How Different EU Countries View Escorts

With female companionship services of all kinds being so common throughout Europe, and indeed the world, different countries and their people have developed their own attitudes and approaches to the industry. The question of legality often plays a large role in how people view escorts in various countries. In Germany, Netherlands and Greece for example, prostitution is legal and regulated and this has resulted in the majority of the population willingly turning a blind eye. Although these countries are known for being relatively liberal, it may be surprising to learn that this legal position is also in place in the more conservative Austria and Switzerland.

In the majority of Europe, prostitution is also legal but not actually regulated. This means that in countries such as the UK, France and Spain for example, attitudes to escorts and the men who use them are a little more old-fashioned. Providing sexual services of any kind has traditionally been seen as something that goes on behind closed doors, and if it remains a private and discrete activity, the public are not overly concerned. It is when sex workers begin to offer their service in a public place that people become unhappy. It is for this reason that soliciting in public is usually illegal, including in the UK.

Sometimes attitudes to escorts are often influenced heavily by the media; if for example a leading politician or celebrity is found to have used an escort, how is this presented in the news? Is the politician forced out of office by resignation or sacking? This has sometimes been the case with high profile clients visiting London escorts, although this really has more to do with the media and reputation, rather than any question of morality.

And this is the last question to be asked; is there anything immoral about visiting an escort? The majority of Europeans would say ‘no’, whereas 50 years ago the general attitude would be more conservative, today's generation are more liberal towards virtually everything, including the freedom of choice to become a sex worker.

Sex Workers Support Groups and NGO’s

A Way Out
The Gate
1-2 Castlegate Quay
Stockton on Tees
TS18 1BZ
01642 655 071
www.awayout.co.uk

Barnardos SECOS Project
East West Centre
Ayresome
Green Lane
Middlesbrough
TS5 5BA
01642 819 743
www.barnardos.org.uk/SECOS

Cornerhouse
29 Percy Street
Hull East
Yorkshire
HU2 8HL
01482 327044
www.wearecornerhouse.org

Gibran
3 - 4 Llanover Business Centre
Llanover
Nr Aberavenny
Monmouthshire
NP7 9HA
01873 880976
www.gibran-uk.co.uk

Kairos Working Womens
St Peters Centre
Charles Street
Hillfields
Coventry
CV1 5NP
02476 559550
www.kairoswwt.org

One 25 Ltd
The Grosvenor Centre
138A Grosvenor Road
St Pauls
Bristol
BS2 8YA
0117 909 8832
www.one25.org.uk

POW Nottingham
16 Independent Street
Radford
Nottingham
NG7 3LN
0115 924 9993
www.pow-advice.co.uk

Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH)
94-96 Fairfield St
Manchester
M1 2WR
0800 183 0499
0161 273 4555
www.mash.org.uk

AVERT
4 Brighton Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5BA
01403 210202
www.avert.org

SCOT-PEP
72 Newhaven Road
Edinburgh
EH6 5QG
0131 622 7550
www.scot-pep.org.uk

Intl. Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE)
Van Diemenstraat 194
1013 CP
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
(0) 20 693 1300
www.sexworkeurope.org

Madonna e.V.
Alleestraße 50 (im Hof)
44793 Bochum
(0)234 68 57 50
www.madonna-ev.de

Hydra e.V
Köpenicker Straße 187/188
D-10997 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
030 611 00 23
www.hydra-ev.org

Amnesty for Women Städtegruppe Hamburg e.V.
Grosse Bergstr. 231
22767 Hamburg
040 38 47 53
www.amnestyforwomen.de

SOAAIDS
Keizersgracht 392
1016 GB Amsterdam
020 6262669
www.soaaids.nl

TAMPEP International Foundation
Obiplein 4
1094 RB Amsterdam
020 692 69 12
www.tampep.eu

Bufas e.V.
Mittenwalder Str. 7
10961 Berlin
Deutschland
0234 68 57 50
www.bufas.net

Stichting de Rode Draad
Kloveniersburgwal 47
1011 JX Amsterdam
020 6243366
www.rodedraad.nl