Vice law reform 'should target men'

A group of high-profile Irish men have called on the next Government to reform vice laws to target people who pay for sex instead of women forced into prostitution.

Leading trade unionists, social campaigners, business men and artists have demanded legislation in Ireland be updated to mirror laws in Sweden, where people who use prostitutes are penalised.

John Cunningham, chair of the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), said current approaches to combat sex trafficking in Ireland were not working.

"Women and children continue to be trafficked into prostitution in Ireland because it remains profitable," said the campaigner.

"Tackling the demand for commercial sex that makes prostitution profitable for pimps and traffickers is the key to preventing exploitation."

Trade unionists David Begg and Eamon Devoy joined forces with poet Theo Dorgan, writer Peter Sheridan and Fergus Finlay of Barnardos, to back the Turn Off The Red Light campaign.

Mr Sheridan said: "It is our hope that those who don't buy sex but who might not have really thought about the consequences of the actions of those who do will now speak out and support this campaign."

Ruhama, which supports victims of trafficking and prostitution, is one of 30 groups backing the call. It said it had supported almost 200 women from the underground sex industry in 2009, of which 66 were victims of trafficking.

Diarmaid O Corrbui, chair of Ruhama, said: "Women in prostitution tell Ruhama about the damaging effects of continual acts of violence, unwanted sex, high levels of anxiety and trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, the destruction of the sense of self, identity and sexuality."

It is understood the Department of Justice is considering reforming laws on prostitution to penalise those who pay for sex rather than those who sell it.

Independent.ie