State criticised for making criminals out of victims

THE Government is failing women who are forced into prostitution primarily because it does not fully acknowledge the scale of the problem, but also because it does not offer proper support to victims when they are found.

In recent months, the main organisation working to support prostitutes, Ruhama, has highlighted cases where suspected victims of trafficking were exposed to the full rigours of the law without the reflection period advocated by European guidelines.

“Recognised best practice advocates that the screening and identification of victims of human trafficking is a process, and must be done with caution and consideration,” said Ruhama.