'Pornography the gateway into prostitution' for some women coming forward for help

There has been a 75% increase in demand for the services of Ruhama, a charity that fights sexual exploitation, prostitution, and human trafficking. 

The charity's latest report shows that 1,128 people engaged with them last year - an increase of 75% on 2023.

216 of those people were getting in touch in relation to human trafficking, up 35% on 2023. 

282 were affected by prostitution. This number is an increase of 20% on 2023. 

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"They're a very hard to reach cohort so the fact that we're seeing more people is a positive in one hand," Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama said on Newstalk today. 

Most of the people reaching out are women, including six that identified as trans women. 

This reflects the gendered nature of the system of prostitution and sexual exploitation, according to the charity.

55 men also engaged with the service.

People reaching out in relation to human trafficking came from 24 different countries.

131 were from Nigeria, the highest number of any country, but others were from Albania, Kenya, and Ukraine among others. 

People from 51 different countries got in touch in relation to prostitution, with those from Nigeria again the worst affected. 

43 people from there reached out to Ruhama for help, while 31 were Irish. 

42 people were from Zimbabwe and other countries people reaching out were from included Brazil, Poland, and Romania. 

"For some women, pornography is the gateway into prostitution. People think it's fantasy but it's real life. It's women who are getting paid to suffer real pain while they're being filmed," Barbara said.

Ruhama is today hosting the Technology Friend or Foe convention, which looks at combating porn, sexual violence and exploitation.