In a recent article published on Evangelisch.de, a sex worker in Münster, called Eva, argues that banning the purchase of sex would force more women underground and into illegal work. She works in brothel Wunschfabrik and has been in the profession for several years. She is clear about one thing: banning the purchase of sex would only make life harder for people like her. “A ban would just push more sex workers into illegality,” she says.
Her view is shared by many others in Germany’s sex work community, as well as by social organizations such as the Diakonie. “We reject the so-called Nordic Model,” says Elke Ronneberger from the Diakonie. “It worsens the situation of sex workers, increases the risk of violence and disease, and makes it harder for them to access support and healthcare.”
Legal in Germany – Illegal Elsewhere
Under the Nordic Model, which Sweden introduced in 1999, buying sexual services is illegal, but selling them is not. Clients and brothel owners can face punishment, while sex workers themselves are not prosecuted. Germany, however, follows a different path: prostitution is legal and regulated.
Forced prostitution and human trafficking remain criminal offenses. Since 2017, the Prostitutes Protection Act has set clear rules: sex workers must register, use of condoms is mandatory, regular health checks are required, and establishments are subject to inspections.
“We’re often checked by health and local authorities,” says Bea, the wife of the brothel’s owner. Like Eva, she opposes a sex purchase ban. “It would only hurt the state itself—our businesses pay millions in taxes.”
Bea admits that not all prostitution in Münster is legal. She has heard of private apartments where sex work happens without authorization. “But all the women working with us are registered,” she insists.
Alliance for Legal Prostitution
To protect their right to work legally, brothel operators and sex clubs have formed an Alliance for Legal Prostitution. The group published a collection of essays by researchers, lawyers, and historians titled “A Sex Purchase Ban Is Against All Reason.”
“Our goal is to provide a comprehensive base of knowledge to better integrate sex work into society and the economy,” says Stephanie Klee, chair of the Federal Association of Sexual Services. The alliance also hopes to counteract the growing movement calling for the Nordic Model in Germany and to highlight the industry’s economic struggles.
Government Evaluation Finds Mixed Results
The German government recently commissioned the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony to evaluate the country’s prostitution laws. The study surveyed a wide range of sex workers, including those working in brothels, on the streets, and in more precarious conditions.
According to research director Tillmann Bartsch, the current law has “both strengths and weaknesses.” Registration requirements are largely implemented, but one of the law’s main goals—identifying victims of human trafficking—has not been fully achieved due to gaps in training for officials.
The study did not compare Germany’s model directly with other countries such as the Netherlands or New Zealand, where sex work is also legal, or with Nordic countries where it is criminalized. However, Bartsch concluded that “many of the measures introduced have proven useful, and what doesn’t yet work can often be improved.”
Based on the findings, the researchers see no reason for Germany to abandon its current approach.
Why the Nordic Model Is Bad for Sex Workers
As we wrote many times on Sex Vienna, the Nordic Model creates more harm than protection. It criminalizes the purchase of sex but not its sale, aiming to reduce demand. However, evidence from several European countries shows that this approach drives sex work underground, making it more dangerous and less regulated.
1. It pushes sex work into illegality: When clients fear arrest, they avoid regulated venues and push transactions into hidden, unsafe settings. This leaves sex workers more vulnerable to violence and abuse and less able to report crimes.
2. It undermines economic stability: In countries like Austria, where sex work is legal, sex workers enjoy secure, transparent income and access to health care. The Nordic Model destroys this stability by scaring off clients and forcing women into unstable, dangerous situations.
3. It doesn’t stop human trafficking: Experts note that trafficking is driven by poverty and global inequality—not by the existence of legal sex work. Criminalizing buyers doesn’t address these root causes and instead makes detection harder.
4. It increases stigma and social exclusion: The model portrays all sex workers as victims and all clients as criminals. This ignores the autonomy of those who choose sex work and deepens stigma, making reintegration and access to social services more difficult.
5. It worsens health and safety: Without legal frameworks, sex workers lose access to regular medical checkups, condoms, and safe workplaces. Fear of prosecution keeps them away from clinics and police protection.
6. It damages trust in law enforcement: Under the Nordic Model, reporting crimes can expose clients to legal trouble, so many sex workers avoid contacting police—even after assault or robbery. This isolates them and emboldens abusers.
7. It harms mental health: Constant fear of police raids and social stigma lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression among sex workers. In contrast, regulated systems—like Austria’s—offer safety, routine, and social acceptance.
8. It reverses progress: Countries such as Austria and Germany have developed legal systems that protect sex workers while combating exploitation. Adopting the Nordic Model would undo years of progress toward transparency and safety.
In conclusion, critics argue that the Nordic Model fails to protect the very people it claims to help. It increases risk, promotes stigma, and ignores the real needs and voices of sex workers who simply want to work safely and legally.
Is the Nordic Model working? Read our overview 25 years after the model’s introduction in Sweden: Sweden’s Nordic Model: 25 years later, is it working?