29/05/2015

NI Sex Buyer Laws Will Make Southern Border More Attractive For Pimps

Sex buyer laws which come into force in Northern Ireland this weekend, 01 June, will make southern border counties and Dublin more attractive for pimps, traffickers and thugs, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

The Council has joined representatives of the 72 organisations which make up the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign at a rally at Leinster House to demand the immediate publication of similar laws in Ireland.

The campaigning groups have been joined by survivors of prostitution as well as political representatives from both Government and Opposition in making their call.

Denise Charlton, Anti-Trafficking Consultant with the Immigrant Council of Ireland said: "The Northern Ireland laws which will come into force on Monday will be a push factor. There is no doubt that sex buyers will make the short journey over the border in order to escape the law and the pimps and traffickers will follow.

"We need an all-island approach if we are to remove this modern day scourge from our communities.

"As members of the Turn Off the Red Light campaign we welcome the commitments the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, TD has made in this area, but would now like to see her promised legislation published and progressed through the Oireachtas."

(CD)

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