The Bulgarian government reversed its position on legalizing prostitution on 28 September 2007. This decision was based on an intent to combat sexual trafficking. There has recently been a trend in Europe to impose bans on prostitution in order to combat human trafficking. Last year, Finland made it illegal to purchase sex from women who have been trafficked. Norway is currently considering a full ban on prostitution. The Czech Republic and three other Baltic countries recently attempted to legalize prostitution, but this too was struck down.
This new anti-prostitution movement has come from research inferring a link between prostitution and trafficking. Forty-five percent of the Bulgarian women trafficked are trafficked within the country from rural areas to big cities. Some believe that legalizing prostitution will only encourage further trafficking within the country and make Bulgaria a destination for sex tourism.
Compiled from: “Joining Trend, Bulgaria Won’t Allow Prostitution,” Nicholas Kulish, The New York Times, 6 October 2007.