Breaking the Silence

One day, four important themes.

1. The harms of prostitution and sex trafficking – examining the sexual violence and harms of prostitution and sex trafficking.

2. The impact of trauma on women who have experienced sexual exploitation and specialist supports - research on exiting prostitution.

3. The harm of pornography and new routes into prostitution – examining the pornography industry and new online platforms.

4. Addressing the challenges in an Irish context – key challenges and potential solutions to addressing prostitution and trafficking.

Join Ruhama, a national NGO working with women impacted by prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP), UCD, for their conference on 1 December.

SERP will present emerging findings from our current research on the complexities of exiting prostitution. Survivor voices are central to this event.

Speakers for the conference include:

• Barbara Condon, CEO, Ruhama
• Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne
• Denise Charlton, CEO, Community Foundation Ireland
• Dr Cherry Smiley, Researcher, Founder and director of Women's Studies Online, Quebec, Canada
• Survivor speaker
• Dr Jennifer Okeke, Anti-trafficking Coordinator, Immigrant Council of Ireland
• David Joyce, Equality Officer/Developmental Officer/Global Solidarity Officer & Social Policy Irish Congress of Trade Unions
• Dr Salome Mbugua, CEO, Akidwa
• Noeline Blackwell, CEO, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
• Sheila Crowley, Trauma Psychotherapist, Ruhama
• Trish O’ Brien, Education and Development Officer, Ruhama
• Ruth Breslin, Lead Researcher, Sexual Exploitation Research Programme
• Survivor speaker
• Mia Döring, Author of Any Girl; a memoir of surviving prostitution in Ireland, psychotherapist and activist
• Dr Meagan Tyler, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
• Tanya Ward, CEO, Children’s Rights Alliance
• Seán Cooke, CEO, Men’s Development Network
• Richard Hogan, Clinical Director, The Therapy Institute
• Valiant Richey, Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• Angela Willis, Assistant Commissioner, An Garda Síochana
• Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
• Deaglán Ó Briain, Principal Officer, Department of Justice
• Noelle Collins, Team Leader, Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid
• Dr Marie Keenan, Associate Professor and Chair, Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, UCD
• Oonagh Mc Philips, Secretary General, Department of Justice

Your complimentary ticket will include a full day agenda from 9am-4:00pm and lunch.

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For more information on Ruhama's work click here.

For more information on SERP's work click here.