Report shows sex workers exposed to shocking ‘violence’

PROSTITUTES are being subjected to shocking levels of “aggression, violence and brutality” on the street, according a new report.

A survey of street sex workers found all of them have suffered physical and sexual assault. It said most have been raped and many have been abducted.

The research by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, the first of its type, reveals a world of chaotic drug use, rampant levels of potentially fatal blood-borne diseases and shattered families.

Many of the female sex workers have experienced extreme personal tragedies, including miscarriages, still births and infant deaths, while others are separated, either voluntarily or by force, from their children.

The report, Drug Use, Sex Work and the Risk Environment in Dublin, calls for an urgent improvement in out-of-hours and weekend services for sex workers.

The survey, conducted by Dr Gemma Cox and Dr Teresa Whitaker, was carried out among 35 drug-using prostitutes – 31 female and four male (three gay).

“The men and women recounted harrowing levels of aggression, violence and brutality from customers,” said the report.

Dr Whitaker saidmugging, gay bashing and non-reporting of crime was a problem.

The report said many women reported being abducted in cars, taken to Phoenix Park and “physically and sexually assaulted and humiliated”.

Dr Whitaker said less than a third of women were forced into prostitution by a pimp or partner and most got involved through friends working in the industry.

“Generally they enter the industry through friends, then they discover they can make money and they need the money for their families, for their children, for their drugs,” she said.

The research found all sex workers were dependent on heroin on entry and that 88% were on methadone. The report found there was multiple drug dependencies going on, with high usage levels of benzodiazepines (tranquillisers) and with over a quarter taking cocaine and 15% crack cocaine.

It said 88% had Hepatitis C and 21% had HIV.

Dr Whitaker said sex work tended to lead to greater drug use, which in turn led to more sex work.

She said injecting cocaine was particularly risky as it led to increased risk of blood-borne infections, increased risk of vein damage and riskier sexual behaviour.

Dr Whitaker said Government funding cuts were a “serious worry” for service providers and highlighted the need for out-of-hours and weekend services.

“This group normally works at night and at weekends and that’s when services aren’t available to them.”

Stuart Fraser, who runs the Chrysalis project, which helps sex workers, said he would have to “close the project” if the cuts were brought in.

Drugs strategy minister John Curran, who launched the report, said overall funding to drug task forces was being cut slightly, from €34 million to €32m, this year.