Prostitution in North Macedonia is legal, though with various restrictions, [1] and common. It's Executive Board is exclusively made up of sex workers. The country is a major transit point for prostitution to the west. Soliciting in a public place is prohibited by article 19 of the Law on Misdemeanours. The article also prohibits providing space for an act of prostitution. As restaurants, bars and hotels are defined as public places, owners of such places can be fined if prostitution occurs on the premises.
Sex in public is also prohibited. Article of the Criminal Law prohibits third party involvement, such as procuring , pimping and profiting from the prostitution of others. Law enforcement is corrupt, [9] and often violent towards sex workers. In a study reported North Macedonia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking.
Women and girls in North Macedonia are subjected to sex trafficking within the country in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Migrants and refugees, particularly women and unaccompanied minors, travelling or being smuggled through North Macedonia are vulnerable to trafficking. Students are vulnerable to false employment promises in other European countries.
Traffickers frequently bribe police and labour inspectors. Police have been investigated and convicted for complicity in human trafficking. Articles a and d of the criminal code prohibit all forms of trafficking and prescribe a minimum penalty of four years imprisonment for trafficking adults and 12 years imprisonment for trafficking children.
In December , the government deleted article a on child prostitution, which had allowed the prosecution of child sex traffickers for a lesser offence, and amended article d.
