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German-Swedish expert exchange on the topic of prostitution

How does Sweden deal with the issue of prostitution - and what can we learn from it? Experts discussed this topic as part of the German-Swedish expert exchange.

On May 22, 2023, the German-Swedish expert exchange on the topic of prostitution took place at the RheinMain CongressCentrum (RMCC). Below you will find the video recordings of the event.

Poster for the event: German-Swedish exchange of expertise

Over 500 people took part in the hybrid event - both on site and via livestream. The main participants were professionals from municipal administrations, authorities such as the police and the general and specialized support system. Numerous people from politics and politically active non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also took part. The event was organized by the municipal women's department of the state capital Wiesbaden.

Greetings and video messages

After the opening by Saskia Veit-Prang and Manuela Schon from the Municipal Women's Department, Christiane Hinninger, Head of the Department for Environment, Economy, Equality and Organization, addressed the participants. This was followed by further greetings via video message.

German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Greeting by Per Thöresson / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Greeting by Yvonne Magwas / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Greeting by Maria Noichl / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Greeting Malin Björk / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Greeting by Märta Stenevi / LH Wiesbaden

Opening speech

"The Swedish approach: prostitution as an obstacle to equality and an expression of gender-specific violence against women."

German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Opening Speech Gunilla S. Ekberg (German)
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Opening Speech Gunilla S.Ekberg (English)

Panel 1: Protection and support - What do women in prostitution need?

  • Huschke Mau (founder of the ELLA network)
  • Merly Åsbogård (activist of the organization Child 10)
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 1 (Original) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 1 (German) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 1 (English) / LH Wiesbaden

Panel 2: Opportunities and challenges of social work in the field of prostitution and health aspects

  • Malin Andersson (work with sexually exploited children)
  • Sofie Lidbeck (work with prostituted women and men)
  • Marie Johansson (work with men who use prostitution)

All three are speakers from the Department against Prostitution and Human Trafficking, City of Stockholm.

  • Liane Bissinger (gynecologist, former employee of the Central Counseling Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hamburg)
  • Astrid Fehrenbach (Head of the Amalie Mannheim Counseling Center)
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 2 (Original) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 2 (German) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 2 (English) / LH Wiesbaden

Panel 3: Challenges in combating human trafficking and the central importance of demand

  • Janna Davidson (National Rapporteur of the Swedish Police)
  • Louise Dammborg (Police Officer, Human Trafficking Unit 5, Stockholm Region)
  • Mikael Lins (Police Officer, Human Trafficking Unit 5, Stockholm Region)
  • Helmut Sporer (retired senior detective, former Augsburg criminal investigation department)
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 3 (Original) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 3 (German) / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish Expert Exchange "Prostitution" - Panel 3 (English) / LH Wiesbaden

Conclusion: Impulses from today's symposium for prostitution policy in Germany and Wiesbaden

Manuela Schon (Consultant in the Municipal Women's Department for the local implementation of the Istanbul Convention).

German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Conclusion Manuela Schon / LH Wiesbaden
German-Swedish professional exchange "Prostitution" - Conclusion Manuela Schon (English)/LH Wiesbaden

Graphic Recording

The event was captured in a graphic recording by Peter Ederer from White Rabbit Studio.

German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Prevention / City of Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Criminal prosecution / City of Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Support / City of Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Opener / City of Wiesbaden
German-Swedish expert exchange "Prostitution" - Conclusion / City of Wiesbaden
Impression technology
Impression technology
Impression Graphic
Impression Graphic
Welcoming address Municipal Women's Representative Saskia Veit-Prang
Welcoming address Municipal Women's Representative Saskia Veit-Prang
Greeting from the head of department Christiane Hinninger
Greeting from the head of department Christiane Hinninger
Panel 1
Panel 1
Panel 3
Panel 3
Conclusion Manuela Schon
Conclusion Manuela Schon

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Explanations and notes

Picture credits