PAY FOR SEX & YOU BECOME A CRIMINAL...
New Bill will target traffickers and pimps
THE purchasing of sex became a criminal offence for the first time yesterday.
Pimps, buyers and traffickers are now the focus of criminal inquiries – as opposed to the victims – under new laws which came into effect. And the Sexual Offences Bill 2017 has been praised for providing improved protections for victims of the sex trade and trafficking. Immigrant Council of Ireland boss Brian Killoran said: “Women, children and men trafficked into Ireland for sexual exploitation will be better protected because the Act has come into effect. “The Immigrant Council of Ireland has supported dozens of trafficking victims in the last year and the horror of their experience cannot be overstated.” The legislation criminalises the purchase of sex rather than the seller and received cross-party support in the Dail last month. It also offers increased protection for children and was hailed as the “most significant piece of legislation addressing children and criminal law since the foundation of the State” by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Geoffrey Shannon. New provisions will safeguard children from online predators and there are provisions for strengthened offences to tackle child pornography. The ISPCC also welcomed the new laws but warned they need adequate support. Charity chief Grainia Long added: “It must be coupled with sufficient treat- ment programmes, adequate sentencing and post-release supervision to ensure children are better protected. “Children and young people need education on consent, along with quality cyber safety education, to empower them to recognise and report concerns regarding potential online predators.” The legislation also tackles consent as part of its aim to “target those who take advantage of [sexual] vulnerability”. Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, who signed it into law yesterday, said: “Consent is at the heart of every lawful sexual act and the clarity brought to the issue in this Act reinforces that fact.”