The Nordic Model (also "Swedish Model") is an approach to prostitution policy: the purchase of sexual services is punishable, the sale remains unpunished. Sex workers are to be decriminalized as victims of a "patriarchal violence industry", while customers ("johns") are to be deterred.
Introduced in Sweden in 1999, adopted by Norway (2009), Iceland (2009), Canada (2014), Northern Ireland (2015), France (2016), Ireland (2017) and Israel (2018).
The effect is controversial. Proponents (Swedish state, EU Parliament 2014) point to reduced street prostitution and a shift in stigma. Critics (UNAIDS, Amnesty International since 2016, WHO, Human Rights Watch, ILO, Swiss ProCoRe) have used studies to show risks of force violence, poorer access to health and more migration into illegality. Switzerland has examined the model several times and has so far rejected it.