Canada sinks in global gender gap index

"In Sweden prostitution
is regarded as an aspect of male violence against women and children. It is
officially acknowledged as a form of exploitation of women and children and
constitutes a significant social problem... gender equality will remain
unattainable so long as men buy, sell and exploit women and children by
prostituting them."

In addition to the two
pronged legal strategy, a third and essential element of Sweden's prostitution
legislation provides for ample and comprehensive social service funds aimed at
helping any prostitute who wants to get out, and additional funds to educate the
public. As such, Sweden's unique strategy treats prostitution as a form of
violence against women in which the men who exploit by buying sex are
criminalized, the mostly female prostitutes are treated as victims who need
help, and the public is educated in order to counteract the historical male bias
that has long stultified thinking on prostitution. To securely anchor their view
in firm legal ground, Sweden's prostitution legislation was passed as part and
parcel of the country's 1999 omnibus violence against women
legislation.

An Early Obstacle in
the Path

Interestingly, despite
the country's extensive planning prior to passing the legislation, the first
couple years into this novel project nothing much happened at all. Police made
very few arrests of johns and prostitution in Sweden, which had previously been
legalized, went on pretty much as it had gone on before. Naysayers the world
over responded to the much publicized failure with raucous heckling, "See?
Prostitution always has been, and it always will be."

But eminently secure in
the thinking behind their plan, the Swedes paid no heed. They quickly
identified, then solved the problem. The hang-up, the place where their best
efforts had snagged, was that law enforcement wasn't doing it's part. The police
themselves, it was determined, needed in-depth training and orientation to what
the Swedish public and legislature already understood profoundly. Prostitution
is a form of male violence against women. The exploiter/buyers need to be
punished, and the victim/prostitutes need to be helped. The Swedish government
put up extensive funds and the country's police and prosecutors, from the top
ranks down to the officer on the beat, were given intensive training and a clear
message that the country meant business. It was then that the country quickly
began to see the unequaled results.

Today, not only do the
Swedish people continue to overwhelming support their country's approach to
prostitution (80% of people in favor according to national opinion polls), but
the country's police and prosecutors have also come around to be among the
legislation's staunchest supporters. Sweden's law enforcement has found that the
prostitution legislation benefits them in dealing with all sex crimes,
particularly in enabling them to virtually wipe out the organized crime element
that plagues other countries where prostitution has been legalized or
regulated.