Speaker of the Parliament Julia Klöckner’s statement, “Germany has become Europe’s brothel,” continues to echo. Christian Democratic Union (CDU) member Klöckner requested the prohibition of prostitution in the country and the implementation of a Northern Model, similar to Scandinavian countries, in a speech last week, stating, “Talking about women’s rights and equating prostitution with other professions not only makes us appear ridiculous but also insults women.”
The Speaker of the Parliament, criticizing the legal regulations related to prostitution in Germany, had also argued that women engaged in prostitution are not sufficiently protected.
So, is Germany really “Europe’s brothel”? Why are the legal regulations concerning prostitution in Germany being criticized, and what is the “Northern Model” mentioned by Klöckner?
According to the current legal regulations in Germany, prostitution is fully legal. In 2002, a change in the law removed prostitution from being “immoral,” making it a legal service. The law enacted in 2017 aimed to improve the legal and social status of sex workers, requiring them to register with authorities and ensuring that brothels meet minimum standards for security, hygiene, and equipment to obtain a license.
Legalization increased mandatory prostitution
However, the legalization of prostitution did not lead to a decrease in crimes related to prostitution. On the contrary, according to the annual report of the Federal Criminal Police Office, there was an increase in human trafficking and forced prostitution.
Critics of the current legal regulations say that legalizing prostitution has led to an explosion in the sex market in Germany. It is noted that competition has intensified, leading to a significant decrease in prices, and the number of customers who abusively demand sex has increased.
The majority are foreign nationals
According to Federal Statistical Office data, as of the end of 2024, there are 32,300 registered sex workers in Germany. However, only 5,600 of them hold German citizenship. The majority of the rest are from Romania with 11,500 and Bulgaria with 3,400. When unregistered workers are included, it is estimated that the real numbers are much higher, ranging between 200,000 and 400,000. Some sources estimate the total number of sex workers in Germany to be close to one million.
The fact that most sex workers are foreigners brings other issues. Women who do not have sufficient German language skills and are unaware of their legal rights cannot access existing support and health programs. Many perform prostitution unwillingly due to poverty or coercion by intermediaries.
What is the Northern Model?
Whether the Northern Model proposed by Parliament Speaker Klöckner can be implemented in Germany has been a topic of debate for years.
The regulation, called the Northern Model because it was first enacted in Sweden in 1999 and then in Norway in 2009, has been subsequently adopted in Iceland, Canada, France, Ireland, and Israel.
It prohibits the sale of sex services and organized intermediaries while allowing direct sales of services. Thus, sex workers are exempt from punishment, while intermediaries and customers who purchase services commit crimes. In Sweden, sex buyers are subject to fines and, in some cases, up to one year in prison. Norway can also penalize its citizens for sex services obtained abroad.
Within the scope of the Northern Model, comprehensive support and exit programs are also offered to sex workers.
The pros and cons of the Northern Model
Critics of the Northern Model generally see voluntary prostitution as a “normal” profession and advocate strengthening the rights of sex workers so they can carry out their work voluntarily. They believe that fighting forced prostitution can be achieved by empowering the rights of sex workers. They argue that prostitution should no longer be taboo and worry that banning the sale of sex services could push prostitution into illegal areas or digital environments with less protection.
Supporters of the Northern Model emphasize that much of the prostitution already occurs secretly or in a parallel world, and highlight that sex workers should not be punished for being forced into prostitution. They argue that removing the criminal aspect of prostitution will encourage clients to report to police or file complaints. They believe that punishing sex clients would lead to a decline in prostitution.
In countries implementing the Northern Model, both the number of sex workers and sex clients has noticeably decreased. A recent study by the University of Tübingen concluded that the Northern Model “contributes to a long-term, objectively measurable reduction in the number of victims of human trafficking.”
Is legal regulation alone sufficient?
The Northern Model Federal Union, composed of 36 organizations advocating for adopting the Northern Model in Germany, warned that legalizing the model alone would not be enough to improve the situation of sex workers forced into prostitution.
The union emphasized the need to fund comprehensive exit support, strengthen the rights of victims, and provide holistic social support such as helping victims find housing, psychological assistance, and cover educational expenses.
The union also pointed out that more decisive actions against intermediaries and human trafficking are necessary for reducing the sex market, and highlighted the importance of preventive measures and educational activities to protect women from sex work.
