MacAskill urges MSPs to back Regan's 'unbuyable bill'
It would include a promise by government to provide support for women hoping to exit the sex "industry".
The Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill, also known as the "unbuyable bill", introduced by Alba MSP Ms Regan to Holyrood on Tuesday, follows the 'Nordic Model' used in Sweden and Norway where buyers of sex are targeted by police, not sellers.
If passed by MSPs, it could see those convicted of paying for sex fined up to £10,000 and jailed for up to six months.
READ MORE:
Sex workers launch campaign to oppose 'dangerous' new law proposed by Ash Regan
What is the Nordic Model? The proposals to criminalise 'buyers' of sex
Ash Regan claims MSPs are buying sex as she introduces new bill
However, opinion is currently divided on the MSP's proposals with some sex workers fearing it could make them more vulnerable as sex buyers seek to take the trade out of the public spotlight because of the risk of prosecution.
Mr MacAskill, the Alba leader, who was the SNP justice secretary from 2007 to 2014, said he hoped MSPs would support Ms Regan's bill.
"Ash has our full support. She is single handedly pursuing an issue of great concern. Vulnerable women are suffering, predatory men are abusing them and action needs taken. I would hope MSPs would support her fully in her endeavours," he told The Herald.
Mr MacAskill said that when he was the SNP justice secretary he brought in legislation on kerb crawling but a new law was now needed.
"That was a modest shift to protect women from harassment and communities from nuisance. The issue has moved on with the internet changing the manner in which the exploitation and harm is carried out by predatory men," he said.
"It's for that reason that Ash's bill deserves support from across the chamber. The women involved in it are being abused exploited and endangered. It is not a lifestyle choice but almost invariably tragic circumstance which is why the bill also ensures support for those suffering."
Unveiling her bill on Tuesday Ms Regan said said prostitution was a form of male violence towards women.
Ms Regan, a former SNP minister who is now Alba's sole MSP, said her proposals were a bold and long-overdue step towards tackling the issue.
Responding to opposition from sex workers to the bill she insisted it would protect women, while putting the onus of criminality on men.
She said: "Prostitution is not a job like any other, as some lobby groups claim; it is a system of commercial sexual exploitation that targets the vulnerable, is driven by demand and is enabled by silence.
"Commodifying human beings has consequences - it's time we reframe the shame. Today, I am proud to bring commercial sexual exploitation out of the shadows into a debate across Scotland, by formally lodging the unbuyable bill in parliament.
"Unbuyable is the first key step in tackling attitudes that have shamefully normalised inequality of the sexes and underpinned the scourge of male violence against women."
She said the bill was "forged" by those who had "survived the system of exploitation" as she vowed to work with other parties to get it through Holyrood.
Scottish Greens social justice spokeswoman Maggie Chapman MSP said the measures Ms Regan's was putting forward put sex workers in more danger and were widely opposed.
'The approach taken by Ash Regan in this bill will endanger sex workers and continue to drive this industry underground. This model has been widely opposed by sex worker unions, human rights groups and the World Health Organisation," she said.
'Human Rights Watch have reported that in countries with policies similar to what Ash is proposing in her bill, there have been spikes in murder, police abuse, and sexual violence towards sex workers. We cannot allow that to happen here. We must not force sex workers into more dangerous and isolated areas.
'Greens are clear that the approach must focus on minimising the harm, marginalisation and exploitation that sex workers face every day. The evidence is clear that Ash's approach not only fails to protect sex workers, but puts them in increased danger.'
Ms Regan's proposal for her bill was backed by 24 MSPs.
They included 12 Conservative MSPs, six SNP MSPs and five Labour MSPs.
John Mason, the former SNP MSP, who now sits as an Independent, also backed her proposal legislation.
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