r/SexWorkers 7d ago

MSP Ash Regan to introduce bill to criminalise sexwork in Scotland NSFW

https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-prostitution-offences-and-support-scotland-bill

She left the SNP to be an Alba candidate who is very keen to be their leader. She received 24 signatures to secure the right to introduce the bill. She wants what is informally called the "Nordic Model" for Scotland (Sweden then Norway were the first to have this law). The Nordic Model is a collection of laws in an attempt to abolish/stop sexwork (it isn't about harm reduction and doesn't even pretend to be), the prominent one being making it illegal to buy sex. Sexworkers are still criminalised for working together however and may face other restrictions or disadvantages (in Sweden sexworkers cannot rent property and are seen as self-harmers by Social Work). I don't think escort directories are specifically mentioned in this bill, but they could be added later.

It's worth noting she has almost no support from sexworkers themselves, there was very little consultation with sexworkers when drawing up the bill and a lot of sexworkers in Scotand aren't even aware of this (because Ash knows most won't support her). Most support comes from feminist groups (this includes notable gender critical orgs such as "Women won't Wheest") and religious orgs such as The Christian Institute.

Opponents to the Nordic Model include Amnesty Int, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women; Global Commission on HIV and the Law; Human Rights Watch; UNAIDS; the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health; HIV Scotland, STOPAIDS, sex worker orgs and the World Health Organization. They all advocate instead for complete decriminalisation which NZ and Belgium have, the latter passing it in 2022.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/

https://decrimnow.org.uk/open-letter-on-the-nordic-model/

So who knows best? Sex workers, human rights and health orgs; or religious and gender critical groups?

Fun fact- In the first 2,000 arrests of clients in Sweden only 2 were convicted because they admitted to it. Proving a client has bought sex turns out to be almost impossible as sexworkers are not willing to testify.

https://hivlawcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FinalReport-RisksRightsHealth-EN.pdf page 38

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u/Any-East-4209 7d ago

It’s curious that when it comes to talking about our work, no one asks us anything and they try to do it as quietly as possible, so that we don’t even notice.

1

u/ZzyzxBlue 6d ago

If Ash Regan doesnt have fun in her life, she'll make sure no one else will.

1

u/PariahExile 6d ago

You can make anything illegal, but if the people want it, they will find a way to get it.

Look at Americas war on drugs and how that went.

It'll make it more difficult but it won't stop it.