Belgium in the international context
With the 2022-2024 reform, Belgium has adopted one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks in the world for sex work.
A distinctive model
The Belgian model stands out from other European approaches:
What Belgium does differently
- Creation of a specific employment contract with sector-specific rights
- Absolute right of refusal enshrined in law
- Mandatory employer accreditation, with criminal record checks
- Safety and hygiene requirements detailed in law
- Regulation of online advertising with obligations for platforms
- Periodic evaluation by Parliament
Comparison with other models
- Netherlands — Legalisation with licences, but no specific employment contract
- Germany — Legalisation with mandatory registration, but fewer sector-specific rights
- Sweden — "Nordic model": criminalisation of the buyer, not the seller
- France — Criminalisation of the client since 2016
- New Zealand — Full decriminalisation since 2003, often cited as a reference
European framework
The Belgian royal decrees take European law into account, in particular:
- The Digital Services Act (DSA, 2022/2065) which applies to online platforms
- The GDPR (2016/679) for the protection of personal data
- The Services Directive (2006/123/EC) taken into account by the Brussels-Capital Region in its urban planning regulations
- The notification procedure to the European Commission (Directive 2015/1535) was followed for the advertising decree