Trafficking.

[Bruno69]

There's a report in the news of the world today about some 35 yr old Romanian guy who is being charged with trafficking 10 Romanian girls who worked in brothels in limerick, Galway and Dublin.

Claims the girls were told their families would be targeted if they didn't work for him.

I can't find a link anywhere to the story I'm afraid.

[Anna23]

Well, escorts have stepped up for themselves and created the TOBL committee where lots of work is being done to fight TORL.

I don't see why some punters who feel so strongly about being primarily affected with the existence of TORL won't do the same.
It would certainly help to open the public eyes and to show that escorts and clients alike are a part (and not a small one) of Irish society.

The problem here I think is that for escorts it is livelyhood where for clients its only fun and thus they dont want to get seriously involved in any hassle.

I fully appreciate any clients opinion on this matter but until they will take things into their hands and actually start doing something about it, then thats all they gonna have unfortunately.

As for "we have families and jobs and need privacy" type of excuses, well escorts do too. They have lives outside escorting including other jobs, carriers and family life.

[Amy Alison]

There's a report in the news of the world today about some 35 yr old Romanian guy who is being charged with trafficking 10 Romanian girls who worked in brothels in limerick, Galway and Dublin.

Claims the girls were told their families would be targeted if they didn't work for him.

I can't find a link anywhere to the story I'm afraid.

Anybody has a link for this please ?

[Mioux]

Anna you are awesome x

[Bruno69]

Quite a few of us actually kicked this debate off on this site before any escorts said anything about it and TOBL was formed. We've had letters published in newspapers and have been active on various websites.

I was not aware TOBL was escort-only membership. I think its a mistake if that is the case. And it's not just a bit of fun for clients. It's a lifestyle and an important part of a lot of our lives.

As for not exposing ourselves to the public, I cannot afford to do that.
I haven't noticed any escorts names or pictures anywhere either, understandably enough.

I'm surprised at the attitude of Mioux ( who thinks punters have no right to an opinion ) and to some degree Anna and TOBL if it's considered an escort only group.

I think quite a few punters have shown an ability to contribute to this topic in an intelligent fashion.

But there you go. Good luck with the campaigning !

[rubberlover]

As I have always said trafficking it is wrong and equally the best people to talk about it are the escorts. As a client I try to ensure that any escort I meet is independent and working freely and importantly treat them with respect. Just my tuppence hapenny worth.

[Mioux]

and you do try, bless you

and people wonder why girls don't say much on this website.

[TOBL]

I was not aware TOBL was escort-only membership. I think its a mistake if that is the case. And it's not just a bit of fun for clients. It's a lifestyle and an important part of a lot of our lives.

To clarify the Constitution sets out that we are led by sex workers. Membership is open to all individuals and organisations who support our objectives, but only those working in the sex industry are voting members. All Officers of our Committee are sex workers. Our Members, Friends of TOBL and Admin Support are both sex workers and non sex workers.

[Bruno69]

Fine. Still think it's a mistake.

[TOBL]

Fine. Still think it's a mistake.

We are inviting everyone including clients to be part of TOBL and get involved in debate, discussions, helping out. We are simply saying it should be sex workers only with voting power, so TOBL is sex worker led. We don't think that is a mistake, we think that is the right way, that a campaign for sex workers' rights should be led by sex workers, not clients or any other group in society.

Also think about our structure, if we said every member could vote, Ruhama could have 100 people join tomorrow and out vote all the sex workers and TOBL would be Ruhama II. It would make no sense to allow everyone to vote.