We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience. Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only. Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time. This chapter provides an overview of the main barriers to implementation of challenging demand approaches referenced in the evidence. Due to aforenoted evidence gaps, the discussion provides insights on individual jurisdictions and describes associated barriers rather than proven ones.
The evidence points to some common barriers impeding implementation of challenging demand approaches and achievement of its central objectives, such as issues in the consistency of implementation, the application of legal provisions, the reach and accessibility of support for victims, the protection of women and men involved in prostitution and in capturing the scale and effects of online prostitution.
The research also highlights the heterogeneity of experiences among those involved in prostitution particularly in respect to migrants who constitute the majority of adults involved across the jurisdictions examined and who report heightened vulnerabilities to exploitation and exclusion.
Moreover, the evidence suggests there are low levels of trust in enforcement agencies as well as low levels of support for challenging demand policy among women and men involved. Interviewed women and men involved report continued fears of criminalisation, stigmatisation and the reliance on risky purchasers who use legislative provisions to threaten them.
The evidence primarily reflects findings from small qualitative studies which are unable to account for the scale or generalisability of the issues described. The fact that the barriers here identified have been seen across cases, however, suggests that there is validity into the insights synthesised and point to possible learnings and areas for improvement.
