An organisation that offers support to women working in prostitution in Ireland has begun a campaign to discourage companies from using lap dancing clubs for corporate entertainment.
Ruhama's Charter to Block Corporate Spending in Lap Dancing was sent to several hundred companies in Ireland last June, calling on them not to support lap dancing clubs with corporate funds.
Since then, almost 40 companies have become signatories of the charter - and others have forwarded funds to support the work of the organisation.
Highlighting recent attempts by lap dancing clubs to attract corporate business,
Gerardine Rowley of Ruhama said: "We became aware of increasing efforts by lap dancing clubs to attract corporate support and decided to advise the corporate sector as to what the lap dancing industry really entails - lap dancing is well established as part and parcel of the global sex industry.
"We simply asked companies not to financially support ventures, namely lap dancing clubs, where women are abused - and asked the companies to use their corporate responsibility to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of women," she added.
The Ruhama charter states that signatories will not allow their employees to use the businesses' money to entertain clients in lap dancing clubs.