One insideMAN reader, Chris Woodward, shares a letter that he wrote to his MP about proposals to bring the "Nordic model" of policing prostitution to the UK.

---This is article #58 in our series of #100Voices4Men and boys

Dear Sir

I am writing to you not only as one of your constituents but also in

regards to your membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group on

Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade and the proposals your group is

putting forward, as discussed in the 'Shifting the Burdon' report,

which I have read.

Firstly, I wish to say that any group or individual that works to put

an end to all forced prostitution and trafficking, and provides a voice

for voiceless victims of prostitution, deserves credit for such

efforts. Every human being has a right to be treated with dignity and

those who jeopardise an individual's wellbeing need to be stopped.

However, I am very aware that the proposals your group are advocating

are based upon the Nordic approach to Prostitution, as adopted in

Sweden since 1999. I have great concerns about this model coming into

Britain for a number of different reasons. In fact the more I read

about this model, the more opposed to it I have become. I wish to

explain my issues with the proposals and ask a few questions.

The Nordic model is anti-male

First of all, the Nordic approach is basically anti-male. By

criminalising the male buyer of sex services, and decriminalising the

female seller, it re-enforces the stereotype that men are the bad guys.

I would suspect if this was the other way round, and the female buyer

was the one being criminalised, the well organised feminist lobby would

be up in arms against it.

Secondly, the Nordic approach, whilst seeking to end trafficking and

violence towards prostituted women, imposes a blanket ban upon all

consensual prostitution, and impinges upon the activities of the

regular, law abiding, non-violent clients of sex workers by

criminalising them. The Nordic approach fails to make the distinction

between consensual and non-consensual prostitution, and in doing so

impinges upon the freedoms of individuals who have nothing to do with

trafficking, and should therefore not have the burden placed upon them.

While it may be true that a high percentage of sex workers in this

country are trafficked into it, this is certainly not true of everyone

in prostitution. Some sex workers actually choose to become prostitutes

because for them it is worth the money. Regardless of how repugnant or

disapproving this may be, there is absolutely no reason why the state

should intervene in such cases with the choices of such women and the

men who wish to purchase sex from consenting women.

Men with disabilities hire sex workers

Indeed some male clients of prostitutes, far from being violent, are

actually men with disabilities who may hire a sex worker because they

otherwise struggle to develop romantic relationships, and are merely

seeking out the human contact that a sex worker can offer. We may not

like their choices, but such men should never have their freedom to

choose to hire a prostitute encroached upon by the state, all because

'some' of the other prostitutes out there have been trafficked, and

'some' other men are guilty of trafficking, raping and violence towards

prostitutes.

I therefore request that you raise the issues I have discussed here to

the All Party Parliamentary Group, and that instead of trying to combat

trafficking with a blanket ban, that your group discusses proposals

that specifically and only target the perpetrators or trafficking and

violence and NOT every man that hires a prostitute. Such measures among

many could include tighter controls and checks at borders, and

introducing measures such as tougher aggravated trafficking offenses. I

am not suggesting I have all the answers but there is no doubt that the

modern slavery of sex trafficking can be stopped without interfering

with consenting prostitutes and clients.

I have two specific questions I wish to ask regarding your group's

proposals:

Firstly, if your proposals come into law, will you also make it illegal

for female sex buyers to seek out male prostitutes?

Secondly, and this is a more a why question. In seeking to end

trafficking and violence, why does your group not propose an approach

that specifically targets the traffickers and combats the violent

elements of prostitution, without impacting the freedoms currently

enjoyed by ordinary men who may wish to purchase sex?

I know you may argue, as Lord Morrow did in a TV debate in Northern

Irelandwith figures about how prostitution has decreased in Sweden, and

that what worked in Sweden will work will work in the UK and it's the 'best'

way of tackling sex trafficking. It is regrettable that throughout the debate

Lord Morrow would not even acknowledge the effects his proposals in

Northern Ireland would have on consenting adults who wish to exchange

sex for money, and failed at any point to explain why he couldn't come

up with an alternative approach to target only the traffickers without

interfering with all consensual prostitution.

http://youtu.be/h5LH5k5hyWA

I look forward to hearing from you, and very much hope you will answer

my questions and reconsider the proposals your group is putting forward

so that it targets only the perpetrators of trafficking and violence

and no one else.

Yours sincerely

Chris Woodward

---Picture credit: Kevin Shine

See also: Why are the Lib Dems supporting men who buy sex