Legislation to criminalise the purchase of sex is key to ending violence against women

Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The National Women’s Council (NWC) today (26th March 2025) welcomed the long-awaited publication of the Review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and highlighted the important role of the legislation in achieving a zero tolerance approach to violence against women. 

The policy and legislative landscape has changed considerably since the commencement of the review, with numerous positive changes in law and policy which will support the enforcement of the Act. These include the introduction of the 2024 Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Act, which provides the legislative basis for the new National Referral Mechanism making it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access advice, accommodation, and support. In addition, we saw the publication of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV and the establishment of Cuan, the new statutory DSGBV agency. 

There are, however, ongoing gaps and lack of implementation that need urgent attention in order to achieve all of the objectives of the legislation, including a reduction in demand. We need to see better public awareness of the legislation and crucially, the delivery of dedicated, specialised, culturally appropriate and trauma informed wraparound services for women who wish to exit the sex trade. These services and supports include healthcare, employment, legal and migration supports, social protection and gender specific housing for women.

Feargha Ní Bhroin, Violence against women Officer with NWC said,

“Prostitution and the wider sex trade is highly gendered, with women making up the vast majority of those who sell sex, and men making up the vast majority of those who buy. Buying sex from people who have no alternative income is a form of sexual violence and exploitation and this has been recognised in the Third National Strategy on violence against women. 

Many women enter prostitution as a result of some form of coercion: poverty, trafficking, and grooming, Research by SERP has shown that 94% of women in the sex industry in Ireland are migrant women who did not freely choose to enter prostitution. Women in addiction or homelessness are disproportionately represented, as are women in extreme poverty.

This legislation sends a clear message that prostitution is a form of violence against women. To achieve an Ireland where all women can live free from violence, exploitation and harassment, we must address the systemic inequalities that are the cause and consequence of male violence. No woman should be forced or coerced into this trade and those who choose to exit must have the supports and opportunities to do so.” 

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For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Head of Communications, NWC, Tel. 0858589104.