Taoiseach launches Cork branch of charity that offers vital supports to vulnerable women 

It should never be forgotten that real women and real lives are affected by human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

He was speaking at the official launch by Ruhama, the charity which works with women affected by prostitution and sexual exploitation in Ireland, of its service in Cork and Kerry.

The national charity has said its new service offers comprehensive supports in Cork and Kerry to women impacted by commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, ensuring that women in remote, rural, or isolated circumstances have equal access to supports.

Increase

Mr Martin said Ruhama had, in its 2023 annual report, recorded a 30% year-on-year increase in women engaging its services, and a 45% increase in casework appointments by its team, which carried out more than 1,800 meetings with survivors that year.

“That’s an extraordinary level of engagement with very vulnerable women, many of whom have suffered extreme violence and trauma and require specialised services and support,” he said.

“We must never lose sight of the fact that we’re talking about real women here, real lives, real disappointment, devastation, and trauma."

Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama, said commercial sexual exploitation was an issue all across Ireland, and women in the south-west deserved better access to help and support on this issue.

'Crystal clear'

She added that both the national action plan on trafficking and the third national strategy for domestic sexual and gender-based violence had been “crystal clear” on the importance of gender-specific specialist accommodation for victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

“The continued accommodation of these victims/survivors with their particular vulnerabilities among the general asylum reception and general International Protection Accommodation Service [Ipas] is inhumane and untenable.”

Among the supports offered by Ruhama to women in the Cork-Kerry region are outreach, casework, counselling, and trauma therapy, peer support, and sign-posting to legal and immigration support.

Ruhama can be contacted for free confidential support by texting REACH to 50100 or by calling the freephone number 1800 020202.

 - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.