Mags GarganIncreasing number of sex trafficking victims reaching out for help
A leading charity working with women affected by prostitution has warned that the sex trade is becoming normalised in Ireland, with the organisation seeing an almost 20% increase in vulnerable women accessing its services.
Speaking in advance of the launch of Ruhama’s annual report this week, Communications Manager Gerardine Rowley told The Irish Catholic that while the report “shows many changes in the sex trade, the one thing that never changes is the risk and harm for women.
“Increasingly in Ireland, there is a normalising of the sex trade which de-sensitises people to how highly harmful it is for those involved,” she said.
Nationalities
The charity, founded as a joint initiative of the Good Shepherd Sisters and Our Lady of Charity Sisters 25 years ago, supported 305 women of 36 different nationalities last year, an 18% increase on the previous year.
Ruhama caseworkers delivered care to 219 women, of whom 83 were victims of sex trafficking and 70 were supported through a dedicated street outreach.
Sarah Benson, Chief Executive Officer of Ruhama, said the commercial sex trade in Ireland has over time become increasingly organised and has adapted to new technology.
Criminal gangs
“There are numerous criminal gangs, of many nationalities, organising and profiting from the prostitution of vulnerable women and girls right across the island of Ireland in urban and rural settings,” she said.
“While Ruhama continues to work with significant numbers of Irish women, the majority of those exploited in the indoor sex trade are migrant women. This small island remains a destination for traffickers, pimps and procurers from all corners of the globe.”
Ruhama is one of the organisations behind the Turn off the Red Light campaign to end prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland, which is lobbying the Government to criminalise the purchase of sex.