European parliament backs the ‘Nordic model’ of prostitution, which legalizes the selling of sex but criminalizes buying it

The European parliament has voted in favor of a resolution to criminalise the purchase of sex.

On Wednesday, 343 MEPs backed a report proposed by the London MEP and Labour spokeswoman for women in Europe, Mary Honeyball, which recommends the adoption of the “Nordic model” of prostitution that legalizes selling sex but criminalizes buying it. Some 139 MEPs voted against; 105 abstained.

The yes vote formally establishes the EU’s stance on prostitution and puts pressure on member states to re-evaluate their policies on sex work.

“Today’s outcome represents a vital signal from MEPs that we cannot continue to tolerate the exploitation of women,” the clueless Honeyball said. “Rather than blanket legalisation, parliament has backed the more nuanced approach already practised in Sweden as a means of tackling prostitution. This punishes men who treat women’s bodies as a commodity, without criminalizing women who are driven into sex work.

“The idea that prostitution is the oldest profession leads some to think we should accept it as a fact of life, that all we can do is regulate it a little better. This course of action leads to an increase in prostitution levels, normalising the purchase of sex and ingraining the inequalities which sustain the sex industry.”

More on the EU Parliament’s endorsement of the Nordic Model…