Human rights activist and Sinn Féin councillor Thérèse Ruane has welcomed the passing of a European Parliament resolution last week, calling for stronger action across the EU on human trafficking. Cllr Ruane insists that we must remain committed to ending, in particular, the exploitation of women and girls in the sex industry.
Cllr Ruane explained: “The majority of trafficking is going on underground and undetected. More than 200 years ago slavery was abolished in Europe, yet thousands of people are being sold today as modern day slaves. Trafficking includes sexual and labour exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, and is now considered to be one of the most serious crimes worldwide. More than 80 per cent of the victims are women.”
Cllr Ruane said as much information as possible must be collected with a particular focus on prevention and drawing attention to the traps that lead to trafficking. In the current economic and financial crisis, people are led to believe they will be offered a better standard of life, only to be coerced into prostitution or forced labour. Although women and children are the more vulnerable victims, all potential categories of victims must be identified and offered assistance on an unconditional basis, she added.
“Women and girls who are exploited in this way are the victims of an appalling crime. I believe that there is a real will in the community and among politicians to respond appropriately to the needs of victims of exploitation. However more progress is needed in areas such as the provision of necessary services to victims of trafficking such as counselling, access to independent legal advice, and the provision of safe, secure, and suitable accommodation.
“If we’re really serious about ending the exploitation of women and girls in the Irish sex industry, we must change the focus. We must tackle the demand for paid sex. I believe that we need to adopt the Swedish model, which criminalises the purchase of sexual services. Sweden, as a result, has fewer problems with trafficking than the rest of the EU”.
“Human trafficking is an appalling crime,” said Cllr Ruane and the “issue must receive the attention and focus it requires. People throughout Ireland need to be aware of what is happening and be prepared to stand up and act to end this appalling human rights abuse.”
