Making it illegal to buy sex hurts sex workers the most |
A new bill which would make buying sex a criminal offence is to be discussed in Scottish Parliament this month. The Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill, put forward by independent MSP Ash Regan, would bring in the model followed by Nordic countries, which criminalises the buying of sex rather than the individual selling it. Writers Kate Lister and Terri White give their perspective.
Imagine if the Government announced it was going to make being paid for your job a criminal offence, but reassured you that this was a good thing because you wouldn’t be prosecuted – just the people paying you. There isn’t any kind of clear funding plan in place to give you money or state support to help you once you can no longer legally earn money, you understand, only vague gestures to various charities. So, you’ll have to figure that bit out on your own.
Now imagine that you, and those advocating for your rights, were not directly consulted before the bill proposing this change in the law was submitted to Parliament, and that those pushing for the change refused to meet with you directly to talk about it. They won’t talk to your representatives or support groups either. And finally, imagine that those pushing for the change not only won’t engage with you, but are telling everyone that this is all for your own good.
Do you feel safer? Supported? Or do you feel belittled, patronised, and very scared for your future?
MSP Ash Regan has introduced a bill to the Scottish Parliament that aims to criminalise clients paying for sex in Scotland – an approach known as the “Nordic Model”. MSPs are due to vote on the general principles of the bill within the next few weeks. If it is made law in Scotland, selling sex would remain legal, as it is at the moment, but paying for sex would become punishable by fines of up to £10,000 or a prison sentence.
According to representatives of Scotland for Decrim, a grassroots organisation made up of sex workers and allies who campaign for the decriminalisation of sex work, this bill has been brought forward without direct consultation with either them or their members, the very people the law will impact. The