Latest news with #NordicModel
Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Times
Ban on buying sex will have ‘limited impact' against exploitation
Banning the purchase of sex would have limited impact on stopping trafficking and sexual exploitation, claims Scottish government research as MSPs prepare to scrutinise Ash Regan's prostitution bill. The Alba Party MSP's proposed law sets out to criminalise those buying sex while decriminalising those selling it, known as the Nordic model. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case is prosecuted in the sheriff courts, which could also impose jail sentences of up to six months. The legislation also proposes quashing convictions for those involved in prostitution. However, a research paper published by the Scottish government, to inform its trafficking and exploitation strategy, has found the measures set out in Regan's bill would have a limited effect on stopping the activity. The paper acknowledges that there are 'notable evidence gaps' behind claims by supporters of the bill that prosecuting buyers of sex would reduce exploitation in Scotland, in particular in relation to prevention. The research comes after independent reviews carried out for the Irish and Northern Irish governments, which have both criminalised the purchase of sex, reported that the Nordic model had not reduced the demand for sexual services. The Scottish government report authors wrote: 'Much of the literature reviewed focuses on criminal justice interventions. This tends to focus on the effectiveness of preventative measures which aim to reduce demand for prostitution (eg via deterrence). The evidence reviewed suggests that such measures may have limited impact on preventing trafficking and sexual exploitation.' • 'We were like pieces of meat': ex-sex worker backs prostitution law Sex worker groups, led by National Ugly Mugs, the UK's national sex worker safety charity, have warned that criminalising those who purchase sex has no effect on stopping exploitation. They believe the law would simply make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, by pushing the industry underground. Lynsey Walton, chief executive of National Ugly Mugs, said: 'Sex worker groups, alongside leading NGOs like Amnesty and the World Health Organisation, have long warned that criminalising the purchase of sex only serves to make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, while having no impact on trafficking and exploitation. 'We are pleased that the Scottish government has now accepted that the international evidence backs this up. MSPs now need to pull the plug on Ms Regan's misguided and dangerous legislation, and focus on supporting sex workers' rights to work safely and free from stigma.' • 'I regret approving saunas when I knew they were brothels' Siobhian Brown, the community safety minister, has highlighted 'significant and deep concerns' about the bill. She insisted that quashing convictions — as proposed for those involved in prostitution — was an 'exceptional' measure and 'not a step that can be taken lightly'. While Brown acknowledged Holyrood had passed legislation to quash convictions of those caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal, she said the cost of this was 'estimated to be £804,000 based on 200 people'. She noted that documents submitted as part of Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill suggested that 10,459 women had been convicted of soliciting since 1982. With these documents also indicating that Police Scotland 'currently holds 2,773 case records involving 791 individuals', Brown said this 'raises some concerns about the accuracy of the associated costs — around £250,000 — detailed in the bill's financial memorandum'. Her comments came in a letter to Holyrood's criminal justice committee, which is due to scrutinise the legislation proposed by the Alba MSP. Brown said there was 'insufficient detail' on how proposals to provide support to those involved in prostitution to help them change their lifestyle would work in practice, including how long such measures would be available and what the costs would be. She stressed that while the Scottish government backed the 'underlying intent of the bill to challenge men's demand and to tackle commercial sexual exploitation', she added there were still 'significant questions and concerns regarding the measures within the bill and how they would work in practice, the extent to which they would deliver on the policy intent, and the associated financial implications'.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Holyrood launches call for views on bid to criminalise buying sex
Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The member's Bill, introduced by Alba party MSP Ash Regan, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. READ MORE: Ash Regan's bid to criminalise buying sex – what you need to know Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Launching the call for views, criminal justice committee convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: 'This Bill raises important questions on prostitution in Scotland and how it is considered by our laws. 'It proposes changes on criminalisation, the quashing of previous convictions and the support given to those who work in this environment and we want to hear from a range of voices on whether they welcome these provisions. 'We are particularly keen to hear the views of people with lived experience, on whether they support the proposals or not, and whether the changes this Bill proposes will help achieve its ambitions.' The new Bill would repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new Bill. It would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required. The proposals follow the "Nordic Model" approach, which seeks to decriminalise selling sex but criminalise those who purchase it. The approach has now been adopted in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Ireland, and most recently, Israel. READ MORE: Met police drop second terror charge against Kneecap Launching the Bill in May, Regan said: 'Ending prostitution is essential to achieving true equality between the sexes. A society that allows women's bodies to be bought and sold cannot claim to value them as equals. 'Challenging the demand that fuels sexual exploitation is not just about justice — it's about dignity, safety, and the right of all women, girls, and vulnerable men to live free from commodification and harm.' The call for views closes on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Economist
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economist
Sex work in the gig economy
FOR DECADES Sweden was seen as the epitome of sexual freedom, so much so that President Dwight Eisenhower fulminated in 1960 that its people tended towards 'sin, nudity, drunkenness'. In 1971 it followed Denmark to become the second country in the world to legalise all forms of pornography. Yet Sweden has been altogether more prudish when it comes to prostitution, having originated the so-called Nordic Model in 1999, which criminalised the purchase of sex, but not its sale, with the intention of reducing demand while protecting vulnerable women. This model has since spread widely. In the past decade, France, Ireland, Israel and the American state of Maine have all adopted it; Scotland is considering it.
The Herald Scotland
04-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Unbuyable Bill may result in just 25 charges a year
Ms Regan, a former SNP justice minister who defected to Alba in 2023, wants Scotland to bring in what is known as the Nordic Model - a system which criminalises the buying of sex in any setting and de-criminalises people selling sex. Since 2007 the buying of sex in a public place has been a criminal offence in Scotland. Formally called The Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill Ms Regan's legislation would also quash historic convictions for prostitution and provide sex workers a legal right to financial support to leave prostitution. READ MORE: SNP complain to Facebook over Reform 'race-baiting' advert targeting Sarwar Ministers still seeking 'urgent clarity' on £85m international student tax What is the Nordic Model? The proposals to criminalise 'buyers' of sex Ash Regan claims MSPs are buying sex as she introduces new bill The Alba MSP - who has the backing of Alba leader and former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill - argues prostitution is a form of male violence against women and that sex work exploits vulnerable women who are forced into it as a result of poverty. She argues her bill is a bold and long-overdue step towards tackling the issue but has said she fears it could be voted down by male MSPs in Holyrood who use prostitutes. It has already prompted significant debate with sex workers launching a campaign against it arguing it would make them more vulnerable to attack. The financial memorandum published with the bill estimated that the annual recurring cost associated with measures in the bill, taking into account extra work for the police, the prosecution service and the Scottish Prison Service as well as financial support for people leaving prostitution would be between £1.4 million and £2.2 million. This was based on estimates of the number of new charges brought to court of between 25 and 75 a year. "The member is basing total cost estimates on 45, 90 and 135 additional recorded crimes and 25, 50 and 75 additional charges brought to court," the financial memorandum stated. Lynsey Walton, chief executive of National Ugly Mugs, the UK's national sex worker safety charity, said: 'Ash Regan is trying to have it both ways. "In public she claims that the Nordic Model is needed to stop a national epidemic of abuse, but privately she admits that changing the law would lead to only a handful of cases a year," she said. 'Sex worker groups, alongside Non Governmental Organisations like Amnesty and the World Health Organisation oppose the new law on the grounds that it will make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, while costing taxpayers millions of pounds a year to enforce." She added: "If we truly want to address systemic violence against sex workers, we need full decriminalisation, not another expensive, performative policy that protects no one. "An official government review of similar legislation in Northern Ireland – the only nation in the UK to enact the Nordic Model – found that there was 'no evidence that the offence of purchasing sexual services has produced a downward pressure on the demand for, or supply of, sexual services'. It also found that 'the legislation has contributed to a climate whereby sex workers feel further marginalised and stigmatised'. A YouGov poll of 1,088 Scottish adults, carried out last year, showed that Scots firmly oppose the Nordic Model, with 47% saying it should be legal for a person to pay someone to have sex with them, versus 32% who think it should not be legal. The poll showed that 69% of Scots say MSPs should focus on protecting the health and safety of sex workers, and providing support to people who want to leave the industry, compared to just 14% who support new laws to prevent people exchanging sexual services for money. A spokesperson for Ash Regan said: 'Police Scotland does not routinely record the cost for any specific operation as officers are deployed to where local policing plans necessitate their services are most required. 'If the Bill becomes law then it will be an operational matter for Police Scotland to enforce the new law and Ash has full confidence in their ability to do so." She added: "Previous Members Bills have provided no financial support for Officer Training whereas Ash Regan's Bill has prudently set out costs to support training requirements of existing police officers. The manner in which the figures have been presented is either a wilful or ignorant representation of how training needs are facilitated in an organisation."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is Buying OnlyFans Content Now Illegal in Sweden?
Swedish authorities have voted to criminalize the purchase of remote sexual services—things like paying someone for pictures and videos through platforms such as OnlyFans or paying someone for a live erotic webcam show. "Sweden says this model 'decriminalises the seller.' But when you criminalise the buyer, you destroy the income, safety, and autonomy of the person selling," the European Sex Workers Rights' Alliance (ESWA) posted on X. "The same thing happens online. This will push workers further into the shadows, not protect them." Sweden is the originator of the Nordic Model of sex work regulation (which is also sometimes called the Swedish Model). In this scheme, sex customers are criminalized but folks selling sex are not. The Nordic Model operates under the notion that all prostitution is exploitation, anyone being paid for sex is a victim, and anyone paying for sex is a perpetrator of sexual abuse. Now, Sweden is applying these same ideas to online sex work. Under a proposal adopted by the Swedish Parliament on May 20, working for an online sex business (such as a webcamming platform) or selling sexy pics directly to online customers will still be legal. But patronizing such businesses and individuals will not. The new scheme rechristens the crime of purchasing sexual services to purchasing a sexual act and expands the prohibition against it to include acts carried out remotely and without physical contact. In analyzing the new proposal, authorities make a distinction between purchasing pornography generally and purchasing online sexual content or performances in a way that induces someone to undertake or tolerate a sex act or allows the buyer to participate. So the new plan would not strictly ban the sale of pornographic images or videos in Sweden. But it's unclear where and how exactly lines would be drawn and seems destined to have the most disruptive effect on the direct-to-consumer sales model that tends to benefit individual sex workers rather than porn or tech companies. The new plan also covers procuring, which is currently illegal if there is physical contact between buyer and provider. This, too, will now include acts carried out remotely—and could render any website or entity that brokers the provision of erotic webcam shows or direct-to-consumer porn sales guilty of the crime of procuring a sex act. "Let us be clear: this law is not protection. It is repression," say the ESWA and the sex-worker rights group Red Umbrella Sweden in a statement, pointing out all the human rights groups and other Nordic Model opponents that lawmakers ignored: Despite receiving overwhelming opposition from civil society, academic experts, sex workers, the Swedish government has once again demonstrated its unwillingness to listen. Swedish Parliament has ignored the 1,600 civil rights organisations (including Human Rights Watch (HRW), European Digital Rights (EDRi), Access Now, and several feminist and women's rights organisations), academic researchers, digital rights advocates and legal scholars and individual supporters - many of them Swedes - who signed our joint statement calling for the rejection of this proposal. In doing so, Swedish lawmakers have chosen to ignore decades of research, including recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Amnesty International, UNAIDS, and countless peer-reviewed scientific studies, which have consistently shown that the so-called "Swedish model" of client criminalisation deeply harms sex workers, drives the industry underground, increases stigma and reduces access to health, safety and justice. Swedish lawmakers also ignored sex workers, with one—the Left Party's Gudrun Nordborg—suggesting that emails from sex workers opposed to the bill were possibly fraudulent, since they were "too articulate to be written by sex workers." "The debate showed that the Swedish Parliament did not just ignore research, it actively rejected the idea that sex workers are capable of knowing what's best for themselves," say ESWA and Red Umbrella Sweden in their statement: In doing so, Sweden has failed not only its sex workers, but its democratic ideals. We are familiar with such tactics. No matter how we speak, our voices are used against us. When we speak simply, we are dismissed as uneducated or uninformed. When we speak with clarity and eloquence, we are accused of being pimps. In both cases, the goal is the same: to silence us. And while Sweden might not have the First Amendment, "the proposal introduces inconsistencies with Sweden's own Freedom of Expression Act," as ESWA suggested in April. "Sweden's constitutional protection of free speech and media is a cornerstone of its democratic identity. Expanding criminal law into this space, without careful legal distinction, proportionality and protection for lawful expression, undermines that foundation. If sex workers and digital creators can be criminalised for engaging in or facilitating constitutionally protected expression, no one's rights are safe in Sweden." Spreading the Nordic Model of prostitution regulation to other forms of sex work is bad news, and not just for people in Sweden. Remember, this is the country that started the Nordic Model idea, and it's a model now in place in countries throughout Europe and starting to spread to the United States. It seems unlikely that expanding its provisions to cover online and remote sex work is a policy that will stay confined to Sweden. And wherever it spreads, it's likely to harm women. The new law "places Sweden among countries willing to sacrifice human rights in the name of paternalistic ideology that has proven to be harmful time and again," said ESWA on X. Whether applied only to in-person acts or to online services too, criminalizing sex work customers is often pushed by people who often claim they're helping and protecting sex workers and, therefore, helping and protecting women. But taking away sex workers' livelihoods or driving their work underground doesn't seem terribly helpful or protective. At best, it will force women who willingly choose sex work to find a new occupation—something they clearly don't want to or can't do, or else they would already be doing it. At worst, it will leave many sex workers more vulnerable to exploitation, by forcing them to work in a black market where they have less power and less control. This may mean more dangerous working conditions, having to put up with more demanding or less scrupulous customers, having to rely on pimps to find work, and so on. It may mean having to give up the relative safety of selling sexuality from behind a computer or phone screen to interacting in person with customers and encountering more risk. It seems Sweden's government is intent on ignoring the actual needs and wants of sex workers in favor of a savior fantasy in which all sex workers, no matter how independently and safely they're working, are in need of rescue. Or perhaps protection is just a pretense for banning services some find distasteful or offensive—after all, Nordic Model campaigners often suggest that prostitution doesn't just harm individuals in it but that it's bad for "society" or for women more generally. Expanding prostitution laws to cover online sex work could also be a pretense for increasing surveillance of the digital sphere. "Under the guise of protecting vulnerable individuals, this proposal risks intensifying state surveillance, expanding unaccountable policing of digital platforms, and reinforcing a legal regime that systematically erases the consent, autonomy and voices of sex workers themselves," said ESWA in its April statement. There are so many practical reasons to oppose expanding the Nordic Model to remote sex work that it almost seems silly to lodge a more philosophical complaint. But I can't resist pointing out how offensive all of this is from a feminist standpoint. Tthe Nordic Model, at its core, suggests women's assessments about their own lives can't be trusted and likens them, legally speaking, to the status of children. It essentially says, sure, some women say they're happy doing sex work, or at least that they prefer it to any alternatives, but the state knows better than them. And the state says women who do any form of sex work are victims, whether these women agree or not. To subscribe to this theory, you have to believe that men are morally culpable for their actions and should be held legally responsible when they do things the state disapproves of, like engaging in any form of sex work, but women are not morally culpable for participating in the same activity. It renders women as legally equivalent to minors, unable to give consent. There is nothing feminist or liberating about that, no matter how many campaigners for Nordic Model laws say otherwise. This is just another way of controlling women's bodies, sexuality, and economic liberty, wrapped up in progressive rather than conservative language. • Local police are using automatic license plate readers to look people up for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigations, "giving federal law enforcement side-door access to a tool that it currently does not have a formal contract for," reports 404 Media. • The indigenous Marubo tribe of Brazil is suing The New York Times and TMZ over a 2024 Times article that mentioned young people in the tribe sharing porn since gaining access to the internet via Starlink. "References to porn and sex in the story were limited to five sentences" and "nowhere did the Times story call the Marubo people porn addicts or suggest it was a huge problem," notes Jody Serrano at Xatakaon. "That wasn't the story heard round the world, though. Instead, countless media outlets"—including TMZ—"ran pieces about how the Internet had caused the tribe to become addicted to porn, a claim that was untrue." • A bill awaiting Maine Gov. Janet Mills' signature would allow doctors who prescribe abortion pills to keep their names off of prescription labels. • "The next generation of online platforms is being shaped less by engineers and entrepreneurs and more by regulators and courts—and they're very bad at it," warns Dirk Auer. • "The trial of two women who promote 'orgasmic meditation' risks creating a society where we aren't responsible for our questionable choices," writes Rowan Pelling at The Telegraph. • "The British government is to rollout the use of medication to suppress the sex drive of sex offenders," reports ABC News. "Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said so-called chemical castration would be used in 20 prisons in two regions" and that she is "'exploring whether mandating the approach is possible.'" • Scottish sex workers are pushing back against a proposal to criminalize people who pay for sex. "Criminalising the purchase of sex doesn't protect anyone," said Lynsey Walton, chief executive of the sex-worker safety nonprofit National Ugly Mugs. "It pushes sex work further underground, makes it harder for people to report violence, and forces those already at risk into even more dangerous situations." National Ugly Mugs is part of a new coalition—Scotland for Decrim—formed to oppose the client criminalization plan and push for full decriminalization of prostitution. The post Is Buying OnlyFans Content Now Illegal in Sweden? appeared first on
