😡 Observations

• Petition on Sexual Exploitation: Residents from the Gower constituency, along with other constituencies, petitioned the House of Commons to ban websites that facilitate prostitution and to criminalize paying for sex. They also requested support rather than punishment for victims of sexual exploitation.

• Government’s Response: Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, acknowledged the severity of sexual exploitation and trafficking, emphasizing the government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.

• Online Safety Measures: The government is implementing the Online Safety Act 2023 to make online platforms responsible for preventing sexual exploitation and human trafficking on their sites. New codes of practice will be enforced starting 17 March 2025, requiring platforms to take action against illegal content or face penalties.

• Enforcement and Support: The government is working with law enforcement to target the perpetrators of sexual exploitation through operational intensifications. Support for potential and confirmed victims of modern slavery is provided through the modern slavery victim care contract, which includes access to medical treatment, legal aid, and other support services.

• Ongoing Review: The government plans to continually review and possibly strengthen policies to combat sexual exploitation, in collaboration with NGOs, charities, and parliamentarians.

The session, as captured in the provided transcript, shows limited disagreement. While the petition advocates for specific legislation to criminalise acts associated with sex trade and trafficking, the parliamentary authority issuing observations provides a formal response detailing existing and planned measures to combat the exploitation. Disagreement, if any, appears muted since the government acknowledges the issue’s importance and emphasizes ongoing initiatives. Thus, the divisiveness exhibited is low.