Thanks for the great post Morag, and the plug for FI :)

To anyone else in disagreement with the post: I will from here only let through comments which present arguments based on actual evidence. I am not interested in an intra-feminist bunfight.

In any case, I *have* done my research, as the post makes clear. There are a number of links in the post to resources from many reputable agencies, which themselves link to peer reviewed research in support of my position. I have also seen the poor quality research often cited by the Swedish government dismantled by more informed brains than mine. I would recommend Feminist Ire as one place for detailed rebuttals of the so-called evidence for the Swedish model.

I have been looking at this issue for several years and have seen not a shred of good quality reliable evidence that the Swedish model is anything other than damaging and increasing of risk to women (and men) in the sex industry.

I have also been back to New Zealand several times in the past few years and seen with my own eyes the positive outcomes de-criminalisation has had in increasing the safety and well-being of sex workers there. Kiwi sex workers absolutely feel empowered to report crimes against them to the police and have them taken seriously. They achieve convictions of men who rape or otherwise abuse sex workers. They are not harassed by the police, they have health and safety rights, and they can access any and all health and welfare services like any other human being without fear. They can take their employers (when not self-employed) to task through the usual workers’ processes for rights violations. This is supported by the in-depth research done by Anastacia Ryan as noted above, which I saw a presentation on, on Saturday.

My final points are my own summary of the research I have read and also the common sense, logical conclusions about criminalising clients that I have heard from many sex workers and which my own sense tells me are true: if you criminalise clients you push sex workers further into the margins in every sense and magnify their vulnerability many times over. I am *very afraid* for those women and men already at risk through sex work in Scotland, I am afraid for the direct, damaging effects the proposed Bill will have on their lives. I cannot understand why so many feminists want to push so many women under the bus: to whose benefit?