Sex Trafficking- A Major Issue For Ireland

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Thursday May 07, 2009 22:34

by Tara L - NA

The major problem with the sex- trafficking issue in Ireland is legislation

Sex Trafficking- a major issue for Ireland

A woman resides in a cold, lonely flat. Her body is bruised and broken. Men arrive each day with money in their pockets, in search of a good time and the woman is left a little more hollow each time. With nowhere to turn she sinks further and further into this world of exploitation and degradation.

We’ve all heard stories of this nature at one point or another, more likely in the voice of a distant woman in a third world Country. You may have shed a solitary tear or uttered a short prayer but did anyone reckon that voice might be calling from an area closer to home.

Research, released on the 16th of April shows high levels of trafficking in Ireland over the last two years. The report, Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution- The experience of migrant women in Ireland, was commissioned by the Immigration Council of Ireland (ICI) and has identified over a hundred women and girls trafficked into or through this Country for the purpose of exploitation. The vast majority of these women were trafficked from African Countries and none knew they were being recruited as part of the sex industry. The Act to Prevent Trafficking movement noted at a recent meetings throughout Kildare that most were lured to the Country by a friend under the guise of an employment opportunity.

While the report highlights that 102 women and girls were identified by organisations such as Ruhama and the HSE the real figure is believed to be much greater. Due to the secretive nature of sex trafficking it is hard to locate these women.

Of course the trafficking phenomenon is not unique to Ireland, but one facet may be. Of these 102 women, only two have been offered protection by the state the report noted. Founder of ICI Sr. Stan said of the findings, ‘Central to our first response to the needs of trafficked women and girls and all migrant women involved in the sex industry must be caring for their health, providing safe accommodation and access to independent legal advice and residency permits, if required’. Sr. Stan’s words hold all too true for Ireland.

According to the Act to Prevent Trafficking movement, even if a woman is recovered the risk of being re- trafficked is enormous. This is substantially due to the fact that the ‘leave to remain on humanitarian grounds’ provision has been removed from the new Immigration bill. Meaning, that if a trafficked woman or girl proves to have no valuable information to facilitate investigations in the area of trafficking they will be sent home with a real chance of being trafficked again or surprisingly become traffickers themselves. Sister Mary O’Dea of APT says that the ‘majority of traffickers are women who have been trafficked in the past.’

The problem seems to lie in legislation. The Immigration, Residency and Protection Bill is currently going through the Oireacthas. In order to help women who have been trafficked the Irish Government should recognise trafficking victims as just that, victims. If they are to continue to be punished, this vicious circle can never change.

Considering the case of the Nigerian woman Edith Orumenes, that reached prominence in the media earlier this year, reveals another disturbing facet. She was sentenced after being found in Ireland without any papers. She claims to be a victim of trafficking, but since she had no identification, she was treated as a criminal. The problem seems to be that if she was pardoned on the basis that she ‘may’ have been trafficked a spurt of illegal immigration could ensue. This is a valid point but if this woman has been trafficked her trauma is only being prolonged.

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Comments (7 of 7)

sex trafficing

by maverick - the rock that doesn't roll

Fri May 08, 2009 14:48

"Edith Orumenes, that reached prominence in the media earlier this year, reveals another disturbing facet. She was sentenced after being found in Ireland without any papers. She claims to be a victim of trafficking, but since she had no identification, she was treated as a criminal. The problem seems to be that if she was pardoned on the basis that she ‘may’ have been trafficked a spurt of illegal immigration could ensue. This is a valid point but if this woman has been trafficked her trauma is only being prolonged."

legislation is part of the answer to sex trafficing, changing mens hearts & minds is the other part of the answer to all prostitution, whether Irish women or immigrant women. the latter part will be the hardest thanks to the general ditching of the Ten Commandments & the prevalence of porn in our society....

Male Demand

by RogerYates

Mon May 11, 2009 10:33

I largely agree with Maverick. There is much talk about legislation but ultimately the issue is about male demand and the willingness of 'clients' to override the interests of others and violate rights. One cannot violate rights regardless of how much one thinks there is benefit in doing so.

good movie from the perspective of a trafficking victim

by filmbuff

Mon May 11, 2009 11:57

I suggest you watch the movie "Lilya 4 ever"
by lukas moodysson

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/

Powerful Trafficking Film

Tue May 12, 2009 20:16

See the fifth video in the first line here: http://sites.google.com/site/animalrightsviolations/lin...s/vid

This is Emma Thompson on the human trafficking installation in London 2007.

Is this the case of the African woman held prisoner in Castlebar co. Mayo?

by sister Mo

Wed May 20, 2009 20:24

I was horrified to learn of this case if it is the same one? It was first exposed by Ruthama and then the media forgot all about it. Have the traffickers/kidnappers been found or arrested yet?

Nigerian Woman Trafficking network who used "Voodoo" & "black magic" disarticulated

by kidney trader

Fri May 22, 2009 20:12

"Spanish police have arrested 23 people suspected of trafficking Nigerian women into the country and forcing them into prostitution by using voodoo curses. Experts said the women were scared into submission because of a vow they were forced to take on the graves of their ancestors before they left Nigeria." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8063205.stm

This news follows on the paltry interest given in mainstream media to the constant story of human trafficking and its female and child victims traded in prostitution, in 2007 when "voodoo" rituals were cited in the Netherlands when 19 people were arrested in Holland and five other countries. Likewise the traffickers had used "voodoo" to gain a hold over children.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7061145.stm

Of course the use of the word "Voodoo" conjours to many western or Irish minds various images of gullibility, acquiescence, mysticaly pimping & cohersion associated with early 20th century European Roman Catholicism and in particularly the Irish state's extended social welfare & health track-record

But what is often called "voodoo" might better be described as Vodun a predominantly Yoruba and Ewe, Kabye, Mina, Fon associated tribal folkoristic pantheistic system which inculcates strong taboo systems on dead ancestors, burial sites and oath systems.

It might surprise many to know how permeable to the worst sectors of European "entrepeneurship" such belief systems can be often proving even more reliable than hard drug addiction as fetters for indentured women in both states of forced prostitution and irregular status. Many of these victims are not only facing problems with their own drug habits started by their pimps but also problems with the superstitious beliefs of their families and communities at home, without even names and the merest detail of "official existence" which assist western states deport them.

They simply don't exist officially.

which is why so many people can complain about them & no doubt haggle their worth.

................don't worry Jesus is out in space itching to come back and judge that kind of stuff.........meanwhile it has to be talked about.......properly through class analysis and the whole range of rational secular reason.

Childt Tafficker Peter Gortjes from Germany now active in Ireland

by anonymous

Wed Nov 17, 2021 13:32

The pedeophile Child Traficker Peter Goetjes is now active in Ireland.
He cooperate with Anthony Luckwill from Rathcoole, a notorious Pedophile.
Goetjes, who vistit Ireland reguarly lived last year two month in Rathcoole.

Here you can learn more about that guy.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/nov/27/childprotection.uk
https://www.nickdavies.net/1998/10/01/paedophile-network-trafficks-young-boys-across-europe/

And by the way, if you want to contact him, here you are.

Name: Peter Goetjes
nickname: Glatzen-Peter (bold Peter)
Adresse: 45888 Gelsenkirchen, Hildegard Straße 11/Germany
Profession Owner of the Gin Tonic Bar in Tibergasse 8, 48249 Duelmen/Germany
Facebook: Peter Goetjes | Facebook
Email: peter.goetjes@gmail.com

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Sex Trafficking- A Major Issue For Ireland

Comments (7 of 7)