Ireland is failing trafficking victims by criminalising sex work
Today, 30th July is World Day Against Trafficking in Person. Ireland continues to languish in the Tier 2 Watchlist of the Trafficking in Persons Report, as we fail to tackle the root causes of trafficking while pursuing failed strategies such as criminalising aspects of sex work. In 2017 Ireland introduced client criminalisation, increased penalties for […]
Read MorePandemic of violence against sex workers brought about by change in law has not ended
Yesterday a man who attacked and robbed two sex workers working together for safety was jailed for 10 years. Aoife Bloom, board member of SWAI says “The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) welcomes the news that a man who violently attacked two members of our community was jailed for 10 years. We commend the bravery […]
Read MoreAsk your Candidate By-Election 2021
What do you think about our sex work laws? Are you aware of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), the only front-line, sex worker-led organisation in Ireland? Are you aware that when sex workers must work alone to work legally? 100% of sex workers SWAI speaks to want the option to work with a friend. […]
Read MorePress release: Decriminalisation of sex work is the first step to helping trafficking victims
For the second year in a row Ireland languishes in the Tier 2 Watchlist of the Trafficking in Persons report. Ireland has still not persecuted anyone for trafficking in 7 years and this year marks the fewest trafficking victims identified since 2013. Aoife Bloom, sex worker and spokesperson for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) […]
Read MoreSWAI Director steps down to focus on artistic career
Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) has announced that its Director, Kate McGrew, is departing having worked with the organisation for a period of six years. During this period SWAI developed into a strong representative body for the rights of sex workers and it also developed as a service provision organisation. SWAI said that “Kate has […]
Read MorePress release: Expunging Of Criminal Records for “Sale of Sex” Cautiously Welcomed
Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) Welcomes Minister McEntee’s Initiativeto Expunge 607 Convictions for the Sale of Sex but says it does not go far enough. The Criminal Law Sexual Offenses Act 2017 criminalised the purchase of sex and nearly tripled penalties for sex workers working in pairs or groups. In the late stages of the […]
Read MorePress Release: For Woman Charged with Facilitation of Prostitution, Sex Workers Alliance Ireland Demands Court Obey Deportation Moratorium
Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) demands that the courts obey the blanket ban on deportations reinstated by the Taoiseach since Level 5 Covid restrictions began. A 32-year-old Polish native with an 11-month old son was handed down a suspended sentence yesterday in Waterford court for facilitating prostitution. She was given the choice of a 1 […]
Read MorePress Release: Misguided law led to attack on trans worker, says Sex Workers Alliance Ireland
Liam Vickers preyed on a vulnerable trans woman and was enabled by our recently changed laws Kate McGrew, director of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) applauds this brave sex worker who reported the crime and we call for an end to the criminalisation and stigmatisation that leaves this […]
Read MoreOutdoor Sex Work and COVID-19 resource
Back in July, the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) held a webinar to launch a new harm reduction resource we developed in collaboration with GOSHH in Limerick and Sexual Health Centre in Cork. The information card provides practical advice for anyone selling or trading sex on the street or outdoors during the pandemic and was created […]
Read MoreStructural and actual violence against sex workers did not end under COVID
December 17th marks International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Kate McGrew, director of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “This year the review of the sex work laws has begun and we worked to ensure that sex worker’s voices were heard in the policy decisions that govern our lives. These laws have kept […]
Read MoreCandlelit vigil to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers 17th Dec 6:30pm
Details are as follows: Event: Candlelit vigil to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers Date: Thursday 17th December Location: Gates of Leinster House Time: 6:30pm Hosted by: Sex Workers Alliance Ireland The Sex Worker Alliance Ireland (SWAI) will hold a candlelit vigil outside Leinster House at 6:30pm on Thursday 17th December to […]
Read MoreSWAI statement on leaked nudes
Consent is vital for any sexual relationship, whether online or in-person, whether transactional or not. The leaking and distribution of sexual images which have been reported recently breaches the consent and trust of those involved. Misogyny, rape culture and consent are at the heart of this, issues sex workers are all too familiar with. We […]
Read MorePress Release: “It’s a brothel. I’ll end you!” – chilling words of a man who attacked two sex workers
Today the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) learned that two sex workers working together for safety were attacked precisely because they were, in the eyes of the law, working illegally. Two workers were sharing a premises in Limerick when a client refused to shower properly. When he was requested to shower thoroughly he lost his […]
Read MorePress Release: Migrant worker guilty of working with another worker says Sex Workers Alliance Ireland
Today the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) learned of a migrant who has pled guilty to brothel-keeping charges in Waterford. Kate McGrew, active sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) said “The crime of so-called brothel-keeping punishes sex workers for working together for safety. If a worker shares a space with […]
Read MorePress release: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlights Ireland’s failure
Today, 30th July is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Falling from Tier 1 to Tier 2 Watchlist in the Trafficking in Person’s Report since the purchase of sex law was introduced shows that Ireland is not utilising its best weapon against sex trafficking: sex workers themselves “The long-awaited review of the Review of Part […]
Read MorePress release: Review will show that the current law is a failed experiment
Sex workers must be listened to in the review of the sex work law Currently working sex workers in Ireland are central to the review of the law, says Kate McGrew, sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI). We are the experts in how this law has affected the health and […]
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