A NATIONAL hub is to be created to support women leaving sex work in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has said a pilot of the hub will begin in the summer, followed by a phased national roll out.
It is set to bring together specialist services which support women affected by commercial sexual exploitation, linking them with mainstream services such as housing and social security.
It forms part of a new strategy to support women to safely exit sex work and challenge men’s demand for it.
Siobhian Brown, victims and community safety minister, added a new multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation will be established next month to help progress the work.
READ MORE: Scottish frontline workers face '60 attacks every day', data shows
She said: “Prostitution is recognised as a form of violence against women and girls, and is exploitation. By linking mainstream and specialist services, we will make it easier for women to access the support they need so they can sustainably exit from prostitution.
“A key part of our new strategy is the need to tackle the drivers of commercial sexual exploitation, including social and economic inequalities and the need for collective leadership from government, the third sector and beyond to tackle these.
“A new multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation will be established in March to help progress this work.”
The hub is to be rolled out across Edinburgh and the Borders, Highland, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Ayrshire.
Following this, the hub will provide a network of support where organisations across Scotland can seek advice.
READ MORE: Heart patient waiting lists at ‘record levels’ in Scottish NHS
Linda Thompson, national co-ordinator of the Women’s Support Project (WSP), said: “The WSP is pleased to see the Scottish Government reiterate that commercial sexual exploitation in all forms is violence against women and that those exploited must have robust comprehensive support and exiting services across the country.
"We hope that national and local leadership, with commitment, partnerships and specific resources, will disrupt this industry and hold to account all those who benefit and profit from the exploitation of inequality and vulnerability.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here