Latest news with #Ruhama
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Trafficked women can spend their life recovering from mental trauma, says campaigner
Women trafficked for sexual exploitation can spend their lives trying to deal with the mental trauma of what they have endured, a campaigner against sexual violence has revealed. Barbara Condon, the chief executive of Ruhama, said that human trafficking for sex has been described as 'the worst example of what one human being can do to another human being.' Speaking at the official launch of Ruhama's Cork-Kerry support service, Ms Condon revealed that the service, which has been operational since April 2024, has helped support some 80 women who were the victims of sexual exploitation in the southwest. She explained that Ruhama, which supports women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking, works with 'a hidden cohort of women, often ignored, overlooked and marginalised, trafficked women who are highly transient with no addresses, no bank accounts who are subjected to sexual violence in every town and city across Ireland.' She said that human trafficking and sexual exploitation brings with it complex trauma, not just physical but also mental with many victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can often lead to addiction, homelessness and further exploitation. 'But the biggest thing probably that the women face is the stigma and the discrimination and the shame,' she said. 'Nobody should be stigmatised because they've been sexually assaulted or sexually violated – recovery from sexual violence and sexual exploitation is lifelong because of what they've endured.' Ms Condon said that there was 'a huge silence around sexual exploitation' which made it difficult for people to speak about it, but Ruhama helped through talking and listening to the victims of such exploitation, but society needs to step up more to address the problem and the stigma. 'And the shame, the shame is what keeps women stuck long after they've exited and the shame really comes from most of depraved and degrading acts that nobody in this room can actually imagine unless they've been through and it really is unbelievable.' Ms Condon said that one the findings of a new study commissioned by Ruhama entitled Room for Recovery – Housing Hope After Exploitation was that accommodation was an essential part of the set of assistance measures necessary for victims of trafficking if they are to recover. 'Both the National Action Plan on Trafficking and the Third National Strategy for Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence are crystal clear on the crucial importance of gender-specific specialist accommodation for victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation,' she said. 'The continued accommodation of these victims-survivors with their particular vulnerabilities among the general asylum reception and the general International Protection Accommodation Service is inhumane and untenable.' One survivor of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the new Cork-Kerry service will offer not just support and safety but also compassion and hope for those who have endured great trauma from what they have been through. 'I carried enormous shame especially after discovering there was footage of my abuse – videos taken without consent, passed around like I was an object- that kind of violation leaves scars deeper than words,' she said. 'It makes you question if you are even human any more – I wanted to disappear – the new Ruhama Cork-Kerry service will be a place where trauma is named, shame is lifted and women come home to themselves.' Taoiseach Michéal Martin paid tribute to Ruhama for the work that the organisation is doing and he said the opening of the Cork-Kerry service was a vital step towards providing vital support and to 'some of the most vulnerable women in appalling circumstances' so they can rebuild their lives. 'The services delivered by Ruhama in this sector and on the frontline with victims are essential as we move forward with the Government's National Action Plan on Trafficking and our zero tolerance strategy for tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence,' he said.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
Calls for victims of sexual exploitation to be given better accommodation
Victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation should have specialist shelters provided for them, a charity has said. Ruhama , the Dublin-based non-governmental organisation that deals with women affected by prostitution especially those who have been trafficked, has said the State must provide better facilities. It said there were 'serious shortcomings' in support and that Ireland was in breach of its obligations under European Union directives in the area. In its annual report it listed 307 individuals, mostly women, who accessed its services. Of those, 108 sought trauma and counselling services last year. READ MORE The charity also recommended a study be done on Rosa's Place, a pilot scheme in Cork city run by DePaul Ireland which provides accommodation for eight female victims of sexual exploitation. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend the launch of new research highlighting significant deficiencies in accommodation on Friday and also officially open Ruhama's Cork-Kerry services. Its report recommends women be given step-down accommodation to support their transition from specialist shelter to own-door living. It also recommends that approved housing body (AHB) accommodation in the community be provided for victims and their children for up to three years. 'All accommodation should be victim-centred using a trauma-informed approach,' it said. It also notes that a 'high level of regular and specialised training must be mandatory for all staff and personnel involved in managing or delivering accommodation services'. 'The model should include clear mechanisms for monitoring, inspection and oversight that cover all aspects of individual risk, general operation and infrastructure, whether the accommodation is operated by the State, AHBs or local authorities.' The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission found there were 53 victims of human trafficking, including five children, identified in Ireland in 2023, the last year for which there are official figures. The commission's Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland 2023 report also found more than 500 people had been identified as victims of human trafficking in Ireland over the last decade.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
New Cork/Kerry centre 'has met dozens of migrants trafficked for sexual exploitation'
Ruhama has said it has dealt with 80 alleged victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking at its new service for the Cork and Kerry region. The service got under way in April 2024 and is being formally launched today, Friday, by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Ruhama, which works with sex workers and human trafficking victims, says many of the women are based in direct provision centres in Cork and Kerry. CEO Barbara Condon said it is important to make services such as Ruhama's available to victims in rural Ireland: Women are subjected to horrible abuse and violence, and the trauma is profound and complex, and the shame that is associated with sexual exploitation is really, really difficult. 'One of things we hear more about outside of Dublin is the isolation, particularly when people are based out in the country. "What you would hear more about as a result of that isolation is a greater level of depression.' Ruhama chief executive Barbara Condon: 'One of things we hear more about outside of Dublin is the isolation, particularly when people are based out in the country.' Picture: Julien Behal She pointed out that, because most victims of sexual exploitation are migrants, they do not have a network here to support them. Ruhama held a recruitment campaign earlier this year for its branches in Cork and Limerick, as well as in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Online services are being provided for some victims because of their location. A report, Room for Recovery: Housing Hope After Exploitation, will also be launched on Friday. It highlights 'serious shortcomings in accommodation for victims of sex trafficking', and calls for the provision of 'appropriate, specialist, gender-specific housing solutions' according to Ruhama. 'Recovery impossible without safe accommodation' The organisation says the report was commissioned 'in recognition of the fact that accommodation for victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in Ireland is deficient'. The report says 'accommodation is an essential part of the set of assistance measures for victims of trafficking'. 'Recovery is impossible without access to safe accommodation that will discontinue the victim's exposure to traffickers and risk of exploitation. "Gender-specificity is a crucial feature for accommodation of victims of trafficking who are recovering from sexual and other gender-based violence.' It calls for the temporary appointment of a special rapporteur on victim accommodation policies, because of 'previous fundamental failure to meet the needs of victims of trafficking within the wider international protection agenda". Ms Condon said: You are talking about the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable. If we can't protect the most vulnerable, who can we protect? The report recommends training for service providers working with women who are at high risk of trafficking for sexual exploitation to help them develop policies and guidelines for early detection and referral of victims to appropriate services. Gender-specific accommodation It also seeks further gender-specific accommodation for victims, building on the evaluation of Rosa's Place in Dublin, which currently has eight spaces. However, there are no other spaces for victims across the country. Figures released by Ruhama last September showed that the organisation worked with with 646 individuals in 2023, an increase of 30% from the previous year. Ms Condon said the majority of victims are migrants but they come from all backgrounds and are all ages — some women are in their 70s.
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardaí lead multi-agency operaton to identify potential victims of human trafficking
Gardaí led a multi-agency day of action at Dublin Airport on Thursday to identify potential victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Partner agencies including the HSE's Anti-Human Trafficking Team and Ruhama were included in Thursday's activity. It is part of the force's work in detecting and disrupting organised crime gangs that are exploiting vulnerable victims for financial gain. The activity was also focused on raising awareness among potential victims of human trafficking that gardaí are here to help. A number of potential victims were assessed and all were provided with information on the available agency supports. Speaking this evening following the day of action, detective superintendent Derek Maguire of the human trafficking Investigation and coordination unit said: "Our day of action and presence at Dublin Airport forms part of our ongoing, collaborative work to identify and support some of the most vulnerable people in global society – those who are trafficked. "We work closely with other frontline agencies both in Ireland and overseas to identify and support victims of human trafficking so that they can be removed from harm, and for us to bring those to justice who are intent on exploiting them for personal gain. "We want victims to know that while they may have had a poor experience and been unable to trust in law enforcement previously, you can trust us to help lead you away from the terrible crimes being committed against you.' They are appealing to anyone who may be the victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation to come forward and speak with them either in person or by phone at a local Garda station or to call the Garda Confidential Phone number on 1800 666 111.
