Menu
17/10/2014
85% Of Sex Workers Oppose New Criminalisation Bill
85% of sex workers in Northern Ireland believe that new laws to criminalise the sale of sex would not reduce sex trafficking.
The figure comes from a new survey released by Queen's University Belfast, commissioned by the Department of Justice, which marks the first time people involved in selling and buying sexual services have been directly approached in relation to prostitution policy in Northern Ireland.
It comes ahead of a Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill being addressed by the Assembly next month.
Only 2% of sex workers who responded to the survey supported criminalising the purchase of sex, while 61% of NI-based sex workers thought it would make them less safe.
Only 16% of respondents to the client survey said it would make them stop paying for sex altogether.
Justice Minister David Ford said: "Next week the Assembly will consider Lord Morrow’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill. Lord Morrow and I share a determination to do all we can to address the misery of human trafficking and modern day slavery, and we have worked closely to agree on almost all of the Bill’s provisions. However, we differ over Clause 6 of the Bill, which, if adopted, will change the existing law from criminalising the purchase of sex from a prostitute subjected to force, to criminalising the purchase of sexual services in any circumstances.
"My position is that I don’t believe that the complexities of prostitution can be adequately addressed in a single clause in a Bill. Instead, the law and policy surrounding the distinct issue of selling or purchasing sexual services should be considered separately, in detail, and with the benefit of properly informed research."
He continued: "I have...seen no evidence to suggest that the change proposed by Lord Morrow would reduce the incidence of trafficking. Indeed the report contains evidence to suggest that criminalising the purchase of sex, as a single clause in this Bill, may create further risk and hardship for those individuals, particularly women, involved in prostitution."
(IT/MH)
The figure comes from a new survey released by Queen's University Belfast, commissioned by the Department of Justice, which marks the first time people involved in selling and buying sexual services have been directly approached in relation to prostitution policy in Northern Ireland.
It comes ahead of a Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill being addressed by the Assembly next month.
Only 2% of sex workers who responded to the survey supported criminalising the purchase of sex, while 61% of NI-based sex workers thought it would make them less safe.
Only 16% of respondents to the client survey said it would make them stop paying for sex altogether.
Justice Minister David Ford said: "Next week the Assembly will consider Lord Morrow’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill. Lord Morrow and I share a determination to do all we can to address the misery of human trafficking and modern day slavery, and we have worked closely to agree on almost all of the Bill’s provisions. However, we differ over Clause 6 of the Bill, which, if adopted, will change the existing law from criminalising the purchase of sex from a prostitute subjected to force, to criminalising the purchase of sexual services in any circumstances.
"My position is that I don’t believe that the complexities of prostitution can be adequately addressed in a single clause in a Bill. Instead, the law and policy surrounding the distinct issue of selling or purchasing sexual services should be considered separately, in detail, and with the benefit of properly informed research."
He continued: "I have...seen no evidence to suggest that the change proposed by Lord Morrow would reduce the incidence of trafficking. Indeed the report contains evidence to suggest that criminalising the purchase of sex, as a single clause in this Bill, may create further risk and hardship for those individuals, particularly women, involved in prostitution."
(IT/MH)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
25 January 2010
Sex Attack Victims 'Under Age'
Over half of victims of sex crime in Northern Ireland are under 18. That's according to PSNI figures that show 56% of all victims of reported sex abuse – including rape, indecent assault and indecent exposure – between 2008 and 2009 were under 18, with an average of three sex offences against children recorded every day.
Sex Attack Victims 'Under Age'
Over half of victims of sex crime in Northern Ireland are under 18. That's according to PSNI figures that show 56% of all victims of reported sex abuse – including rape, indecent assault and indecent exposure – between 2008 and 2009 were under 18, with an average of three sex offences against children recorded every day.
14 June 2005
New sex offender procedures revealed
New procedures for assessing and managing sex offenders posing a risk to the public in Northern Ireland have now been established, a new report has said. The report, by the Northern Ireland Sex Offender Strategic Management Committee (NISOSMC), revealed that the number of registered sex offenders in Northern Ireland on 31 March 2005 was 544.
New sex offender procedures revealed
New procedures for assessing and managing sex offenders posing a risk to the public in Northern Ireland have now been established, a new report has said. The report, by the Northern Ireland Sex Offender Strategic Management Committee (NISOSMC), revealed that the number of registered sex offenders in Northern Ireland on 31 March 2005 was 544.
08 February 2012
NI 'Has Fastest Growing Sex Industry'
Northern Ireland has the fastest growing sex industry in the UK, according to an organisation that represents ethnic minorities. Helena McCormick from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said: “We know from police statistics that we have the fastest growing sex industry in the UK at the moment.
NI 'Has Fastest Growing Sex Industry'
Northern Ireland has the fastest growing sex industry in the UK, according to an organisation that represents ethnic minorities. Helena McCormick from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said: “We know from police statistics that we have the fastest growing sex industry in the UK at the moment.
20 October 2014
MLAs Debate Human Trafficking Bill
MLAs are debating a human trafficking bill, drawn up by DUP peer Lord Morrow. It is understood that the new Bill contains a clause that would make it illegal to pay for sex, a clause that has been opposed by Justice Minister David Ford. However, both the DUP and Sinn Féin are understood to be in favour of the clause.
MLAs Debate Human Trafficking Bill
MLAs are debating a human trafficking bill, drawn up by DUP peer Lord Morrow. It is understood that the new Bill contains a clause that would make it illegal to pay for sex, a clause that has been opposed by Justice Minister David Ford. However, both the DUP and Sinn Féin are understood to be in favour of the clause.
19 September 2019
Sex-Work Law Review Shows Minimal Effect On Demand
The change to Northern Ireland's prostitution laws four years ago has had only a 'minimal effect' on demand, an academic report has found. The Department of Justice published the independent three-year review into the offence of purchasing sexual services after the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act was introduced in 2015.
Sex-Work Law Review Shows Minimal Effect On Demand
The change to Northern Ireland's prostitution laws four years ago has had only a 'minimal effect' on demand, an academic report has found. The Department of Justice published the independent three-year review into the offence of purchasing sexual services after the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act was introduced in 2015.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
