Bern – It is the political bombshell that the Swiss sex work industry was not prepared for: The Mitte women are tightening the thumbscrews and planning a popular initiative for a national prostitution law. The goal? Make clients drastically more responsible – with tough rules!
350,000 sex buyers per year – one in five men! The numbers are explosive: In Switzerland, 350,000 men buy sex at least once a year - that's one in five adult men! In order to meet this gigantic demand, up to 20,000 people, most of them women, prostitute themselves. A market worth millions that largely operates in the dark.
Christina Bachmann-Roth, President of the Mitte-Frauen, puts it in a nutshell: “Only a few people prostitute themselves voluntarily.” The reality behind the scenes: poverty, coercion, violence, human trafficking. “We want to stand up for these women,” says Bachmann-Roth combatively.
The clubs for the suitors What the centrist politicians are now demanding is tough – and will catch sex buyers off guard:
🔹 Obligation to check: Clients must check the age, residence permit and working conditions of the sex worker under threat of punishment! 🔹 Mandatory reporting: Suspicion of human trafficking or coercion? Report it to the police immediately – otherwise you could face punishment! 🔹 Zone requirement: Sex is only permitted in defined zones - anyone who buys somewhere else will be punished! 🔹 Condom requirement: No more exceptions - anyone who doesn't comply will have to go to training! 🔹 Mandatory training: Punters who violate the rules will be sentenced to mandatory courses!
Brothels under permanent control The establishments are also feeling the hammer: stricter controls, more surveillance, tougher requirements. The days when brothel owners could operate in a legal vacuum are said to be over.
There are also exit programs for prostitutes, state-financed help for everyone who wants to get out - and prevention work about the dangers of sex work.
The “Nordic model” as a role model – without a total ban The Swiss center is based on the Nordic model from Sweden, Norway and Canada - but with one crucial difference: No total ban on buying sex!
“We want to follow a Swiss path,” emphasizes Bachmann-Roth. “Regulate the purchase of sex much more closely, but not ban it completely.” As early as 2022, a complete ban on the purchase of sex failed in the National Council - for fear that prostitution would become illegal and endanger women even more.
Dispute among women: “Save” or “Strengthen rights”? But the debate is divisive – and fiercely so! Two camps are irreconcilably opposed:
👉 Camp 1 – “Save the women!” Olivia Frei from the Zurich Women's Center is calling for a total ban on purchasing sex: “We are further along in this debate today than ever before. The opponents are getting nervous – the fight is getting more intense!”
👉 Camp 2 – “Sex work is work!” Rebecca Angelini from Procore counters sharply: “No sex worker we know is in favor of a ban! A ban deprives these people of their livelihood and their legal income.”
Lelia Hunziker from the FIZ department warns: “The debate is being one-sidedly exaggerated and scandalized by the media. Only the liberal path really protects sex workers.”
Even the SP is divided Even within the SP there is trouble: A current resolution declares "sex work to be work like any other" - but Graubünden Grand Councilor Silvia Bisculm is outraged: "Of all people, our party, which upholds women's rights, is normalizing prostitution - but buying sex is almost always exploitation and coercion!"
The men get involved The lords of creation are also getting into the ring: FDP Council of States Damian Müller finds the situation “worrying” and calls for urgent action. Most prostitutes are migrants who “use alcohol and drugs to endure the activity”. “This is not self-determined work!”
SP Federal Councilor Beat Jans, on the other hand, is skeptical and wants to take other paths. Müller is “shocked”: “A social democrat of all people is refusing to work on this issue!”
Popular initiative is coming – Switzerland is facing a fundamental debate The Center Women have adopted a basic paper and are preparing various initiatives. The popular initiative for a national prostitution law is being specifically examined. Women from GLP, EVP and SP are also involved - half a dozen initiatives have already been launched.
Conclusion: Switzerland is facing a fundamental debate that is tough. 350,000 sex buyers, 20,000 prostitutes, human trafficking, violence - and now the political declaration of war from the center. The showdown is on!
