Megaphone saying Press relelase

Statistics published by the Minister for Justice on the 8th of October demonstrate that sex work laws are failing on their own terms. Meanwhile, sex workers in Ireland have faced increased violence, threats, murder and stigma. 


“Who exactly are these laws for?” asked Linda Kavanagh, spokesperson for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI). “The statistics confirm that the law is not reducing the demand for sex work. The number of summons increases year on year. Since its introduction, only a handful of clients have been prosecuted. This shows the law is not fit for purpose.”

“We do not advocate for the prosecution of clients because we know, and evidence has repeatedly shown, that any form of criminalisation of sex work harms sex workers themselves. This focus on punishing clients has done nothing to improve the situation for sex workers and has actively made things worse, as we warned when the law was debated.” 

“The 2017 Sexual Offences Act was introduced with a promise to shift the burden of criminality away from those selling sexual services and onto those purchasing them. The reality, however, is that sex workers continue to operate in a climate of fear, where they are vulnerable to violence and exploitation, precisely because of the law. SWAI has long warned that the criminalisation of clients would drive the industry further underground, making it more dangerous for sex workers.”

“The figures released confirm what SWAI has been saying for years: the law is not protecting sex workers. Instead, it has created a hostile environment where clients and sex workers themselves are deterred from reporting violence or exploitation for fear of prosecution, leaving sex workers more isolated and at risk. Brothel-keeping laws are written so broadly that sex workers who are working together for safety are prosecuted and jailed, as we saw in 2019.”

“Despite its original, misguided intent to protect vulnerable individuals, the figures indicate that the law has failed to meet its objectives. Year after year, the US Trafficking in Person’s report highlights Ireland’s failure to prosecute traffickers and identify trafficking victims.” 

“You only have to look at advertising sites to see the number of people in sex work has not fallen. Again we ask, who are these laws for?”

“While the delusional Act was supposed to allow sex workers to report violence without fear of prosecution, this so-called protection has not translated into meaningful support.”

“Recent research has shown that sex workers in Ireland feel stigma more profoundly than their counterparts in Scotland and New Zealand. We have also reported on stalking and harassment of sex workers in Kerry, Galway and Carlow in the past week. These are just two of many examples of how the law has made sex workers more vulnerable, more at risk, and less safe” 

“The statistics speak for themselves—this law is failing sex workers. The criminalisation of clients has made our community more vulnerable, more at risk, and less safe. We need to listen to sex workers and the realities they face. It’s time for the government to act, decriminalise sex work, and provide real protections for those in sex work.”

Angol: Ott már számos kés támadás és rablás Dublin területén az elmúlt napokban. Az áldozatok többsége már Trans szexmunkások, de nem minden. Ha bármilyen információt arról, hogy ezek a támadások forduljon Garda – Lucy Myles 086 828 2515 / [email protected]e. Ezeknek az embereknek be kell állítani! Lucy minden kapcsolatot a biztonságos és bizalmas.  Nem számít, milyen a bevándorlási állapota. A támadások, és hogyan tarthatja biztonságban információt kap a kapcsolatot SWAI Ph: 085 824 9305 SWAI is tart saját rendkívüli ülést a szexmunkások a hétfő július 3 Dublinban. A pontos idő és az elhelyezés részlet kapcsolat minket, a 085 824 9305 vagy e-mail [email protected] kérjük használja www.uglymugs.ie nem próbálja lásd: olyan új ügyfelek és a munka, párban, vagy csoportok, ha lehet. Español: Hemos Sidó notificador de una serie de be őket alaposan armados con cuchillos bastante sorozat y por las mismas personas en Dublin. EN su mayoria, las personas atacadas fueron kísérők transexuales brasileras, pero nem unicamente. Estos-ataques fueron violentos, y necesitamos tomar toda precaucion bokréták imediatamente. Nuestra Garda de referencia-Lucy Myles contacten 086 828 2515 / [email protected] con cualquier informacion. Todo contacto con Lucy es seguro y confidencial. Nincs ami cuál tenger su situación migratoria. Para obtener información sobre los ataques y cómo mantenerse seguro, póngase en contacto con SWAI Ph: 085 824 9305 SWAI esta organizandouna reunion de urgencia szombat este 3 de Julio en Dublin, por la direccion exacta contacto SWAI 085 824 9305 vagy e-mail dea[email protected] Por helyesel, használja www.uglymugs.ie Trate de nem ver a nuevos clientes y trabajar en teljes o grupos si puede. Português: Tem ocorrido muito recentemente em Dublin világ ataques com o uso de faca seguidos de roubo. Mint mesmas pessoas tem realizado esses ataques principalmente contra TS/TV kísérők brasileiras, mas nem apenas. Os ataques tem Sidó violentos e mi precisamos ter muito cuidado. Se tiver qualquer informação, contacte nossa contata policial Lucy Myles: 086 828 2515 / [email protected] Todo contato com egy Lucy é seguro e confidencial. Nem fontos társke minő é o seu állapot de imigração. Para Get informações sobre os ataques e sobre como manter contato com SWAI Ph: 085 824 9305 SWAI está organizando e reunião de emergência para szex dolgozók esta segunda-feirai, 3 de julho, em Dublin. Para o tempo exato e localização contato SWAI SWAI 085 824 9305 vagy e-mail d[email protected] Por helyesel, használata www.uglymugs.ie Tente nem ver novos clientes e trabalhar em pares ou grupos se puder.