Alba MSP Ash Regan lodged the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood last month. 

It has now received the backing of Reem Alsalem, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls. 

The bill aligns with the Nordic strategy on prostitution – adopted by countries including Sweden, Norway, France, and Ireland. 

The UN expert, who worked for the UNCR for in 13 different countries before taking up her current role says that Ash Regan’s bill provides an “effective framework for ending the exploitation and violence that women are subjected to in prostitution”.

Ms Regan said her “Unbuyable bill” would help women ‘trapped’ in prostitution, which she described as a form of male violence towards women.

It would criminalise the buying of sex in Scotland while decriminalising those selling sexual services. Ms Regan said it would protect women, while putting the onus of criminality on men.

Ms Alsalem said: “I fully support Ash Regan’s Proposed Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland bill) as it is in line with the recommendations I made in my 2024 report on prostitution and violence against women and girls to the Human Rights Council and the report on my 2024 visit to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.” 

Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee is currently seeking views on the bill.

If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months.

The new bill would repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new bill.

It would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required.

Ms Regan said: “Reem Alsalem is the leading voice globally in eradicating violence against women and girls. She is a strong advocate for the model I am proposing and indeed she has presented recommendations to the Human Rights Council previously that are in line with what I have proposed. 

“Her support is extremely welcome and I hope that my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament take note of the voice of the UN special rapporteur when she says that only the route proposed in the Unbuyable provides an effective framework for ending the exploitation and violence that women are subjected to in prostitution.”

The call for views closes on September 5.