Well done to Hidden Faces, Hidden Places on winning their category in YSI. Great Achievement.
Who: Transition Year Class 4.2, St. Mary’s Secondary School, Irishtown , New Ross, Co. Wexford.
What: Young Social Innovators Project: Hidden Faces, Hidden Places
Re: Human Trafficking and Prostitution Petition On Saturday 28th April, 6 transition year students from St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross met with Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Brendan Howlin to present him with their petition of over 1000 signatures. The petition urges the government to adopt the Nordic (Swedish) model approach to prostitution which decriminalises those selling sex, offers support services to exit prostitution, and criminalises the purchase of sex to curb the demand for commercial sexual exploitation. The 24 students decided, last October to undertake this project based on the huge problem of human trafficking and prostitution in Ireland. They have achieved a huge amount since then and were delighted to present to petition to Minister Howlin.
In addition to this, Hidden Faces, Hidden Places has been chosen to represent their school at the ‘Young Social Innovators’ Showcase on May 9th at the City West Hotel in Dublin. It was one of 60 projects chosen and the girls are looking forward to the opportunity to highlight this problem even more. The class have designed a brochure, composed a song, held school and public information sessions, fundraising events, created a facebook page, twitter account and lots more. Should any further information be required please do not hesitate to contact St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross at 051-421637.
Our facebook page is simply called ‘Hidden Faces, Hidden Places’. On Wednesday next the 2nd May 4 students will represent the class on South East Radio on the Alan Corcoran show at 10.30am. One of the students in the class, Eve Furlong from Adamstown composed a song for the project. The Song is called ‘Hidden’ and will be performed during the interview with Alan Corcoran. So tune in for that!
Newspaper Articles
Over 100 children in Ireland vanished from State care
John O’Mahoney, Garda assistant commissioner, said recently that 114 children who have been reported missing in the past five years are still missing. A staggering 106 of those 114 children were reported missing while in care of the State.
More than 100 children remain on Ireland’s missing persons list, it has been revealed.
But one of the country’s most senior Garda officers said there was no way to compare the figures with overseas because of “protocols” used to record them here.
Overexposure of young people to porn is ‘like a car crash’
Teenagers are being damaged by overexposure to pornography, with Ireland in the grip of a “catastrophe” of sexual violence, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland has warned.
It’s “never too late” to address sexual violence
OLDER WOMEN are being encouraged that it is never too late to address past sexual violence. The message comes as a new DVD for older women affected by sexual violence is released by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) and the Older Women’s Network (OWN)
School Visit
Mary visited Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig, thanks to all involved.
If you would Mary to visit your school please email
Irish Independent Article
Irish Independent Article Martina Devlin: There is no happily ever after in the red light zone for full article please click here.
Hidden Faces, Hidden Places
A Transition Year group from St. Marys Secondary School New Ross are doing a YSI project on Human Trafficking and Prostitution. Check out their facebook page here.
Prime Time Investigates
Incase you missed last Monday nights programme. Please click on link here to watch.
Reaction to programme from The Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
The Taoiseach has said the abuse of women by Irish men, as seen on last night’s Prime Time programme, seems to be extraordinarily prevalent.
Full report available here.
Response from Ruhuma available here.
Find us on Facebook
You can now find us on face book at Sexual Violence Facebook page. Please come and support us there.
More than 200 human trafficking claims reported to gardaí since 2008
The Irish Times - Wednesday, November 23, 2011
MORE THAN 200 allegations of human trafficking were made to gardaí in the past three years, but the Immigrant Council of Ireland says the figures reflect a small proportion of the victims here.
For full article please click here
Whistleblower Special Screening
Mary met Kathryn Bolkovac at the book signing and special screening event of the film Whistleblower at the Cork Film Festival 2011.
Inspired by true events, Kathy (Rachel Weisz) is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doubletalk.
Turn off the Red Light update
Part One of a two part presentation by the Swedish Police at the Round Table Discussion on Prostitution and Sex Trafficking, as part of the ‘Turn Off the Red Light” campaign in Ireland.
This presentation is one of a number made at the round table discussion held on 26th September 2011 in Dublin, Ireland. It included a number of international and national presentations. More presentations from the discussions are posted on this channel.