Summary
Highlights
Leni Breymaier, whose film 'Freier Wille' was screened, shares her journey into the topic. Her engagement began during the 2006 World Cup, where she realized that conventional union approaches wouldn't work for women in extreme dependency. She learned about the systemic exploitation and the difficulties women face in escaping. She champions the 'Nordic Model' (criminalizing johns) and has faced backlash, but finds strength in solidarity. Breymaier emphasizes that her fight is for all women, extending beyond those currently in prostitution, towards a gender-equal society and the protection of women's dignity.
The event, part of the 'Ethics in Dialogue' series at Scala Ludwigsburg, aims to illuminate complex societal issues from various perspectives. This evening focuses on prostitution and human trafficking, a topic previously explored in 2019 with the film 'Bordell Deutschland,' and now revisited in a 'near-normal state' after pandemic interruptions. The event includes a screening of the film 'Freier Wille' by Leni Breymaier, followed by online interviews and a live panel discussion. The host thanks attendees for braving the nice weather to engage with this important, though not always pleasant, topic.
MP Brigitte Zypries (CDU) joins remotely from Berlin. She explains that while she didn't engage with the topic in her youth, her involvement began with the 1998 debate on prostitution that led to its legalization. Over 24 years, she became deeply invested, especially after seeing the negative consequences of liberalization, which turned Germany into 'Europe's brothel.' The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the horrific conditions, as many women were left stranded and without support. Zypries emphasizes that self-determination and prostitution are incompatible and that the exploitation of the human body and spirit in prostitution should be challenged, not normalized. She highlights the need for public awareness and has actively pushed for policy changes within the CDU-CSU parliamentary group, focusing on issues like closing brothels during the pandemic.
Zypries addresses the discrepancy between the often-romanticized media portrayal of prostitution and the harsh reality. She points out that the common image of glamorous brothels with golden beds doesn't reflect the majority of cases, which involve degrading 'performance boxes' and street prostitution under appalling conditions. She stresses the need for more emotional connection and empathy to understand the suffering of women in these coercive situations, as most people outside the milieu are unaware of the true extent of exploitation.
Zypries observes a growing political movement across various fronts, including migration policy, human rights, and internal/external affairs. New alliances are forming to address human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable women, including refugees. While acknowledging that political decisions haven't yet been fully implemented, she expresses optimism about the increasing awareness and momentum. She calls for continued perseverance to achieve policy changes, especially given that those who benefit from the current system often remain silent.
Breymaier defends the Nordic Model, arguing it's superior to Germany's current system, as it shifts the societal stance on sex buying. She likens it to societal condemnation of theft or murder, suggesting that buying sex should be seen as unacceptable. She doesn't cling to the name 'Nordic Model' but insists on the criminalization of demand and support for women. She also links the issue to the impact of hardcore pornography on young people, highlighting its role in shaping unrealistic and harmful views on sex and consent, making the fight against both pornography and prostitution crucial for gender equality.
Following the powerful statements from Zypries and Breymaier, Judith Raupp, the Equality Officer for the city of Ludwigsburg, takes over as moderator for the live panel. She clarifies the event's focus on ethics, not moral condemnation, aiming to foster discussion on how to achieve a good coexistence. Raupp introduces the panelists: Sandra Nowak (jurist and survivor, founder of 'GETS'), Wolfgang Fink (former criminal chief inspector involved in the 'Paradise' brothel case), and Hunderosenauer (Professor of Psychology and activist against forced prostitution).
Wolfgang Fink explains how his 25 years as a police officer didn't prepare him for the 'parallel world' of prostitution until he investigated the 'Paradise' brothel. He describes how the legal system for prostitution was exploited by pimps and brothel owners who profited from women, many of whom were coerced. The 'Paradise' case was groundbreaking as it successfully prosecuted a brothel owner for aiding forced prostitution due to clear evidence of complicity between the owner and criminal gangs (Hells Angels, United Tribuns) controlling the women. He highlights that while some women may claim self-determination, the vast majority are exploited, with Germany's legal framework attracting international sex tourism.
Sandra Nowak introduces 'GETS' (Germany's Survivors of Trafficking and Exploitation Advisory Council), an organization founded by survivors for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. She explains that it provides a safe space for women to heal and rebuild their lives, addressing the severe trauma and isolation many face after leaving the industry. GETS also actively creates awareness materials, such as flyers distributed at the event, to inform vulnerable women and the public, especially in light of current crises like the war in Ukraine, which increases the risk of trafficking.
Sandra Nowak explains why Germany's Prostitution Protection Act, despite its name, fails to protect women. The law inadvertently normalizes and legalizes a system rife with human trafficking, allowing exploitation to occur in plain sight. Registration requirements are easily manipulated, as pimps train women on what to say to authorities. The continuous demand fueled by legalization necessitates a constant supply of women, making human trafficking a lucrative business. Nowak argues that the law creates a false sense of security and fails to address the underlying exploitation. Fink adds that police checks are often ineffective, as women are coerced into claiming voluntary participation, and authorities are ill-equipped to identify victims of forced prostitution.
Sandra Nowak delves into the complex nature of coercion, which extends beyond physical violence to include psychological manipulation, emotional dependency, and exploitation of past trauma. Perpetrators, often partners or family members, skillfully identify and exploit vulnerabilities. Many women, having experienced childhood abuse, lack a sense of self-worth and may not even realize they are being trafficked. The first sexual encounter can be deeply traumatizing, leading to PTSD and a broken personality, making escape incredibly difficult. Nowak stresses that current support systems are insufficient, and more resources are needed to help survivors rebuild their lives and process their trauma.
Hunderosenauer announces the formation of the Ludwigsburg alliance against human trafficking and forced prostitution, initiated after an event in December. The alliance, comprising various local organizations and institutions, aims to raise awareness, educate, and offer support to potential and actual victims. They plan workshops, presentations, and press initiatives to inform the public and engage local politicians. A key focus is educating young people in schools to prevent them from becoming unwilling participants or customers in the sex trade.
The panel discusses key takeaways and hopes for the future. Hunderosenauer highlights the encouragement received from politicians for local initiatives and the plan to engage schools. She emphasizes the importance of addressing the demand side by educating men. Wolfgang Fink advocates for raising the legal age for prostitution to 21 and wishes for a societal shift that educates children against the normalization of buying sex. Sandra Nowak emphasizes the urgent need for more comprehensive support and therapy for survivors of exploitation and continued efforts to reduce demand through public awareness and education among young men.