The Sex Trade > Asia

Dancers at Cowboy 2 Bar wait outside for passing customers in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dancers at Cowboy 2 Bar wait outside for passing customers in Bangkok, Thailand.

2014

A group of young and colorful dancers take a quick break outside of Arexus KTV Bar in Manila, Philippines.

A group of young and colorful dancers take a quick break outside of Arexus KTV Bar in Manila, Philippines.

2015

Prostitutes wait on the street patiently for customers on Sukhumvit Soi 3 in Bangkok, Thailand. The street is a common attraction for American sex tourists seeking out ladyboys for the night, with hourly "love" hotels lining the streets.

Prostitutes wait on the street patiently for customers on Sukhumvit Soi 3 in Bangkok, Thailand. The street is a common attraction for American sex tourists seeking out ladyboys for the night, with hourly "love" hotels lining the streets.

2014

Two young prostitutes wait for customers at the door of the Sistar 1418 International Productions in Manila, Philippines.

Two young prostitutes wait for customers at the door of the Sistar 1418 International Productions in Manila, Philippines.

2015

A ladyboy flirts with an elderly American sex tourist at the entrance to Sukhumvit Soi 3, also known as Soi Nana, in Bangkok, Thailand.

A ladyboy flirts with an elderly American sex tourist at the entrance to Sukhumvit Soi 3, also known as Soi Nana, in Bangkok, Thailand.

2014

Exotic dancers perform at a strip club in Angeles, Philippines. Angeles, which was once home to Clark Air Base, is still a hotspot for prostitution and trafficking despite Mount Pinatubo's detrimental volcanic eruption in 1991, which closed the base.

Exotic dancers perform at a strip club in Angeles, Philippines. Angeles, which was once home to Clark Air Base, is still a hotspot for prostitution and trafficking despite Mount Pinatubo's detrimental volcanic eruption in 1991, which closed the base.

2015

A dancer works for tips from both male and female customers at an open air bar in Phuket, Thailand.

A dancer works for tips from both male and female customers at an open air bar in Phuket, Thailand.

2014

A young exotic dancer gets ready for a performance at a strip club in Phuket, Thailand.

A young exotic dancer gets ready for a performance at a strip club in Phuket, Thailand.

2014

A dancer entertains tourists at an outdoor strip club in Phuket, Thailand. In contrast to Bangkok, Phuket accepts prostitution more openly because of its longstanding reputation as a resort.

A dancer entertains tourists at an outdoor strip club in Phuket, Thailand. In contrast to Bangkok, Phuket accepts prostitution more openly because of its longstanding reputation as a resort.

2014

Three prostitutes anxiously await a group of nearby customers outside of a bar in Manila, Philippines.

Three prostitutes anxiously await a group of nearby customers outside of a bar in Manila, Philippines.

2015

A group of sex workers stop by a roadside food cart in Bangkok, Thailand.

A group of sex workers stop by a roadside food cart in Bangkok, Thailand.

2014

A sex worker peeks out of her room at the C&B Ghat Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh after finishing with a customer. Independent prostitutes (those without madams) must pay rent on their own rooms.

A sex worker peeks out of her room at the C&B Ghat Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh after finishing with a customer. Independent prostitutes (those without madams) must pay rent on their own rooms.

2013

A sex worker, who shares her room with another prostitute, awaits her next customer quietly on her bed in the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

A sex worker, who shares her room with another prostitute, awaits her next customer quietly on her bed in the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

2013

A sex worker who lives with her son in the C & B Ghat sex slum in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Many of the children born in brothels are raised within the community under the care of their mothers and other madams.

A sex worker who lives with her son in the C & B Ghat sex slum in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Many of the children born in brothels are raised within the community under the care of their mothers and other madams.

2013

A sex worker in the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh fixes her makeup as her friend looks on. Men selling makeup periodically walk through these brothels, allowing the young prostitutes to prepare for incoming customers.

A sex worker in the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh fixes her makeup as her friend looks on. Men selling makeup periodically walk through these brothels, allowing the young prostitutes to prepare for incoming customers.

2013

A madam sits in the doorway of one of her workers' rooms at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. "Bonded" prostitutes must pay their madam until the girls' original purchase price, paid by their former guardian, is paid back to the madam.

A madam sits in the doorway of one of her workers' rooms at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. "Bonded" prostitutes must pay their madam until the girls' original purchase price, paid by their former guardian, is paid back to the madam.

2013

A sex worker's young child sits in his mother's empty room at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

A sex worker's young child sits in his mother's empty room at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

2013

A young prostitute stares outside of a hallway window at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

A young prostitute stares outside of a hallway window at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh.

2013

A prostitute's child watches from the entrance to the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Until recently, prostitutes were forced to walk around the small jungle village without shoes to differentiate themselves from others in the community.

A prostitute's child watches from the entrance to the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Until recently, prostitutes were forced to walk around the small jungle village without shoes to differentiate themselves from others in the community.

2013

A 14 year old prostitute at the C&B Ghat sex slum in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Young sex workers are given injected steroids like Oradexon, a drug usually given to cattle, to make them look older and more curvaceous. Long term use is said to be fatal.

A 14 year old prostitute at the C&B Ghat sex slum in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Young sex workers are given injected steroids like Oradexon, a drug usually given to cattle, to make them look older and more curvaceous. Long term use is said to be fatal.

2013

The hallways of the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh showcase drying clothes and, more typically, garbage.

The hallways of the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh showcase drying clothes and, more typically, garbage.

2013

A young sex workers sits outside of her room with her pet birds at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. The women put on elaborate makeup in the early afternoon to prepare for a long day of customers.

A young sex workers sits outside of her room with her pet birds at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. The women put on elaborate makeup in the early afternoon to prepare for a long day of customers.

2013

The overflowing trash bins in each hallway of the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh hold used condoms, trash, and other hazardous materials, and are cleaned only once a week by the building's owner.

The overflowing trash bins in each hallway of the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh hold used condoms, trash, and other hazardous materials, and are cleaned only once a week by the building's owner.

2013

A worn sign advertises the benefits of condoms at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. With an extremely high prevalence of STDs running rampant within the brothels, madams have begun educating their prostitutes about protecting themselves.

A worn sign advertises the benefits of condoms at the Rathkhola Brothel in Faridpur, Bangladesh. With an extremely high prevalence of STDs running rampant within the brothels, madams have begun educating their prostitutes about protecting themselves.

2013