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Prostitution in Finland

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Prostitution in Finland is legal but soliciting in a public place, organized prostitution (operating a brothel or a prostitution ring and other forms of pimping) is illegal.[1] According to a 2010 TAMPEP study, 69% of prostitutes working in Finland are migrants.[2] As of 2009, there was little 'visible' prostitution in Finland as it was mostly limited to private residences and nightclubs in larger metropolitan areas.[3][4]

Buying or attempting to buy sex from a minor is illegal.[5] The Public Law and Order Act prohibits offering or buying sex in a public place. The criminalisation of the purchase of sex from adults has been a continuing topic of discussion in the Nordic countries. In June 2006, parliament voted by 158 to 15 with four abstentions to approve a bill which outlaws the buying of sexual services from sex workers if it is linked to human trafficking.[6][7] The issue was raised again in 2013 by the Justice Minister.[8]

Advocacy

Pro-tukipiste r.y. (Pro Centre Finland),[9] a registered non-profit organisation, supports and promotes the civil and human rights of sex workers in Finland, offering professional social support, health care services and legal advice, operating in Helsinki and Tampere. Services are provided without charge, anonymously, and the centre is politically and religiously independent. It also offers consultation on issues concerning sex work and human trafficking. They are a partner in the Indoors Project, a European Union initiative for the analysis and policy recommendations on sex work inside the EU.

Research

The health of sex workers in Finland has been an ongoing project of the Finnish Government[10] and data suggest a good level of health, and in particular an absence of sexually transmitted diseases.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Finland". US State Department. March 11, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  2. ^ Rettman, Andrew (January 26, 2010). "Romanian sex workers most prevalent in EU/ Social Affairs / Romanian sex workers most prevalent in EU". EU Observer. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "2009 Human Rights Report: Finland". US State Department. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  4. ^ "Archive". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Teen prostitution a silent problem in Finland". Yle Uutiset. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Sex Workers in Finland Are Healthy, Government Reports". Finnbay.com. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  7. ^ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Finns pass anti-prostitution law". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Justice Minister to seek full ban on purchasing sex". Yle Uutiset. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Prostituution, seksityön ja ihmiskaupan asiantuntija Pro-tukipiste". 31 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Prostitution and health in Finland". National Institute for Health and Welfare. Retrieved 22 December 2014.

Bibliography