UN Commission- The Swedish Model: Fighting Trafficking by Targeting All Johns.

4:30 Church Centre for the United Nations. 

The Swedish Model: Fighting Trafficking by Targeting All Johns. 

The Swedish Association of Women's Shelters and Young Women's Empowerment Centres (SKR)

Guest Speaker- Maria Ohnvon- The minster of gender equality of Sweden

Sweden the first country in the world who has made it illegal to buy but not sell sex. It has been an excellent first step, but can still have progress. 

Maria Ohnvon- The minster of gender equality of Sweden 

Trafficking always merits urgent attention. The Swedish law is not just a legislation, it is a social stance. The prostitution industry is harmful to both parties, but there is power in the favour of the John, when we penalize the John and not the worker, we lessen that power imbalance a little. This is a struggle that is international, and is fundamental in implementing gender equality around the world. 

Overview- SKR is a foundation that works for gender equality in Sweden. The Sex Purchase Act, the Swedish model- it is gender neutral, although in Sweden almost %100 of Johns are male. This model includes protection for all genders and transgendered sex trade workers, but  punishes the buyer not the seller. Prostitution is often linked to other female inequality issues such as violence, drugs and poor quality of life, especially for women and transgenders. In many spaces there are few options for women and trangenders to support themselves, it is important to realize that the sex trade workers in these areas are disadvantaged and need protection. There also needs to be free education programs for these people. 

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby-

The Swedish model has had much success in having less Johns purchasing sex. But now, over %80 of sex buying happens outside the boarders. There needs to be something to change this statistic. Looking to Norway for the gender equality examples.  If we are serious about the human right that it is not legal to buy another person, there should be no distinction inside and outside of Sweden. 

There is a link between sex industry and corporate culture. 1/3 of all sex purchasing happens while on business travel. Sweden is asking for other countries  where prostitution is legal, to write into their travel policies that it is still illegal for Swedish citizens to purchase sex while in their country. 

The argument for other countries to participate- The argument of "anti-corruption". Prostitution very linked to the corrupt. The push for better working conditions. Corporate sexual responsibility.

Showed video-

Speaker 3-

The European parliament has come to a resolution that links prostitution and gender equality. Some of the findings- Sex trade is a violation of human dignity. It has an impact on equality and the way men and women view relationships, and has a link towards violence against women from perpetrators who buy sex. Makes the link between prostitution and trafficking. Procuring is linked to organized crime. The most vulnerable persons are being used. Condemns any form of prostitution as a means for migrant women to support themselves. Highlights the Norwegian models. And there is a need for us to educate all young people on the fact that prostitution is not an acceptable, and that the sex trade and porn are giving a model for continued inequality between genders. It states that decriminalizing prostitution actually increases the violence against women, and that the only model is for it not to be acceptable.

Speaker 4 France-

The French national assembly has been discussing a bill to punish pimps and procurers, but protections for the workers. Repealing the criminalization of prostitutions and victims, developing alternatives for those in prostitution. Improve the access to documents, prevents the purchase of buying sexual intercourse, and penalties for the procurers. Calls to recognize prostitution itself as a violence against women. The system of prostitution is part of a patriarchal system, making women's bodies available for the use of men. No one can impose sex with violence and no one can impose it with money. Discussions of consent. The argument that these women "consent" to prostitution, so it should be allowed. Consent does not mean freedom, and consent does make something legal. Just because someone "consents" to work for less than minimum wage, doesn't make it legal for the employer to pay less. Why would this apply to sex trade workers? If we do not agree that prostitution is violence, there will be no furthering of women's rights. 

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby-

Myths and common misconceptions-

Those who buy sex are a minority, but a vocal one. We need to push men who do not buy to be vocal against it.

Myths about the sex trade-

-"It's a choice, it's a sexual freedom".  Freedom is about not having constraints, that includes economic. Most of the women who are in this industry are there because they do not have the financial income from elsewhere. We need to push for the financial futhering of women.

-"Those poor, lonely men who need love and can only buy it. " It is shocking to create a sexual category of acceptability for those with disability, when the rest of the population has to go through the process of finding a partner. Again, no one talks about the poor, lonely women who need love.  

-"We're trying to make a utopia" it is ridiculous to think that there is no power held by those that give money to those that need money. Legalizing will not change this balance. 

Do we really believe that through furthering a harmful consumer culture, we can ever achieve gender equality? Human rights does not mean that an individual can do what ever they want. It means that we as a collective have the responsibility to protect those who are disadvantaged. 

Questions-

What is the aim of the government. To reduce prostitution? What are the next steps at a European level? What are the main reasons for the success?

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby-

The report from Europe is morally guiding, but it is not legally binding. But it is a good thing to use for principles and guidance all across the world. It has been adopted by 2/3 of the seats of parliament. Long term, the report could lead to a legal push towards the end to prostitution as a means of violence against women. 

Speaker 4 France-

These findings are bringing together a strange group of every different backgrounds, who all feel the same about prostitution. Each country really needs to individually push for reform in this area. The key is for every individual and parliament to admit that prostitution is violence against women. 

What about the linkage to Africa?

How can anything change if nothing changes in Africa?

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby-

There will be a forum to look at the most vulnerable groups of women and girls, and African women are a huge part of that. The Brussels resolution is talking about prostitution in Europe, but %80 of all prostitutes in Europe come from outside of Europe. 

Speaker 4 France-

The first responsibly is to kill this market in our own country. This will in turn help change this market so it will not be bringing women up from Africa. 

Will this legislation be beneficial for family relationships?

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby-

If we help build gender equality this of course furthers relationships. There is a large focus on education, and on making sure families are not furthering and supporting prostitution. Stats show that males who buy sex have an increased rate of violence with their female partners. Reducing the objectification of women in this was may reduce that.

Speaker 4 France-

The resolution of removing prostitution of course will help families. If you think of the female workers who are sometimes separated from their families for years, or for the families of the men who are involved in buying, both family spaces will benefit from not having prostitution. 

What about cybersex, and things like child pornography?

Speaker 2, The Swedish Women's lobby- 

There is a support in the swedish model. Last week a report was delivered in the UK, which called for a criminalization of the purchase of sex. "It does not address the gendered violence." With porn, we still have a model of objectifying women and having bad examples for younger women and men. Maybe one day, if we keep pushing, these legislations will address that.

Speaker 4 France- 

There is a clear link between porn and prostitution. The production still can be exploitive, violent and is not what we see to be sexual freedom because of the role of economics. 

More info on website- http://www.kvinnojouren.se/english