GERARDINE ROWLEY RUHAMA

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GERARDINE ROWLEYRUHAMA
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PHILOSOPHY

• Dignity and respect of the person

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• Prostitution
• Violence against Women
• Violation of Human Rights

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SERVICES

• Outreach
• Development
• Awareness Raising

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THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF PROSTITUTION IN IRELAND

• Nationwide
• Drug addiction and Street prostitution
• Increase in in-door prostitution.
• The influence of modern technology and
  globalisation.
• The involvement of criminals in trafficking
• Invisible and hidden

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• In 2004, over 3,000 contacts from 242 women in
  Ruhamas Outreach Services
• We are aware of over 100 cases of trafficking in
  Ireland.

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SOCIETAL VIEWS ON PROSTITUTION

• Fun/Entertainment
• Tolerated
• An industry
• Glamorized
• Money
• Focus and blame on the women

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THE FACTORS WHICH LEAD WOMEN INTO PROSTITUTION

• Social exclusion poverty, drugs or homelessness
• Childhood abuse, whether physical, emotional or
  sexual
• Sexual grooming
• Lap Dancing
• Domestic Violence
• Organised criminal gangs/kidnapped/trafficked

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I am not saying that every woman who is poor or
has been abused or abandoned by a parent will get
involved in prostitution but I am saying I have
never met a woman in the sex industry who did not
have one of these elements in her past life.

• Louise Eek Survivor of prostitution

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THE HARM EXPERIENCED BY WOMEN

• Repeated physical and sexual assaults
• The risk of murder is always real and present
• Humiliating, degrading and violent
• Sexual objectification is intrinsically
  traumatizing
• Disassociation
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• The stigma attached
• Isolation
• The challenge of exiting prostitution and
  reintegration into society

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• A legal framework which recognises prostitution
  as a Violence Against Women
• - Swedish Model
• Multiagency approach
• Establish effective networks and referral
  mechanism
• Safe accommodation, which is accessible and
  culturally sensitive

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RECOMMENDATONS

• Training and Awareness Raising
• Legislation to protect the Human Rights of
  women who are victims of trafficking for the
  purpose of prostitution
• Specialized Policing of this issue
• Sentencing must reflect the crime