Sweden now is viewed as a transit country for trade in female prostitutes. Most of the women come from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Many enter Scandinavia through southern Sweden, with the port at Malmoe a common arrival point. From there, authorities believe the women are driven over the border into Norway to sell sex for pimps who have arranged their travel.
Sweden has cracked down on prostitution, with a law on the books there that forbids the purchase of sexual activities. In Norway, the sale and purchase of sex remains legal, although pimping is illegal.
Justice Minister Odd Einar Doerum told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Friday that he sees no pressing need to toughen existing laws like Sweden has done.
"We have maintained that a prohibition against the purchase of sex, like the one in Sweden, can make things more difficult for women who already are having a hard time," Doerum said. "We're more concerned with cracking down on the men behind the trade."
That means Norwegian officials apparently will aim for tougher enforcement of existing laws against pimping.
Doerum said, however, that Norwegian officials will evaluate the effectiveness of the Swedish law in Sweden towards the end of the year.
