Movement for the Abolition of Prostitution

What is the Nordic Model?

The Nordic Model (sometimes known as the Sex Buyer Law, or the Swedish, Abolitionist, or Equality Model) is an approach to prostitution that has been adopted in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Ireland and Israel. It has several elements:

1. Decriminalisation of selling sex acts

Prostitution is inherently violent. Women should not be criminalised for the exploitation and abuse they endure.

2. Buying sex acts becomes a criminal offence

Buying human beings for sex is harmful, exploitative and can never be safe. We need to reduce the demand that drives sex trafficking.

3. Support and exit services

High quality, non-judgemental services to support those in prostitution and help them build a new life outside it, including: access to safe affordable housing; training and further education; child care; legal, debt and benefit advice; emotional and psychological support.

A holistic approach

A public information campaign; training for police and CPS; tackling the inequality and poverty that drive people into prostitution; effective laws against pimping and sex trafficking, with penalties that reflect the enormous damage they cause. Read more >>

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Latest Posts

How AI is replicating and amplifying the sexist and misogynistic attitudes that cause such havoc to women on social media and ‘in real life’.

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A new review of Kat Banyard’s Pimp State, which brilliantly debunks common myths put out by those who promote the full decriminalisation of the sex trade.

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Why a national statutory inquiry into ‘grooming gangs’ is unlikely to provide real solutions and what we believe would be a better approach.

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Sian explains how for 3 years from when she was 13, a white man ‘sexually exploited’ her – i.e. groomed and pimped her into prostitution – selling her to thousands of mostly white men.

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Why we need to join the dots between the Pakistani ‘grooming gangs’ and the sexual exploitation industry and the entrenched British culture that prioritises men’s sex right above almost all else.

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A man’s message to boys and young men, to all men: Buying sex is not cool. There are better ways of being a man.

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Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

“Men defiling another human being for sexual self-gratification.”

My story begins in a suburb of Canberra as a fun-loving energetic happy child full of life and adventure. I remember having many friends, going on play dates and birthday parties – until the day my mum met a man in the adult section of our local newspaper.

Loverboy pimps: ‘I really thought he loved me’

Francine Sporenda interviews Sandra Norak, who was involved in prostitution in Germany for six years. 

You entered prostitution when you were still in high school, through a ‘loverboy’ pimp – in other words a trafficker. How did he first approach you? []

Beth

My name is Beth, I was a prostitute for five years. I never thought it would happen to me, but debt and almost becoming homeless can drive people to do things they usually wouldn’t do.

“I was sold a complete lie. It’s not easy money.”

I grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive home – constantly walking on egg-shells, never knowing what little thing might make my father lose his temper. I was never allowed to have any boundaries; the answer to absolutely everything he asked had to be “yes”, or be prepared to face violent consequences. I remember counting down the days until I turned 18, so that I could go to university and escape.

Sick of all the ‘Happy Hooker’ myths?

Want people to know what prostitution is REALLY like?

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