In November 2008, the Norwegian Parliament voted for changes in the legislation on prostitution, in effect criminalizing the purchase of sexual activity or a sexual act, by introducing a new section 202a in the General Civil Penal Code

In November 2008, the Norwegian Parliament voted for changes in the legislation on prostitution, in effect criminalizing the purchase of sexual activity or a sexual act, by introducing a new section 202a in the General Civil Penal Code:

Section 202a

Any person who engages in or aids and abets another person to engage in sexual activity or commit a sexual act on making or agreeing payment, engages in sexual activity or a sexual act on such payment being agreed or made by another person, or in the manner described in (a) or (b) causes someone to carry out with herself or himself acts corresponding to sexual activity, shall be liable to fines or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. If the sexual activity or sexual act is carried out in a particularly offensive manner and no penalty may be imposed pursuant to other provisions, the penalty shall be imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

A separate section applies when the relevant acts are committed against a person under 18 years of age.

Section 202a will enter into force January 1st 2009, and will be applicable also to acts committed abroad by any Norwegian national or any person domiciled in Norway.

Parliament made no changes to existing rules that forbid human trafficking as well as promoting the engagement of other persons in prostitution.

Read more: The full text of the Bill