Countries with Nordic Model legislation (or variations of it)
This page brings together the revelant legislations of those countries that have enacted Nordic Model type legisaltion. The information is presented in chronological order, starting with the original legislation in Sweden in 1999.
Further information relating to the Nordic Model in these and other countries can be found at the Nordic Model Resources page and in the CATWA publication Demand Change: Understanding the Nordic Model approach to prostitution.
Sweden
The original 1999 legislation is now found in Ch 6 (section 11) of the 2005 Penal Code.
Norway
In Nov 2008, the Penal Code was amended to include Section 202a which criminalises the purchase of sexual services. It came into force in Jan 2009 and also applies to acts committed abroad by Norwegian nationals.
Iceland
In April 2009 the Icelandic Parliament passed legislation amending the Penal Code to prohibit the purcahse of sexual services.
Canada
Bill C-36 to amend the Criminal Code was passed in 2014.
Northern Ireland
In June 2015, the Northern Ireland parliament passed the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act 2015. Section 15 deals with paying for the sexual services of a person, and penalise
Ireland
2016 The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 passed in the Senate and passed in the upper house, Seanad Éireann, on 14 February 2017.
France
In April 2016, the National Assembly passed legislation criminalising the purchase of sexual services. It can be found here, in French. A brief summary, in English, can be found here and a full translation of the legislation is available for download here.
Israel
Legislation was unanimously passed in the Knesset on 31 December 2018 and will come into effect in 18 months time.
Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution (in Hebrew)
South Korea
There are two pieces of relevant legisaltion
Act on the Punishment of Procuring Prostitution and Associated Acts