A criminal law reform is entering its decisive phase in Berlin, which is also relevant for sex workers with connections to Germany. The Legal Committee of the German Bundestag has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, on the government draft „to strengthen criminal prosecution of human trafficking and sexual exploitation“ (printed documents 21/6584 and 21/7562). The session will last two hours and will be broadcast live according to the German Bundestag. The cabinet passed the draft on May 27, 2026, and the first reading took place on June 26.
In terms of content, this is more than cosmetic changes. The offense of human trafficking is to be expanded to include further forms of exploitation, the penalty ranges for serious forced prostitution are to increase, and courts are to be able more easily to refrain from prosecution if those affected committed offenses themselves under duress. New is also criminal liability for demand across all forms of exploitation: previously, only those who knowingly engaged in sexual services from those affected were liable to prosecution — in the future, this is to apply to all services. The background is EU Directive 2024/1712, whose implementation deadline expired in July 2026 (Federal Ministry of Justice).
What this means for the industry: This is explicitly not a sex purchase ban — criminal liability for demand continues to be tied to knowledge of an exploitation situation and is now being extended to other industries. More practically important is the second point. The German Institute for Human Rights had criticized in a statement from December 2025 that immunity from prosecution for those affected remains merely a discretionary provision and residence permit questions remain unresolved (Institute for Human Rights). Much depends on exactly this: anyone who wants to report exploitation still risks their own consequences today — missing registration certificate, fines, tax or residence problems. As long as this remains the case, the strictest penalty range does little good, because statements will not be forthcoming.
Anyone working or commuting in Germany should keep an eye on the hearing and the further proceedings.
Source: Statement of the Committee for Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection, German Bundestag, as of September 16, 2026.
How do you assess this: would binding immunity from prosecution for those affected lower the barrier to reporting exploitation at all?