Debate about the ban on buying sex
Prostitutes’ Association invites Scholz to visit a brothel
Olaf Scholz will speak in the Bundestag on November 15th during a federal government survey
© Melissa Erichsen / DPA
Politicians are arguing about a “ban on buying sex,” and the Chancellor recently joined the debate. His sentences annoy him Prostitutes Association. He is now hoping for a conversation with Olaf Scholz – in a brothel.
Wednesday afternoon, the Bundestag in Berlin: During the government survey on November 15th, CSU politician Dorothee Bär wants to know from the Chancellor what his stance is on the subject of the “ban on buying sex”. “We have to do a lot to reduce prostitution,” answers Olaf Scholz. Baer’s question follows the vague statement: “As a feminist, do you think it’s acceptable for men to be able to buy women’s bodies?”
Scholz makes it clear: “That always outraged me morally.” (The starreported in the live blog.) This reaction in turn is criticized by the prostitutes’ association, which now has one personal letter to the Chancellor tried to start a conversation with Scholz – in a brothel.
“Dear Mr. Chancellor, as a professional association for sex workers in Germany, we are deeply concerned by your current statement on the subject of prostitution and ‘purchasing sex’. You are contradicting the position of your own party and also the responsible ministry,” the letter says. “The debate around the ‘Nordic Model’ is already being discussed – especially by the CDU/CSU – with too much morality, too few solutions and unfortunately completely without those affected. In our opinion, this is a big mistake.”
The “Nordic Model” involves the criminalization of prostitutes’ customers through the so-called ban on purchasing sex. It was first introduced in Sweden in 1999, which is why it was initially referred to as the “Swedish model”. But such bans make the work of prostitutes more dangerous, the association writes and supports its statement with surveys France and Ireland as well as the Experiences in Germany in the time of the pandemic. “The lives of those affected change for the worse under a ban on purchasing sex – perfidiously, especially those of those people who are supposed to be protected the most,” the letter says.
The association would like to have a conversation with the Chancellor and arranges his words on the Session of the Bundestag a: “What you spoke about in the question time in the Bundestag is human trafficking, exploitation and sexual violence – we are on your side against these.” The desire to participate in the transformation of the Prostitute Protection Act (ProstSchG) results in an invitation to Scholz: “We would like to make our expertise available to you and cordially invite you to a brothel tour and discussion in Berlin.”
Johanna Weber, spokeswoman for the professional association for erotic and sexual services, speaks to stern about the invitation to Scholz
Woman Weberwhat was your personal reaction to the Chancellor’s words in the Bundestag?
I was horrified that he let Mrs. Bear drive him into a corner. Our Chancellor normally never says anything; he is a world champion at formulating sentences without any result. But in this case, he has said things that may get in the way of the work of his own family ministry.
Do you think the Chancellor will come to the brothel?
No, definitely not. But he doesn’t necessarily have to come himself, because he’s actually not responsible, the Family Ministry does that. An evaluation of the ProstSchG is currently underway, which is costing a lot of money, and I’m really counting on it, even if I don’t always like the results. 2,000 sex workers will be interviewed, 700 government employees with whom we have to register, and many more people involved. It is the largest survey on prostitution in Europe ever and the results will be incredibly important to us. Therefore, there is no need to rush into making decisions now, but rather wait for the result, which will be available in the summer of 2025.
Are you worried about that Scholz Is the ban on buying sex too close to the stance of the CDU/CSU?
Yes, and not just me, but the entire industry. Many colleagues are already saying: ‘Okay, then I’ll just shoot porn.” When I then say that they can continue working, they say, “Then no one will come anymore.” And that’s exactly how it is. The Chancellor has It’s caused a lot of fear. It’s not as if we don’t see the problems in the industry. We would like to make a targeted contribution to solving them.
Becomes a Ban on purchasing sex further promote the path to illegality?
One hundred percent. I’m at an STI conference (DSTIG special – conference “Sexual health in times of crisis”, editor’s note), there was just a lecture from a colleague from the health department in Cologne, who said very clearly what was banned happens in sex work: the rate of sexually transmitted diseases is clearly increasing! We have to pick up all the colleagues who are already working under precarious conditions in a way other than punishment. This is pure eyewash. You can then no longer work in brothels because they are then banned. And there are neither concepts nor the necessary money for the exit projects being advertised. So it will be like in France, where this support is more of a lip service.