What is prostitution?
Prostitution means that sex is offered in exchange for money or other benefits. People who sell sex are sometimes referred to as sex workers or prostitutes.
Selling sex is legal in Norway
It is legal to sell sex in Norway, but buying sex is prohibited.
People selling sex have the same sexual rights as anyone. They can:
- refuse customers;
- refuse any sexual act they do not want to perform;
- stop selling sex if they want to.
It is illegal to offer, mediate or ask to buy or sell sex through advertising via the internet, in newspapers or magazines, on billboards, etc. Advertising for selling or buying sex is punishable by fines or prison.
It is illegal to buy sex
It is prohibited to buy sex in Norway. For Norwegian citizens and those living in Norway it is also illegal to buy sex in other countries.
Forced prostitution and trafficking are prohibited by law throughout Europe.
It is illegal to earn money from others selling sex
In Norway, it is illegal to earn money from others selling sex. It means that it is illegal to:
- promote others selling sex, or
- rent out an appartment, a facility or a hotelroom to persons who plans to sell sex there.
It is illegal to force others to sell sex. A spouse cannot force their partner to sell sex.
