Historic decision by the ECHR on the 2016 law for the abolition of prostitution

Following a complaint filed in 2019, the European Court of Human Rights(ECHR) was required to rule on the 2016 law criminalizing the purchase of sexual acts, accused of “endangering the physical integrity and psychological and health of persons in prostitution” and threatening “the right to respect the private life of prostitutes and their clients”.

According to CLEF – Coordination française pour le Lobby Européen des Femmes, on July 25, 2024, the ECHR rendered its judgment which unanimously rejects all of these complaints. The ECHR confirms that the abolitionist model of prostitution, which criminalizes the purchase of sexual acts and supports victims, does not violate human rights.

The ECHR’s historic decision is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the criminalisation of buyers of sex. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) accepted a case challenging the French government’s 2016 law that criminalises the purchase of sex. This case comes at a crucial time for the EU and the member states, as its outcome could influence broader national and cross-national policies on prostitution and provide blueprints for implementing the abolitionist model in other European countries. The Abolitionist Model seeks to address the root causes of prostitution by criminalising buyers of sex, reducing demand and providing adequate support for those currently in prostitution.

We welcome European Court of Human Rights decision rejecting the notion that the abolitionist model on prostitution violates the European Convention on Human Rights.

This is a big step towards a Europe free from prostitution, where all women and girls enjoy equal rights and protections!