Question reference: S6W-14247
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 January 2023
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Current status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 31 January 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide support to people seeking to exit commercial sexual exploitation.
Answer
Supporting the recovery and when ready, the sustainable exit, of those with experience of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) is a key aspect of the recently published principles which will underpin the developing Framework to challenge men’s demand for prostitution, and support those with experience of it.
The Scottish Government funds a range of services aimed to address commercial sexual exploitation and to support those who may be exploited through it. This includes £700,000, over two years, through the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) Fund to projects tackling commercial sexual exploitation, where the support available can include advice on employment and support to exit CSE. The DES fund also supports the CSE Aware project, which aims to improve awareness within the public and third sector of the support needs which those with experience of CSE may have.
In addition, as part of expanding the reach of Fair Start Scotland, Scottish Government’s devolved employability support service, an employability project is being delivered to support women exit CSE by offering tailored and holistic support, identifying and removing barriers.
Through our Victim Centred Approach Fund we are also providing the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance with £622,000 per annum over a three-year period, to provide support and assistance to women who have been trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation.