WUNRN
NORTHERN IRELAND - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
VOTES TO CRIMINALISE THE PURCHASE OF SEXUAL SERVICES
By Louise Gleich – Oxtober
20, 2014
In a
landmark move late this evening the
The clause, which is part of
Lord Maurice Morrow’s Human Trafficking
and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill,
received widespread support within the Assembly from parties across the
political spectrum.
Highlighting the aims of the
clause Lord Morrow said:
“In
a context where the NRM figures clearly demonstrate that not only is the demand
for paid sex the single biggest driver for trafficking to Northern Ireland but
well over 50% of victims suffer sexual exploitation, I believe we must do
something to address this demand if we are to see an end to human
trafficking. Moreover in a Bill that seeks to tackle both human
trafficking and other forms of exploitation, addressing the exploitation in
prostitution is not merely appropriate but I believe something that should be
expected.”
Speaking in support of the
clause, Sinn Fein’s Caitríona Ruane MLA said “[this
clause] is an important step forward in the right direction” and
that “our aim is to ensure that
women in prostitution are not exploited.”
The vote was won by 81 votes
in favour to 10 against – an overwhelming endorsement of this approach to
address the demand that fuels the trafficking for sexual exploitation.
This vote makes Northern
Ireland the first part of the UK to adopt such an approach towards prostitution
first introduced in Sweden and recently endorsed by the European
Parliament and the Council for
Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly .
Speaking at Stormont tonight,
Dan Boucher CARE’s Director of Parliamentary Affairs who has advised Lord
Morrow on his Bill since early 2012 said, “This
is a seminal moment in
This clause was part of the Consideration Stage debate on Lord
Morrow’s Bill which also saw new consolidated offences of human trafficking and
forced labour added to the Bill, along with statutory aggravating factors, a
minimum 2 year sentence for convicted traffickers slavery and trafficking
prevention orders and an offence of forced marriage.