Scottish Government proposals to commission research into banning the purchase of sex in Scotland must be clarified, leading anti-trafficking charity CARE for Scotland said today.

The call comes ahead of a debate on the Scottish Government’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill tomorrow.

Following Committee Stage the Scottish Government made a commitment to commission independent academic research into criminalising the purchase of sexual services in Scotland after pressure from groups like CARE for Scotland.

But since then no further information has been made public and an amendment tabled at Stage Three by Labour MSP Rhoda Grant seeks to clarify the precise objectives of this research.

It calls for the research to focus on addressing demand for human trafficking for sexual exploitation as well as examining ways of providing support for those who wish to leave prostitution.

CARE for Scotland said banning the purchase of sex is a vital means of tackling demand for paid sex which is one of the main drivers behind human trafficking and the charity is calling on the Government to back the amendment.

CARE for Scotland Parliamentary Officer Dr Gordon Macdonald said:

“Much of this new Trafficking Bill is excellent and we are delighted the Government has listened to our concerns on a number of areas such as ensuring adequate support for child victims of trafficking.

“The obvious omission is the failure to ban paying for sex which is a crucial and vital part of any robust anti-slavery laws.

“So we are urging the Government to back Rhoda Grant’s amendment which will provide much needed focus to the Scottish Government’s welcome commitment to research the possibility of criminalising the purchase of sex here in Scotland.

“This research should be comprehensive and focus on addressing demand for human trafficking for sexual exploitation and it must also consider what support could be made available to those wishing to leave prostitution.

“Banning the purchase of sex has been shown to help limit trafficking in other countries like Sweden and Norway and the Scottish Government is rightly taking steps to investigate the opportunity to introduce such a ban here.”

Notes to Editors:

For more information and interview requests, please contact James Mildred on 07581153693 or email james.mildred@care.org.uk

Rhoda Grant’s Amendment No. 3 can be found here:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Human%20Trafficking%20Bill/SPBill57AGS042015.pdf

CARE for Scotland has previously called for the purchase of sex to be criminalised in Scotland:

http://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/human-trafficking-bill-must-be-strengthened

http://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/trafficking-laws-northern-ireland-template-scotland

http://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/anti-trafficking-campaigners-back-calls-ban-paying-sex

The Scottish Government committed to conducting independent academic research in a response to the report by the Justice Committee at Stage 1 (Paragraph 31):

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_JusticeCommittee/Inquiries/20150605_SG_response_to_JC_Stage_1_Report.pdf

In 2013 Rhoda Grant MSP held a public consultation on proposals to criminalise the purchase of sex in Scotland and 80% of respondents backed the measure:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_MembersBills/FINAL_consultation_summary_Criminalisation_of_Purchase_of_Sex.pdf