Women’s Platform for Action International (WoPAI) has written to Members of the Scottish Parliament ahead of the vote on prostitution legislation on 3 February, urging them to support the proposed Bill adopting an Equality (Nordic) Model approach.
This vote represents a critical moment for Scotland: whether to confront one of the most entrenched forms of male violence against women, or to continue tolerating a system that enables the sexual exploitation of women—particularly those who are poor, marginalised, racialised, and otherwise vulnerable.
Claims that criminalising buyers increases violence or “drives prostitution underground” are not supported by evidence. These arguments have repeatedly been advanced by vested interests seeking to preserve the commercial sex industry and have consistently failed under scrutiny.
Most recently, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed that France’s adoption of the Equality Model does not violate the European Convention on Human Rights, explicitly rejecting claims that criminalising buyers endangers women in prostitution. The Court affirmed states’ legitimate aim—and obligation—to combat exploitation and violence against women.
Countries such as Sweden and France demonstrate that it is possible to reduce prostitution, challenge male sexual entitlement, and advance women’s rights through law and policy.