We recognise that prostitution is extremely difficult to leave and to stay out of. Society's negative attitudes and stereotypes often make it more difficult to get help.
If you or someone you know is working or has worked in prostitution and would like advice and support, there is information here about organisations that would like to help. As well as providing support, counselling and advice on how to get out of prostitution, they also offer medical services including needle exchange and condoms and assist access to methadone prescribing. Some organisations also offer crisis accommodation.
Base 75 and Routes Out of Prostitution are organisations which provide help specifically to women working in prostitution, but other organisations here can provide additional help and support.
In recent years organisations providing a service to abused women have taken active steps to highlight the abuse of women through prostitution, whereas previously this was an area, which was rarely actively addressed by such groups. The main service providers within Glasgow are now working together, within the 'Routes Out of Prostitution' Social Inclusion Partnership, to recognise the harm done to women through involvement in prostitution and to improve services.
We endorse the following definition of prostitution, as outlined by the Routes Out Partnership.
" The Partnership recognises the harm done to women involved in prostitution and the damage resulting from previous sexual abuse, experience of care, homelessness and lack of prospects and opportunities. Prostitution involves women engaging in sexual activity in order to make a living and/or feed a drug habit - often supporting a partner.
We acknowledge that a combination of factors leads to women's involvement in prostitution, to their ongoing entrapment in a way of life which is dangerous to the point of violence and death and which ensures their continued social exclusion."
The Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership further acknowledges the harm done to women through other forms of commercial sexual exploitation such as stripping, 'lap dancing' and pornography.
(Glasgow Violence Against Women Statement of Aims and Objectives 2002)
More information about organisations that can offer help and support.
Join the Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation
Base 75
0141 204 3712
Routes Out of Prostitution
0141 287 5768
Rape Crisis Centre
0141 552 3200
07736 387 228
Women's Support Project
0141 552 2221
Wise Women
0141 550 7557
FAQ section coming soon
