The Equality Model

The Equality Model, also known as the “Nordic Model,” 
is a pioneering legislative and societal framework first implemented in Sweden in 1999

It was a groundbreaking approach to addressing prostitution by shifting the burden of criminality away from individuals in prostitution and onto those who exploit them: buyers and traffickers.

Key Components

of the Equality Model

  • Decriminalization of Prostituted Persons

    Individuals selling sex are treated as victims.

  • Criminalization of Buyers and Traffickers

    The model targets the demand for commercial sex by penalizing those who purchase or facilitate prostitution.

  • Comprehensive Exit Services

    Governments implementing this model provide support for those wishing to leave prostitution, including housing, vocational training, mental health services, andaddiction recovery programs.

  • Public Awareness Campaigns

    Efforts to change cultural attitudes and reduce stigma surrounding prostitution, promoting gender equality and challenging the commodification of bodies.

How the Equality Model
Was Pioneered in Sweden

Sweden was the first country to adopt this model under its 1999 legislation, the Sex Purchase Act (Köp av Sexuella Tjänster), which explicitly framed prostitution as a form of violence against women and a barrier to achieving gender equality.

This legislation emerged after decades of feminist advocacy, public debate, and recognition of the harms caused by prostitution.

Normative Impact

The Equality Model was not just a legal framework; it was a cultural shift. In Sweden, the law established a new societal norm that buying sex is unacceptable and exploitative.
Over time, public attitudes shifted significantly:

  • Surveys conducted in Sweden post-implementation showed increased public opposition to buying sex and a deeper understanding of the harms of prostitution.

  • Demand for prostitution decreased, 
with fewer individuals purchasing sex and organized trafficking networks finding it harder to operate in Sweden.

The law also highlighted Sweden’s broader commitment to gender equality, 
as it positioned prostitution as incompatible with a society that values the dignity 
and autonomy of all individuals.

Why ILVA Supports the Equality Model:

ILVA supports the Equality Model because evidence shows it is the only proven approach that both reduces sex trafficking and protects those who have been exploited in the sex trade. In countries where prostitution has been legalized or fully decriminalized, the result has been a measurable increase in sex trafficking, as legal markets create cover and expanded demand for exploiters and buyers.
By contrast, the Equality Model shifts accountability to those who fuel exploitation—buyers and pimps—while decriminalizing those who are sold in prostitution. This model has demonstrated success in decreasing trafficking and exploitation, while simultaneously investing in exit services and support systems for women and girls who have been harmed. For ILVA, this evidence-based, survivor-centered framework represents the only sustainable path toward equality, dignity, and real freedom from sexual exploitation.

Global Influence of the Equality Model

The success of the Equality Model in Sweden has inspired 
several other countries, including Norway, Iceland, France, Ireland, and Canada, to adopt similar legislation

These nations recognized the importance of addressing prostitution as a systemic issue that intersects with trafficking, poverty, and gender-based violence.

To learn more about the model please visit 
New Yorkers for Equality Model
https://www.equalitymodelny.org/who-we-are

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