1. Support instead of punishment

Many people who engage in sex work in Germany are illegalized by various laws (for example, undocumented migrants through migration and residence law). Although prostitution is legal in Germany, many people work illegally – for example in the context of “Sperrbezirke” (areas in which prostitution is prohibited) or if they are not registered under the Prostitutes Protection Act (Prostituiertenschutzgesetz). No matter by which law it arises – criminalization harms sex workers.

This is because the greater the fear of punishment, the greater the need to work in secret and live undercover. However, isolation creates psychological stress, makes sex workers more susceptible to violence and exploitation and prevents them from accessing health services. Isolated sex workers are not reached by services – neither by HIV/STI prevention measures or support services related to violence, exploitation and human trafficking. The first necessary condition for improving the situation in sex work is therefore to support rather than punish. Sperrbezirke should be abolished all over Germany.