The Belgian law on paid sex work, which came into effect on December 1, 2024, marks a historic turning point in the approach to prostitution in Belgium. For the first time, sex workers can now sign an employment contract with an employer, granting them access to social rights such as social security, sick leave, and a pension. Presented as a step forward in protecting prostitutes, this reform has sparked deep division. On one side, organizations like Utsopi and Bunniz support this legalization, seeing the employee status as a recognition of sex work as a legitimate profession. On the other, nine Belgian organizations, backed by an international movement, have appealed to the Constitutional Court to have the law annulled, denouncing it as a disguised legalization of pimping and an institutionalization of sexual exploitation. This article explores the stakes of this reform, the arguments of both sides, and the implications for sex workers.

A Historic Reform Under Fire

Adopted after heated parliamentary debates, the Belgian law of December 1, 2024, allows sex workers to benefit from a legal framework similar to that of other professions. This legislation, supported by advocates of decriminalizing sex work, aims to provide better social protection and reduce the stigmatization of prostitutes. However, from its inception, the reform faced fierce opposition from feminist organizations, legal experts, and survivors of prostitution, who view it as a step backward in the fight against exploitation. On March 25, 2025, nine Belgian organizations, including the nonprofit Isala, filed a request with the Constitutional Court to annul the law. Supported by over 120 international figures and organizations, these associations condemn a law that, in their view, legitimizes a system based on sexual exploitation. Mireia Crespo, director of Isala, powerfully sums up their stance: “The pimp becomes a recognized entrepreneur, and the exploitation of women is disguised as social progress.”

The Arguments of the Opponents: A Legalization of Pimping?

An Illusion of Safety for Sex Workers

Opponents argue that the promise of increased safety for sex workers is an illusion. They contend that the employment contract places sex workers in a position of heightened vulnerability. In a sector where the client imposes their demands, the so-called “consent” of sex workers is undermined by economic precarity, social pressures, and power dynamics. “Refusing a client means risking your job or safety,” explains a representative of Isala. The emergency buttons planned for workplaces, though presented as a protective measure, are insufficient to counter the structural violence inherent in prostitution. Opponents draw on international examples to substantiate their concerns. In Germany, where prostitution was legalized in 2002, the market for human trafficking and clandestine prostitution has significantly expanded. Dubbed “the brothel of Europe,” the country has seen an increase in the number of women working in precarious and dangerous conditions, often outside legal frameworks. Belgian associations fear that the new law will lead to similar outcomes, turning Belgium into a new hub for sexual exploitation.

The Impunity of Clients

Another central point of criticism is the lack of accountability for clients who pay for sex. In an era when the #MeToo movement has highlighted sexist and sexual violence, opponents question: “How can we accept a system that institutionalizes the purchase of a woman’s body by a man?” Pascale R., a survivor of prostitution, condemns a law that, rather than protecting, perpetuates patriarchal, racist, and class-based inequalities. According to her, the legalization of paid sex work normalizes a system where men can purchase access to women’s bodies without questioning the underlying power dynamics.

An Alternative: The Abolitionist Model

In contrast to legalization, opponents advocate for an abolitionist model, as adopted in Sweden (since 1999) and France (since 2016). In these countries, prostitution is treated as a form of gender-based violence. Clients are penalized, while prostitutes receive social support to exit the system. In Sweden, this model has reduced the demand for paid sexual acts, curbed human trafficking, and transformed societal attitudes. Opponents of the Belgian law call for a similar approach, centered on the dignity and freedom of women, rather than regulating a system they deem oppressive.

An International Mobilization

The challenge to the Belgian law is part of a global movement. CAP International, a worldwide network for the abolition of prostitution, supports the appeal to the Constitutional Court. According to the organization, “the new Belgian law legitimizes a system that perpetuates patriarchal, racist, and class-based oppression.” Belgian associations, such as Isala, emphasize the need to offer sex workers support toward a free life, rather than an employment contract that locks them into a system of exploitation.

The Law’s Defenders: A Step Forward for Social Rights

The Support of Utsopi and Bunniz

In the face of this opposition, organizations like Utsopi and Bunniz staunchly defend the reform. Utsopi, representing independent sex workers, sees the employment contract as a major step toward destigmatization and social protection. Daan Bauwens, spokesperson for Utsopi, states: “An employment contract remains the best weapon against exploitation. It gives sex workers the same rights as other workers: social security, sick leave, and pensions.” According to the organization, these rights enable sex workers to gain greater autonomy and more easily leave sex work if they choose. Bunniz, another Belgian association active in defending sex workers’ rights, shares this view. The organization highlights that recognizing sex work as a legal profession brings sex workers out of the shadows and offers them legal protection. Bunniz also stresses the importance of giving sex workers a voice, as they are often excluded from debates about their own realities.

A Crucial Distinction: Voluntary Sex Work vs. Human Trafficking

Utsopi and Bunniz emphasize the need to distinguish between voluntary sex work and human trafficking. According to them, sex workers, due to their on-the-ground experience, are best positioned to identify and report cases of violence, exploitation, or trafficking. By legalizing their activities, the law allows them to work in safer conditions and collaborate with authorities to combat abuses. “Sex workers are not inherently victims. Many choose this profession and deserve rights, not stigmatization,” Utsopi insists.

Opposition to the Swedish Model

The law’s defenders strongly oppose the Swedish abolitionist model, which they consider repressive and counterproductive. According to Utsopi, penalizing clients, as in Sweden, pushes sex work underground, exposing workers to heightened risks of coercion, violence, and exploitation. “The Swedish model fails to distinguish between voluntary sex work and human trafficking. It strips sex workers of legal protections and further marginalizes them,” Bunniz explains. In contrast, the Belgian law provides a legal framework that regulates the sector and protects those who choose this profession.

The Stakes of a Complex Debate

This debate crystallizes two opposing views on prostitution: is it a legitimate profession deserving of recognition and rights, or a form of systemic exploitation that must be abolished? For opponents, the Belgian law risks exacerbating inequalities and normalizing an oppressive system. For defenders, such as Utsopi and Bunniz, it represents a step toward the emancipation of sex workers, offering them rights and dignity long denied. The implications of this reform extend beyond Belgium’s borders. The Constitutional Court’s decision, expected in the coming months, could influence other countries grappling with similar issues. In the meantime, the debate remains vibrant, and the voices of sex workers, whether they support or criticize the law, must remain at the center of discussions.

Why Is This Issue Crucial?

The question of sex work touches on fundamental issues: human rights, gender equality, the fight against human trafficking, and social protection. Belgium, at a crossroads, must find a balance between protecting prostitutes and preventing abuses. The mobilization of associations, whether abolitionist like Isala or in favor of regulation like Utsopi and Bunniz, underscores the urgency of rethinking our approach to prostitution in a society striving for justice and equality.