Debating the legality of prostitution in Germany and Sweden and why this is a development issue (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Social Work, grade: 1,0, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Ludwigsburg, language: English, abstract: This paper is debating the legality of prostitution in Germany and Sweden. To begin my thesis, I will first talk about the background and history of Prostitution. How long has it existed, where does it originate, and how has it changed over the centuries. There will be a list of reasons accounting for, why Prostitution is such an old profession. A main aspect is poverty, which is a development issue.

Further, I will explain why the German Government moved to legalize Prostitution in 2002 and the impact of this decision. To improve recognition of prostitutes and make their job safer, the Prostitution Protection Law came into effect in 2017. It is important to understand the different opinions of feminists on this topic, because most prostitutes are women. It all comes down to the way people view prostitution: as a violation of human dignity or as an autonomous decision to risky activity or as a profession like any other.

As my last topic, I will explain the Swedish Model and how it developed. Sweden has a completely different view on how to deal with prostitution than Germany. Both countries decided to pass laws for more gender equality. However, the impacts of the laws are unique. That is why there will be a debate in the end as to why social work is necessary in dealing with prostitution.

"The dignity of men is sacrosanct" - this is the first Article of the Constitutional Law in Germany. If every person has the same value and worth, everybody must be treated the same way. How does this include people who are forced into prostitution? They aren't being treated like any other person - instead, some people think that since they are paying for sexual services, they can treat people on the sex industry however they want.