Sex Work, Sexual Exploitations and Consumerism

Abstract

The last two decades has witnessed significant changes to the governance of youth prostitution. Most western democratic countries now distinguish adults from young people in prostitution and frame government interventions with young people in terms of the provision of justice for child victims of sexual exploitation. The first European country to make such a move was Sweden when, in 1999, the purchase of sex was completely criminalised. The Netherlands followed in 2000 when they criminalised childhood sexual exploitation and forced prostitution. France followed suit in 2003 by criminalising the purchasing of sex from young people (aged 15–18 years of age) as well as from those defined as ‘vulnerable’ prostitutes. The UK reformed its sexual offences in 2003 by criminalising the commercial sexual exploitation of young people. Denmark, Italy and Norway have all brought in primary legislation that extends criminal justice powers against those who would exploit or prostitute young people.