Increase the minimum age to 21: Union wants to control prostitution more closely

Increase the minimum age to 21
Union wants to control prostitution more closely

Prostitution has not been immoral in Germany since 2002. Nonetheless, strict regulations apply when using sexual services. The Union wants to introduce further measures – also to hold clients more accountable.

The Union in the Bundestag wants to increase the minimum age for prostitutes in Germany from 18 to 21 years. A position paper by the CDU / CSU also provides for the punishment of suitors who use sexual services by women and men under the age of 21. There should also be criminal liability for corresponding contacts with "obviously pregnant women".

According to the ideas of the Union parliamentary group, street prostitution should be more strictly regulated "because of the inhumane conditions that often prevail there". Municipalities should make greater use of their option to designate restricted areas. "We reject so-called performance boxes as in the city of Berlin as inhumane."

"We want to push back illegal prostitution and strengthen the registration requirement. Therefore, clients should in future have proof of the registration of prostitutes," continues the Union's position paper. Anyone who does not adhere to it should be able to be fined.

Stronger controls

The federal states should monitor the implementation of the Prostitute Protection Act, which was last amended in 2016, more closely. Because of the increased brokerage of prostitution over the Internet, the trade and investigations into human trafficking should be more controlled. For this more staff have to be hired.

In the opinion of the Union parliamentary group, the ban on the operators of prostitution sites from being paid exorbitant prices by prostitutes for renting out premises should be monitored more closely. In addition, there should be more control over whether prostitutes have access to their passports at all times. If this is not the case, it is considered an indication of human trafficking and forced prostitution.

No general ban

However, the Union made it clear in its position paper that it does not want to ban prostitution in Germany in general. "Adult women and men who freely choose to work in prostitution and adhere to the applicable regulations should be able to continue to do so," says the position paper.

Since 2002, prostitution is no longer considered immoral in Germany. The legal regulations on prostitution were recently tightened by the Union and the SPD in the last legislative period. In particular, the criminal protection against human trafficking and forced prostitution had been improved.

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