Regan Nordic Model Bill 'targets demand, protects women'
Writing in The Herald, Karen Miller, a trustee of the religious group, said the law must recognise that prostitution is 'the exploitation of the vulnerable, who usually have little to no choice about it.'
'It is trafficking victims hidden in brothels up and down the country who have never been surveyed about whether they are in favour of being raped multiple times a day, but from the testimony of the lucky ones who escaped, we know that they did not choose this life,' she wrote.
'We should listen to their voices and do what we can to reduce the risk of women, men and children being trapped in prostitution.'
Her comments come as MSPs prepare to debate Ash Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill when Parliament returns in the autumn.
The draft legislation — which has cross-party support — would introduce what is known as the Nordic Model, criminalising the purchase of sex but decriminalising its sale.
Those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 and face jail sentences of up to six months.
Ms Regan believes this would reduce demand and make it safer and easier for sex workers or prostitutes to approach the police if they have been victims of crime.
The Bill would also give women a statutory right to support to exit the industry.
Ms Regan's bill would criminalise the purchase of sex but decriminalise its sale (Image: PA) Sex workers who oppose the legislation — which the Alba MSP has dubbed the 'Unbuyable Bill' — have warned it could be 'disastrous' for their safety.
Last month, members of the Scotland for Decrim campaign, which was established to oppose Ms Regan's proposals, told The Herald on Sunday they believed criminalising 'clients' would drive them underground, increasing dangers, and ultimately making it harder for sex workers to leave the industry.
Ms Miller disagreed. She said it was impossible to 'decriminalise prostitution without enabling further exploitation'.
She added: 'It is a sad reality that abused and exploited young people are far more representative of the average 'sex worker' than escorts taking credit card payments from their clients.
'Men who buy sex are more likely than other men to rape and commit other acts of sexual violence.
'They often see prostitutes as being fundamentally different from other women and treat them accordingly.
'Verbal abuse and spitting are par for the course. Escorts may be able to refuse a client on these grounds, but most women do not have that choice. Even those in the most privileged position find their carefully drawn boundaries violated.
'Selling sex is never safe; buying sex is never a neutral act.'
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While she acknowledged the Nordic Model was not a perfect solution, she said it was 'the best option available to us if we want to be a society that values the safety and dignity of everyone'.
Lynsey Walton, of Scotland for Decrim, said Ms Miller's faith meant her perspective was skewed.
She said: 'Religious organisations like Restore Glasgow often see sex workers as 'fallen women' who need saving, which is why few sex workers will engage with them and why their experience in the sector is limited to only a small subsection of those carrying out sex work.
'While sex workers do experience violence and exploitation, it is a simple fact that not all sex workers are trafficked or coerced, as our 10,000-plus sex worker members across the UK will attest.
'All groups representing sex workers, alongside international NGOs such as Amnesty, the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, agree that the Nordic Model makes life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, by pushing the industry underground.'
Ms Regan said: 'Restore Glasgow and other frontline support services do not have the luxury of being comforted into inaction by pimp lobby PR framing of 'empowerment' and 'work like any other'.
'These services deal with the reality and consequences of the global trade in commercial sexual exploitation, inflicted on vulnerable young lives every single day.
'All frontline services that responded to my Unbuyable Bill consultation supported it, some giving detailed insights into the harrowing realities.
'I have a question for those conveniently ignoring the consultation's recommendations from our frontline support services, as they predictably try to discredit me and my Unbuyable Bill.
'If you want to feel worthy by 'giving a voice' to a select group of interested parties, why not platform the men who buy sex or those who profit from trading others?
'Let's hear their arguments for their 'right to buy' access to vulnerable women, girls and men's bodies.'
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