Real Men Don’t Buy Girls” – Irish Men unite against sex-trafficking
[Dublin, 8 April 2013] The Real Men Don’t Buy Girls campaign is aiming to use high profile men who are uniting to launch this important awareness campaign and deliver the message that there is never any excuse for buying a girl, either here in Ireland or when traveling abroad with mates, said Denise Charlton, Immigrant Council of Ireland Chief Executive.
In Ireland one in four people sex-trafficked is a child. (Figures in Editors Note below)
The message of the campaign could not be clearer and reflects what we know most men believe, ‘Real Men Don’t Buy Girls’. Men throughout the country will be encouraged to add their voice to the campaign on social media, where they will be encouraged to submit their own photos.
As a frontline agency we know that girls and young women are often being tricked into coming Ireland only for the grim reality of their situation to dawn when they are picked up at Dublin Airport and forced into a life of selling their bodies. This is something no brother, young father or any man should find acceptable.
Through this campaign we hope to get young men to reflect on this and ensure they are fully aware of the reality behind trafficking.”
Broadcaster Dáithí Ó Sé, one of the men kickstarting the campaign added:
“I am delighted to join with men from all parts of Ireland to make a clear stand that there is no acceptable level of sex trafficking. We know already that this is a crime which is a modern day scourge and something which real men will never tolerate. Whether away for a music festival, sporting event or on a stag party abroad there is never an excuse for buying girls.
We must ensure that there is no safe haven for traffickers and organised criminals who line their pockets by trampling on the human rights of women and girls.”
For more details contact: Jerry O’Connor Tel 085 864 0682
On the photo: star of RTE television Dáithí Ó’Sé and comedian Eric Lalor.
Editors Note:
Sex trafficking figures for Ireland, taken from Department of Justice figures:
Total Number of detected cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation from the 2009, 2010, 2011 Dept of Justice figures is 134
Total Number of children involved in these cases 32
23.88% of those detected as trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation are Children
More information here.
