Belgium: New law enhances protections for sex workers against exploitation
Friday, December 20, 2024 3:20 AM

Since December 1, Belgium has implemented a law addressing sexual and labor exploitation, following its 2022 decriminalization of sex work. The legislation grants social security benefits to sex workers with employment contracts and establishes strict employer requirements, including safe working conditions and worker autonomy. Interviews highlight that while many workers consented to selling sex, abuses often stem from unregulated environments. Significantly, sex workers contributed to the drafting process, ensuring the law tackles exploitation effectively.
 
Compiled from: Erin Kilbride, “Belgium Adopts Historic Law Against Sexual Exploitation”, Human Rights Watch, Dec. 2, 2024.