It is scheduled to be presented to parliament at the beginning of February; the rapporteur will be Joséee Lorsché (Déi Gréng).

Opposition parties CSV and ADR opposed the report, as they took issue with one legal point on police powers. The police will have the power, with authorisation by the public prosecutor, to enter buildings which are open to the public, such as hotels, cafés or discos, as soon as they suspect that prostitution takes place there. This is a “right to enter”; the police won’t be allowed to search or seize.

CSV and ADR argue that the current text does not clearly distinguish between public and private buildings. It would allow the police, without needing a mandate from an investigating magistrate, to enter a private house. The CSV demands that an authorisation must be sought from the magistrate as well as the prosecutor. It also advocates changing other legal terms to make it clear that private housing should be excluded.

The aim of the reform of the prostitution law is to fight against human trafficking and pimping, and clients should be punished more severely.

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