Make purchasing sex illegal

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 16 Feb 2014.

A former sex worker has urged politicians in Northern Ireland to pass a bill which would make it illegal to purchase sex in the Province. Similar measures have been introduced in other European countries, such as Sweden, with very positive results for women’s health and human rights.

Mia De Faoite, who worked for years on Dublin streets, said prostitution had no place in a humane society, and asked Stormont’s Justice Committee to make a “wise choice” and support the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill.

The Northern Ireland bill creates a new offence of purchasing sexual services to reduce demand for trafficked individuals and combat exploitation. It also sets out legal requirements for providing effective assistance and support for victims of human trafficking.  Voting on the bill is expected in April.

It seems to me that a similar bill introduced in the NSW Parliament would be most worthwhile.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.