The public should make prostitution and sex trafficking ‘doorstep issues’ in the upcoming election, writes Sarah Benson
Since its foundation, Ruhama has supported thousands of women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland. Every day in our work we see first-hand the harm that sexual exploitation does to women and girls. We support women in their struggle to rebuild their lives and regain their sense of self, after sometimes years spent in a trade that strips them of their health, wellbeing and personal autonomy.
We remain firmly convinced that the most effective way to reduce this harm is to tackle Ireland’s sex trade head-on by penalising those who profit from prostitution and holding sex buyers – those whose demand for sex for sale drives the trade in the first instance – to account. Waiting in the wings for a new Dáil to be formed is a landmark piece of legislation which will do just that.
The Sexual Offences Bill has enjoyed massive public and unprecedented cross-party support since its launch last year. It contains measures to outlaw the purchase of sex in all circumstances. Crucially, the Bill also decriminalises those who sell sex on-street by repealing the sexual offence of soliciting for the purposes of prostitution – thereby addressing the clear injustice of punishing vulnerable women for the very exploitation they are experiencing.
Protections
Additionally, the legislation will create vital legal protections for children who are groomed for exploitation by vicious adults, including through internet contact. Ruhama has worked with young people groomed into prostitution, and so we know how incredibly important it is to close this legal loophole so that we do not have to wait for unthinkable violations of children to actually occur before an abuser can be held to account.
The Sexual Offences Bill was approved by the Seanad and reached the critical Second Stage in the Dáil just as the General Election was being called, leaving minimal work needed to complete its passage into law. Ireland cannot wait any longer to put an end to the demand for prostitution, which fuels a multi-million euro trade at the cost of vulnerable women and girls. That is why we are inviting all members of the public to make prostitution and sex trafficking ‘doorstep issues’ by asking your local representatives to put the Sexual Offences Bill at the top of their post-election ‘to-do’ list.
Concern
We recognise that many will be understandably concerned about local issues, but in your doorstep discussions please spare a thought for women and children who are being sexually exploited. Simply ask each of your representatives what they will do to ensure that these vital laws to tackle the sex trade become a reality as quickly as possible. We are appealing to you to join us in urging the next Government to make this Bill an absolute priority and place it at the top of their agenda as soon as they come to power.
Ruhama backs this Bill as a core member of the ‘Turn Off the Red Light Campaign’, an alliance of over 70 civil society organisations, trade unions and NGOs representing all facets of Irish society, who support this legislation. We are confident that this vital Bill, if enacted, will make Ireland a far less lucrative target for the domestic and international pimps and sex traffickers that profit from human misery across our State.
The Bill is so close to completion that all that is needed is one final push by our public representatives to finally ensure that it is no longer acceptable in Ireland to purchase sexual access to the body of another person.
*Sarah Benson is CEO of Ruhama, a voluntary organisation that works with women affected by prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. www.ruhama.ie
