Mary Honeyball is parliament's rapporteur on sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality This week's European parliament vote on prostitution represents a vital signal from MEPs that we cannot continue to tolerate the exploitation of women.
Rather than blanket legalisation, the parliament has backed the more nuanced approach already practised in Sweden as a means of tackling prostitution. This approach punishes men who treat women's bodies as a commodity, without criminalising women who are driven into sex work. Since it was implemented in Sweden in the model has been a success, reducing demand and halving the levels of street prostitution. I am glad the parliament has decided to consider Sweden's lead on this issue as one option to follow.
The idea that prostitution is the 'oldest profession' leads some to think we should accept it as a fact of life β that all we can do is regulate it a little better. This approach has led to an increase in prostitution levels in countries where it has been implemented.
It normalises the purchase of sex and ingrains the inequalities which sustain the sex industry. An open letter in support of my report, signed by nearly 80 world academics and sent to British MEPs on Monday, made exactly this point. In the letter they wrote that "the prostitution system is a reminder of continuing inequalities between women and men", arguing that the legalisation of prostitution undermines attempts to tackle the gender pay gap or challenge the abuses women and girls are subjected to.
Recent changes in France and Ireland suggest the wind is blowing in the direction of Sweden. The parliament's position on this is an important one, and the outcome of this week's vote symbolised the changing attitudes of EU countries on this issue, and the desire of member states to learn from one another.
