Criminalising the purchase of sex would further endanger sex-workers

 

Brid argued in the Dáil (debates on Criminal Law Sexual Offences Bill – 2015)  that as per Nordic/Sweedish model – criminalising buyers of sex doesn’t work. Campaigns like ‘Turn off the red light’ though well-meaning,can actually further endanger sex workers because by criminalising the purchase of sex – it drives it underground, and therefore increases the vulnerability of sex-workers. Bríd quotes research by Amnesty Internation to back up her point