Strathclyde Law School academics involved in research study around greater legal protections against sexual violence for sex workers

Sex workers should be empowered to set boundaries, access justice, and receive specialist support according to a new study examining sexual violence in the sex industry across four legal jurisdictions.

The recommendations were made by sex workers involved in the study which found that those working in decriminalised or legalised settings – such as New Zealand and Nevada’s managed brothels – are better able to negotiate consent and seek support when violations occur. By contrast, those in criminalised settings face legal barriers that leave them more vulnerable and less likely to report abuse.

Professor Jane Scoular of the Law School, the PI of the project, said:

This international study highlights the need for legal and policy reforms in the areas of sex work and sexual violence to recognise sex workers’ rights and empower them to set and maintain boundaries, while providing effective mechanisms for redress.

A book based on the research published by Springer, Voicing Consent: Sex Workers, Sexual Violation and Legal Consciousness in Cross-National Contexts, is available to read at www.sexworkandsexualviolence.com where infographic and video work can also be viewed. The book was co-edited by Jane Scoular and the late Susie Balderston, who was a Research Fellow at Strathclyde Law School.

A fuller news item can be found in this University news release from 10 March 2025.