Pushing back against the so-called Nordic Model of sex work

[SnugFinch]

Hi. I'm aware that my views might not be the most popular, but I am posting here in good faith.

Many of you know that Ash Regan has been campaigning to get sex work legislation in place which follows the neo-abolitionist model, or Nordic Model. This so-called Nordic Model claims that it will punish buyers of sex work, while not criminalising sellers, and that this will benefit sex workers and stop sex trafficking.

However, this is untrue. By criminalising buyers, it ensures that the only people who will buy sex are criminals who don't care about breaking the law. And because sex workers have a smaller client pool, they have no choice but to put themselves at the mercy of these criminals, and can end up suffering violence as a result.

This so-called Nordic Model has been law in the island of Ireland for nearly a decade now, and it has made things worse for the women involved, and it has done nothing to stop sex trafficking, as the facts in this article (and the testimony of a former sex worker) prove.

https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/02/07/on-problems-with-the-nordic-model-of-prostitution/

Ash Regan's bill has been delayed for the moment, but it hasn't been defeated. There is a growing worry that what happened in Ireland could happen in Scotland. And it could extend to England and Wales as well.

Feminists should want to end violence against all women. So why is there support for the Nordic Model, which has proven to be so hazardous to female sex workers?

I'm curious as to what your thoughts are.

@OldCrone
"It's unlikely that anyone realistically expects to eliminate prostitution entirely and it's ridiculous to say that none of those who support the Nordic model believe in harm reduction. My understanding is that harm reduction (for the women involved in prostitution) is at the heart of the Nordic model - it's the whole point."

I will cut-and-paste a comment on Ash Regan's bill made recently on another thread on Mumsnet to show that people do believe it can be eliminated, despite the fact that we've had the Nordic Model in Northern Ireland since 2015 and in the Irish Republic since 2017 and the official reviews show it has not reduced the amount of prostitution.

"I'm so angry about this. The one thing, the ONE thing that would have been a good legacy, to eradicate this evil, exploitative trade in women's bodies, particularly vulnerable women, and these privileged women chose to put the knife in. I'd say more angry words but my post may be deleted!!!!"

As for harm reduction, perhaps you are thinking that if the Nordic Model can reduce the amount of prostitution by 10% then that would also reduce the number of murders and rapes by 10%? As I have said that doesn't happen. I will cut-and-paste below 3 paragraphs from a comment by a Swedish prostitute.

"First of all, the Swedish Model does not decriminalise us. This law was put on top already existing abolitionist laws, not one law was repealed. If we work from home our landlord can be charged with pimping if he doesn't evict us, needless to say landlords evict us at the mere suspicion."

"If we work together for safety we are charged with pimping each other. Anything that is seen as "facilitating prostitution" is by the definition of the law pimping, no financial gain or exploitation needs to be involved. So if I want a friend to drive me when I see a client in his home and want them to wait outside for my safety...pimping."

"And did I mention that there is no condom distribution in the the two biggest cities? Giving us condoms is "keeping us in the problem" and the national coordinator on trafficking and prostitution has stated that he thinks we can buy our own condoms if we make so much money."

40% of those involved in trafficking are female. They often lure the new victims in.

Article from this week:

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/XM6rgE/salde-sex-i-sin-bostad-vraks

A sex worker was evicted from her home in Sweden for selling sex. Even though selling sex is not illegal in Sweden (provided the sex worker is working alone), it is illegal for landlords to rent property to someone they know is selling sex there. This results in eviction if the sex worker is caught.

"– Instead of helping me, I am punished more severely than the sex buyers, the woman has previously said in an interview with the newspaper."

Also from this week- Belgium which has full decrim has convicted a man of rape after failing to pay a sex worker by pretending to have paid via banking app.

www.ndtv.com/world-news/man-convicted-of-rape-for-fake-payments-to-belgium-sex-worker-10953410/amp/1