Unsurprisingly, the law was quickly passed: at that time, half of the cabinet and 40 percent of parliament members were women.
Helsinki followed Stockholm's example. Without trying to eradicate prostitution, the Finns focused on fighting human trafficking and sexual slavery. In Finland, a fine or punishment of up to four months in prison applies only to those who paid a prostitute knowing that she was forced into sex.
In some developed countries (Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand), prostitution is legalized. There, ladies of the night pay taxes, have the right to health insurance, a pension, and vacation pay. The most liberal attitude towards providing intimate services for money is in the Netherlands. Even pimps are considered managers there if they pay taxes on their income. Prostitutes are not persecuted – as long as they have a license and a tax return.
But there are also problems. After the legalization of prostitution, Dutch ladies of the night found it much harder to work. Labor legislation requires that the workplace be ventilated and well-lit. 'How can I provide services to a client in a room with a big window?' complained one representative of the Dutch prostitutes' union. Difficulties also arose with taxes. For example, in 2007, a law was passed requiring every prostitute to have her own bank account. Many banks refuse to provide financial services to prostitutes, fearing for their reputation.
Dutch and German authorities did not forget about the disabled, deciding that they too should be offered sexual services. Some ladies of the night are assigned to local social welfare agencies, which pay for their visits to people with disabilities.
Even that wasn't enough for the Germans. On the eve of the FIFA World Cup in Germany, wooden 'sex garages' were built for having sex in a car, and the world's largest brothel. It is located in Cologne. Every day, the 12-story brothel, which employs over 200 prostitutes, is visited by more than a thousand clients.
In New Zealand, which chose the Dutch model, a real boom occurred after the legalization of prostitution. The number of clients for ladies of the night sharply increased, and the prostitutes' own attitude towards the profession changed for the better. According to them, they feel safer because they can refuse a client they don't like at any time.
Canadian deputies opted for the Scandinavian model. No one asked the prostitutes themselves for their opinion. According to representatives of the human rights organization Maggie's, the new law will lead to the criminalization of the sexual services sector. 'Now prostitutes won't be able to gather in groups. Murderers, rapists, and maniacs will take advantage of this,' noted one human rights activist.
Ready for such reproaches, the Canadian authorities once again extended a helping hand to cornered prostitutes, creating a program for those who want to leave this business. It is already operational in Ontario. Over eight weeks, women of easy virtue undergo a course of psychological rehabilitation and adaptation to society. Twenty million dollars are planned to be spent on these purposes – 47 dollars per year per prostitute. This is unlikely to be enough for Canadian prostitutes to quit their business.