By Sarah Mac Donald - 23 September, 2013
Cardinal Sean Brady has written to members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland urging them to support a bill aimed at countering human trafficking and exploitation.
The Primate of All Ireland writes to the MLAs as Chair of the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs (NICCOSA).
The Council comprises women and men with a wide range of experience in issues of social justice and pastoral care who provide advice and support to the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland on social issues.
In his letter, the Cardinal describes human trafficking as “one of the most serious forms of injustice in our society.”
It is a crime that robs its victims, not only of their basic rights and freedoms, but of their very dignity as persons, he states.
The Cardinal underlines that the Private Member’s Bill from Lord Morrow of the DUP which is currently before the Northern Ireland Assembly provides MLAs with “a crucial opportunity to make Northern Ireland a safer place for those vulnerable to, or victims of, the crime of human trafficking.”
In addition to ensuring adequate support is available to those who have been the victims of trafficking, he says that NICCOSA believe robust legislation tackling the demand for trafficked persons, whether as illegal and poorly treated labour or for sexual exploitation, is essential.
Writing on behalf of NICCOSA, Cardinal Sean Brady tells the MLAs that a particular area of concern is the demand for “sexual services”.
“The majority of those rescued from situations of human trafficking in Northern Ireland to date have been victims of sexual exploitation.”
Representatives of the Catholic Church, including those who work voluntarily to provide protection, care and support to those who have been trafficked and exploited, have emphasised the need for legislation on prostitution and the purchase of “sexual services” in both jurisdictions in the island of Ireland he explains.
He also refers to a statement made by the Irish Bishops’ Conference last year in which the hierarchy pointed out that: “All prostitution, even in cases where the individual has not been a victim of trafficking, reduces the human being to a commodity that can be bought and sold.”
It is damaging for those affected and for society as a whole, the Cardinal points out.
He highlights how criminalisation of the purchase of ‘sexual services’ would ensure that the Gardaí and the PSNI are empowered to take action to stop and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people through prostitution.
“In addition, cooperation across Government departments is required in order to develop targeted ‘exit strategies’ to assist and support people wishing to leave prostitution, including access to health care, education and employment,” he notes.
Meanwhile, Ruhama, which assists and lobbies on behalf of those who have been trafficked and involved in prostitution, has strongly welcomed the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill which goes to second hearing at the Northern Ireland Assembly today.
The NGO says the Bill, which was introduced by Lord Maurice Morrow, sets out a range of robust measures to strengthen existing legislation and improve Northern Ireland’s efforts in combating human trafficking.
In a statement, Gerardine Rowley, Policy and Communications Manager, called on all parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly to support Lord Morrow’s Bill, to “send out a clear message that the exploitation of women and girls in the sex trade will not be tolerated. We are very hopeful that similar legislation to tackle demand will also follow soon in the Dáil.”
Ruhama welcomes the Bill’s focus on the demand in the sex trade and the inclusion of sanctions for the buyers of sexual services.
“Lord Morrow’s Bill takes the courageous step in addressing the unequivocal role of sex buyers in creating a market for traffickers and pimps; contributing to the wide spread abuse of women,” Gerardine Rowley said.
According to Ruhama, the Bill before the Northern Ireland Assembly is timely as the Irish Government has just concluded an extensive consultation process on the future direction of prostitution legislation in the Republic of Ireland.
The subsequent report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Justice made unanimous recommendations in favour of criminalising the sex buyer.
They also recommended that those in prostitution be protected from criminalisation, which reflects the provision made in Clause 6 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill.
“When it comes to the sex trade, criminals don’t respect any border and women are moved around the island of Ireland on a daily basis; as a frontline service supporting women, this is something that we have direct experience of. It is therefore crucial that an all island legislative approach is needed when tackling organised prostitution and sex trafficking,” Gerardine Rowley warned.
Ruhama is a core group member of the Turn Off the Red Light campaign; a broad coalition of 68 organisations including violence against women services, unions, migrant support groups, men’s and children’s services, all calling on legislation to tackle demand in the Republic of Ireland.
