The transition to democracy and market economy in Mongolia has brought with it a sharp rise in families living below the poverty line. Economic strains have led to conflict and weakened ties between family members resulting in growing numbers of children who choose, or are forced, to leave home and live on the street.

Once on the street young girls become involved in street gangs where they are sexually exploited by male gang leaders and are then coerced into prostitution with outside clientele to contribute to the gang's livelihood. The practice often extends into organised brothels or hotels that tolerate or choose to ignore the phenomenon. Income is unstable and the business is fraught with risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs and violent abuse from clients and pimps. Prostitutes are regularly beaten, raped and arrested and suffer a life of fear, trauma and emotional scarring. However, once entering the commercial sex business it is difficult for them to abandon it, even though they clearly have a sense of values and their way of life causes them to lose self respect.

Prostitution in Mongolia is in its infancy compared with other Asian countries, however if it is not urgently addressed the problem with grow and develop. With the persistent high incidence of poverty, the growing tourist sex industry and trafficking of girls there is a need to tackle the issue urgently before this lucrative business escalates further.

• Thus far, 436 girls involved in prevention activities from prostitution, 92 girls prevented from commercial sexual exploitation of children. In order to rehabilitate, prevent and remove adolescent girls from prostitution following trainings among those girls:

- health counseling and trainings
- psychological counseling
- life-skill training
- non-formal education training
- Vocational trainings
- Civil documentation