Experts urge Lithuania to punish sex buyers, not service providers

People who buy and provide sexual services are both subject to penalties in Lithuania, but human rights experts say only buyers should be punished, LRT reports. They argue that penalising service providers discourages them from seeking help.

Marija, who has provided sexual services for money for about six years, told LRT that neither providers nor buyers should be punished. She said she entered the industry because she needed money and other jobs had been highly exploitative.

An expert disagrees, saying women are exploited in prostitution and that clients are the main force driving this exploitation. She criticised the fact that victims, rather than buyers, are still being punished.

Under current rules, both providers and buyers can be fined between 90 and 140 euros. Involving a person in prostitution is punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

Experts who help people affected by exploitation say penalties for those involved in prostitution prevent them from seeking assistance. They therefore believe that only sex buyers should be punished.

The justice minister disagrees, saying the current system should remain in place. However, she believes fines for people who buy sexual services could be increased.

Marija began by providing services online, later moved into erotic massage and escort work, and now mainly works in BDSM, involving bondage and discipline, dominance and submission. She asked to be identified by the pseudonym Marija to protect her anonymity.

She said most clients find her online. Although she mainly works with regular clients whom she has known for a long time, she sometimes meets new ones. Clients usually write an email explaining what they want from a meeting. Marija then speaks with a potential client by phone before meeting them, usually at a hotel or another location.

Marija said she pays close attention to how people write and whether their interests match hers. She selects clients not only for her own safety, but also because sexual fantasies are most enjoyable when the participants’ interests and wishes coincide. This, she said, has led to relationships with clients who return.

Safety is a constant concern for people providing sexual services. Because both clients and providers can be penalised in Lithuania, ensuring personal safety is more difficult.

When a client is from another country, Marija often asks for a passport photograph or other personal information that could help identify the person.

She said most sexual service providers develop a strong sense of intuition and carefully analyse every message and reaction from a potential client. Over time, she said, they learn to recognise whom they should meet and whom they should avoid.