Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland

The_Minister

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1120/1224259179202.html

Sex workers must not be viewed as victims, says group
THE DEBATE on prostitution in Ireland needs to move away from portraying sex workers as victims and towards a realisation that many people choose to work in the sex industry, the co-chairman of Sex Workers’ Alliance of Ireland has said.

The newly established organisation is an alliance of professionals, sex workers, academic researchers, ex-sex workers and other interested individuals and organisations and it aims to promote the health, safety and empowerment of people involved in the sex industry.

Ciarán McKinney said the view is usually that people involved in sex work are outright victims who have been forced by their circumstances, or coerced, into sex work, but many in the industry should not be regarded as victims.

The conference, Sex Work in Ireland: Opening up the Discussion, was hosted by the Sex Workers’ Alliance of Ireland in Dublin Castle.

Mr McKinney, former director of Gay HIV strategies with the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, said the debate in Ireland around sex work has generally been limited to the idea that it is always about violence against women by men.

But there were many people, both men and women, who choose to sell sex. Mr McKinney said many people go into sex work when in their 20s and older because they see it as a viable way to finance either their studies or other aspects of their lives.

“People in that group are far less likely to have experienced victimhood and should not be regarded as victims,” he said.

Selling sex in Ireland is not illegal, he said, though all of the other activities around it are.

“Our aim is to really broaden the discourse and bring together the various groups of people who for many reasons have an interest in either prostitution or sex work, and to at least begin a dialogue,” he said.

Mr McKinney said there was a sense that some of the services provided to sex workers in Ireland were not interested in nor willing to promote harm reduction, and existed purely to promote abstinence and exiting.

“Operating from a purely abstinence and exiting model is not a useful way to approach the issue of sex work, and is not going to encourage sex workers to engage with services in a truthful way,” he said.

Mr McKinney also said when sex workers approach social and health services, they need a clear message that being a sex worker will not result in you having a less than optimum service.

Also at the conference, Mick Quinlan, manager of the HSE gay men’s health service, highlighted a report that found 5.8 per cent of Irish men had sold sex, while over 6 per cent had bought it.

Pye Jakobsson from Sweden, who described herself as a sex worker for 22 years, said when sex work is discussed, people cannot see past it and all policies are based on workers as victims.

“If you say you are not a victim they say you are suffering from false consciousness and you are such a victim you don’t realise what a victim you are,” she said.

Ruhama are going to have absolute kittens.:D

In All Fairness

Or the S.W.A.I as we are now known. No longer will you mock the Confederated Union of Nubile Teens.

starbelgrade

When did huers become "sex workers"? Was this around the same time that workers became "human resources"? Cripes, a huer by any other name....

DonkeyStyle \o/

manager of the HSE gay men’s health service, highlighted a report that found 5.8 per cent of Irish men had sold sex

1 in 17? Where'd they take that survey? The phoenix park?

The_Minister

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote: »

1 in 17? Where'd they take that survey? The phoenix park?

The combination of your name and the thread title is fantastic.

On the home page it reads as:

After Hours Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (3) DonkeyStyle \o/ 11-20, 03:27

Pygmalion

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote: »

1 in 17? Where'd they take that survey? The phoenix park?

I'd say that they surveyed a randomly selected (and anonymous) group of approximately 0 men, then took that figure out of their ass.

Senna

Also at the conference, Mick Quinlan, manager of the HSE gay men’s health service, highlighted a report that found 5.8 per cent of Irish men had sold sex, while over 6 per cent had bought it.

So the same amount of men paid for sex as got paid for sex. I'm guessing they just asked two gay fella's in the street that were paying each other.

starbelgrade

Pygmalion wrote: »

I'd say that they surveyed a randomly selected (and anonymous) group of approximately 0 men, then took that figure out of their ass.

They must've probed deeply!

speakingclock

starbelgrade wrote: »

They must've probed deeply!

Am i the only 1 no charing 4 it......where ami goin wrong...

Bottle_of_Smoke

Seems a bit mad alright. Maybe its 1 in 17 sex workers are male

starbelgrade

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Seems a bit mad alright. Maybe its 1 in 17 sex workers are male

The other 16 are not strictly sex workers. They just work hard to get it & nevr get paid (and very rarely thanked, or appreciated).

The_Minister

speakingclock wrote: »

Am i the only 1 no charing 4 it......where ami goin wrong...

speakingclock, I have no idea what you are saying.

Was listening to this on the radio earlier, but the signal kept coming and going and it was breaking up, so we could only hear half of what was being said.


A friend in the room initially thought that "Sex workers" was a term from the government for people who will be working and getting paid in 'sex' because the country had run out of money.


Took him a good five minutes to realise how ridiculous he sounded.

The_Minister

If they getprostitution legalised, I hope they call it the Guild of Seamstresses.

Lux23

I think he makes a very valid point. I am not sure if I am allowed to bring this up I do remember a thread in PI where a girl was asking advice on seeking work as an excort. Well most of the replies were 'you will be anally raped', 'you will be beaten' and all other sorts of not nonsense but opinions formed from watching too much of the Bill. The reality is that many men and women opt to do this kind of work because it suits them and they never come across any kind of violence. Now there are some very nasty people out there who will abuse vulnerable people and force them to work in brothels but there are plenty of independent sex workers out there. I think if the whole thing was decriminalised it could be easier to regulate sex workers and keep the majority of them safe.

Rhyme

Deleted User wrote: »

A friend in the room initially thought that "Sex workers" was a term from the government for people who will be working and getting paid in 'sex' because the country had run out of money.

Hrm... time and a half on weekends.

MikeC101

Deleted User wrote: »

A friend in the room initially thought that "Sex workers" was a term from the government for people who will be working and getting paid in 'sex' because the country had run out of money.

I thought it referred to people workin' on a sex farm, trying to raise some hard love.

Jumpy

In All Fairness wrote: »

Or the S.W.A.I as we are now known. No longer will you mock the Confederated Union of Nubile Teens.

I brought forward Sexually Liberated Union of Threatened Streetwalkers, but it was shot down by Hnr Madam Spank.

Rhyme

MikeC101 wrote: »

I thought it referred to people workin' on a sex farm, trying to raise some hard love.

Heavy petting zoo.

FlutterinBantam

Anyone know what the hourly rate for a good "fluffer "is.

Lookin' for a change in direction:cool:

The_Minister

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Anyone know what the hourly rate for a good "fluffer "is.

Lookin' for a change in direction:cool:

You realise that an admin will now change your name to FlufferinBantam.

For obvious reasons there is no need to change the Bantam.

Lux23

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Anyone know what the hourly rate for a good "fluffer "is.

Lookin' for a change in direction:cool:

No need for them anymore. There's always need for a cum buckets so apply for that instead.

FlutterinBantam

You don't have a job description by any chance?

Mrmoe

Deleted User wrote: »

Was listening to this on the radio earlier, but the signal kept coming and going and it was breaking up, so we could only hear half of what was being said.


A friend in the room initially thought that "Sex workers" was a term from the government for people who will be working and getting paid in 'sex' because the country had run out of money.


Took him a good five minutes to realise how ridiculous he sounded.

Ridiculous or absolute genius?

I swear to god if these ones form a trade union and start striking, my tuesdays just won't be the same..

laugh

The_Minister wrote: »

The combination of your name and the thread title is fantastic.

On the home page it reads as:

A sexual act wherein the adult male places luggage on the adult female's back before mounting her doggy style.

:pac:

Mike 1972

Also at the conference, Mick Quinlan, manager of the HSE gay men’s health service, highlighted a report that found 5.8 per cent of Irish men had sold sex, while over 6 per cent had bought it.

The quote is a bit unclear as to whether it is referring solely to sex between men but if that is the case then all other factors being equal we seem to be looking at a sellers market here ?

Lux23

Lux23 wrote: »

No need for them anymore. There's always need for a cum buckets so apply for that instead.

Recently retired?

ScumLord

They must have the best AGM in the country.