Just saw this on MSN News


Ruhama reports on Irish sex trade

An organisation which works with women involved in prostitution has expressed concern about the number of underage girls who are being lured into prostitution.

An organisation which works with women involved in prostitution has warned that Ireland is now 'firmly enmeshed in the global sex trade'.

Ruhama expressed concern about the number of underage girls who are being lured into prostitution, some as young as 15 years old.

The organisation, which is marking its 20th anniversary, launched its Biennial Report for 2007 and 2008 today.

Spokesperson Geraldine Rowley said the organisation has seen an increase in street-based prostitution among Irish women since the economic downturn and it is feared some women will enter into the trade due to poverty.

Of the 341 women cared for by Ruhama between 2007 and 2008, less than 50% were Irish nationals.

Most of the women trafficked into Ireland were originally from Eastern European countries and Nigeria.

They were trafficked into Dublin, Cork and Belfast and moved around the country.

'Covert sex trade'

Speaking at the report launch, Ruhama Director Kathleen Fahy said prostitution was very visible on the streets of Dublin in 1989 but 'this has gradually changed over the years and today we are dealing with a predominantly indoor and more covert sex trade.'

She says 'Ireland is now firmly enmeshed in the global sex trade bringing with it new problems and challenges not anticipated 20 years ago.'

Technology has played a big role in the expansion of the sex trade and enabling operators and users to keep a low profile - she says it has also impacted on their ability to access women as they too are less visible on our streets today.

Despite all the media attention given to prostitution, Ruhama says they generally find a lack of understanding by many people in regard to the women involved and the structure in which they operate.

Ms Fahy highlighted the fact that many women involved in prostitution are controlled by criminals.

'These criminals now operate in a hidden world and use modern technology to control and market the women. Of the 341 women we assisted in the past two years, 167 were street based, less than 50% - and this of course represents the new trend of invisibility for the women'.

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