Most victims of sex trafficking are African, says support group
Published: Monday, August 22, 2011
MORE THAN HALF of sex trafficking victims who sought help in Ireland last year were from Nigeria, a support group has said in its annual report.
According to Ruhama, a non-government organisation which supports women affected by prostitution, 204 women involved in the sex trade looked for help in 2010.
Of the 140 women involved in case work with the group, 80 were trafficked into Ireland from other countries and forced into the sex trade. The overwhelming majority of those trafficked into the country were from Africa, with 49 coming from Nigeria.
The group also provided assistance to women from Asia and Eastern Europe.
Ruhama said it dealt with 26 new victims of sex trafficking last year and 13 of these came from Nigeria. After arriving in Ireland, the women were located in different regions, including Dublin, Louth, Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Longford.