waterfall
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18.11.2010
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 RESULTS SO FAR
3. | vloženo:
30.03.11 17:36
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 Odpovědět Quote Zpráva
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The proponents for the law claim that it has been successful, an example to the rest of the world. They have to defend their actions. But are they truthful? True is that street prostitution has decreased some, but has prostitution decreased? And how have the sex workers situation developed? Is the law effective, does it do well or harm?
Here are some actual news:
1. More violent sex trade
Rikskriminalen (the State Criminal Department) warns in a report to the government that the sex trade can be more violent. The prohibition has made it more difficult to reveal prostitution, they conclude. Because of the prohibition clients are unwilling to testify in procuring cases. Especially worrying is the trade with foreign women, who often get completely in the hands of pimps. The authorities demand an evaluation of how the new law affects the hidden prostitution; when the law was introduced street prostitution went down, but instead prostitution has increased on hotels and restaurants as well as on the Internet.
The police report that fighting forced prostitution and international trafficing has gotten more difficult. The pimps threaten the girls by saying that prostitution is illegal, and the sex clients are not willing to testify because it would be to confess guilty of a crime. Foreign prostitutes are mostly sent out of the country before the trial, and even if they still are present they are often scared by the pimps to be silent. With no witnesses available, the police and prosecutors have big problems to prove a case.
2. The law is condemned by the legal system
Since the new law was introduced in January '99, only 59 clients have been reported suspected of buying occasional sex. But only two (2) have been convicted, and they had confessed and plead guilty!
This proves that the law cannot be implemented. It is too difficult to find evidence to prove a crime. One can also question whether it is acceptable that the police arrest so many people that can't be convicted in court.
Now police, prosecutors and the General Attorney (RÃ…) rule out the law. RÃ… has to the government stressed the difficulties in using the law.
The prostitute is almost always unwilling to witness against the client, as she or he doesn't se herself or himself as a crime victim - and is not obliged to witness either, since nobody has to do that according to the law if it could be considered "disgracing". How it can be a crime anyway, without a victim, is another question. Anyway, it has shown to be impossible to convict anybody against his denial.
3. Prostitution moves abroad
Denmark has been "invaded" by Swedish men buying sexual services there. According to the papers Danish and Swedish prostitutes have worked overtime to take care of all clients from southern Sweden. In the town Helsingör fifteen women have opened a new brothel together, especially for Swedes.
Denmark has no intentions to follow the Swedish example; they are too sensible for that. Instead, prostitution has been decriminalised even more. Danish papers make fun of the Swedish prohibition. Ekstrabladet writes: "The Swedes are, as usual, out of their mind. Prostitution is allowed, but not the clients. How does that go together?"
The German paper Der Spiegel writes "Love for sell may not be bought in Sweden", and has the same difficulties as Ekstrabladet to make sense of it. "Prostitution is legal, but not to make use of it. What sounds somewhat confusing, is by the "red-stockings" in Swedish politics held to be epoch-making progress." The paper then continues with describing how difficult the evidence situation is for the police, that prostitution instead of taking place on the streets has moved indoors, and describes the hauss for Danish prostitutes.
4. Prostitution in Sweden finds new ways.
Prostitution has gone underground. Street prostitution is halved but, according to the police, prostitution still remains in the same extent - out of society's observation, control and aid possibilities.
It is known that trade with sexual services now are arranged via mobile telephones, informal contacts, on hotels and night-clubs, and via ads on the Internet. The number of home brothels has increased, and the power and possibilities of pimps is growing.
5. The law worsens the prostitutes' situation
Criticism is growing against the government's way of dealing with prostitution. Kommunförbundet (Alliance of Counties) say that resources for social work are too scarce, all the money has gone to the police.
Prostitution has found new ways. But the minority who prostitute themselves to finance drug abuse are in most cases so bad off that they lack these other possibilities, and they are desperate today. A criminal inspector says: "These women have a terrible life now"
A prostitute in the article says: "Take the junkie girls for example. The law is killing them! They don't manage anything else then stealing or selling sex on the street, and now their customers disappear. Then they'll kill themselves!
6. The Social Minister says the law will be evaluated
After the massive criticism, Social Minister Anders Engqvist says that the law will be evaluated next year. That is good. The question is, however, if not too much prestige is involved in the matter, to hope for an objective evaluation that would abolish the law.
7. Prostitutes unite
A former prostitute, Rosinha Sambo, is said to be spokeswoman for a new, countrywide union for prostituted women, called PKR (prostituted women's rights), which they want to form in Sweden. They will fight to improve the prostitutes' situation and status, make prostitution an accepted profession, and abolish the law against sex clients.
Such an organisation has been missing in Sweden until now, unlike most other countries. If it had existed earlier, the prostitutes would have had a way to make their voices heard, and tell that they are against criminalisation. Then those who advocated for the law would not have been able to lie about their standing on the prostitutes' side. Probably, it would then have been more difficult to get their law through the Parliament.
Now, it is likely that the law cannot be abolished within the nearest future. The pro-criminalization politicians don't care about the prostitutes will, and not about their well being either. The prohibition has become a symbol-law, with powerful ideological overtones. Then the results mean nothing. But reality cannot be neglected in the long run.
This homepage wishes the new Union good luck and progress in its work!
8. Summary:
Until now, the law against buying sexual services in Sweden has lead to:
Less street prostitution.
Instead, more prostitution in other ways and places.
Increased sex tourism to other countries.
Increased violence, force and compulsion against prostitutes, and more pimp dependence. A worse situation, especially for those who lack alternatives to street prostitution, like the drug addicts.
Less possibilities to fight forced prostitution and trafficing.
Less societal control, and less possibilities to help prostitutes and clients.
A law that can't be implemented, and will diminish either law obedience or legal security. Without getting rid of prostitution. The law is already being ruled out by important legal instances.
The prostitutes have been run over and humiliated by the politicians. Sex workers now, at last, seem to be on their way to create a union, but the law is already a fact and it will take time before it can be abolished.
Sweden has made an example to rest of the world - that this is not a good road to follow. The law is a complete failure so far - whatever some politicians may claim on international conferences.
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