Almost a quarter of men who use prostitutes have encountered women and girls who appeared to be trafficked, coerced or otherwise intimidated, a survey published this morning indicates.
Among further findings published in the report by the Immigrant Council of Ireland is that those most likely to pay for sex are middle-aged men who are in a relationship.
The results are drawn from an online survey that, over three months last year, used social media, websites and chatrooms to invite responses from Irish sex buyers and those who did not purchase sex. The study is part of the Europe-wide Stop Traffick! project, which is supported by the EU.
Of the 411 Irish responses, 58 said they used prostitutes. Some 36 per cent were aged 25-44, with 48 per cent over the age of 45. Some 41 per cent had a third-level education and 70 per cent reported earning more than €20,000 a year and 21 per cent earned over €40,000.
“In addition, just over half said they were in a relationship,” said the council.
Almost 25 per cent of buyers reconsidered a transaction because they felt the women and girls were controlled, unhappy or too young.
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