Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
A CO-ORDINATED international campaign is seeking to reframe prostitution, which is both a cause and a consequence of inequality between men and women, as simply a form of “work” no different from any other which should either be fully decriminalised or legalised.
Germany, the Netherlands and some other states have legalised systems where prostitution is controlled by the government and legal only in certain specified conditions.
In 2003 New Zealand introduced full decriminalisation, which involves the removal of all prostitution-specific laws, including laws against pimping and brothel-keeping.
ANNA FISHER explores what would it mean for women’s equality and public safety if Britain embraces full commercialisation of the sex trade
The legacy of socialist feminists such as Alexandra Kollontai challenges us today to confront an uncomfortable truth: framing prostitution as empowerment lets the abusers of the Epstein class off the hook, warns HELEN O’CONNOR
Susan Galloway talks to ASH REGAN MSP about her “Unbuyable” Bill, seeking to tackle the commercial sexual exploitation of women in Scotland
ROS SITWELL reports from the Morning Star conference on ‘Race, Sex and Class Liberation’ last weekend


