Patricia
09-05-12, 18:38
Because, oh yes, it is the same people running Ruhama that ran the Magdalene Laundries!
Ruhama's trustees are the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity (O.L.C.) and Good Shepherd Sisters (R.G.S.). Numerous of their Directors are also nuns - Sr. Sheila Murphy, O.L.C., Sr. Bernadette Mc Nally, R.G.S., Sr. Frances Robinson, O.L.C.
Ruhama's Communications & Policy Manager - Gerardine Rowley - AKA 'Gerry' is also a nun, though this isn't as well-known as these days she chooses to dress as a 'civillian' and not use her religious title.
59739
Gerry wasn't always as shy about her religious calling as she is now. Here is a 2007 article about her that later 'disappeared' from the Interwebs, but I'd copied the text into notepad before it went (Sorry I appear to be missing one bit of one sentance that I presume didn't copy properly due to a picture or similar getting in the way):
Traffik stopping.
Published on Wed Mar 07 12:56:14 GMT 2007
By Denise Clarke
The increase in foreign women being trafficked to Ireland for prostitution in recent years is well-documented. Many of the women involved in prostitution feel they have no choice and enter into the sex industry – some due to poverty, others to feed their drug addiction. One Dublin based non-governmental organisation, Ruhama, has been central to showing these women that there is another option open to them. For the past nine years, Leitrim native Gerardine Rowley, has been a k
Originally from the village of Fenagh, Gerardine attended Fenagh NS and Ballinamore Secondary School.
"When I finished school, I worked in Kiltoghert Co-Op for over seven years. In the early 1990s, I joined The Good Shepherd Sisters, who are involved internationally with women prostitution," Gerardine explained to the Leader this week.
"In 1993, I went to Belfast and worked in the inner city with women in street prostitution. In 1997, I made my final profession to The good Shepherd in Carrick-on-Shannon and in 1998, I started work with Ruhama and have been working here since," she added.
Established in 1989, Ruhama is a Dublin-based NGO, which works with women involved in prostitution. It was founded as a joint initiative of the Good Shepherd Sisters and Our Lady of Charity Sisters, both of which had a long history of involvement with marginalised women.
Ruhama's work involves direct services to women involved in prostitution, including outreach and casework, befriending, education, counselling, and holistic therapies; awareness raising, including the provision of training for other relevant service providers, action to influence legislation and public policy and the stimulation of discussion and debate among the wider public; networking with others on issues related to prostitution and trafficking and in order to improve access to services for women involved in prostitution.
From these modest beginnings, Ruhama has grown into an organisation with 14 staff, over 30 volunteers and a range of services. As well as the outreach service Ruhama offers an in-depth casework service, counselling and a referral and support system to assist women involved in prostitution to access services such as housing, addiction programmes, immigration and legal services. Ruhama also offers court accompaniment to offenders.
"I work directly with the women," said Gerardine. "We visit the women in their homes, support them in any way we can and accompany them to court if the need be."
Ruhama's initial outreach service was based on the women's identification of their need for the opportunity to discuss their issues and problems with someone who could understand their situation and accept it uncritically, and from that perspective to offer advice and support.
Operating from a mobile unit which visits red-light districts each night, the service offers women hot drinks, a friendly ear and a neutral safe environment in which to talk with Ruhama staff and volunteers.
"In the 1980s, prostitution took place mostly in urban areas but it has gone nationwide in terms of indoor prostitution. Ninety per cent of women in the indoor sector are non-national, there is a growing number of women being trafficked into Ireland for the sex industry," explained Gerardine.
"It is very difficult to come into contact with these women. The more indoor prostitution that takes place, the more difficult it is to detect. The non-Irish prostitutes may not know where the services are that can help them and then there is the language barrier. To help these women, we rely on the publicity of our organisation and urge members of the public if they notice anything suspicious in their area - different men calling to a certain house – to contact us or the Gardai," she continued.
"RTE's Prime Time covered the topic on one of their programmes and we received many referrals from women in this situation and the general public. We rely on referrals which come from the health profession, the legal profession and the Gardai. Irish women are aware of this organisation so word of mouth is also a factor," added Gerardine.
It is believed that many women find themselves in prostitution as a result of a crisis in their lives. "We would believe that most women find themselves in prostitution as a result of a crisis in their lives – they feel they have no other option. Many women in street prostitution have a drug addiction and need to feed their habit. Others may enter the industry because of poverty or if they are a single parent and need the money."
"There is an absence of choice – men have sexually and subtly groomed them. Some women are kidnapped abroad and brought to Ireland for prostitution. Their passports are taken off them. These women are lured to Ireland in the hope of making a better future for themselves and their families. Some are told they can earn up to 4,000 euro a week in the sex industry. This is equivalent to one year's wages in their countries," Gerardine told the Leader. "However, when they get to Ireland, the traffickers and pimps control them, the contracts change."
In Ireland, there is currently no legislation for adult women trafficked into the sex industry. "It is the only country in the EU and as a result, Ireland is considered a 'soft touch'. It is a low risk and high profit industry here," she said.
"We were promised by the current Government that legislation in relation to this would be published last year but it hasn't happened and we are very disappointed. With the election looming and the Government going out of office, it won't happen in the near future but we won't give up," continued Gerardine.
"We are actively putting forward submissions and encourage people to lobby their local TDs. There is a draft letter on our website which people can print off and send to the local politicians. We are constantly trying to advocate for the victims of this crime."
The average age bracket of prostitutes in modern day Ireland is between 18 and early 30's. The majority of the victims of trafficking are the younger age gap of late teens and early 20's.
"It's peoples lives we are dealing with," stated Gerardine. "Prostitution is very dangerous – there is always a risk of death. The women are threatened, gang raped by the traffickers and abused. It takes a long time for them to recover from this. They have to deal with a lot of psychological issues and will still feel threatened."
"We offer these women protection and find access for them in safe accommodation. Many of the women have returned home and we have lost track of some of them. There is also the danger that they will be re-trafficked into Ireland," she added.
Ruhama is committed to raising awareness on issues surrounding prostitution in Irish society today, both in the national and international context. As they work directly with the women involved, the team have significant insights into the most complex social issues.
"To date, we have had no referrals from Co Longford but we have had referrals from surrounding counties. We are currently running a campaign entitled, 'Stop the Traffik' which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade which will take place on March 25. However, women are still enslaved through sex."
"It people weren't willing to 'purchase' people for sex, prostitution wouldn't exist. Society needs to be challenged. While prostitution is accepted, the commodification of it will be accommodated," concluded Gerardine.
Ruhama is currently selling keyrings in the shape of a key to raise awareness and help 'unlock' women from prostitution. People purchasing the key (for €2) will also be supporting the work of Ruhama. If you would like to help, visit the website www.ruhama.ie or telephone 01-8360292.
Ruhama's trustees are the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity (O.L.C.) and Good Shepherd Sisters (R.G.S.). Numerous of their Directors are also nuns - Sr. Sheila Murphy, O.L.C., Sr. Bernadette Mc Nally, R.G.S., Sr. Frances Robinson, O.L.C.
Ruhama's Communications & Policy Manager - Gerardine Rowley - AKA 'Gerry' is also a nun, though this isn't as well-known as these days she chooses to dress as a 'civillian' and not use her religious title.
59739
Gerry wasn't always as shy about her religious calling as she is now. Here is a 2007 article about her that later 'disappeared' from the Interwebs, but I'd copied the text into notepad before it went (Sorry I appear to be missing one bit of one sentance that I presume didn't copy properly due to a picture or similar getting in the way):
Traffik stopping.
Published on Wed Mar 07 12:56:14 GMT 2007
By Denise Clarke
The increase in foreign women being trafficked to Ireland for prostitution in recent years is well-documented. Many of the women involved in prostitution feel they have no choice and enter into the sex industry – some due to poverty, others to feed their drug addiction. One Dublin based non-governmental organisation, Ruhama, has been central to showing these women that there is another option open to them. For the past nine years, Leitrim native Gerardine Rowley, has been a k
Originally from the village of Fenagh, Gerardine attended Fenagh NS and Ballinamore Secondary School.
"When I finished school, I worked in Kiltoghert Co-Op for over seven years. In the early 1990s, I joined The Good Shepherd Sisters, who are involved internationally with women prostitution," Gerardine explained to the Leader this week.
"In 1993, I went to Belfast and worked in the inner city with women in street prostitution. In 1997, I made my final profession to The good Shepherd in Carrick-on-Shannon and in 1998, I started work with Ruhama and have been working here since," she added.
Established in 1989, Ruhama is a Dublin-based NGO, which works with women involved in prostitution. It was founded as a joint initiative of the Good Shepherd Sisters and Our Lady of Charity Sisters, both of which had a long history of involvement with marginalised women.
Ruhama's work involves direct services to women involved in prostitution, including outreach and casework, befriending, education, counselling, and holistic therapies; awareness raising, including the provision of training for other relevant service providers, action to influence legislation and public policy and the stimulation of discussion and debate among the wider public; networking with others on issues related to prostitution and trafficking and in order to improve access to services for women involved in prostitution.
From these modest beginnings, Ruhama has grown into an organisation with 14 staff, over 30 volunteers and a range of services. As well as the outreach service Ruhama offers an in-depth casework service, counselling and a referral and support system to assist women involved in prostitution to access services such as housing, addiction programmes, immigration and legal services. Ruhama also offers court accompaniment to offenders.
"I work directly with the women," said Gerardine. "We visit the women in their homes, support them in any way we can and accompany them to court if the need be."
Ruhama's initial outreach service was based on the women's identification of their need for the opportunity to discuss their issues and problems with someone who could understand their situation and accept it uncritically, and from that perspective to offer advice and support.
Operating from a mobile unit which visits red-light districts each night, the service offers women hot drinks, a friendly ear and a neutral safe environment in which to talk with Ruhama staff and volunteers.
"In the 1980s, prostitution took place mostly in urban areas but it has gone nationwide in terms of indoor prostitution. Ninety per cent of women in the indoor sector are non-national, there is a growing number of women being trafficked into Ireland for the sex industry," explained Gerardine.
"It is very difficult to come into contact with these women. The more indoor prostitution that takes place, the more difficult it is to detect. The non-Irish prostitutes may not know where the services are that can help them and then there is the language barrier. To help these women, we rely on the publicity of our organisation and urge members of the public if they notice anything suspicious in their area - different men calling to a certain house – to contact us or the Gardai," she continued.
"RTE's Prime Time covered the topic on one of their programmes and we received many referrals from women in this situation and the general public. We rely on referrals which come from the health profession, the legal profession and the Gardai. Irish women are aware of this organisation so word of mouth is also a factor," added Gerardine.
It is believed that many women find themselves in prostitution as a result of a crisis in their lives. "We would believe that most women find themselves in prostitution as a result of a crisis in their lives – they feel they have no other option. Many women in street prostitution have a drug addiction and need to feed their habit. Others may enter the industry because of poverty or if they are a single parent and need the money."
"There is an absence of choice – men have sexually and subtly groomed them. Some women are kidnapped abroad and brought to Ireland for prostitution. Their passports are taken off them. These women are lured to Ireland in the hope of making a better future for themselves and their families. Some are told they can earn up to 4,000 euro a week in the sex industry. This is equivalent to one year's wages in their countries," Gerardine told the Leader. "However, when they get to Ireland, the traffickers and pimps control them, the contracts change."
In Ireland, there is currently no legislation for adult women trafficked into the sex industry. "It is the only country in the EU and as a result, Ireland is considered a 'soft touch'. It is a low risk and high profit industry here," she said.
"We were promised by the current Government that legislation in relation to this would be published last year but it hasn't happened and we are very disappointed. With the election looming and the Government going out of office, it won't happen in the near future but we won't give up," continued Gerardine.
"We are actively putting forward submissions and encourage people to lobby their local TDs. There is a draft letter on our website which people can print off and send to the local politicians. We are constantly trying to advocate for the victims of this crime."
The average age bracket of prostitutes in modern day Ireland is between 18 and early 30's. The majority of the victims of trafficking are the younger age gap of late teens and early 20's.
"It's peoples lives we are dealing with," stated Gerardine. "Prostitution is very dangerous – there is always a risk of death. The women are threatened, gang raped by the traffickers and abused. It takes a long time for them to recover from this. They have to deal with a lot of psychological issues and will still feel threatened."
"We offer these women protection and find access for them in safe accommodation. Many of the women have returned home and we have lost track of some of them. There is also the danger that they will be re-trafficked into Ireland," she added.
Ruhama is committed to raising awareness on issues surrounding prostitution in Irish society today, both in the national and international context. As they work directly with the women involved, the team have significant insights into the most complex social issues.
"To date, we have had no referrals from Co Longford but we have had referrals from surrounding counties. We are currently running a campaign entitled, 'Stop the Traffik' which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade which will take place on March 25. However, women are still enslaved through sex."
"It people weren't willing to 'purchase' people for sex, prostitution wouldn't exist. Society needs to be challenged. While prostitution is accepted, the commodification of it will be accommodated," concluded Gerardine.
Ruhama is currently selling keyrings in the shape of a key to raise awareness and help 'unlock' women from prostitution. People purchasing the key (for €2) will also be supporting the work of Ruhama. If you would like to help, visit the website www.ruhama.ie or telephone 01-8360292.