Review of legislation confirms that the ‘Equality Model’ is the right approach for Ireland
SERP: the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, writes to share an important update: The recently published Review of Ireland’s prostitution legislation confirms that the ‘Equality Model’ continues to be the right approach for Ireland.
As Ireland’s only independent research body dedicated to the study of commercial sexual exploitation, the Review is long-awaited by the Institute, and thus we have taken the time to consider its findings carefully. We now attach the full Statement we have prepared in response, which draws upon our extensive experience of gathering and analysing more than a decade’s worth of data and intelligence on the commercial sex trade in Ireland, both before and after the Act came into force.
Key points to note:
In publishing the Review, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirms his position that ‘prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls’.
The Review finds that the legislation, which criminalises the purchase of sex and decriminalises those who sell it, has ‘made progress towards its objectives’ (see p. 91).
However, this progress has been hampered by specific implementation issues relating to enforcement challenges, poor public awareness and the lack of reliable official statistics on the law’s operation in practice.
The Review therefore makes a series of recommendations to strengthen the current legislation, in order to enhance its positive impact.
Ireland is increasingly recognised as a leader on the global stage in adopting this progressive legislative approach to tackling commercial sexual exploitation, based on the ‘Equality Model’, which is gaining ground across the world. We note that the recommendations made, if realised, will do much to strengthen the vital protective, deterrent and declarative purposes of the law (see attached for the full analysis). We look forward to continuing to provide rigorous, independent, survivor-informed research on commercial sexual exploitation to help shape more effective policy and legislative responses into the future.
Ruth Breslin Director SERP: The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute. Ireland.