessarily enter on their own volition but by force. Along the border between Venezuela and Colombia, which is overrun by gangs and guerilla groups, refugees desperate to find work are preyed upon by such groups and coerced into prostitution.[v] Venezuelans have also fallen victim to such exploitation in Spain, another popular destination for refugees. Human traffickers are buying plane tickets to Spain for impoverished Venezuelans, promising a better life overseas; and upon arrival, they force the refugees into prostitution in order to pay back the travel expenses.[vi] As a result, the Internal Ministry of Spain has recorded a 1,200 per cent increase in the number of Venezuelan victims of forced sexual abuse between 2014 and 2017.[vii]
The response of neighbouring countries to the rise in Venezuelan sex workers has been mixed. Countries like Aruba have stated that all refugees caught working in the sex trade will be deported and banned from returning to the country for an extended period of time.[viii] Colombia, which initially deported refugees caught sex working, recently passed a mandate to grant worker visa status to refugees in the sex industry, allowing them to work legally and have their rights protected.[ix]
Other consequences of the rise in sex workers caused by the refugee crisis relate to homicide and health. Reports have stated that “fights to the death” triggered by territorial disputes between Colombian and Venezuelan prostitution rings have led to numerous femicides.[x] As for health concerns, health authorities in Colombia have reported a significant increase in the spread of AIDS and HIV as a result of the recent influx of Venezuelan refugees and rise in sex work.[xi]
[i] Corina Pons, Andrew Cawthorne, "Recession-hit Venezuela vows New
Year reforms, foes scoff," Reuters, 30 December 2014. https://www.reuters.com/article /us-venezuela-economy/recession-hit-venezuela-vows-new-year-reforms-foes-scoff-idUSKBN0K81KV20141231
[ii] UNHCR, “Refugees and migrants from Venezuela top 4 million: UNHCR and IOM,” UNHCR The UN Refuge Agency, 7 June 2019. https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/6/5cfa 2a4a4/refugees-migrants-venezuela-top-4-million-unhcr-iom.html
[iii] Anastasia Maloney, “Venezuelans sell sex and hair to survive in Colombian border city”, Reuters, 10 June 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-migrants-venezuela/venezuelans-sell-sex-and-hair-to-survive-in-colombian-border-city-idUSKBN1J703B
[iv] The Economist, “Venezuelans sell sex in Colombia to survive”, The Americas, 20 July 2017. https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2017/07/20/venezuelans-sell-sex-in-colombia-to-survive
[v] Anastasia Maloney, “Venezuela's crisis boosts trafficking risk for women, children: experts”, Reuters, 30 August 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-migrants-trafficking/venezuelas-crisis-boosts-trafficking-risk-for-women-children-experts-idUSKCN1LF1XG
[vi] Joe Wallen, “How Venezuela's crisis is fuelling prostitution and sex trafficking on Spain's Costa del Sol”, The Telegraph, 1 February 2019. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/venezuelas-crisis-fuelling-prostitution-sex-trafficking-costa/
[vii] Ibid.
[viii] Sabrina Martín, “Prostitution Rises in Countries Bordering Venezuela as Crisis Drives People Out”, Panampost, 24 January 2017. https://panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2017/01/24/prostitution-rises-in-countries-bordering-venezuela-as-crisis-drives-people-out/?cn-reloaded=1&cn-reloaded=1
[ix] Maloney, “Venezuelans Sell Sex”.
[x] Martín, “Prostitution Rises”.
[xi] Ibid.