Ruhama, which helps women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking, provided support to 313 women from 40 different countries last year, a new report has shown.

According to the charity's 2018 Annual Report, which has just been published, among the women it helped, 122 were victims of trafficking. They came from 29 different countries.

The demand for services included 9,970 phone contacts, 13,666 text contacts and 2,793 face-to-face contacts.

Those who were supported last year were provided with a range of services individually tailored to meet their needs, including housing and social welfare supports, counselling, advocacy and job-seeking programmes.

This year marks Ruhama's 30th anniversary of helping some of the most vulnerable and marginalised women in Ireland. Over the last three decades, the charity has had to adapt its services to meet the increasingly complex needs of the women who need support.

"The good news is that we have supported literally thousands of women in very difficult situations over 30 years. So many of them have had successful outcomes and been able to move past the trauma of sexual exploitation.

"The bad news is that some have not survived, and the sex trade is still alive and thriving in Ireland. Unfortunately our work is still so necessary and the demand for our services is only increasing," commented Ruhama CEO, Sarah Benson.

The charity said that increased globalisation and changes in migration flows have resulted in ‘a highly organised, transnational and criminalised sex trade that is thriving across the country'.

It noted that while on-street prostitution still exists, the majority of prostitutes that it meets are based indoors, for example, in brothels, massage parlours and apartments.

However, one thing that has not changed over the last 30 years is the inherent harm and violence associated with prostitution.

The charity said that the sex trade is still predominantly controlled by organised criminals and is ‘fuelled by the demand for paid sex that is driven by 8% of Irish men'.

"We are confident that effective implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 can make Ireland a hostile market for pimps and those sex traffickers who are importing young migrant women solely to profit from their exploitation, while betraying their hopes for a better life," Ms Benson commented.

This legislation decriminalises the individual in prostitution, and criminalises the so-called ‘sex-buyer' in recognition of the role they play in perpetuating sexual exploitation.

"The women that we support report countless incidences of violence at the hands of pimps, traffickers and sex-buyers alike, including rape, robbery and violent assaults, including with weapons," Ms Benson noted.

She said that this has led to some progress, for example, women are now more likely to report crimes against them to Gardai ‘without fear'.

"We have also seen some good examples of individuals reporting crimes committed in indoor settings through proactive Garda liaisons and this is to be encouraged. The Gardaí are given a strong signal by the law to ensure they take a victim-centred approach towards individuals in prostitution rather than a punitive one," Ms Benson explained.

However, she insisted that more action is needed.

"We welcome recent Garda action to target sex-buyers in line with the law, particularly as there has been only three convictions of sex buyers to date. However, the Government must also do more to raise public awareness of the fact that it is now a crime to pay for sex," she added.

Ruhama urges anyone who finds themselves in a difficult situation in Ireland's sex trade, or who is concerned about someone they know, to contact them for support on (01) 836 0292, or text the word REACH for free to 50100 for a confidential call back.

For more information on Ruhama, click here.