In the Central African Republic, prostitution among young girls is a worrying and taboo phenomenon. These adolescent girls, aged 12 to 16, are increasingly turning to this activity to meet their needs. In a country marked by military-political crises, many of them are orphans and find themselves without guidance or family support. Faced with this sad reality, it is urgent to act to offer a better future to these young girls and protect them from the risks linked to this activity.
In the streets of the capital Bangui, it is not uncommon to come across teenage girls engaging in prostitution. Dressed provocatively, they stand on the sides of roads or at the entrances of abandoned buildings, looking for customers. Achetou, 14, recounts his difficult journey: “I lost my parents six years ago during the crises, and no one was there to support me. Prostitution became my only source of income. During the periods “I can have relationships with up to seven men per day. I earn between 15,000 and 40,000 FCFA (around 23 to 61 euros) in a single day.”
Unfortunately, this reality exposes these young girls to many dangers, including sexually transmitted infections. A study by the Central African Social Marketing Association (Acams) reveals that the rate of HIV/AIDS among young people is alarming, reaching 30% in the capital. Gisèle, 13, is one of these victims. She tested HIV positive in 2021 and recounts her ordeal: “Since the death of my father, my mother has remarried, but her new husband mistreats me every day. I am considered a witch and he hits me. I decided to flee and to survive, I have no choice but to sell my body.”
Faced with this alarming situation, the Soleil de Centrafrique association is putting in place initiatives aimed at offering economic alternatives and education adapted to these young girls. The goal is to keep them away from prostitution and reintegrate them into society. Epiphanie Nambozouina, coordinator of Acams, explains: “We really want to encourage them to leave their current environment and bring them back to a more balanced life. We want to support them and integrate them into income-generating activities that correspond to their aspirations, such as bag making, hospitality or tailoring. But the most important thing is to change their mentality.”
However, the fight against minor prostitution remains complex in the Central African Republic. Although the law classifies this as an act of pedophilia, it is difficult to get hold of the clients and bring them to justice.
It is essential to raise awareness about this reality and mobilize all stakeholders to act and offer a better future to these young girls.. The fight against minor prostitution cannot be limited to one-off actions, but must be part of a global strategy for prevention and protection of the most vulnerable young people in society. Only in this way can we hope to break this vicious circle and offer these young girls a path to a better and more secure future.