Al Jazeera Witness: Daughters of the Brothel

Artscape is an extraordinary series highlighting the various forms of art across the world. It showcases the artistic forces that are behind the some of the globe’s headline stories.

Afghanistan has a very traditional patriarchal culture, which does not allow women to be free like men. This means that the rights of women are restricted.

Even though it’s against the law to marry underage girls in Tanzania, many parents continue to follow the ancient tradition. This means that they give their daughters as young as 11 or 12 in marriage to men who are much older, sometimes more than three times their age.

In India, many daughters are sold into slavery prostitution. This usually happens when a girl reaches the age of 10 and is considered to be old enough to start career in prostitution.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries on earth with widespread poverty and inequality. In Bangladesh prostitution is legal but completely unregulated.

Agra City, India is the location of a famous Café Sheroes hangout that is attracting national and international attention. Although each young woman who works there has her own story, they have one experience in common: every single one of them has had acid poured on her face and body.

Filmed in 2002, this documentary provides an inside look at Thailand’s notorious nightlife through the eyes of one of the thousands of young women who work the scene.

Since 1989, the government of Sudan, led by Omar al-Bashir, has committed mass murder of its citizens. Violence has continued until the present day including the use of chemical weapons that specifically target civilians.

Until 1991 there used to be a US air force base in Angeles City in the Philippines. These days it is a well-known sex tourism destination, where mostly wealthy retired men from all over the world go to get a taste of Philippine women.