Sir, – Ruth Breslin’s article, “Decriminalising prostitution would risk turning Ireland into Amsterdam or Germany,” (July 30th) , raises important concerns about exploitation and trafficking. No one disputes the need to protect those who are coerced into the sex trade.
However, this perspective raises concerns. Not all sex work is inherently exploitative and Breslin’s article does not recognise consensual adult sex workers’ agency. Nearly a decade after the introduction of Ireland’s Nordic model, there remains legitimate debate about whether criminalising the purchase of sexual services has achieved its stated aim of improving safety, or whether it has instead driven sex work further underground.
The latter makes it significantly harder for sex workers to report violence and access support. A balanced, evidence-based approach should distinguish clearly between trafficking, which is a grave human rights abuse, and consensual adult sex work. Respecting the agency of sex workers does not diminish commitment to tackling exploitation.
Furthermore, New Zealand’s decriminalisation model was introduced to improve the health and safety of sex workers. While debate may continue about its wider effects, independent reviews with sex workers have concluded that this model has improved sex workers’ rights, health and safety and access to legal protections. Have we applied the same independent review process with sex workers in Ireland? The public deserves a discussion that considers the complexity of this issue rather than presenting it in absolute terms. – Yours, etc.
RM Block
Leigh-Ann Sweeney,
Assistant professor in social work,
School of social work and social policy,
Trinity College Dublin.
