Outdated laws on prostitution need radical reform to ensure pimps and punters are punished rather than prostitutes, it was claimed today.
The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) questioned what purpose is served in prosecuting vulnerable men and women who sell their bodies for sex.
Fiona Neary, RCNI executive director, said they are the soft targets of the sex industry. "If the Government is serious about tackling prostitution and its associated exploitation and trafficking, then criminalising those individuals who sell their bodies is hardly an effective way to go about it."
Last year 19 cases of prostitution came to the attention of gardaí. Twelve were charged with three - two women and one man - being convicted.
A further eight cases are pending before the courts with the Director of Public Prosecutions yet to make a decision on the remainder.
The RCNI called for reform the day after murderer Charlotte Mulhall was fined for soliciting for sex off Baggott Street near the Grand Canal in September of this year.
She is in jail awaiting sentence for the brutal murder of her mother's African boyfriend and was on bail with her murder trial looming when stopped by gardaí for soliciting.
Ms Neary claimed cases like this have little impact on the sex industry as a whole.
Gardai only noted seven cases of brothel keeping in 2005.
While one case involving a brothel keeper was sent to the DPP's office in 2005 no convictions have been recorded or are known to be pending.
Mr Neary added: "The Irish State seems powerless to make legislation on brothel-keeping stick. It is slow to bring into effect legislation on trafficking and has no legislation to address those who pay for the use of the bodies of women, girls and young men.
"The RCNI cannot condone a set of laws and practices which does nothing to tackle those who control and buy the bodies of girls, women and young men. The Government needs to tackle the demand side of prostitution."
The group urged legislators to look to the Swedish example where there are laws to target demand.
It is estimated the number of women in prostitution in Sweden fell from 2,500 in 1999 to 1,500 in 2002 and the numbers of women being recruited into prostitution has almost halted.