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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Dear Ash Regan, we are sex workers and we don't want your Nordic Model
Your proposed Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill aims to criminalise the clients of sex workers, which would put sex workers ourselves at higher risk of violence and poverty. This form of legislation, often known as the Nordic model, has endangered sex workers in every country where it has been implemented. You did not consult with any current sex workers before drafting this legislation, which should be unthinkable in our current climate. Policy and laws should centre those who will be most affected by them, as we are the experts on our own lives and on how this law would negatively impact us. Nothing about us, without us. Sex workers don't want this bill, and neither do the Scottish public. When surveyed, 69% of Scots say the Scottish Government should focus on protecting the health and safety of sex workers, and providing support to people who want to leave the industry. This is compared to only 14% who support the government passing new laws to prevent people exchanging sexual services for money. Your bill offers no support to people looking to exit the sex industry. It does not offer any financial backing to struggling organisations which provide services for sex workers, a sector and funding system which the [[Scottish Government]]'s own research has shown is not fit for purpose. The bill does not propose to change policies around benefits or housing to reduce poverty and make sure that fewer people are driven into sex work by financial need. This is despite the fact that 2019 Home Office-commissioned research identified that 'a substantial proportion of individuals … are selling sex to get by financially'. In your bill consultation paper you included a quote which stated that anyone who sells sex is no longer a whole human being, and can never be whole again. This offensive language perpetuates stigma and violence against sex workers, and we reject it. We are whole, we are valuable, and we deserve to be heard. Read more Prostitution is not like Pretty Woman - it harms the most vulnerable | The Herald Regan Nordic Model Bill 'targets demand, protects women' | The Herald 'Becoming a sex worker saved my life - don't take that away from us' | The Herald Often the topic of sex work can be highly emotive and polarising. This is why it's so important to place both evidence, and the voices of current sex workers, at the centre of these discussions. All sex worker-led organisations in the UK support decriminalisation, and oppose the criminalisation of clients. The evidence is clear: the Nordic model, which criminalises the client, puts sex workers in more danger and does not decrease demand. In Northern Ireland, a Ministry of Justice review found that violence against sex workers increased by 225% after similar legislation was passed. According to Ugly Mugs Ireland, crimes against sex workers almost doubled in the two years following the introduction of the law. A Medicins du Monde report found that similar laws in France have led to 42% of workers being more exposed to violence, and 63% experiencing a deterioration of living conditions. An Amnesty International report on the impacts of the Nordic model in Norway found that the police still primarily target sex workers for criminalisation, rather than clients. Clearly, the Nordic model does not work. Public policy should not be based on ideological positions, but on the evidence of what will truly help those in need. This is why Scotland for Decrim calls for further measures to help those in poverty, as we do not want anyone to have to sell sex to survive. We want to see the introduction of rent controls, further support for disabled people and an end to attacks on their rights and income, and the implementation of a Universal Basic Income. We want a reversal of the slashing of services designed to help those escaping abuse, and a complete overhaul of the immigration system to avoid keeping people in dire situations of poverty for long periods of time. These measures are what has been proven to effectively tackle exploitation according to academics at Dundee and Edinburgh Napier universities, not the further criminalisation of an already vulnerable group. Ash Regan (Image: Newsquest) Best evidence demonstrates that full decriminalisation is the most effective measure to ensure sex workers' ability to work in the safest ways possible. In New Zealand where decriminalisation was implemented in 2003, violence against sex workers has decreased, access to healthcare has improved, and relations with the police moved from being combative to collaborative. In Belgium, which decriminalised sex work in 2023, sex workers are now able to form trade unions and have won the right to maternity pay, which will decrease exploitation and child poverty. Bellatrix, a sex worker from Scotland, had this to say to you: 'No matter your personal feelings on sex work, the evidence shows that decriminalisation is the safest for us. Not all issues are made better by involving the criminal justice system. Focus on how to help us avoid poverty, how to not lose our housing, how to find jobs that will actually work around our childcare responsibilities, and our disabilities. Do not criminalise us for existing within the margins.' We call on the Scottish public to join us in the fight against this dangerous bill and for the full decriminalisation of sex work. Visit our website or find us on Instagram at scotland4decrim to find out more.
Cosmopolitan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Julia Roberts Debuts Blonde Lob in ‘After the Hunt' Trailer
Hold on to your hairbrushes, folks, because Julia Roberts just served up a head-turning transformation that had us doing a double-take. The Oscar-winning actor, known for her iconic, voluminous red curls (you know the ones—glorious, bouncy, and basically 90s hair goals), has swapped her trademark look for a sleek butter blonde lob. And yes, it's just as chic as it sounds. The lob in question (that's a 'long bob,' FYI) is the in-between haircut that's been reigning supreme in salons for the past few years. Falling just below the shoulders, it's the Goldilocks of hairstyles—short enough to easily maintain and style, but long enough to still play around with waves, curls, or an updo. Julia's version is styled in stretched curls, softly layered, and tinged with a buttery blonde hue that not only warms up her complexion but also makes for a surprising transformation. See the star's hairstyle—that's worlds apart from her signature style, may I add—in the trailer below. The dramatic hair switch-up comes to us via her upcoming role in After the Hunt, a psychological thriller slated to hit screens later this year. So, while we're used to seeing Julia's iconic red hair blowing in the wind (Pretty Woman, anyone?), this sleek, polished lob signals a bold new character. From rom-com royalty to thriller queen, with every hairstyle, Julia's proving that she can do it all. But we already knew that anyway, right?
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword July 18 clues and answers: ‘Dated feminine suffix' clue solved for today's puzzle
The New York Times Mini Crossword is the perfect brain teaser when you don't have time for the full-sized puzzle. But some clues can still throw you off and ruin your solving streak. If that's the case today, here's a full breakdown of July 18's clues, with all the answers revealed. NYT Mini Crossword July 18 Across hints and answers Appropriate word that can precede 7-/8-Across and 3-/10-Down: HALF Remy's brother in Ratatouille: EMILE Missouri's postal abbreviation: MO Light switch position: ON Done for laughs: IN FUN Richard of Pretty Woman: GERE NYT Mini Crossword July 18 Down hints and answers Prefix that means 1-Across: HALF In the midst of: AMONG Super Bowl that featured a 28-3 comeback win by the Patriots: LI Baker's powder: FLOUR Dated feminine suffix: ENNE Iron, on the periodic table: FE That's the full list for today. If you're into other NYT puzzles, don't forget to check out Strands, Connections, and Wordle too!
Cosmopolitan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Julia Roberts debuts surprising 'butter blonde lob' haircut, and she looks so different
Hold on to your hairbrushes, folks, because Julia Roberts just served up a head-turning transformation that had us doing a double-take. The Oscar-winning actor, known for her iconic, voluminous red curls (you know the ones – glorious, bouncy, and basically 90s hair goals), has swapped her trademark look for a sleek butter blonde lob. And yes, it's just as chic as it sounds. The lob in question (that's a 'long bob', FYI) is the in-between haircut that's been reigning supreme in salons for the past few years. Falling just below the shoulders, it's the Goldilocks of hairstyles – short enough to easily maintain and style, but long enough to still play around with waves, curls, or an updo. Julia's version is styled in stretched curls, softly layered, and tinged with a buttery blonde hue that not only warms up her complexion but also makes for a surprising transformation. See the star's hairstyle – that's worlds apart from her signature style, may I add – in the trailer below. The dramatic hair switch-up comes to us via her upcoming role in Leave the World Behind, a psychological thriller slated to hit screens later this year. So, while we're used to seeing Julia's iconic red ringlets blowing in the wind (Pretty Woman, anyone?), this sleek, polished lob signals a bold new character. From rom-com royalty to thriller queen, with every hairstyle, Julia's proving that she can do it all. But we already knew that anyway, right? Follow Lia on Instagram. Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she's an expert in recognising the season's next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You'll usually find her putting TikTok's recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it's true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fans rank Julia Roberts' top 10 films with forgotten movie at number one
Julia Roberts has starred in some of the most iconic films of the past three decades, but not all of her movies are as well-loved - and Rotten Tomatoes has ranked them all Julia Roberts has graced the silver screen in unmissable roles, from Pretty Woman to her British romance with Hugh Grant in Notting Hill. Nevertheless, Rotten Tomatoes' rankings, based on viewers' sincere reviews over time, reveal the ultimate watchlist of her finest work. Fans may adore Julia's portrayal of beloved characters, but these roles don't always translate into stellar film reviews. Collated from audience and critic opinions, this rundown delivers an overall percentage for each of her flicks, with some high-ranking surprises sure to raise eyebrows. Defying expectations, The Normal Heart claims the crown as the top Julia Roberts movie. The stirring 2014 drama, also starring Mark Ruffalo, is set during the AIDS crisis in 1980s New York, securing a phenomenal 94% approval rating. One reviewer said: "The most brutally confronting portrayal of life as a gay man in the early 80s. Torn between the liberation of the sexual revolution, the medical uncertainty and the societal denial. Buckle up; this gets real, real quick." Another shocker on the list is Ben is Back, snagging 6th place with an 81% rating, vaulting above classics like Pretty Woman and My Best Friend's Wedding in the ranking shocker, reports the Express. The "heartbreaking" feature, which showcases Roberts in the poignant role of a mum tirelessly aiding her addicted son post-rehab, didn't quite rewrite the history books but left a mark on viewers' hearts. One fan was moved to comment: "Intense, gripping movie from start to finish. Really well done, with great acting by Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges." Meanwhile, another reviewer highlighted its "scarily real" nature, noting the "power dynamic" between leads that keeps you utterly riveted. Yet, surpassing some of Roberts' quintessential films at number two is the 2017 touching family drama Wonder, where she embodies a mother's unconditional love. The film tracks a boy coping with a rare facial difference as he braves school life while his parents offer unwavering support through this significant life transition. A cinephile noted the film's "heartfelt" and "genuine" essence, praising its universal message expressed through "well-acted" performances. Curiosity piqued? Roberts' least applauded cinematic outing came with Mother's Day, the 2016 rom-com featuring Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson, floundering at an abysmal 8% rating. Critics blasted it as "mediocre" at best, with some unapologetically branding it "disappointing". The definitive ranking of Julia Roberts' top 10 movies, courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes reviews. Top 10 Julia Roberts films ranked by Rotten Tomatoes The Normal Heart Wonder Erin Brockovich Notting Hill Ocean's Eleven Ben Is Back Charlie Wilson's War Charlotte's Web Michael Collins
