Group supports call for laws to protect trafficked women

The Government is "dragging its heels" and "resisting protecting the human rights" of women who have been trafficked here for the sex industry, according to the only voluntary organisation supporting women working in prostitution.

Ruhama, which has worked with women in prostitution for over a decade, yesterday welcomed a call from the Catholic bishops for "urgent" legislation to address trafficking for the sex industry.

Gerardine Rowley, spokeswoman for Ruhama, particularly welcomed the bishops' insistence that women's human rights be at the centre of any such legislation.

"These women are almost voiceless and it is so important that people with a voice in society speak out and call for the victims' rights to be at the centre of anti-trafficking legislation."

She expressed concern that the forthcoming Sexual Offences (Trafficking in Persons) Bill, due to be enacted in the new year, made no reference to protecting victims of trafficking.

"As far as we can see, the Government is doing nothing on this and is resisting protecting these women's rights. The Government is really dragging its heels on the issue."

In their statement, the bishops said: "It is important that anti-trafficking legislation is framed so as to offer assistance to women in such circumstances and not be used to deport them back to their countries of origin.

"The legislation must ensure that trafficked women are offered permits for temporary residency after they escape or are persuaded to flee from their traffickers - and this will give the women time to recover to some degree from the trauma and receive the necessary support."

They said that such women were victims of "horrendous crime". The women were "lured to travel abroad for a better life and then forced into a life of violence in prostitution," said the bishops.

"The human rights of these victims of crime must be a central part of anti-trafficking legislation, offering the women protection, medical, social and psychological assistance."

The department has said that the issue of victims' rights would be addressed in the forthcoming Immigration and Residency Bill, although this has been rejected as inadequate by women's and human rights groups.