Political interest in France in the Swedish sex purchase law

“I spoke about how prostitution is based on a power imbalance and constitutes a form of sexual violence. That is why Swedish legislation looks the way it does. Research shows that individuals involved in prostitution are often subjected to physical, psychological, and sexual violence,” said Lise Tamm.

The discussion took place on 2 July at the invitation of the French National Assembly's study group on prostitution, led by Céline Thiébault-Martinez. The purpose of the meeting was to deepen the group's understanding of the Swedish sex purchase law and the broader efforts to combat prostitution and human trafficking. Since 1999, it has been illegal in Sweden to buy sexual services, while the sale of such services is not criminalised. France introduced similar legislation in 2016, criminalising sex purchase and placing strong emphasis on supporting individuals to exit prostitution.

Challenges and preventive work in Sweden 

Lise Tamm participated digitally in the meeting with French politicians. She described how the Swedish model is based on the view that prostitution is a form of men’s violence against women, and that it is the demand which fuels exploitation. During the meeting, she also outlined some of the challenges Sweden faces—including a low number of convictions and insufficient police resources dedicated to prostitution and trafficking. She emphasised the importance of both law enforcement and preventive measures, noting that consent is a fundamental principle in all work against sexual violence.

She also highlighted the need for support for those subjected to exploitation, as well as targeted interventions for individuals who purchase sex. In Sweden, the Gender Equality Agency coordinates national efforts to combat prostitution and human trafficking.

“In our work, it is clear that long-term prevention must involve boys and men. To reduce prostitution and trafficking, we need to address demand and foster a culture of consent,” said Lise Tamm.

Extensive work is ongoing in Sweden to strengthen knowledge, improve support services, and promote collaboration in this area. During the meeting, Lise Tamm also spoke about several initiatives led by the Gender Equality Agency, including campaigns aimed at young people, such as Don't let silence speak, and the agency’s role in coordinating the National Support Team against Prostitution and Human Trafficking (NMT). Reports from the Gender Equality Agency have prompted the government to task the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prosecution Authority with improving investigative capacity in this field.

The meeting formed part of the French working group's efforts to study the Swedish model and assess how Sweden’s experiences could be applied in a French context.