When one looks at the laws of Sweden concerning sÄx workers, it stirs up the question of what exactly do these Swedes want? Do they want to legalize prostitution or do they not want to?
This uncertainty comes from the confusion that dates back to the year 1999 when Sweden became the first country to criminalise the purchase of sÄx.
However, the law still allowed prostitutes to carry out their business undisturbed. In other words, selling sÄx is legal, however, paying a prostitute for it comes with heavy repercussions such as jail time.
This model has been adopted by other countries like Norway, Iceland, and, more recently, Canada and Northern Ireland. However, organisations like Amnesty Internationalâs have come up with a controversial proposal that rejects this absurd law.
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women says Amnestyâs proposal would see it âadvocate the legalisation of pimping, brothel owning and sÄx buying â the pillars of a $99bn (ÂŁ64bn) global sÄx industryâ.
Swedenâs official evaluation of the law, published in 2010, concluded that from 1998 to 2008 street prostitution in the country fell by half, largely as a result of the legislation.
However, some people argue that criminalising the purchase of sÄx harms prostitutes by making their clients stressed and nervous, and driving the trade underground.
One thing, however, is clear: if countries are going to adopt the Swedish model, there are ways to do it that avoid at least some of the most negative consequences for those who choose to be in sÄx work.
For example, Swedish sÄx workers are tormented by the threat of eviction, because, under current law, landlords are vulnerable to pimping charges if they collect money earned from selling sÄx.
