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 prostitution survivor explains the reality of the ‘girlfriend experience’, how this is the model for AI girlfriends and the risks these pose.

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This open letter from a sex trafficking survivor calls on women’s organisations to stand with survivors and challenge men’s demand for prostitution.

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What are some of the lifelong consequences of prolonged trauma from involvement in the sex industry? – A survivor’s perspective

A call for everyone to listen to survivors of the sex industry and to understand the trauma they suffer and to show them compassion and grace.

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The dystopian landscape of porn, AI girlfriends, and sex robots and how they threaten our shared humanity and mutually satisfying relationships.

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The UK Government has introduced amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that purport to implement Baroness Casey’s recommendation for statutory rape legislation but that in fact fail to protect children under 16 from predatory men.

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Sex trade survivor, Amanda Quick, responds to Ash Regan’s Unbuyable Bill falling with a call for honest discussions about the harms of prostitution.

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Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

Prostitution Survivors’ Testimony

“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.

The invisible line between “independent escort” and trafficking victim

Hello I’m Esther. I’m the policy adviser at Nordic Model Now! and a survivor of pornography and prostitution. I’ve also experienced domestic abuse and coercive control. The dynamics are very similar, particularly isolation from others and the multi-faceted challenges you experience or fear, often with good reason, will happen if you try to exit without support.

Michelle Mara

Michelle Mara started in prostitution in New Zealand when the sex trade was illegal and she continued after it was fully decriminalised there in 2003.

In the 90s I worked at quite a few brothels. The police used to take our names off a register that the brothel kept.

Chelsea Geddes

Chelsea writes from New Zealand, where the sex trade is fully decriminalised

Hey you ‘If a woman CHOOSES to do sex work then she is empowered by sex work and you’re just a SWERF bigot crowd! Yes you! Hi. Listen to me.

Sick of all the ‘Happy Hooker’ myths?

Want people to know what prostitution is REALLY like?

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