STRASBOURG, France: The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favor of a non-binding motion that calls for the criminal prosecution of individuals paying for prostitution. This motion comes at a time when several EU member states are reconsidering their laws on prostitution, which vary significantly across the bloc.

The motion encourages EU countries to make it a criminal offense to "solicit, accept, or obtain a sexual act from a person in exchange for remuneration, the promise of remuneration, the provision of a benefit in kind, or the promise of such a benefit."

The motion was a subject of intense debate and was passed with a narrow margin, receiving 234 votes in favor and 175 against. The issue saw divisions among the main party groups, with both right-wing and left-wing MEPs voting according to their individual stances.

In Europe, approaches to prostitution laws vary. Some countries, like Croatia and Lithuania, ban prostitution and impose criminal penalties on sex workers. Others, including Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, have legalized and regulated it. Some nations, such as Sweden, France, and Ireland, have shifted the criminal responsibility for sex work onto the clients involved in the transactions, which is the approach supported by the MEPs.

German socialist MEP Maria Noichl, who led the motion through parliament, emphasized that it provides a voice to marginalized and stigmatized individuals in society. She argued that the way forward involves creating exit programs, addressing poverty and social exclusion, challenging stereotypes and inequalities, and reducing demand by targeting the buyers of sexual services.

However, not all MEPs were convinced. Dutch liberal Sophie in 't Veld expressed disappointment and criticized the motion as ideologically driven, disregarding evidence and the opinions of those involved in the sex industry. She argued that the motion would not protect the rights and safety of sex workers.

In support of her viewpoint, In 't Veld shared a statement from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of 13 rights groups opposing the criminalization of any aspect of sex work. These groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, had urged the parliament to reject the report underlying the motion.

The coalition of rights groups argues that criminalization fails to protect the rights of individuals engaged in sex work and does not effectively address issues such as human trafficking and forced labor. They call for the respect of sex workers' human rights and their involvement in decision-making about their industry, cautioning that punishing clients could push abuses and dangers further underground.

The European Court of Human Rights is currently reviewing a case brought by 260 sex workers against France's 2016 law criminalizing clients, with a ruling expected in the coming months.