What’s new?
Advice centresI’ve heard that there’s a new law for prostitutes. Is that right?
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Yes. There has been a new law since 1 July 2017. It is called the Prostituiertenschutzgesetz or Prostitute Protection Law – or ‘ProstSchG’ for short.
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It applies throughout Germany.
What’s new?
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Anyone who works in prostitution or sex work or wishes to do so, has to register with an authority. They also have to undergo regular health advice.
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The authorities responsible for registration and health consultation differ from one Federal state to the next. This is how it works in Schleswig-Holstein: Registration and health consultation in SH
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What is also new is that condoms are obligatory: Condom requirement
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Nor may anybody advertise for sex without condoms or sex with pregnant women.
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Anybody who wishes to run a prostitution business must obtain a permit to do so from the authorities.
Does this law apply to me?
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Yes, if you perform sexual services on or in the presence of people, and receive money for doing so. Or, if you receive other benefits instead of money (such as free accommodation) and by doing so secure or intentionally better your means of living.
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If this is the case, then the law applies to you whether or not you work full time, part-time, regularly, occasionally or only rarely.
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The law applies to working in brothels, apartments, love-mobiles and on the street. It does not necessarily matter whether sexual intercourse or direct physical contact is involved. It includes services like escorting, tantric massage, erotic massage, sexual assistance and BDSM.
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If you do table dancing, telephone sex, peep-shows, sexual or erotic Internet shows, then the law does not apply to you – or at least not if you don’t directly involve any other persons present except for other actors.
If this is the case, then you don’t have to register at any of the authorities responsible for the ProstSchG. However, it is very likely that you will have to register with the finance authorities. -
Sounds complicated? It is. If you’re uncertain about what applies to you, then you can ask anonymously and confidentially here at cara*SH.
How does registration and health consultation work?
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It’s a bit different in each Federal state.
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You can find out here how it works in Schleswig-Holstein: Registration and health consultation in SH
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Visit here to see how other Federal states do it:
https://www.prostituiertenschutzgesetz.info/umsetzung-prostschg-bundeslaender/
Where can I get detailed information but stay anonymous?
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Here at cara*SH we can offer you detailed, anonymous advice about any questions you may have, and we offer free legal advice too. We don’t require you to give us any details about yourself.
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There are numerous other advisory centres throughout Germany who we can recommend for anonymous advice. You will find them here:
https://www.prostituiertenschutzgesetz.info/beratungsstellen/
How often do I have to repeat my registration and health consultation if I’m under 21?
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If you’re between 18 and 21 years old, you have to go for a health consultation every six months and extend your registration after one year.
How often do I have to repeat my registration and health consultation if I’m over 21?
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If you’re over 21 years old, you have to go for a health consultation every 12 months and extend your registration every two years.
Why does the law not apply to minors?
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People under the age of 18 – called minors – are specially protected in Germany and most other countries.
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If somebody procures sexual acts from anybody below the age of 18 in exchange for money, then that is called ‘sexual abuse’ and it is a criminal offence.
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Anybody who even promotes prostitution among minors becomes liable to prosecution. This includes, for example, encouraging somebody to ‘try selling sex for money.’
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Germany has a Youth Protection Act or Jugendschutzgesetz. This law prevents minors from being in night bars, nightclubs and other places of public entertainment where sexually related offers are made. This can include hostess bars, sex saunas, prostitution establishments, swinger clubs and other establishments where prostitution is practised.
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If you need more information about this, ask us at cara*SH.
What else should I know?
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In Germany there are lots of other legal regulations that may apply to you. We’ve gathered together a list of them here:
Law -
You can make use of our free legal advice service at cara* SH at any time.
Advice near you
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21502 Geesthacht
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Lübecker Straße 41
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Fleethörn 18-24
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Medibüro Lübeck Vermittlung medizinischer Hilfe für Geflüchtete, Migrantinnen und Migranten ohne Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung
Große Burgstraße 51
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Feldstraße 24a
25335 Elmshorn
Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen Kiel e.V. Beratungsstelle für Frauen, Familien und Schwangere Flensburg
Dr.-Todsen-Straße 4
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Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen Kiel e.V. Beratungsstelle für Frauen, Familien und Schwangere Kiel
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24103 Kiel
Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen Kiel e.V. Beratungsstelle für Frauen, Familien und Schwangere Neumünster
Linienstraße 1
24534 Neumünster