Backing for 'Nordic law' on prostitution

They backed the so-called Nordic model which also includes practical and financial support to give prostitutes the confidence and job skills needed to escape the industry.

The approach has been successfully adopted by Sweden, Norway and Iceland - countries that top the global charts in terms of gender equality.

Conference welcomed government legislation to criminalise certain aspects of the purchasing of sex contained in the Policing and Crime Bill, labelling it an important step towards tackling sex trafficking and prostitution.

The law is due to take effect on April 1.

But delegates argued that the changes did not go far enough.

They stressed the need for tighter legislation before the 2012 London Olympics, highlighting other countries' experiences of spiralling sex trafficking and prostitution during major sports events.

National women's committee speaker Cath Elliot rejected arguments that decriminalising the whole industry and treating prostitution as "any other job" would protect women from violence.

At a fringe meeting on Thursday, speakers highlighted international research showing that prostitutes, by enduring a high level of daily sexual activity, sustained long-term physical and psychological injuries similar to victims of torture.

Suffolk police delegate Sally Swift said that the local force had started targeting buyers more rigorously since the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich in late 2006.

"They now have a much more sympathetic and protective attitude towards prostitutes in the area," she said, reporting that the shift had been successful in deterring curb crawlers.

South East region delegate Ginny Eaton, who read out upsetting testimonies of former teenage prostitutes, argued: "If we criminalise pimps and punters, we can minimise demand which will lead to supply drying up."

Delegates called on Unison to support the Demand Change! campaign by urging its parliamentary group of MPs to actively lobby for the Nordic model.

Conference also voted to take the Demand Change! motion to Unison's national conference in Bournemouth this summer.

"It's time for our male members to take a stand on this issue," Ms Elliot said.