Activists are calling for change to laws which leave sex workers “vulnerable” after a man was sentenced to life in jail for the rape and murder of an escort in a north-east flat.
The International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) said urgent action is needed to “completely decriminalise” prostitution and set up a “hate crime model” to protect people working in the sex industry from violence and discrimination.
It comes after student Bala Chinda, 26, was handed a life sentence for the “horrific” rape and murder of mother-of-one, Jessica McGraa, at a rented flat on Aberdeen’s Union Terrace.
The Nigerian was found guilty of throttling and suffocating the 37-year-old escort last Friday, having been on trial at Aberdeen’s High Court.
Miss McGraa was killed on February 11, 2016, and found dead in the apartment the next day.
The court heard Chinda had been desperate for sex on the morning of Miss McGraa’s death, having searched for nearby escorts beforehand.
In the UK, the selling and purchasing of sex between individuals is legal.
However, kerb-crawling, public solicitation, pimping and brothel keeping remains illegal.
This means escorts can not share a premises and are forced to work alone.
Speaking last night, volunteer and activist with the IUSW, Cat Stephens, said the current laws relating to sex workers meant “predators can take advantage”.
She added the law as it stands leaves sex workers “vulnerable” and facing “isolation”.
Ms Stephens said: “In terms of whether we are satisfied (with the verdict), not while we are made vulnerable. It is criminal for us to work together anyway. Predators can take advantage.
“The law builds an isolation and vulnerability. The law creates a system in which they are vulnerable. As it is, these girls are always at risk.”
She added statistics and evidence pointed to crimes being committed against people in the sex industry merely “because we are sex workers”.
Ms Stephens added: “Jessica wasn’t attacked because she was Jessica, she was attacked because of her job. That is overwhelmingly the case.”
As well as the decriminalisation of workers, clients and third parties, the IUSW is calling for a hate crime model to protect sex workers and tackle “contempt” and poor attitudes towards sex work.
The union is also promoting the National Ugly Mug campaign, a reporting method used to highlight people that may pose a threat to sex workers.
