The demand for sex trafficking is evidently growing with more victims presenting to Ruhama in 2022, according to the charity's CEO.
The organisation, which helps women who are sexually exploited for profit, engaged with 147 victims of trafficking in 2022, 45 of whom were new referrals, which is a 60% increase on new referrals in 2021.
Barbara Condon said demand for the sex trade among sex buyers is driving the profiteering from human trafficking.
It is estimated that €180m per year is made in Ireland alone.
It comes as a US State Department Trafficking in Persons report has found that Ireland has made little progress since last year in tackling the sex trafficking industry.
"The sex trade is inherently violent, dangerous and traumatising to countless individuals every day in Ireland.
"Ireland has made commitments to achieve zero-tolerance to sexual violence including sexual exploitation," Ms Condon said.
Ms Condon added that this could be achieved through the urgent implementation of the reformed National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the revised Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022, the implementation of the Third National Action Plan to prevent and combat Human Trafficking and the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
"No progression has been made either in gender-specific accommodation for victims of human trafficking. Victim/survivors are still inappropriately housed in Direct Provision centres, which Ireland has been criticised for internationally," she added.
"Direct Provision is completely inappropriate and unsuitable for anyone who have gone through severely traumatic experiences. They are put at high risk of re-traumatisation and re-trafficking."
Ruhama has echoed the IHREC in calling for safe, secure, gender-specific accommodation as a matter of urgency.
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