Rhoda Grant MSP launched a consultation this week on a proposal seeking to criminalise those who pay for sexual services and who drive the demand for sexual exploitation in Scotland.

This approach aims to tackle violence against women, and challenges the attitude that buying sex is a harmless activity and instead recognises the way in which it fuels the demand for people to be trafficked and exploited within the industry according to CARE. 

Gordon Macdonald, CARE for Scotland Parliamentary Officer, said, 'We welcome Rhoda Grant's approach to reducing the demand for prostitution and subsequently people trafficking for sexual exploitation.

'Prostitution is inherently harmful and dehumanising. We encourage supporters to respond to the consultation.'

Genevieve Galvin, CARE's Human Trafficking and Exploitation Officer, said, 'Sweden has shown that criminalising the purchase of sex works as an effective strategy to protect the vulnerable from sexual exploitation, minimise violence against women and foster a more positive sense of equality and dignity throughout society.'

The consultation period will run for 12 weeks until 14 December 2012.