Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Sex sells - Ruhama says prostitution is violence against women which violates their human rights. Tuppus via Flickr

Prostitution on the rise in Ireland

The number of women here working in the sex industry has increased by 4 per cent, according to an organisation that supports the victims of prostitution.

PROSTITUTION IN IRELAND is on the rise, according to Ruhama’s annual report for 2010.

The Irish organisation, set up to support the victims of prostitution, says 204 women sought their help last year, an increase of 4 per cent on 2009.

Additionally, up to a quarter of those working in the sex industry are new to it, and there’s been a significant increase in the number of women prostituting themselves on the street.

Ruhama says the number of new victims of trafficking they met last year was comparable with 2009; the organisation made its first contact with a woman who was a victim of sex trafficking in 2000.

Street Prostitution

Elsewhere, there was a 9 per cent increase in the number of women accessing their street outreach service.

The street service operates from a van, which visits red-light districts at night, providing hot drinks, and a safe environment for sex workers.

Trafficking

Women supported by Ruhama in 2010 came from 31 different countries.

Sarah Benson, CEO, Ruhama said “This truly exemplifies the global nature of prostitution and trafficking.”

The report also states that victims of trafficking are now found, not just in Irish towns and cities, but also in smaller rural settings.

Sarah Benson says most women who work in prostitution are “vulnerable migrant women or marginalised Irish nationals, who experience economic difficulties especially debt. Some have addiction or childhood abuse issues”.

Criminalisation

Ruhama describes the reality of prostitution as ‘having to be available to be penetrated by strangers repeatedly on a daily basis.’

The organisation maintains that the sex trade is a multi million euro industry in Ireland, and is calling on the government to implement new legislation criminalising those who buy sex services.

Change

Ruhama says the nature of prostitution in Ireland has changed in the past ten years.

According to the NGO, women used to turn to prostitution to fix occasional financial difficulties and because they didn’t see themselves as employable, but now, 95 per cent of street prostitutes are drug users; increasingly they are homeless; and the numbers of very young women involved in prostitution is on the rise.

Read more about calls for the criminalisation of sex service users on TheJournal.ie>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
58 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry with a J
    Favourite Gerry with a J
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:49 PM

    Famous faces?

    320
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
    Favourite Pádraig Ó Raghaill
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:40 PM

    Yea I wondered that too.

    Also, the stupid councils put so many town events on today, that most were down on numbers, as they were all competing, for legs on the street. Care factor and communication displayed, zero.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweety McTweeter
    Favourite Tweety McTweeter
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:49 PM

    Linda Martin and some geezer from Tallaghtfornia, the paparazzi must have been swarming the place

    220
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:55 PM

    What’s a tallaghtfornia?

    111
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
    Favourite Pádraig Ó Raghaill
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:01 PM

    Cheers Paul, was just going to ask that

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Kirk
    Favourite Chris Kirk
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:06 PM

    The council is great on events and short termism, but haven’t a clue when it comes to inner citty homelessness.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal O'Brien
    Favourite Donal O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:54 PM

    Was that the Tallafornia guy that was caught running his taxi with tractor diesel?

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Murphey
    Favourite David Murphey
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 12:49 AM

    Jayzuz, yiz are all very negative. I passed by and the kids seemed to be enjoying it.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Monty
    Favourite Uncle Monty
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:48 PM

    Thanks for the Linda Martin pictures. I’ll revisit them later when I need to keep the wolf from the door.

    187
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EmmaQ@gmail.com
    Favourite EmmaQ@gmail.com
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    A radio station should not be allowed to shut down a busy city centre street for advertising

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alien8
    Favourite Alien8
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:43 PM

    i wouldn’t mind if it was open to all, but it seems to be only for listeners to one station. a bit unfair to the majority of Dubliners who don’t.

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Campbell
    Favourite John Campbell
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:10 PM

    If Linda (“I’m really only sixteen”) Martin and that other unknown are the famous people the rest of us might as well leave town!

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vinny Clare
    Favourite Vinny Clare
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:42 PM

    Should’ve diverted it to the Liffey for some of those “celebrities”
    Honestly I’d do a better job with a roll of polythene on a hill with a garden hose. It looks rubbish

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Cusack
    Favourite John Cusack
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:48 PM

    Why don’t you? Put your money where your mouth is.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aural Abuse
    Favourite Aural Abuse
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:44 PM

    Linda martin, all lubed up, sliding towards the camera with her legs up in the air…. That’s my appetite shot for at least a century.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Haycock
    Favourite Karl Haycock
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:12 PM

    They should have put more vaseline on the lens…

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WJH
    Favourite WJH
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:09 PM

    I pissed in it earlier.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Sinnott
    Favourite Martin Sinnott
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    Animal cruelty having Linda Martin on it !

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Techbuzz Ireland
    Favourite Techbuzz Ireland
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:03 PM

    Famous. Hmmmmm. Ok.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeanniejampots
    Favourite Jeanniejampots
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:11 PM

    It’s was traffic chaos today, merrion square closed off and then this too. All for a radio Station.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
    Favourite Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:56 PM

    I went down it flying. It was MAGIC!!!

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Murray
    Favourite Dave Murray
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:05 PM

    Flying? Sliding down was too fancy that you took to the air?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Kenny
    Favourite Michael Kenny
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 12:51 AM

    Did you hear any kids crying to be on it on your way down. It’s not fair only a select few allowed to be on it from a radio station.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kelcia mcnamara
    Favourite kelcia mcnamara
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:32 PM

    This was only open to celebrities and the rest of us plebs had to win a radio competition to partake?!?!! Should not have been allowed! Dublin City is for all, Shame !

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Apu Mohammed
    Favourite Apu Mohammed
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:47 PM

    They better reinforce that before the Irish heifer girls trundle down it

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eimear Dawson
    Favourite Eimear Dawson
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:34 PM

    Who are you who dares to make a sexist remark like that? Your name does not identify you as having any Irish connection.so I would like to tell you that we do not welcome such comments . People must be treated with respect.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ocJBI3Df
    Favourite ocJBI3Df
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 7:44 AM

    How do you get a fat bird into bed? Piece of cake

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james Goodyear
    Favourite james Goodyear
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    Fantastic Street festival for the kids in swords today also. I think it Might be there tomorrow too. Great fun!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
    Favourite Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:00 PM

    swords!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham McNamara
    Favourite Graham McNamara
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    Yeah ok but does it have a 260 foot slide where people have to paddle themselves down??

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Ryan
    Favourite Mark Ryan
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:08 PM

    What does snapchatter mean? Just someone off snapchat??

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 10:03 AM

    No flies on you.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute theedgeproductions
    Favourite theedgeproductions
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    260 foot ???
    Who even in the civilised world even uses illogical US measurements

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Monty
    Favourite Uncle Monty
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    I know, yeah. It’s 43.33 fathoms ffs.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kizzi Yeates
    Favourite Kizzi Yeates
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:23 PM

    Hope they sterilised it after that Linda Martin ….

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aimoo
    Favourite Aimoo
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 12:07 AM

    No famous faces in article. Liar!!

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Moody
    Favourite Jason Moody
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:22 PM

    Few bottles babyoil

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barra O Brien
    Favourite Barra O Brien
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 10:05 AM

    98fm is utter rubbish, up there beside dermot and Dave in the annoyance factors. Bray air fest was a much better place to be.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Gibney
    Favourite Declan Gibney
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 9:10 AM

    Not to worry, it will be burned out or stolen by now.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jul 24th 2016, 1:46 PM

    They have the weather for it ;0)

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds