Women trafficked into Ireland ‘are raped on daily basis’

Women and girls trafficked into Ireland for sex are “raped on a daily basis” and find it very difficult to escape or get help.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), which represented 19 victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation during 2014, has now called on the Government to appoint an independent anti-trafficking czar.

Of the 19 women the ICI represented this year, half were from Nigeria, with the remainder coming from a range of countries all around the globe.

In nine of the cases, the ICI successfully secured greater protections and supports for the women, with the 10 other cases still pending.

As well as the appointment of an anti-trafficking official, the group has also called on the Government to implement a range of other measures to deal with trafficking, including:

• The introduction of sex buyer laws as proposed in the new Sexual Offences Bill;
• The publication of the promised second National Action Plan on Human Trafficking;
• Improved procedures to identify and support victims.

Commenting on the cases, chief executive of the ICI Denise Charlton said the “reality of prostitution in Ireland” involved women renting out their bodies for pimps and traffickers, and being raped on a daily basis.

“While every story is individual, there are also many similarities,” said Ms Charlton. “Teenagers tricked into coming to Ireland with promises of a new life, job, or marriage only for reality to dawn in the car park of Dublin Airport. It is there the dream becomes a nightmare.

“What follows are daily rapes in brothels and being rapidly moved around the country to meet the demand from sex buyers for ‘fresh meat’. This is the reality of prostitution in Ireland.”

The ICI has represented some 60 women to date, with this year being its busiest year to date.

Ms Charlton said that when women present to the ICI, it negotiates with the Department of Justice to help them secure permission to stay in the country, as well as helping them secure accommodation and access to services.

“As an Independent Law Centre, we work with women to help restart their lives,” said Ms Charlton. “We provide legal representation and support as they seek to be formally identified as victims, access services such as training and the workforce as well as citizenship applications. In most cases returning to their country of birth is not an option as it will only lead to further abuse.”

Ms Charlton welcomed the introduction of sex buyer laws in the new Sexual Offences Bill but said the legislation needed to be enacted without delay.