Movement for the Abolition of Prostitution

What is the Nordic Model?

The Nordic Model (sometimes known as the Sex Buyer Law, and the Swedish, Abolitionist, Survivor 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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A template letter to ask your MP to encourage local police, councils and NHS trusts to do more to support women and crack down on pimps.

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Jenna reviews the Disney crime series, Furious, and is impressed by the way it deals with difficult themes.

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Jenna explains why the idea that prostitution is a normal job does not align with her own experience spanning several years in the sex industry.

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A harrowing account of being groomed and coerced into involvement in OnlyFans and the struggle to escape.

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Infographic explaining what decriminalising sex work means in practice, along with background information and full references.

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Jenna reflects on a recent interview with Russell Brand and the importance of telling the truth about the prostitution industry.

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Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

‘I was their ashtray’

In this article, Sian (one of our survivor panel reps) interviews Carmen, a Spanish transwoman, about their experience of street prostitution in Spain.

Huschke Mau

It was like society telling me: ‘Prostitution is not the problem, that’s all cool. You are the problem.’

This is the text of Huschke Mau’s speech at receiving a prize from the Einkraftstiftung in Mainz, Germany, at the Pfälzer Landtag (parliament) on Thursday 4 April 2019. Translation by Inge Kleine. […]

Mia De Faoite

Mia de Faoite is an activist and survivor of prostitution. She campaigned tirelessly for the introduction of the Nordic Model law in the Republic of Ireland. (The photo shows her holding a copy of the Act that implemented it.)

On the 27th March 2017, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 was enacted [in the Republic of Ireland].  […]

Body Shell Girl by Rose Hunter

I was in the sex industry for ten years, including brothel, escort, massage parlours and outcall massage, with the majority of my time spent in those last two. My experience was mostly in Canada, where I was living at the time.

Sick of all the ‘Happy Hooker’ myths?

Want people to know what prostitution is REALLY like?

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