Today, September 14th 2023, marks an important victory for women’s rights in Europe as the European Parliament has adopted a resolution defending the abolition of prostitution by the Member States of the European Union.

It follows the vote by the European Parliament's FEMM Committee in favour of the own-initiative report by German MEP Maria Noichl entitled “Regulation of prostitution in the European Union: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights” which took place on June 27th. Today, the adoption of this text in plenary by the entire European Parliament elevates it to the status of a resolution. Although it is not binding on the Member States, it demonstrates the European Union's commitment and strong stance in favour of an abolitionist approach that meets the challenges of protecting all girls and women against sexual exploitation. In addition, this vote sends an international message, well beyond Europe's borders, as prostitution and the human trafficking networks which provide its victims is a global system of exploitation.

By voting in favour of this report, the European Parliament recognises prostitution as a form of violence against girls and women that must be combated in order to guarantee equality between the sexes. It calls for an approach that places women's rights at the centre. The vision defended is based on the decriminalisation of prostituted people, the vast majority of whom are girls and women, particularly migrant women, as Irish MEP Frances Fitzgerald pointed out during the debates preceding the adoption of the resolution, which also provides for the criminalisation of the perpetrators of violence, pimps and buyers of sexual acts: the equality model.

The equality model has already been adopted in Iceland, Ireland, France, Sweden and Norway and proven effective when sufficient means are allocated to it. In those countries, resources are now dedicated to helping women exit prostitution if they want to, they are no longer treated as criminals but as victims of an exploitative system.

We, an NGO representing the social group most targeted by pimps and human traffickers as 70% of the individuals in prostitution in the EU are migrant women, welcome the European Parliament's vote as a major step forward for women's rights in Europe and hope that it will lead European governments to implement strong measures to combat prostitution, while protecting the girls and women who are victims of this violent system.

__________________________________

Prostitution is violence. Being raped is not a job.
- Survivor of prostitution quoted during the debate on the adoption of the own-initiative report on prostitution at the European Parliament plenary session on 13/09/2023

In the European sex industry, destitute migrant women from economically and politically unstable countries are exploited by pimps and sex buyers from the dominant economies of Europe. The resolution adopted today indicates the EU's intention to eradicate exploitation and its commitment to true European integration and equality between the sexes.
- Luba Fein, sex trade survivor, FiLiA

Prostitution is a form of slavery against the dignity of women and their bodies and a brutal violation of their women’s rights.
- Sandra Perreira, Spanish MEP, LEFT, during the debate on the adoption of the own-initiative report on prostitution at the plenary session of the European Parliament on 13/09/2023

Prostitution is not a choice. You are there because of lack of opportunity and exploitation linked to unbalance of power.
- Lina Galvez Munoz, Spanish MEP, S&D, during the debate on the adoption of the own-initiative report on prostitution at the European Parliament plenary session on 13/09/2023

A sexual relation can never be the subject of a labour contract, not even when consent exists because it is always a violation of sexual freedom. It is not that my body is mine, it is that my body is me.
- Eugenia Rodriguez Palop, Spanish MEP, LEFT, during the debate on the adoption of the own-initiative report on prostitution at the European Parliament plenary session on 13/09/2023

We cannot dissociate prostitution from international crime and we need a joint response to it.
- Helen Frizon, Swedish MEP, S&D, during the debate on the adoption of the own-initiative report on prostitution at the European Parliament plenary session on 13/09/2023

Prostitution, its exploitation, and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation are forms of gender-based, and thus a violation of women's rights and human dignity, representing a cross-border problem.
- Quote from 2022/2139(INI) “Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights”

Members condemned the highly sexist, racist and marginalising nature of the system of prostitution, given that, on average, 70% of the individuals in prostitution in the EU are migrant women, reflecting the social and economic differences in the EU and worldwide.
- Quote from 2022/2139(INI) “Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights”