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We recently came across an interesting article in Die Rheinpfalz that reports on the ongoing debate about the future of prostitution in Germany. The article highlights growing concerns among sex workers and brothel owners regarding a proposal by the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag to implement the Nordic Model.
Under this model, the purchase of sexual services would be criminalized, while prostitution itself would remain legal. This would cause a catastrophe for the livelihoods of many members of this industry, who currently work under a legal framework established in 2002.
Overview:
- Brothel owners and workers are fearful
- Advocacy organizations see things differently
- The Nordic Model is bad for sex workers, men, and society
- Economic and public safety issues
- It does not stop human trafficking
Brothel owners and workers are fearful
The article introduces Laura, a 59-year-old former truck driver who now owns a brothel in Speyer. Her establishment, equipped with ten rooms and private quarters for the women, provides a structured and regulated work environment.
She, along with two of her sex workers, Andrea and Maria, expresses deep concern over the proposed changes. A frequent client, Jürgen, also voices his opposition, fearing the legal consequences for customers.
Speyer has officially registered 48 sex workers and is home to three brothels, though one has yet to open and another was denied an operating license due to suspected illegal activities.
Unlike neighboring Mannheim, which has street prostitution linked to drug use and lack of medical care, Speyer does not have a street-based sex trade.
Advocacy organizations see things differently
Experts interviewed in the article paint a bleak picture of prostitution in Germany, particularly for street-based workers. Astrid Fehrenbach, head of the advisory center Amalie in Mannheim, stated that many women are victims of trafficking. Social work professor Julia Wege estimates that up to 90% of prostitutes do not work voluntarily, instead facing coercion from pimps and brothel owners. Wege supports the Nordic Model, arguing that Germany’s current laws have transformed it into “the brothel of Europe,” enabling exploitation rather than protecting women.
Advocates of the Nordic Model say that legalization has not improved the working and living conditions of sex workers. Activist and former prostitute Huschke Mau, founder of the Ella network, claims that legalization has removed women’s autonomy and increased their vulnerability.
Conversely, many sex workers believe that a regulated environment provides essential protections. Andrea, one of Laura’s workers, asserts that brothels offer safety and structure, and warns that criminalizing clients could push prostitution underground, increasing risks for those in the industry.
The Nordic Model is bad for sex workers, men, and society
As we have written many times, the Nordic Model is bad for sex workers, men, and society as a whole.
While some believe this approach helps stop human trafficking and protects sex workers, many experts argue that it actually makes life harder and more dangerous for them.
A study from the London School of Economics found that this law does not help sex workers; instead, it makes their lives more difficult. Since their clients are considered criminals, sex workers have fewer safe options and often end up in riskier situations.
They cannot ask for help openly because they fear getting into trouble. The Global Network of Sex Work Projects also states that this law increases the stigma against sex workers, making them more isolated and vulnerable to abuse.
Another major problem is healthcare. In places where sex work is legal, workers have regular health check-ups, which help prevent the spread of diseases like STDs.
But under the Nordic Model, sex work is forced underground, so many workers do not get medical care, putting both themselves and their clients at risk.
Read our reasons in this article:
Economic and public safety issues
When paying for sex is illegal, sex workers and their clients go into hiding. This means the government loses tax revenue that could be used for social programs. Instead, criminals step in and make money from illegal sex work, which increases crime and worsens the situation.
This also puts more pressure on the police. Officers spend time and resources looking for illegal sex workers and their clients instead of focusing on serious crimes like violence and trafficking. This weakens public safety and makes it harder for people to trust the police.
This law does not just harm sex workers—it also affects men and society as a whole. It treats all men who pay for sex as criminals, even when both parties consent. Many men seek sex workers for companionship or emotional support, and criminalizing them does not solve any real problem.
When legal brothels are shut down, people have to find sex work in hidden, unsafe places. This leads to an increase in blackmail, violence, and unsafe sex practices. Also, because clients fear getting caught, they may not seek medical help, which can cause more health problems for the entire community.
Read our reasons about why this model is bad for men as well:
It does not stop human trafficking
One of the main arguments for the Nordic Model is that it helps stop human trafficking. However, studies show that it does not work. Instead of reducing trafficking, it pushes it further underground, making it harder for the police to catch traffickers.
Countries like Austria, where sex work is legal and regulated, have had more success in protecting workers and reducing trafficking. As sex workers in the newspaper report stated, it is much safer to work in a legal brothel in Austria than working independently in illegal apartments.
According to our knowledge, the number one reason women choose brothels in Vienna is that they feel safe in these establishments.
In Sweden, where the Nordic Model started, research shows that this law has led to more stress and aggression in society. When people cannot legally access sex work, some turn to violence. Sweden has one of the highest rates of reported rapes in Europe. The stigma surrounding sex work also causes social isolation and mental health problems for both workers and clients.
Read our detailed article about why this model has a lot of disadvantages for the society: