Scotland for Decrim, National AIDS Trust, Nikolaos Papadogiannis, (University of Stirling), Andy Ramsay (St Andrews University, Medical School and the Industrial Workers of the World), Giulia Sbaffi (University of Stirling) & Waverley Care have raised concerns outlined in the HIV Briefing Paper sent to MSPs earlier this week that Ash Regan’s dangerous Nordic Model Bill undermine’s Scotland’s goal to end HIV transmission by 2030. Original news coverage here.
The HIV Briefing paper reads:
A Bill, introduced by Ash Regan MSP, proposes to implement the ‘Nordic Model’ in Scotland, and is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament in early February 2026. As a collaborative of experts in HIV and sex work, we are urging MSPs to oppose this Bill. The proposed changes will not reduce exploitation or prevent violence, instead both will increase as sex workers are forced into unsafe working environments with less agency to manage risks and seek services and support.
Legislation that seeks to criminalise any facet of consensual sex work – whether imposed on clients or on sex workers – will increase the risk of HIV transmission. This evidence-based position is upheld by UNAIDS , health experts and doctors, and HIV civil society organisations working globally and in the UK where HIV organisations including NAT have strongly opposed the Nordic Model when previously debated in the UK government.
Sex workers must be included and consulted on laws that affect their work and their health. Introducing the so-called ‘Nordic Model’ in Scotland would instead risk increasing HIV-related harms, pushing sex work further underground, and setting back progress towards ending new HIV transmissions.
You can download the full briefing paper here
You can also email your MSP sharing your concerns about this topic using our MSP tool, here.