Ireland’s sex trade ‘thriving’

Published: Sunday, August 21, 2011

About 1,000 women are working as prostitutes in Ireland every day, an agency which supports those in the sex trade said.

Ruhama said it worked with 204 women last year, up 4% on the previous year, while the number of new victims of trafficking it has been alerted to remained static. The group said there was a 9% increase in the number of women working the streets and seeking help.

Sarah Benson, Ruhama chief executive, said it helped 80 women who claimed they had been trafficked to Ireland.

"This truly exemplifies the global nature of prostitution and trafficking and reflects the complexity of a frontline response such as that offered by Ruhama," she said. "We are constantly adapting to ensure that we are mindful and respectful of the diverse cultural backgrounds of the women accessing our services."

Ruhama helped 70 women working as street prostitutes through its outreach service. It described Ireland's sex trade as thriving. However the annual report warned that on any day up to 1,000 women and girls are selling sex in apartments, hotels, on the streets and in private clubs and massage parlours across the country.

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