Legal Framework

Germany fully decriminalized prostitution with the Prostitution Act (ProstG) in 2002, granting sex workers access to social security and healthcare. To strengthen protections and combat exploitation, lawmakers enacted the Prostitutes Protection Act (ProstSchG) in 2017 (effective July 1, 2017), introducing mandatory registration, regular health consultations, and stricter oversight of brothels and agencies.

Registration and the Shadow Economy

Under the ProstSchG, anyone offering sexual services for payment must register with local authorities, attend two counselling sessions, and carry a valid registration certificate while working. Fear of stigma, data insecurity, and potential discrimination drives many—especially migrants and those with dependent families—into unregistered, covert forms of sex work, leaving them outside legal and social protections.

Economic Realities

Street-based services in many urban areas can cost as little as €10–30 per encounter. With such low fees and unpredictable demand, registered sex workers often struggle to cover basic living expenses, let alone pay taxes or insurance contributions. Unregistered workers typically earn even less and face greater risks of extortion, violence, and homelessness.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Germany serves as a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, with sexual exploitation remaining the predominant form. Traffickers increasingly lure victims—primarily young women and children—via online platforms and exploit private apartments to evade law enforcement. In 2024, authorities registered a record 576 completed investigations, over 200 involving minors, and documented cases where children were literally offered for sale online.

Child Prostitution and Rights Violations

Commercial sexual exploitation of minors is explicitly illegal under German and international law, but enforcement gaps persist. The so-called “lover boy” method—whereby perpetrators groom underage victims into dependent relationships before coercing them into prostitution—has surged, often facilitated by social media and messaging apps. Each instance constitutes a grave violation of children’s rights and demands urgent, specialized intervention.

Human Rights Implications and Next Steps

Despite progressive statutes, enforcement lags behind intent:

• Unregistered workers remain vulnerable to abuse without access to healthcare, legal recourse, or labour rights.

• Trafficking networks exploit regulatory blind spots, shifting operations into private apartments and digital venues.

• The ongoing evaluation of the Prostitutes Protection Act through 2025 faces criticism for its administrative hurdles and unintended push toward unregulated markets.

To uphold human rights, Germany must:

• Criminalize all forms of prostitution, targeting clients, pimps and intermediaries with stiff criminal penalties.

• Destroy human-trafficking organizations through coordinated, intelligence-driven law-enforcement operations and international cooperation.

Urgent Appeal to the International Community

To the international community, we call on you to make your voices heard. Contact the German Embassy in your country and demand that Germany reverse its policy by criminalizing prostitution and dismantling all trafficking networks. Urge your governments and human-rights bodies to press Berlin for a total ban on prostitution as a matter of urgent moral and humanitarian concern.

We urge the global community to take principled action. Until Germany ends its systemic human rights violations tied to legalized prostitution and trafficking, we call for a full boycott of German-made products. Refrain from purchasing vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen, as well as any other goods that contribute to Germany’s economic strength while these abuses persist. Economic pressure is a powerful tool—let it be used to demand justice, dignity, and reform.

We also ask that you avoid any non-essential travel to Germany until these demands are met. Do not support an economy that profits from exploitation—refrain from tours, holidays, or business trips that indirectly endorse a system where vulnerable people are commodified.

Finally, spread the word. Share reports, testimonies, and news of Germany’s encouragement of prostitution as an inhumane and uncivilized practice. Only through global solidarity and consistent pressure can we force real change and protect the most vulnerable from abuse.