The Danish political party Venstre is considering relaxing the paragraph on pimping in the penal code, according to Christian Friis Bach, the party’s social spokesperson. This potential shift in policy aims to address concerns that the current law may hinder sex workers from achieving safer and more secure working conditions.

The government has recently established a working group tasked with examining the consequences of the existing pimping law, which currently criminalizes the operation of businesses where individuals engage in sexual relations with clients for payment. The law’s initial objective was to shield sex workers, predominantly women, from exploitation by those who profit from their work.

Minister for Social Affairs and Housing Sophie Hæstorp Andersen has expressed openness to reviewing the legislation to determine if it inadvertently prevents sex workers from attaining security and safety.

This marks a potential change in stance for both Venstre and the Social Democrats, who previously opposed abolishing or easing the pimping law. In 2015, Venstre’s legal spokesperson Preben Bang Henriksen stated the party saw no reason to alter the law, citing excessive crime associated with it. Similarly, Trine Bramsen (S), then the legal spokesperson, asserted that the party would not relax the law, deeming the selling and trading of women for prostitution unacceptable. These statements were made following a proposal by the Liberal Alliance to relax the law. At the time, the Conservatives also indicated their willingness to review the pimping law.

Currently, the penalty for pimping in Denmark is up to four years in prison.