Date: Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Time: 18:30 – 20:00 GMT
Location: Zoom – register for the event to receive a link to join this free online webinar.
The Cross-Party Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation is pleased to announce an online event on challenging men's demand for prostitution and sex trafficking in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on how to challenge men's demand for prostitution. Join an international panel of speakers to find out how and why the Government must urgently change Scottish law in order to stop the demand that drives sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Speakers:
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, former Minister for Women's Rights - France
Diane Martin CBE, survivor and activist - Scotland
Per-Anders Sunesson, Ambassador at Large for Combatting Trafficking in Persons - Sweden
Mia de Faoite, survivor and activist - Ireland
Tsitsi Matekaire, Global Lead - End Sex Trafficking, Equality Now
Chaired by Ruth Maguire MSP
To register for the free event, please click here.
Background:
The majority of men in Scotland do not pay for sex. Just 4% of men in Scotland have paid for sex in the previous five years. However, the minority who do fuel a brutal trade in sexual exploitation that destroys lives. Without their demand, there would be no 'supply' of vulnerable women to be sexually exploited.
The Scottish Government rightly recognises prostitution as a form of violence against women. However, right now, sex buyers abuse with impunity in Scotland and pimps freely profit from advertising sexual exploitation online. At the same time, victims of sexual exploitation can themselves face prosecution for soliciting. This has to change.
Hear from speakers in Ireland, France and Sweden - countries that have all adopted demand reduction legislation which criminalises paying for sex, decriminalises victims of sexual exploitation, and holds third-party exploiters to account.
Find out why Scottish Government must urgently adopt demand reductions laws - and how you can help make this happen.