Tag Archives: prostitution

90300676 Former US President Jimmy Carter

Former US president Jimmy Carter has called on Ireland to take a lead in introducing legislation to target the buyers of sex.

In letters to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and all members of the Oireachtas, Mr Carter urged politicians to act with a “sense of urgency” to protect prostituted women and girls. In the letters, Mr Carter acknowledges the progress being made in Ireland towards passing legislation that would target the buyers of sex.

Ireland urged to take lead to target buyers of sex (RTÉ News)

Alternatively..

Both The Lancet and The Economist have called for prostitution to be decriminalised:

Sweden’s avowed aim is to wipe out prostitution by eliminating demand. But the sex trade will always exist—and the new approach has done nothing to cut the harms associated with it. Street prostitution declined after the law was introduced but soon increased again. When Rhode Island unintentionally decriminalised indoor prostitution between 2003 and 2009 the state saw a steep decline in reported rapes and cases of gonorrhoea. Governments should focus on deterring and punishing such crimes [slavery and child prostituition] and leave consenting adults who wish to buy and sell sex to do so safely and privately online.

A personal choice (Josie Delap, The Economist)

The Lancet: HIV and sex workers

Previously: You Ain’t Seen Novena Yet

Hoor We To Judge?

Turn Off The Red White And Blue Light

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

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Alan writes:

“Why are the authorities arresting sex workers in this day and age?
Is the moral fabric of the nation at stake?
Genuine question.”

Anyone?

Previously: Turn Off The Red White And Blue Light

Stopping At Red

Eugene

Doras Luimní writes:

“Breaking news from Limerick District Court today…Judge Eugene O’Kelly [above] accepted an application from An Garda Siochana to withdraw civil order applications issued earlier in the year for anti-social behaviour (ASBO’s) against eight Romanian women allegedly involved in prostitution in Limerick city. Allegations of coercion, control and trafficking were made by defending Solicitor Darach McCarthy and accepted by Judge O’Kelly. Judge O’Kelly pointed to flaws in legislation and suggested that the demand for prostitution should be tackled rather than target the victims. Doras Luimní and the Red Ribbon Project were at court this morning to make a formal statement illustrating our concerns.”

Doras Luimní

5/9/2012. Turn Off The Red Light Campaigns(The Turn off the Red Light campaign in Ireland)

The public face of the sex trade in Northern Ireland says that DUP proposals to criminalise its clients will drive vulnerable women further underground and put them more at risk of violence. Laura Lee, a Scottish-based escort, is campaigning against Lord Morrow’s bill, which aims to tackle human trafficking and exploitation by criminalising men who buy sex from escorts.

Lord Morrow’s bill will, she argued, put women like her in more danger by increasing the stigma around their work. She said her mandate comes from the many escorts who contact her. She is a spokeswoman for the International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW).

Advocates of the Morrow bill argue that criminalising men who buy sex would reduce demand and cause crime gangs to reduce the supply of trafficked women, which Swedish police say is exactly what happened in Sweden. But Laura said that what actually happened in Sweden after buyers were criminalised was that escorts moved indoors to protect their clients from police surveillance.


DUP anti-trafficking law would endanger women, says sex worker (Philip Bradfield, Belfast Newsletter)

Previously: Protecting Sex Workers

You Ain’t Seen Novena Yet

Stopping At Red

File pic: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

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Publican and former international rugby hooker Jerry Flannery (above) has suggested that if men improved their social skills, washed regularly and bought some new clothes “then they may not have to pay for sex” from prostitutes in the city.

“Who knows if these lads went out for a few pints, maybe even to Jerry Flannery’s pub, and were polite and respectful they may even meet a nice lady and develop a meaningful and loving relationship,” he said.

 

Mmf.

Jerry Flannery offers ‘advice’ to men paying for sex (Alan Owens and Anne Sheridan, Limerick leader)

POPE JOHN PAUL DIES RELIGIOUS SCENES PEOPLE PRAYINGThere may be pray.

Members of a religious group from east Limerick have begun saying a decade of the rosary several nights a week outside a suspected brothel in the city to “pray for the women” in prostitution.

The group, which does not wish to be identified, is inviting the public to join them in prayer on Upper William Street, outside a premises where they believe Romanian women are being forced to work as prostitutes.

“We’re praying for the girls. A lot of them are poor, from Eastern Europe and have come here expecting jobs and a better life. We’re not against the women per se – they are somebody’s children. It’s also not good for business here,” said one man, who regularly prays outside the premises.

The rosary will continue on unspecified week nights at around 5.30pm and at the weekend at 8pm, he said.

 

Rosary offered for sex workers in Limerick city (Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader)

(Photocall Ireland)