Sweden

Sweden criminalised the purchase of sexual acts in 1999, while decriminalising the sale of sexual services. Evidence shows that since its enactment, the law has not improved—indeed, it has worsened—the lives of sex workers. Despite claims that the law has led to a decline in prostitution, there is no actual evidence of this. Under the constant threat of police interference, sex workers are forced to hurry the process of screening and negotiating with clients, resulting in increased risks. In a 2014 study 63% of sex workers said the law created more prejudice.

For a summary of the Sexköpslag (Sex Purchase Law) please see here

27th November 2020

Independent: Men interested in paying for sex duped into listening to harrowing true stories about trafficking

‘This publicity campaign exploits women’s experience of violence and trauma to promote the criminalisation of prostitution which in reality is making it more dangerous and difficult for women to work,’ says campaignerMaya Oppenheim Women’s Correspondent @mayaoppenheim Men interested in paying for sex will be duped into listening to harrowing real life stories about sex trafficking when they ring a fake call […]

5th October 2017

Legislation on sex work: Sweden Sex Purchase Law

Lilith Brouwers – 2017Legal status of sex work:There are multiple laws that criminalise or limit sex work in Sweden, the most well-known of which is the 1999 Sexköpslag (Sex Purchase Law). This legislation criminalised the purchase, or attempt to purchase, casual sexual services in exchange for any kind of compensation including alcohol, gifts, meals, or […]

20th September 2017

Dead bodies don’t lie, but statistics do

By Joel HellewellI’m going to use the term woman/women in prostitution even if it is a bit clunky, since it is hopefully tolerable to both sides of the debate. I have never sold sex, so I cannot speak to the experiences of women that have. I hope that what comes through is a genuine desire […]

24th November 2015

Politics.co.uk: Want to know how to make sex work safe? Ask sex workers

Decriminalisation would make sex workers safer By Niki Adams When sex workers from nine different countries get together, there’s always going to be a buzz. But invite them to the houses of parliament and ask them to tell politicians what needs to be done and it’ll turn into a roar. Nearly 200 people poured into a […]

8th April 2015

Book review: Criminalising the Purchase of Sex: Lessons from Sweden

Book Review: ‘Criminalising the Purchase of Sex: Lessons from Sweden’ by Dr Jay LevyElla Parsons April 2015Internationally there is much discussion of Sweden’s prostitution law, which criminalises the purchase of sex. In 2014, the UK Parliament voted against such a measure when it was tabled as an amendment to the Modern Slavery Bill. It was […]

29th January 2015

Gbtimes: Prostitution in Sweden: Hell or Eden?

SARA STEENSIGIn Sweden, the police persecute people who buy sex, not the prostituted persons.The sex industry is notoriously uncertain and dangerous. Traffickers and violent pimps, abusive johns and police persecution are all factors that make prostitution unsafe.No matter what you think of exchanging sex for money, it happens all the time around the world. Therefore, […]

6th August 2013

Justice for Dora and Jasmine!

Report by Irem Az.Dora Ozer, who was a trans woman sex worker in Kusadasi, Turkey, was killed by one of her clients on July 9th. Two days after her murder, Petite Jasmine was killed by her abusive ex partner who unbelievably had been given custody of their children “because of” Jasmine’s job. To protest violence […]

1st August 2013

Video: Jasmine and Dora 4-Ever

Jasmine and Dora 4-Ever from Carol Leigh on Vimeo. In 2012 during the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, I met and interviewed Petite Jasmine with Pye Jakobsson from Rose Alliance of Sweden. Petite Jasmine was murdered one year later, a victim of the stigmatisation and legal discrimination that sex workers face. She was […]

17th July 2013

Action Alert: Two sex workers murdered in Sweden & Turkey. Protests in 25 cities.

Justice for Dora! Justice for Jasmine! Justice for all sex workers who are victims of violence! WHAT: International Day of Protest against the violent abuse and murder of sex workers. WHEN: Friday 19 July 2013 3:00-4:00pm WHERE: Swedish Embassy, 11 Montagu Place, London W1H 2AL, London. CONTACT: London protest, contact: Cari Mitchell, English Collective of Prostitutes, 07811 964171/020 7482 2496, ecp@prostitutescollective.net, Sex Worker Open University, swou@gmail.com. International protests […]

17th July 2012

DREGS Magazine: Response to Melissa Farley

by Carolina TalaveraHaving read the article “Legal or not, prostitution remains a harmful institution” by Melissa Farley in DREGS magazine, I write to comment and correct. In her piece, Farley makes a number of claims such as that prostitution is uniquely dangerous and damaging, and supports these claims with statistics and other evidence. On closer scrutiny […]