Sir, – In the course of her article "The ugly face of 'Pretty Woman' – 25 years on" (Opinion & Analysis, April 22nd), Sarah Benson of Ruhama mentions trafficking, yet we have legislation to combat this already. Furthermore, she implies the majority of women in sex work are being trafficked. There is not one scintilla of evidence to back this up other than hearsay.
In the UK, the largest-ever operation targeting sex trafficking, Operation Pentameter, involving hundreds of police officers, could not find a single sex trafficker and the Guardian reported that the numbers of women being trafficked had been exaggerated by politicians and the media.
If Ruhama and the Turn Off the Red Light campaign are sincere about helping sex workers, then they should campaign for the legalisation of sex work so sex workers can get protection and help, just like other workers.
But it isn’t about helping. It is about an alliance between Catholic reactionaries and feminists trying to impose their morality on everyone else. Such a campaign may give them a warm glow of self-righteousness, but will do little to help the vulnerable women they seek to protect. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Kilkee,
Co Clare.