Reception at the ancient courtroom of the Tübingen city hall – by Lord Mayor Boris Palmer.

Our guests receive a tour of the city hall, where they can admire the ancient paintings related to Justice – such an important topic for them.

The guests of “Women’s Worlds” who participate in the panel conversation “Stop buying Sex – Now!”: Helmut Sporer, Sandra Norak, Inge Bell and Simon Häggstrom, in front of the painting of Justitia, the ancient goddess of justice!

The CEO of TERRE DES FEMMES Christa Stolle, the future director of the film festival “Women’s Worlds” in Berlin, Sabrina Kürzinger, the present festival director in Tübingen Irene Jung, the Lord Mayor of Tübingen, Boris Palmer.

Sandra Norak, Helmut Sporer, Inge Bell, Boris Palmer, Irene Jung, Simon Häggstrom and Christa Stolle (from left to right)

The tour continues up to the roof of the city hall with the over 500 years old astronomical clock, a masterpiece unique in the world, which indicates with it’s solar, lunar and dragon hands, whenever there is a lunar or solar eclipse at any place of the world.

The Swedish Detective Inspector Simon Häggström informs about the “Nordic Model” with the Legal Ban on Buying Sex. It decriminalizes women who are enrolled in prostitution, it even protects them and offers them support for an exit from prostitution. The sex-buyers are being criminalized by this model, and by these means it eliminates the breeding ground for the prostitution business with it’s violent outgrowths: the money. For Häggström it is important that these methods are being accompanied by educational measures within the population, which have produced a change of attitude and mind in Sweden. 20 years ago 70% of the population was against the ban on buying sex. Now 70 % of the population support it!

Detective Superintendent Helmut Sporer talks about “The Augsburg Way” which demands that human dignity and self-determination should be basics in dealing with prostitution.

Inge Bell, a journalist and chairwoman of TERRE DES FEMMES, listens carefully and then relates about activities, challenges and successes of the networks that engage in the aim of abolishing prostitution.

Sandra Norak explains which are the psychological consequences of experiencing violence in brothels and in street-prostitution, the multiple traumas which strain the women severely even years after leaving prostitution. She also talks about the fact that the German legislation is a push factor for human trafficking. She too demands the legal ban on buying sex in Germany.

Our guests, all together in front of the city hall of Tübingen

Back in the movie theatre, Inspector Simon Häggström and Superintendent Helmut Sporer find some time for a short exchange, before heading to the panel conversation on “Stop buying sex – Now!”. They know each other for years from their mutual activity as experts for the European Parliament.

The panel participants are: Sandra Norak, Laura Beck (interpreter), Simon Häggstrom, Irene Jung (moderator), Helmut Sporer and Inge Bell.

Sandra Norak, survivor of the “Loverboy” method starts the conversation. She talks about the day-by-day violence that she had to endure during her time as a prostitute.

The Swedish Detective Inspector Simon Häggstrom reports about the successes in Sweden of the ban on buying sex accompanied by projects which help women get out of prostitution and the resulting mind-changing effects in the society which the law has generated.

On the other hand, Police Superintendent Helmut Sporer reports about how the liberal laws in Germany lead to new problems for the German Criminal Police. He has summarized his concept of “Prostitution – human dignity and self-determination as central criteria of a new and necessary regulation” under the title “Augsburger Weg”.

Inge Bell, vice-chairwoman of TERRE DES FEMMES, has seen much suffering as she has worked as a reporter for foreign affairs for months, at film shootings and research work in Eastern Europe, on topics dealing with prostitution. Her focus: investigative and partially highly controversial political reports about organized crime, human trafficking or the treatment of disabled people.

On this day, at the cinema lobby the exposition on “Prostitution – Myths and Realities” can be visited by the audience. (click to enlarge)