Sex workers group excluded from Holyrood legislation meeting

A proposal to make paying for sex an offence in Scotland is being discussed by MSPs.

Prostitution prostitute anonymous
STV

Sex workers have complained they are being excluded from a Holyrood meeting to discuss legal moves to criminalise clients.

SCOT-PEP, which promotes sex workers' rights, say it has been barred from today's meeting despite having been previously invited to give input into the debate.

The charity opposes a proposal by Labour's Rhoda Grant to make it an offence to pay for sex, which the MSP says will reduce the demand for prostitution.

Laws already apply in Scotland to soliciting and loitering, such as kerb crawling.

An attempt to fast-track The Purchase of Sex Bill was rejected at Holyrood in 2012 and it was put to consultation.

Ms Grant said the planned meeting is for those who support the principles of the proposed legislation and she is happy to meet the group for a separate discussion.

According to SCOT-PEP, criminalising clients hampers sex workers' ability to screen clients for their own safety.

Clients who are jumpy and nervous of arrest are less willing to give sex workers information about themselves, it claims.

The group said that the introduction of similar legislation in Sweden has been associated with "significant additional levels of violence" against sex workers.

It fears the proposed Bill will have a better chance of succeeding without the input of the late Margo MacDonald MSP, who campaigned for sex workers' rights.

SCOT-PEP board member Neil McCulloch said: "Disastrous as this legislation would prove in Scotland, going by the international evidence, we nevertheless sought to play a constructive role in discussions and we are shocked to have been excluded entirely.

"Would you have a meeting to discuss whether to legislate supposedly to help any other marginalised group and yet explicitly bar them and their representatives from the discussion?

"It can't be right for a politician to try to work in this way without even wanting to hear the voices of the people most directly affected."

A sex worker called Cat said: "It's outrageous to hold a meeting to discuss sex work and to specifically exclude sex workers and sex worker-led organisations."

Ms Grant said: "The planned meeting is for those who support the principles of criminalising the purchase of sex and as SCOT-PEP have publicly stated their opposition to this, their inclusion wouldn't be appropriate at this time.

"Those attending believe that commercial sexual exploitation, including prostitution, is a form of violence against women and take the standpoint that people exploited in prostitution should not be criminalised whilst purchasers of sex are not held to account.

"As discussions evolve, those participating will discuss potential plans and strategies which will be shared publicly when finalised.

"I have always been happy to discuss my position on this issue with SCOT-PEP and would be happy to meet with them separately to discuss views."

One account. All of STV.

This field is required. That doesn't look like a valid e-mail format, please check. That e-mail's already in our system. Please try again.
ShowHide
Forgot password?
This field is required. At least 6 characters please. Did you enter your details correctly?
If you've forgotten your details then use the 'Forgot password?' link.
Need to reset your password?

We'll send a link to reset your password to

We've sent you details on how to reset your password

Please check your email and follow the instructions.

Forgotten your email address?

Have you forgotten the email address that you previously joined with? Don't worry, by emailing enquiries@stv.tv we can help.

One account. All of STV.

This field is required. Please enter at least 2 characters
This field is required. Please enter at least 2 characters
At least 6 characters please
ShowHide
This field is required. At least 6 characters please.
You have to be 16 or over to join
This field is required. This doesn't appear to be a valid date
Why do we need this? This field is required. Please select an address from the dropdown. Can't find your address? Contact us.

By continuing you agree to our Terms of Use, including our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Upload Profile Picture

Please make sure your image is under 2mb in size and a valid JPG, PNG or GIF.

Are you sure?

Unfortunately, you'll be unable to access our premium content. We’ll be sorry to see you go, but if you change your mind you can rejoin us at any time.

Please verify your STV account

Please verify your STV account using the email we sent you. If you have lost the email, we can send you another one, just click the button below.

Thanks

We've sent you a new verification email.
Please check your email and follow the instructions to verify your account.

Welcome to STV
Thanks for joining us.

Oops!

Sorry, you must be at least 12 years old to place a vote for your Real Hero.

Please review our Voting Terms of Use for more information.

Oops!

Sorry! It seems that you are using a browser that is incompatible with our voting service.

To register your vote please copy the below URL in to your regular mobile browser. We recommend Google Chrome, or Safari.

http://shows.stv.tv/real-heroes/voting

Oops!

Sorry, you seem to have already voted in this category.

Thanks for voting

Now share your vote with friends on your social network

Share on twitter Share on facebook

Cast your vote

Please register or sign in to continue.

Cast your vote

This field is required. This doesn't appear to be a valid date

Cast your vote

Please fill out this form to cast your vote. As you are under 16 years old you will not create an STV account. Why do we need these details?

This field is required. Please enter at least 2 characters
This field is required. Please enter at least 2 characters
This field is required. That doesn't look like a valid e-mail format, please check.
Location This field is required.
Parental Consent This field is required.

That's you. All that's left is to click the 'Submit Vote' button below. By doing so, you confirm that you and your parent or guardian have read and accept our Voting Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie policy, and that the details you have entered are correct. We'll look after them as carefully as if they were our own.