Together with CARE for Scotland and Restore Glasgow, Evangelical Alliance Scotland held a meeting in the Scottish Parliament to share a faith perspective on commercial sexual exploitation, making the case to MSPs for legislative change. On Thursday 3 October, our Scottish public policy officer, Chris Ringland, and I had the opportunity to join with other Christian organisations to present our biblically informed beliefs, to highlight real-life insights and to outline policy ideas to effectively challenge violence against women and girls in Scotland today. MSPs from a range of parties attended and heard from all three organisations.
Dr Stuart Weir, national director at CARE for Scotland, started the meeting with a clear communication of the Christian convictions that form our faith perspective. Posing the question, “faith in whom?”, Stuart pointed to the model of Jesus, referencing the story of Luke 7:36 – 50 to show a prostitute’s understanding of Jesus as a safe and accepting man. The Bible also shows us that each human being is made in the image of God and therefore women and men are of completely equal value. Considering these biblical principles and the example of Jesus, we must stand up to and challenge the exploitative practices of sexual exploitation which reinforce injustice and gender inequality.
Karen Murdarasi, secretary of Christian anti-trafficking charity Restore Glasgow, brought these issues to life by sharing insights from the lives of women whom the charity has encountered. These real-life examples highlighted both the vulnerability and powerlessness of women trapped in exploitation and the urgent need for change.
Commenting on the current situation in Scotland, Karen said, “Sexual trafficking is a horrific crime that destroys lives. As long as men can purchase sex with impunity, traffickers will have every reason to continue enslaving women and girls for profit.”
“He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; He saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So, the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.” (Job 5:15 – 16 NIV)
Chris Ringland closed the session by sharing policy ideas to tackle the issue. The Scottish Government’s 2023 Equally Safe strategy recognised prostitution, alongside lap dancing, stripping and pornography, as constituting commercial sexual exploitation and a form of violence against women and girls. We commend our government for this. However, we believe that this recognition must be reflected in the law. Chris explained:
“As it stands, men have the right to purchase access to a woman’s body for their own sexual gratification while women trapped in commercial sexual exploitation could be criminalised simply for being so. This complete injustice needs to change.”
That is why we presented the case for the introduction of the ‘Nordic model’ in Scotland. International examples of the model confirm that criminalising demand has the potential to reduce exploitation and human trafficking and to transform the lives of women who are exploited across Scotland. We recently responded positively to MSP Ash Regan’s proposed bill consultation on introducing the ‘Nordic model’ in Scotland. The bill seeks to “challenge men’s demand for prostitution by criminalising the buying of sex, protect those who sell sex by decriminalising them and recognise them as victims of exploitation by giving them the legal right to support.”
Dr Stuart Weir also said on the issue:
“Sex buyer laws target those who pay for sex – primarily men – and in doing so, directly challenge a demand for sexual services that fuels criminal industries like human trafficking. Purchase of sex laws have been successfully embedded in several countries including France, Sweden, Norway, and Northern Ireland. Scotland should join them.
We would urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation that punishes men who pay for sex, creating a clear deterrent and making it clear that this exploitative manifestation of gender-based violence has no place in a modern Scotland.”
The parliamentary event concluded with a lively and productive conversation between MSPs, guests and our representatives. We look forward to continuing to work with MSPs to tackle violence against women and girls. We hope that this event helps to gather momentum among MSPs, but we will continue to urge the Scottish Government to make this a priority.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, NIV)
Please join us in praying that our MSPs would consider moving this issue up the agenda. As Christians, let’s challenge violence against women and girls in Scotland and fulfil the biblical call to seek justice, and through doing so, together make Jesus known.
