Scholz: Unacceptable for men to buy women

Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared openly to a possible ban on the sale of sexual services in Germany.

This request has been submitted to Bundestag CDU/ CSU. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would like to see further legal restrictions on sexual services in Germany, adding that the sale of sex services is <x0 unacceptable” and should not be something “normal”.

I don't think it's acceptable for men to buy women,” said Scholz in Bundestag. “It's something that has always bothered me morally”, Scholz added. “I think we should look at the law and see how this issue can be resolved best,” the German Chancellor added during a debate in which he answered MPs' questions in Bundestag.

Christian Democrats and Christianists from Union CDU parties/ CSU, the largest opposition parliamentary group in Bundestag, submitted a request to prevent the purchase of sexual services according to the so-called “NordicModel”. Under this proposal, macroeconomics and clients must be punished, public homes should be banned. At the same time, prostitutes must be protected to enable them to get out of this environment more easily. CDU and CSU parties call for similar rules, such as Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada, France, Ireland and Israel.

Germany - a center of sexual exploitation?

“Unfortunately, Germany has become a centre of sexual exploitation and abuse,” said the deputy chairman of the CDU parliamentary group/ CSU, Dorothee Bär, responsible for family and culture. She noted that 25,000 women in Germany engage in prostitution. She asked the German Chancellor to support the Christian Democrats and the Christian Democrats' proposal to prevent the sale of sexual services.

Scholz did not directly respond to that request, but said it is often linked to abuse, violence and criminal structures. He added that he would welcome a discussion on how to combat such phenomena.

The European Parliament also voted to prevent sexual work based on the so-called “Nordic model”. Last week, German Family Minister Lisa Paus of the Green Party said the federal government is not planning any changes at the Prostitution Protection Act in Germany. She added that the Law of 2017, which has entered into force in order to strengthen the legal position of sex workers, is in force and will be revised by 2025.

Sexual activity has always been legal in the Federal Republic of Germany, but promoting this work was considered a <x0morial <x0moral” and a criminal by 2002.

In the GDR, sexual work was illegal and officially did not exist. In September last year, German association “Sex services” spoke against the so-called Nordic model and said the discussion was moving “at the expense of a tolerant society and the rights of individuals” and that no affected persons were involved in this debate.

Is Sex Legal in Germany?

The European Parliament also voted to prevent sexual work based on the so-called “Nordic model”. Last week, German Family Minister Lisa Paus of the Green Party said the federal government is not planning any changes at the Prostitution Protection Act in Germany. She added that the Law of 2017, which has entered into force in order to strengthen the legal position of sex workers, is in force and will be revised by 2025.

Sexual activity has always been legal in the Federal Republic of Germany, but promoting this work was considered a <x0morial <x0moral” and a criminal by 2002.

In the GDR, sexual work was illegal and officially did not exist. In September last year, German association “Sex services” spoke against the so-called Nordic model and said the discussion was moving “at the expense of a tolerant society and the rights of individuals” and that no affected persons were involved in this debate. /DW