Belgium
Prostitution
Prostitution policy: Full Decriminalisation
As the Federal Parliament approved the new sexual penal code on 17 March 2022, Belgium is now the first country in Europe to officially decriminalise sex work. The country is now removing sex work from its penal code.
Belgium Joins Germany in Creating Legal Haven for Sex Trade
Belgium amends its Penal Code to further decriminalize pimping and brothel owning, following the model of Germany’s disastrous 2002-2017 prostitution law
NEW YORK and PARIS, March 31, 2022 – On March 18, 2022, based on a proposal presented by Federal Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, the Parliament of Belgium approved amendments to its Penal Code in a number of “sexual matters,” including related to prostitution. While Belgium had already legalized the system of prostitution in 1995, the amendments to Articles 380 to 382 of its Penal Code further decriminalize pimping and brothel owning, except in cases of “abnormally” high profits.
> catwinternational.org/press/belgium-joins-germany-in-creating-legal-haven-for-sex-trade
How COVID-19 helped sex workers in Belgium make history
By Joanna Gill
Sex workers celebrate as Belgium is the first EU country to decriminalise sex work, hoping to blaze a trail for other countries.
> news.trust.org/item/20220531082544-4c697