Latest News

Press statement: Demand for sex work has not decreased in Northern Ireland

Client criminalisation is not fit for purpose, has has been met with an increase in sex trafficking and is actively harmed the mental health of sex workers in Northern Ireland, according to a new report from the Department of Justice. Kate McGrew, current sex worker and spokesperson for the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) said […]

Press release: Serial rapist is handed 20-year sentence for targeting Czech sex workers with help of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland

We all expect laws to keep us safe, but the laws around sex work make Ireland more dangerous. Kate McGrew, director of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) and current sex worker says, “SWAI are happy to hear the news that a serial rapist was handed a 20-year prison sentence today. This man systematically targeted migrant […]

Press release: Sex workers could be allies in sex trafficking if we were allowed

Today is World Day against Trafficking in Persons and we call on the government and the Gardaí to stop conflating consensual sex work and trafficking so that resources could be used where they are needed most: prevention of trafficking. Kate Mc Grew, director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) and current sex worker said […]

Press release: Jailing a pregnant, migrant sex worker yesterday shows we have not moved away from our dark past

Kate McGrew, current sex worker and director of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), said “The Sex Workers Alliance are horrified to learn of the jailing of two sex workers at Naas District Court yesterday, one of whom is pregnant, less than one week after International Sex Workers Day. The facts of this case show […]

What do you think about the new sex work legislation here in Ireland

Ask your candidate about sex work laws

In less than 2 weeks we take to the polls again to vote for politicians to represent us on a local and European level. Sex workers are rarely heard by politicians so WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please ask your candidates about what they will do to help sex workers. Many politicians will not have considered […]

Press release: Serial rapist of sex workers convicted today with help from Sex Workers Alliance Ireland

Justice for sex workers is rare but there is hope, says Sex Workers Alliance Ireland Today the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found a man guilty of serial violent sexual assaults on sex workers in 2017. Kate McGrew, director of SWAI and current sex worker says “We all expect laws to keep us safe. Before the […]

Press release: Gardaí questions 36 men but many more sex workers have been arrested

Gardaí should protect the most vulnerable. Instead our laws put marginalised people in danger and waste precious Garda resources. Kate McGrew, director of SWAI and currently working sex worker said “36 men have been questioned over purchase of sex in the past few days and, while this is a huge number this is still far […]

Press release: Government need to face facts and decriminalise sex work for our safety

We all deserve to work in safety, access health services and paths to justice. Since the enactment of the 2017 law, sex workers are less safe. Violent crime against sex workers has increased by 92% in the past 2 years. Kate McGrew, sex worker and director of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “We deserve […]

Press release: International Sex Workers Rights Day

Today, the 3rd of March is International Sex Workers Rights Day. The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) is the only sex workers rights groups in Ireland who places currently working sex workers at the heart of the campaign. We are also the only sex worker group in the country that supports male and trans sex […]

Press release: Sex work laws are discriminatory says SWAI

We are highlighting the laws surrounding sex work in Ireland as discriminatory laws today on the UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Day. This year UNAIDS are using Zero Discrimination day to draw attention to the many laws which create barriers to health and safety, as well as many other human rights breaches. Kate McGrew, director of Sex […]

Statement about Google and Ugly Mugs

SWAI is extremely concerned for the safety of sex workers in Ireland, as Ugly Mugs a widely used by sex workers has been rejected by Google to allows its app to screen calls and texts. This app screens calls and text for dangerous clients. Ugly Mugs applied for an exemption to new rules by Google […]

press release: One prosecution for man caught up in raid shows law is not fit for purpose

ess releasem Kate McGrew, director of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) says “This man was caught procuring sex during a raid on a so-called brothel, when two or more workers work together. This case yet against highlights how the law is being used against workers who may want to work together for safety reasons. This […]

Press release: Garda and laws fail the most vulnerable

While new report shows that Sex Workers working even in partially criminalised settings face three times the amount of violence, it remains completely illegal for two workers to work together for safety in Ireland. Today is International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers. In a year of difficult conversations which challenged the status quo […]

Press Release: Normalised violence against some of societies most vulnerable due to policing of sex work

Since the laws have been introduced there have been 55 people arrested for prostitution offences, but only 2 of them are clients. Garda resources are already stretched without having to police consensual acts between a sex worker and their client. Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) supports the findings of the associations between sex work laws […]

Speech at Reclaim the Night Belfast 2018

Last night we spoke at the Reclaim the Night Belfast march. Below is the text of our speech. Firstly, thank you for having SWAI here and asking us to speak. I honestly wish I wasn’t standing here talking, but my colleague and friend Laura Lee instead. These are big boots to fill and it is extremely difficult […]

Press Release: Not all Women included in Big Picture RTE program: “A Woman’s World”

Sex Workers Alliance Ireland Censored from Big Picture RTE program: “A Women’s World” “A Woman’s World” is due to be aired tonight on RTE. SWAI contacted the program about having someone from their organisation or an individual specifically affected by these issues to take part as an audience member, but they were refused. Kate McGrew, […]

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