Sir, – The Turn Off the Red Light campaign claims that the Swedish Model is the best way of removing prostitution in Ireland, yet offers little evidence for this assumption. In Sweden, the authorities admit that they do not know how many sex workers are working there at present, however they do claim the number has increased over the last 10 years. A Swedish police report in 2010 also showed an increase in mainly African sex workers.
Reports from Norway say that there is no real change in the number of adverts for indoor sex workers, since the law was enacted there, but have reported an increase in STIs among sex workers. Sex workers’ organisations around the world oppose the Swedish Model including the Rose Alliance in Sweden. In France, more than 1,000 sex workers and supporters took to the street to protest against the Swedish Model. Their opposition is echoed by various UN bodies which have called for an end to the criminalisation of sex workers and their clients and praised New Zealand’s approach to the sex industry. It is time for Turn Off the Red Light to stop the rhetoric and start to look at the evidence. – Yours, etc,
KEITH DUNNE,
Sex Workers Alliance
Ireland,
Capel Street,
Dublin 1.