Germany Reconsiders Prostitution Laws: A Shift Towards the “Scandinavian Model”?
Germany is currently engaged in a debate over the future of its prostitution laws,with growing calls for a move away from the current legal framework towards a system similar to the “Scandinavian model.” This discussion is fueled by concerns that existing legislation has failed to adequately protect those working in the sex industry and may have inadvertently contributed to an increase in human trafficking.
Currently, prostitution is legal in Germany, a status established with the Prostitution Act of 2002, which recognized sex work as a legitimate service entitling workers to negotiated wages and social insurance. Further regulation came with the 2017 Law on the Protection of Prostitution, mandating registration for sex workers and licensing for brothels, requiring adherence to minimum standards of safety, hygiene, and equipment.
Though, despite these measures, initial hopes of reducing crime haven’t materialized. The Federal Criminal Service reports a rise in both human trafficking and forced prostitution as legalization. official figures from the Federal Statistical Office show 32,300 registered sex workers as of the end of 2024, with a significant proportion originating from abroad - 11,500 from romania and 3,400 from Bulgaria. Only 5,600 are German citizens. Experts believe the actual number of individuals involved in prostitution is far higher, estimating between 200,000 and 400,000, with some estimates reaching up to a million.
A key concern is the vulnerability of many sex workers, with a large number lacking proficiency in German and access to essential social and health services.Many are driven into prostitution by poverty or coercion from traffickers. Critics argue that legalization has led to an expansion of the sex market, driving down prices and increasing the risk of violence.
Several political figures are advocating for a change in approach. julia Klöckner (CDU) has emphasized the need for greater protection for women in the profession, while Health Minister Nina Varken (CDU) supports a ban on the purchase of sex, focusing penalties on clients rather than sex workers themselves. Varken stressed the importance of providing extensive exit programs to help individuals leave the industry.
The proposed choice, the ”Scandinavian model,” criminalizes the buying of sex and the activities of pimps, while offering support and assistance to those selling sex. This model has been adopted in Sweden (since 1999), Norway (since 2009), Iceland, Canada, France, Ireland, and Israel. Penalties for clients typically include fines, with Sweden imposing potential prison sentences of up to one year. Norway extends its penalties to citizens purchasing sexual services abroad.
Opponents of the “Scandinavian model” argue that it will drive prostitution underground, increasing vulnerability. They maintain that sex work should be regulated as a legitimate profession. However, proponents contend that much of the industry already operates clandestinely and that targeting clients will reduce demand and, consequently, human trafficking.
A study from the University of Tübingen suggests that implementing the “Scandinavian model” can lead to a long-term reduction in human trafficking.Though, organizations like the Federal Union “Scandinavian Model” emphasize that legal changes alone are insufficient. They advocate for robust funding for social and psychological support, education, housing, and effective prosecution of pimping and trafficking.
Germany now faces a critical decision: to maintain its position as one of Europe’s largest sex markets or to adopt the “Scandinavian model,” reframing the purchase of sex as a criminal act rather than a commercial transaction. The debate continues, with the well-being and safety of those involved in prostitution at the heart of the discussion.
