UN Committee report on Irelands performance in the implementation of the International Covenant on the Economic Social and Cultural Rights. This report is very significant in that it makes specific findings regarding Ireland’s performance in the delivery of a human rights based effective health service, and in addition it makes more general commentary on the performance of Ireland in implementing this important convention. Report http://www.ourvoiceourrights.ie/resources/uncescr-concluding-observations-2015/.
This arose from an inspection of Ireland which considered a report we contributed to, i.e the report at this link: http://www.flac.ie/publications/our-voice-our-rights/

The Irish human rights and Equality Commission recently launched its first ever Strategy Statement. The INMO and ICTU made submissions in the preparations of the Strategy.

The INMO is supporting the Ethics initiative being undertaken by the President of Ireland, and we are trying to get as many responses as possible from our members on what an ethical workplace means to them.

To participate, and have your opinion heard, go to http://www.ethicalworkplace.ie and respond to the question: What does an ethical workplace mean to you?

Members may also contribute to this initiative by sending a message on Twitter with #ethicswork

INMO Hosts Health Effects of Prostitution Seminar. 12.03.15

The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation held a seminar considering the Health Effects of Prostitution at INMO Head Quarters, The Whitworth Building, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 from11am to 3pm. Our Organisation is a full supporter of the Turn off the Red Light Campaign, and as such we support the decriminalisation of those who are prostituted, and the criminalisation of those who purchase persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The reason we support the Turn off the Red Light Campaign is the damage that prostitution does to mainly women, but all of those who are involved in prostitution. The Seminar heard from an advance nurse practitioner working in this area, from representatives of Ruhama who provide front line services alongside similar representatives of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

The Seminar also heard about the health effects of prostitution on a survivor or prostitution, who will share with the seminar the physical and mental scars which have been l

eft with her from her time being involved in prostitution.

Mr. Edward Mathews, INMO Director of Social Policy, said, “Our Organisation fundamentally believes that prostitution is neither an inevitable nor acceptable form of work. Prostitution does not meet the definition of work, it is an inherently harmful activity, and as an Organisation we are concerned that a minority of individuals are trying to portray prostitution as a form of work like any other.”

Mr. Mathews continued, “The significant and long term health effects of selling one’s body for sexual purposes is not acceptable, and cannot be normalised through legalisation. It is absolutely necessary that the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014 be immediately converted into a Bill, and passed urgently through the Oireachtas, this is all the more so, given that on the 1st June prostitution will be decriminalised, and the purchase of persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation will be criminalised in Northern Ireland. We must have an all island approach which recognises that prostitution is a form of violence, predominantly against women, that it involves the exploitation of a person in a manner which is unacceptable to our society, and that steps should be taken to recognise the victim status of those who are involved in prostitution, and to punish severely those who purchase persons and who organise prostitution. The time has come for us to take a stand in support of those who are prostituted, and as against those who organise and prop up the prostitution industry.”

Sir, Recent coverage of the issues surrounding prostitution could easily give an impression that this is a trade which people enter into freely and is part of the service sector which just happens to be illegal.

Unfortunately this impression is far from reality and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions remains firm in its view that prostitution is exploitation and not employment.

Our involvement in the Turn Off the Red Light (TORL) campaign dates back to 2010, when a motion was passed at the ICTU women’s conference. Since then we, and our constituent unions, have been active in the democratic processes on both sides of the border, making written submissions and presentations to the Justice Committees in the Oireachtas and at Stormont.

We accept the evidence of Gardaí that most of the cash generated from prostitution goes to organised criminal gangs both foreign and domestic and reject the notion that pimps and traffickers will become model employers overnight if given the opportunity to do so.

Globally trafficking for sexual exploitation puts $99 billion into the pockets of criminals each year.

The notion that persons who threaten their victims with violence, exploitation and abuse will suddenly start respecting our labour laws, pay proper wages and respect normal working hours beggars belief. Furthermore the notion that legalisation will improve the situation of those involved is incorrect, and will lead to the continued perpetuation of degradation and abuse.

The assertion made by several of your contributors that the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign is some conspiracy which has religious right, radical feminists with trade unionists working together – is a notion which is equally fanciful.

A simple online check of the membership confirms the TORL campaign includes frontline emergency workers, business people, rape crisis centres, farming representatives, student representatives and many others. Working together we have also secured the support of political parties including Labour, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil – with many more individual representatives from other parties, including the Fine Gael members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee. These groups far from condescending to others, are advocating on behalf of those whose horrible reality they witness, and which is expressed by those seeking support. Further this horrible reality, while inherently linked to the trafficking of persons, in addition blights long term residents and citizens of this country.

The normalisation of the sale of one’s body for sex, through legalisation, is not acceptable, and arguments to the contrary always speak as to the experience of the minority, and ignore the reality of abuse and exploitation which pervades this arena.

Social Policy Blog