Belgium Legalizes Prostitution for Sex Workers

In the heart of Antwerp, a police station stands amidst a sea of neon-lit red-light windows, symbolizing Belgium's pursuit for safer sex work.

Situated at the Villa Tinto complex, this station is a beacon in the sailors' quarter, a place that houses sex workers protected by Belgium's progressive laws, despite ongoing issues like abuse and exploitation.

Since December, sex workers in Belgium have gained access to legal protections and labour rights, making them eligible for benefits like paid leave, a significant shift in their profession, as they no longer feel seen as victims but as free individuals.

Kiana, a 32-year-old worker hailing from Romania, expressed her satisfaction with the new changes. "I'm not trapped here, I chose to work here and I like what I'm doing," she shared with Agence France-Presse, as they peeked into her red-lit workspace - a cozy double bed adorned with sado-masochistic accessories.

Kiana arrived in Belgium after leaving her native Germany, renting one of the 51 display windows at Villa Tinto where she works for five days a week. "My mother knows what I'm doing. For the other members of my family, I work in nails and tattoos," she revealed.

Similarly, Mel, a sex worker and a rising TikTok star, acknowledges the law's positive impact, enabling her to step out of the shadows and cease the constant deception about her profession.

The Belgian government revised its laws on sex work in 2022, relaxing rules on advertising and not holding third parties accountable for their involvement as long as they're not exploitative [1][2]. Antwerp resident known as Meliciousss credited the law with shifting societal perspectives and official recognition of sex work as a legitimate occupation.

Shifting societal stigmas

The new law sets guidelines allowing adults to advertise their sexual services in designated locations, while third parties, such as bankers, website designers, or property owners, are no longer at risk of prosecution for their non-exploitative roles [1][2]. Nevertheless, pimping and child prostitution continue to be illegal, and human trafficking is vigorously prohibited [3][5].

Characterizing the law as "historic," Belgium's Human Rights League places the country in the camp of nations advocating for legalization, like Germany and the Netherlands, in contrast to France and Sweden, who have stricter laws [3].

Despite the reduced stigma, societal disapproval remains a concern, creating hurdles for workers seeking healthcare and legal assistance [3][5]. Utsopi estimates there are approximately 9,000–26,000 sex workers ( predominantly women) operating in Belgium, with no official data available [3].

Despite the altered landscape, several organizations, particularly those combating human trafficking, point out the 'invisible' aspects of prostitution and the fact that a majority of women are engaged in the activity under financial pressure [1][3]. Many resort to this line of work due to addiction or trafficking rings, and the dangers persist [3].

Police dismantled a suspected trafficking network exploiting around 30 Chinese women in March, as they apprehended seven Chinese suspects [4]. The public debate has intensified since December, with the introduction of employment contracts for sex workers, increasing labor rights and benefits beyond the self-employed status [2]. However, the employment contract system has yet to make a notable impact [2].

Despite the ongoing challenges, some advocates call for the law to be repealed, citing concerns regarding exploitation and the increased power given to brothel owners [4]. As the law continues to be debated by the Constitutional Court, the path towards greater regulation and worker protections in Belgium's sex industry remains uncertain.

[1] Belgium law on sex work[2] Belgian sex work law enters into force[3] Belgium's approach to sex work[4] Belgium sex worker sets sights on legalizing pimping[5] Belgium allows sex workers to sign work contracts

The police station in Antwerp, standing amidst red-light windows, symbolizes Belgium's pursuit for safer sex work, particularly in light of the new reform that grants legal protections and labor rights to sex workers.
Kiana, a sex worker from Romania, operates one of the 51 windows at Villa Tinto, a hub in Antwerp, and she expressed her satisfaction with the recent changes, as she no longer feels like a victim but a free individual in her chosen profession.
The revised Belgian laws on sex work, implemented in 2022, have relaxed rules on advertising and eliminated accountability for non-exploitative third parties, creating historical opportunities for workers like Mel.
Despite the more accepting societal perspective, some sex workers still face difficulties in accessing healthcare and legal assistance due to residual stigma.
Meliciousss, an Antwerp resident and TikTok star, credits the new law with shifting societal perspectives and official recognition of sex work as a legitimate occupation in the realms of policy and legislation.
Organizations combating human trafficking stress the 'invisible' aspects of prostitution, as many engage in the activity under financial pressure, such as the 30 Chinese women who were recently rescued from a suspected trafficking network.
The debate over the law's impacts continues, with some advocates calling for its repeal due to concerns regarding exploitation and the increased power given to brothel owners.
The path towards greater regulation and worker protections in Belgium's sex industry remains uncertain, as the law is currently being reviewed by the Constitutional Court.