'Scotland in crisis over violence against women and girls' says Edinburgh MSP Ash Regan
There is a crisis of violence against women and girls in Scotland, independent Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Regan told the Scottish Parliament as she appealed to John Swinney to back her Bill on prostitution.
Ms Regan said latest figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service showed a 43 per cent post-Covid rise in under-16s reported for rape and sexual assault.
“What we are currently doing is not working. Will the Government please do something different and start with what the Lord Advocate has described as root-cause offending: the violence against women of prostitution?
“Prostitution dehumanises women and girls, and that human rights abuse is currently state sanctioned. Will the Government take this opportunity to stand up for women and girls, protect them and support my Unbuyable Bill?”
Ms Regan’s proposed legislation would criminalise the purchase of sex, with those convicted facing fines of up to £10,000 and possible jail time.
The existing offence of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution would be scrapped; those found guilty of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed; and those trying to leave prostitution would be given the right to support.
The Scottish Government has said it supports the principle of criminalising the purchase of sex but claimed there were "significant policy and operational challenges" with the proposals and "substantial amendments" would be needed.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Women’s Convention (SWC) has published a report urging MSPs to support Ms Regan’s Bill when it comes to the parliament for its first vote.
SWC chair Agnes Tolmie said: “Over the past several months, we have held extensive discussions with women who have been exploited through prostitution and their voices have reinforced what we already believed from our previous work on misogyny, trafficking and domestic abuse in that prostitution can never be seen as a neutral transaction, it is rooted in coercion, inequality, poverty, and male violence.
“As we have listened to these women, one message is abundantly clear: prostitution is not empowering, it is deeply damaging and traumatising. These are not isolated stories but are the reality of an industry built on inequality.”
She said Ms Regan’s Bill recognised prostitution as a systemic form of violence against women and girls and sought to shift the burden of criminality away from women involved in prostitution while holding sex buyers accountable.
“This is not about morality, it is about human rights. You cannot separate prostitution from violence when women and girls are being abused and degraded to satisfy male demand. Scotland has a responsibility to say clearly, and without hesitation, that women are not for sale.
“Women with lived experience have repeatedly spoken about entering prostitution as minors, or under pressure from abuse, homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Their voices expose the myth of ‘choice’ and political action is desperately needed to shape legislation and make Scotland a safer place for them.
“We cannot keep pretending that this is a matter of choice when girls are being groomed and women are being exploited. If Scotland is serious about its repeated commitments to CEDAW and its own Violence against Women and Girls strategy, then we must confront prostitution as part of that violence, not make excuses for it.
“This proposed Bill is a line in the sand and is a direct test of whether our elected representatives are serious about honouring their commitments to end violence against women and girls in Scotland.
“Scotland can choose to stand with women, or it can continue to protect an industry that depends on abusing them for male pleasure. We urge MSPs to listen to women, believe their experiences, and to support this Bill.”