European union
Parliament wanted to allow clients of prostitutes
The resolution was approved by 234 MEPs, with 297 abstentions or abstentions. Proponents of the text believe that the gaps within the EU favor organized crime.
Published
The European Parliament “must ensure that member states request, accept or receive a sexual act, in exchange for remuneration, the promise of remuneration, a benefit or the promise of such a benefit, shall be subject to criminal penalties.”.
Illustrated 20 min/Celia Nogler
The European Parliament on Thursday voted for a text supporting the fight against prostitution by fining clients, a policy adopted in particular by France and which has been appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. The non-binding resolution was approved by 234 MEPs (175 against, 122 abstentions) in a vote that split across all political groups during a plenary session in Strasbourg.
The text, supported by German MEP Maria Noichl (Socialists & Democrats group), encourages EU countries to adopt the “Nordic model” – in 1999, Sweden was the first country to impose fines on buyers of sexual services. Ireland and France have also adopted this model.
Punish the pimps
Parliament calls on member states to ensure that ‘soliciting, accepting or obtaining sexual conduct from a person, in exchange for remuneration, the promise of remuneration, ‘a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit, shall be subject to criminal punishment’.
He also advocates penalizing pimps. But it calls for not punishing prostitutes as countries like Croatia or Lithuania do.
While prostitution is legal and regulated in some countries (notably Germany, the Netherlands, Austria), the text considers differences in attitudes within the European Union to favor organized crime. “This report highlights the way forward: creating exit programs and alternatives, eradicating poverty and social exclusion, eliminating stereotypes and inequalities, reducing demand by addressing clients,” Maria Neuchal said after the vote. A similar text was voted by the European Parliament in February 2014.
In contrast, Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld (Renew Europe, centrists and liberals) denounced it as “a purely ideological resolution” that “does nothing to protect the rights and safety of sex workers”.
Criminalizing clients increases the vulnerability of sex workers
Thirteen NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, group the “European Alliance for the Rights and Inclusion of Sex Workers”, called in early September to reject the report. They specifically argue that clients’ accusations increase the insecurity of sex workers and leave them vulnerable to violence and infectious diseases.
They also recall that the European Court of Human Rights declared admissible a petition filed by 260 sex workers seeking the repeal of the 2016 French law. The court is expected to rule on the merits in the coming months.
(AFP)
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