Equally Safe: consultation - easy read

Supporting women to leave prostitution

Many women who are involved in prostitution do not feel able to access services. They think they might be treated badly or their privacy will not be respected.

Different women will need different kinds of support.

Support can mean help with finding a job, housing, help with money and health – physical, mental and sexual.

It is hard for women to leave prostitution if they believe that working in a traditional job will not make as much money.

Mental health problems as well as alcohol and drugs may be reasons for women staying in prostitution.

Support services need to take a long-term approach to helping women leave prostitution.

Support organisations have helped women leave prostitution by giving them information to make choices, better safety, and better quality of life.

Some women need support to leave prostitution but others leave because of other things, including:

• Rape or some other difficult experience
• Poor health
• Seeing other women moving on from prostitution
• Settling in a relationship with a partner
• Pregnancy or the safety of their child

Different services are available in different areas in Scotland.

It is important to consider the different needs of women. Prostitution can be part of a bigger problem and not just a problem on its own.

Many women do not want to come forward and tell mainstream services that they are involved in prostitution. This can stop them from getting the support services they need.

Women involved in prostitution need flexible services that they can access after-hours and at weekends. The people giving support need to be understanding of their experiences and needs.

Question 6. How can the health and wellbeing of women involved in prostitution be taken care of?

Question 7. What do you think are the best ways to help or support women to safely leave prostitution?

Question 8. Support services are mainly based in cities. How can the needs of women be met out of cities?

Question 9. If there are any further comments you would like to make, please use the space below to provide more detail.