Ruhama - sensationalism to maintain it's funding??

[Lucy Chambers]

I would say there is very little trafficking, and an awful lot of economic migration.

[Patricia]

If you look at the Ruhama 2009 report, they say they worked with 196 women affected by prostitution. 64 of these were women encountered by their street prostitution outreach service, of which only 5 sought further assistance and are thus 'cases'. There are a total of 137 'cases', of which they claim 66 were victims of trafficking. Only 26 of these were new cases in 2009, the other were cases carried over from previous years. Only 19 of these were trafficked to Ireland, the others were women who had been trafficked in another country and then escaped to Ireland. So, Ruhama actually encountered 19 women who say they were trafficked to Ireland in 2009. Also most of the new cases of trafficking were women from African countries, mainly Nigeria.

[anon361]

Also most of the new cases of trafficking were women from African countries, mainly Nigeria.

I don't mean to take away from some of these ladies terrible plights but before you posted that my first thought on Espesens post was how many of these ladies are claiming to be trafficked to this country in order to try and get assylum here which would reduce that number even further I would imagine?

[Patricia]

I wouldn't wish to deny trafficking exists at all. There are lots of problems in this industry, and I think most of us believe there are some cases of trafficking amongst those many problems. But I just wish people would not try to hijack the trafficking issue for their own agenda and exaggerate and twist all the facts.

[Doozer]

I wouldn't wish to deny trafficking exists at all. There are lots of problems in this industry, and I think most of us believe there are some cases of trafficking amongst those many problems. But I just wish people would not try to hijack the trafficking issue for their own agenda and exaggerate and twist all the facts.

But they have too or they wont get any funding
What government wants to spend money on something that is not happening that much especailly in the current economic climate?

[espensen]

I don't mean to take away from some of these ladies terrible plights but before you posted that my first thought on Espesens post was how many of these ladies are claiming to be trafficked to this country in order to try and get assylum here which would reduce that number even further I would imagine?

Interesting point.

[Lucy Chambers]

You also have the scenario that you are arrested while in a brothel- do you then say 'oh yes, not to worry, I just thought I would come and do a bit of moonlighting officer, arrest me at once'

Or- 'Help, I am being trafficked. Please take me to a place of safety and then pay my flight home'

Which would you go for?

[GordonGayBennett]

Interesting point.

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The fear of losing ones earnings from Escorting to the taxman would promote the "I`m pimped"/ "trafficed" plea I would imagine.

[espensen]

Sometimes i think the tax side of it is what the govt is really concerned with. But we just paid the heads of Anglo an increase for the hard work they are doing, so honestly, the country is actually is fantastic shape right now and does not need ANY tax intake at all.

[nicegirlsarenice]

They just had a news segment about it on RTE... they said that Ruhama's funding has been cut by 20% due to the recession.

They had this stuff on about how these women are imprisoned by their emotions, and emotional blackmail and whenever a woman engages in prostitution, she is demeaning herself and destroying her soul. And there Ruhama are, with open arms, maybe they'll never be full women ever again according to Ruhama but they'll still help them.

Mrs. Rowley herself (I think) was on saying about how they should go after the clients. Honestly, it was like a segment some deranged old auntie would put on, I'm surrprised even RTE put it on. The fact that the Irish public are actually forced into funding this blaggarded nonsense is so twisted it's a joke.

On the positive side though they reported an increase in website-based prostitution, although they're not very reliable. I just hope this doesn't also cause an increase in prices.