RUHAMA PRESS RELEASE - 14th May 2012
‘Women sell sex because they have to, not because they
want to’
Ruhama launches a national multimedia campaign, comprising a radio ad and poster, to
raise awareness about prostitution.
The stark and explicit poster image depicts the reductive nature of the sex trade. The
silhouette represents women who may be any age, ethnicity, nationality but whose worth
in prostitution is placed solely on the commercialisation of their bodies for sex.
Sarah Benson, CEO, Ruhama said: “This poster contradicts the glamorous veneer and
images used to advertise and normalise prostitution. When you peel back the layers it is
no more than the transaction of money to access another person’s body for sex. Who the
person in prostitution really is becomes irrelevant in this interaction. The buyer’s desires
and experience is what is prioritised.”
Sarah Benson, went on to say: “Prostitution is a growing issue in Irish society, yet, it is
rarely discussed with any real depth, we hope this controversial campaign will create
discussion and confront society with the reality for women in the sex trade.”
Sarah Benson said: “We chose the slogan ‘Women sell sex because they have to, not
because they want to’ to dispel the myth that prostitution is a viable career choice for
women, when in fact it is much more about a survival option.”
The actress, Susan Loughnane of Love/Hate (RTE drama), gave her support to the launch
of the campaign today and said: “I have decided to support this campaign because I
firmly believe that women in Ireland and all around the world are being abused within the
sex trade. We must do everything possible to protect and assist women who are trapped
within the sex trade. We must also challenge the belief that this is just about sex. It is not.
It is about abuse and lack of choice for those prostituted.”
A radio advertisement will accompany the poster campaign and it reinforces the message
that prostitution is never considered a career option for women and no one would choose
it for someone they care about.
Sarah Benson said: “We believe the reason many people don’t engage with the issue of
prostitution is because they find it difficult to associate with it. We hope the scenario of a
mother and daughter in the radio advertisement will help people to empathize with the
issue because in the end we are talking about somebody’s daughters, and indeed mothers
who are affected.”
Ruhama provides a unique front line service to women affected by prostitution and sex
trafficking. Sarah Benson said: “Our approach is holistic and completely non-judgmental.
We know how complex the issue of prostitution is and work creatively with individual
women depending on where they are at in terms of their experience and priorities.
Ruhama aims to create options which empower women to make real choices, through a
range of services including: one to one support, education, counselling, personal
development, and support to access residency and housing.”
The level of cutbacks in statutory funding for Ruhama in recent years is having a
devastating effect and curtailing its services to women affected by prostitution and sex
trafficking. Sarah Benson said: “We are very disappointed with the Government's
decision to persistently cut Ruhama's funding over the last 3 years. Ruhama has never
been fully funded by the state and so we require even more intensive fundraising to
continue providing support to women and girls who are literally on the margins.”
Sarah Benson concluded: “We hope this campaign will not only heighten awareness of
the issue of prostitution and the needs of the women involved, but will also encourage
people to give financial support to Ruhama, so that we can continue this essential and
valuable work.”
END
Contact Details:
Sarah Benson, CEO, Ruhama 086 600 3115
Gerardine Rowley, Communications & Policy Manager, Ruhama 086 259 1247
Wally Young, Young Communications, 087 247 1520
Attachments:
The Poster & Radio Advertisement are posted on the homepage of Ruhama’s website
www.ruhama.ie from 9.30am Monday 14th May, 2012.