Which 1999 laws got a couple major desires: cutting prostitution (for a while by the policing they and also in the latest long identity of the changing public perceptions into the it) and you can cutting peoples trafficking to possess sexual objectives (Holmstrom Skilbrei, 2017)
A second categorization scheme distinguishes among criminalization, legalization (or regulation), and decriminalization. The first category can be divided into “criminalization of the client” and “criminalization of the seller” (Ostergen, 2017). A third typology, with four categories, comes from Garotalo Geymonat (2014): criminalization (or prohibition), regulation (or legalization), abolitionism, and decriminalization. With criminalization, a state completely outlaws the exchange of sex for money. Criminalization may apply to workers or to clients, as in Sweden. With regulation, the state recognizes prostitution/sex work (only among adults and without any restrictions) and regulates the sexual activities. With abolitionism, prostitution/sex work is not illegal per se, but certain activities are declared illegal and banned, such as trafficking and third- party gain (as in brothels and pimping). Decriminalization, the newest category, has been occurring only since 2003, when New Zealand became the first country to adopt this policy. In New Zealand there is no specific law on sex work, and selling sex and sexual services is equal to any other economic activity. Danna (2014) has suggested two additional categories: neo-prohibi- tionism (the criminalization of the client) and neo-regulationism (non-punitive toward sellers).
The Swedish Sex Purchase Act was first presented as part of the Womens Peace Bill. Its purpose was “to combat prostitution, which was seen as harmful, both for those directly involved and for society at large” (Holmstrom Skilbrei, 2017, p. 83). To accomplish these goals, the law criminalized the clients ot prostitutes (as we know, the law does not use the term sex pros). These clients, who commit a criminal offence, are punished with a fine and in theory even with prison (in 2011, the prison sentence increased from 6 months to 12 months), but only 200 cases are reported each year, and of these only 10% end in a fine or imprisonment (Garofalo Geymonat, 2014). Nonetheless, many other countries, including Norway, Iceland, France, and Ireland, have adopted the “Swedish model.”
Centered on Jonsson and you may Jakobsson (2017), you will find a high rate off public desired for pros- titution/sex work in nations in which prostitution/sex work is judge and you can/otherwise escort in Germany controlled compared to nations where it is unlawful otherwise criminalized
Twenty years after, we can query: Did the latest Swedish Sex Pick Work achieve their goals? Considering Holmstrom and you can Skilbrei (2017), it is extremely hard to dictate the consequences, if any, of the Swedish laws when you look at the Sweden. Very first, let’s view the newest law’s first goal: the newest reduced total of prostitution. Considering Kotsadam and you will Jakobsson (2014), prostitution is far more prominent in which it’s court (as with Denmark) much less popular in which it’s unlawful (like in Sweden). not, “visibility” always describes roadway prostitution. As the 1999, how many feminine (and you will guys) who sell sex in the street in the Sweden keeps decreased notably, but it’s extremely difficult to express the same about on the web prostitution. Brand new law’s next goal were to alter society’s point of views to the prostitution.
Ergo, we could finish you to definitely “the latest Sex Buy Act has resulted in increased support in the [Swedish] population for forbidding besides to acquire sex and also promoting sexual services” (Svedin, Jonsson, Kjellgren, Priebe, Akerman, 2012, p. 33). To put it differently, it seems that the Swedish inhabitants not simply strongly likes their legislation and thinks that rules should criminalize the fresh vendors. However, it belief functions up against the fundamental motives of one’s legislation, which will include the brand new victims (the vendors) also to criminalize the clients (Holmstrom Skilbrei, 2017).