Sweden’s sex work laws: Too good to be true?

The process of regulating prostitution should be inclusive of sex workers, writes Louise Persson

SEX work is a hugely complex issue, and loaded with moral and ethical controversy. Ireland is currently reviewing its prostitution laws, and those complexities and controversies are all on show. In the middle is what is known as the “Swedish model”.

In the late 1990s, Sweden criminalised the purchase of sex and has claimed huge successes with the measure. The Swedish government and anti-prostitution organisations, including those in Ireland, have since advocated strongly for the model. But when something seems too good to be true, it probably is.