NGO calls on Government to ‘fully implement’ sex buyer ban

An anti-prostitution NGO has called on the Government to ensure the full implementation of laws criminalising the purchase of sex in Ireland.

The relevant section of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 was commenced last March.

However, Sarah Benson, chief executive officer at Ruhama, said her organisation was “deeply disappointed that no convictions against sex buyers have been secured under this legislation to date”.

Ms Benson was speaking at the launch of the NGO’s annual report for 2017, which states that it supported 304 “women, transgender people and men” affected by prostitution last year.

She said: “While Ruhama welcomes the increased efforts being made by some Garda units to support those in prostitution to safely report crimes against them, this is not enough.

“We need swift and decisive action from An Garda Síochána to effectively target both sex buyers and prostitution organisers using this important legislation that they now have at their disposal.

“The Government must also raise public awareness that it is now a crime to purchase sex in Ireland.”

The legislation in question has been a source of controversy in recent years, coming under particularly sharp criticism for increasing the penalties for offences such as brothel-keeping, which sex worker-led groups say would punish sex workers who live or work together for safety.

However, Ms Benson insisted that the law was “designed to erode Ireland’s sex trade by criminalising the purchase of sex, thereby reducing demand, while also decriminalising those in prostitution as vulnerable persons who should not be criminally targeted”.