Daily Advertising of Women for Sexual Services in Northern Ireland
More than 500 women are advertised daily for sexual services on pimping websites in Northern Ireland, with campaigners raising concerns that many are "organised, coerced and controlled".
These women are presented as "independent escorts" offering a wide range of sex acts and services. However, experts indicate that the reality is significantly different.
Ruth Breslin, director of the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy (SERP) Institute, highlighted the presence of "tell tale signs" suggesting that many of these women are victims of trafficking.
"The majority of women we see on these sites are women who are being organised, coerced and controlled and someone else is making money and profiting from them being sold for sex," Breslin said.
A sex trade survivor expressed that men who use these pimping websites show no concern about whether the women are trafficked and called for the blocking of such sites.
There are four primary websites advertising women for sexual services across Northern Ireland: Locanto, Adult Works, Viva Street, and Escort Ireland.
Escort Ireland is the largest platform, with over 1,000 women advertised daily across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The website has been operating for more than 30 years.
BBC Northern Ireland conducted an extensive review of these websites and found that on average, over 500 women advertise sexual services every day.
Ruth Breslin further explained that many profiles show indicators of trafficking, including the women being very young and advertised as new arrivals to Ireland or only in Belfast for a short time.
Many women advertised have "very basic English," which experts identify as a significant red flag for trafficking.
"How can they just turn up in this jurisdiction, set themselves up in a website, write a profile, get themselves a local phone number and an address with very basic English? It is very clear they are being organised.
These women have very little control over the work they do, how many sex buyers they see and who they see."
Many adverts encourage buyers to "rate" their experience out of five stars, evaluating physical appearance, satisfaction, value for money, and overall experience. Some of the reviews are disturbing in nature.
Campaigners Highlight Exploitation and Trafficking Concerns
Campaigners argue that these websites are not neutral platforms but active participants in the exploitation of women in Northern Ireland.
"There are many profiles on these sites that contain indicators of exploitation and trafficking.
That means there are so many women, especially young women being advertised and organised in the sex trade, they're being controlled in the sex trade.
They are there because they are being controlled and exploited."
Breslin identified Escort Ireland as a key player in the sex trade in Northern Ireland, noting that the site generates significant revenue by advertising women for sale daily across both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The BBC reached out to Escort Ireland for comment but did not receive a response.
While such websites are not illegal, Escort Ireland includes a disclaimer stating that "the charges are for time and companionship only," and that "anything else that occurs is a matter of coincidence and choice between consenting adults."
"Every day we see up to 130 women advertised in Northern Ireland on Escort Ireland at any one time," Breslin added.
"Most of these women are very young. They are often young migrant women."
She described the websites as marketplaces where "vulnerable and often exploited women are advertised," which raises significant concerns.
Calls to Block Access to Pimping Websites
Mia Doring, an author and sex trade survivor, advocates for blocking access to these websites.
She stated:
"We need to disrupt the demand and to send a message to the punters that we are not tolerating what you are doing and what you are doing is committing a crime and we're going to try and interrupt that behaviour."
"The men already know that what they are doing is a crime, and they already are full of shame because otherwise why are we not hearing from them?
If they weren't full of shame and they didn't think what they were doing was so wrong, why are there no groups of punters fighting for their rights to pay for sex?"
"They are anonymous and secretive, and they keep it to themselves for a reason. Because they know what they are doing is wrong."
"Prostitution is the most brutal expression of misogyny and we don't see it as that because it's kind of couched as work and empowerment.
But prostitution is the worst form of toxic misogyny that could exist. So, the men act out their brutal fantasies on the women.
They do not care if the woman is trafficked or not. They know well what they are doing is wrong."
Legal Framework in Northern Ireland
Legislation enacted in Northern Ireland in 2015 criminalises paying for sexual services, either directly or through another person.
However, it remains legal to sell sexual services in Northern Ireland, and it is not an offence to loiter or solicit with the intention of offering sexual services.
It is a criminal offence to keep or manage a brothel or to control prostitution for profit.
