Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur says Estonia should follow the Nordic example and outlaw purchase of sex.
The issue has resurfaced again after the opposition Social Democratic Party in April sought the government's opinion on their draft legislation banning purchase of sex from youths under 18 years of age.
Pevkur replied in a letter that although the idea has the support of his ministry, that in itself would not be a sufficient step.
"We hope that in the future, buying of sex will become fully banned in Estonia as it has in nearly all Nordic countries," he wrote.
"In that respect, the Violent Crime Reduction Plan 2011-2014 also foresees commissioning an analysis by 2013 of legalistic approaches to the purchase of sexual services."
During the last decade, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland have all criminalized buying of sexual services.
Erkki Sivonen
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