National Womens’ Council of Ireland welcomes the new European-wide campaign against prostitution

Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011

National Womens' Council of Ireland welcomes the new European-wide campaign against prostitution

"Together for a Europe Free from Prostitution" is launched today in Brussels

The National Women's Council calls on the Justice minister Alan Shatter to act now to reform the prostitution laws in Ireland and to show leadership in the common European stance against prostitution.

Susan McKay, chief executive of the Women's Council urged the government to support the European Women's Lobby in its timely launch of a European -wide campaign calling for an end to the current tolerance of the exploitation of people, mainly women, through prostitution.

"This new initiative shares our view that prostitution involves violence and exploitation," she said. "Ireland's current legislation condones the sex industry and tolerates the purchase of sex by men with no regard for the damage done to those who provide it. This is out of line with best practise in Europe, and the EWL's campaign offers an opportunity that should not be missed."

The "Turn Off The Red Light: End Prostitution In Ireland" campaign has been gathering support since its launch last year, and is now endorsed by a wide range of civil society organisations and trade unions.