The Swedish Law That Prohibits the Purchase of A Sexual Service: Best Practices for Prevention of Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: February 5, 2006
Attachments: Ekberg ArticleVAW updated0504271 (1).pdf
Political Rights
Slavery
Child
This article is
an updated version of the article, “The Swedish Law That Prohibits the
Purchase of
Sexual Services: Best Practices for Prevention of Prostitution and Trafficking
in
Human Beings,” published in the October 2004 issue of the journal Violence against Women. 2004;
10:1187-1218. (Sage Publications, United States: 2004).
The
Swedish Law That Prohibits the Purchase of A Sexual Service: Best
Practices for Prevention of Prostitution
and Trafficking in Human Beings
GUNILLA EKBERG
Ministry of Industry, Employment, and
Communications
After
several years of public debate initiated by the Swedish women’s movement,
the
Law that Prohibits the Purchase of Sexual Services came into force on January
1,
1999. The Law is the first attempt by a country to address the root cause of
prostitution and trafficking in beings: the
demand, the men who assume the right to purchase persons for prostitution
purposes. This groundbreaking law is a cornerstone of Swedish efforts to create a
contemporary, democratic society where women and girls can live lives free of all forms
of male violence. In combination with public education, awareness-raising
campaigns, and victim support, the Law and other legislation establish a zero tolerance
policy for prostitution and trafficking in human beings. When the buyers risk
punishment, the number of men who buy prostituted persons decreases, and
the local prostitution markets become less lucrative. Traffickers will then choose other
and more profitable
destinations.
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