Equally safe - challenging men's demand for prostitution: Scottish Government response

Support for women involved in prostitution

• A number of respondents note the need for support for women involved in prostitution to be holistic, person-centred, and able to address the multiple, underlying needs of many women. Most frequently, respondents cited financial support, peer-led support, housing support, healthcare, including addiction support, and education, employment, and training as the key types of services needed.
• Respondents regularly reported that stigma and criminalisation experienced by women involved in prostitution made them less likely to access services. Decriminalising all aspects of selling sex and improvement of training for frontline professionals were two commonly suggested strategies for improving access to services.
• Respondents frequently emphasise that not all those involved in prostitution need or want to exit from prostitution, and that exiting should not be a condition to receive support.

There was a general view expressed throughout the consultation responses on the need for more holistic, person-centred services which meet underlying needs of many women. A number of respondents emphasised the need for support services to be accessible to women with a range of needs, who may be engaging in different types of prostitution for different reasons.

Respondents highlighted the importance of both mainstream and targeted support services being confidential, non-stigmatising and non-judgemental about women's different experiences of prostitution. Because of the criminalisation of aspects of prostitution, respondents report that many women are concerned that a disclosure about prostitution will be shared with law enforcement, immigration, social services, or housing providers.

Most frequently, areas for improvement cited in the consultation responses were financial support, peer-led support, housing support, healthcare, including addiction support, and education, employment, and training as the key types of services needed.

The responses have made clear that there are a range of support needs required by women involved in prostitution and a number of barriers which need to be overcome to ensure that services are able to respond appropriately and sensitively to the needs of women. Tackling the stigma associated with prostitution as well as ensuring trauma informed training for frontline professionals are highlighted as key areas which would need to be developed to enhance any package of support available to women. The need to consider models of funding was also highlighted with a preference for longer term funding, as short-term funding can make it difficult for service providers to build relationships with women and assure them of ongoing support.

The Scottish Government will reflect on the points raised in the consultation responses as we look to develop an approach to support which is inclusive of the range of needs experienced by women involved in prostitution. Consideration of a package of support will play a key role as part of the wider work to consider the development of a model for prostitution in Scotland. Co-design with those with direct experience will play a key role in the development of a package of support. Consistently responses suggested that support for women involved in prostitution would be best developed by consulting with the women directly involved, and with peer-led support groups and organisations. For that reason, the Scottish Government has committed to engaging with those with lived experience of prostitution to shape services and design measures which will protect them from harm and provide the support they need, including helping to exit prostitution if they wish to do so. We will work with a range of partners delivering front line support to develop a programme of engagement which will enable women to come forward and share their thoughts and views to shape the future delivery of services and avenues of support for women involved in prostitution in Scotland.