Thursday, December 16, 2010

Get `real' on human trafficking - faith group

When Sister of Mercy Shiela O'Gorman flippantly told a gathering at Dublin's Mercy International Centre this week that they could as easily spend their days knitting as raising awareness for the dozens of women trafficked and involved in prostitution in Ireland, her sense of tongue-in-cheek was palpable.

She was speaking at the launch of resource material entitled Human Trafficking, Prostitution, and Sexuality by Act to Prevent Trafficking (APT), a faith-based organisation formed five years ago to raise awareness of trafficking and the problems associated with it.

''After a conference last year on human trafficking, we had that uncomfortable feeling about what are we going to do about it now. And so we decided to raise awareness because we realised there was a real need to lobby and campaign to bring Irish legislation in line with best practice internationally.

''Human trafficking is a crime but in APT we focus on the person who is trafficked. Our vision is of a world where all people are respected and no one is exploited and where no one is bought or sold for the sexual gratification of another,'' Sr O'Gorman said.

The booklet, which includes several contributions traversing topics such as the psychological impact of trafficking to sexuality and justice and a spirituality of sexual intimacy, was launched by RTÉ's Aine Lawlor who has taken an active interest in the group since its formation.

''Our views on prostitution have changed greatly. Today it's locked away in apartments and these women are seen as strangers, not members of our own community. I'm not sure what the cure is but I do know that the work of APT is important,'' Ms Lawlor said.

''This is an issue we have to face up to and try to break down the secrecy. I believe people are good and they will respond but now is not the time to be idealistic, it's the time to get real and to be a lot more sympathetic - now more than ever we need awareness,'' she said. 

The APT book is available to buy at Veritas shops at €10.

SIC: IC/IE