Irish firms sign anti-lap dancing charter

[sam]

Firms sign up to anti-lap dancing charter
Tue Aug 22, 2006

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Nearly 50 companies in Ireland have signed up to a charter pledging not to spend corporate cash at lap dancing clubs.

The charter was launched in June by a Dublin-based support group for women working in prostitution and the sex industry in a bid to highlight the exploitation of women.

"We wanted to raise awareness and challenge some of the myths that this is innocent fun," Gerardine Rowley, a spokeswoman for the Ruhama group said on Tuesday.

"We're concerned that the emergence of the lap dancing industry in Ireland has normalised the selling of women's bodies for sexual activities."

Rowley said Ruhama, a non-governmental organisation, had worked with women, many of them from eastern Europe, who came to work in lap dancing clubs and ended up in prostitution.

"We've had many cases of long term harm to women from these activities including lasting psychological problems," she said.

Companies giving their support to the charter included The Irish Times newspaper group and Olympus Ireland, she added.

There are around 10 lap dancing clubs in the Irish capital, with a handful more in cities across the country.

A branch of the London-based Stringfellows chain closed its doors earlier this year after just six months of business following nightly protests by local residents.

[sam]

More news on this. Their strategy of targeting businesses is great. -Sam

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/s ... 2157075&x=

“Since 2002 we have been campaigning against lap-dancing clubs, not just Stringfellows, and gave our support to residents who picketed the Parnell Street club,” continued Ms Rowley.

“We became aware of increasing efforts by lap-dancing clubs to attract corporate support and decided to tell the corporate sector what the lap-dancing industry really entails. It is well-established as part and parcel of the global sex industry.”

For 17 years the charity has worked with women involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation, providing a range of services. It helps them realise their dignity and supports those who choose to follow an alternative lifestyle.

Ms Rowley added: “We’re asking companies to sign up and support our Charter.

“We are asking them not to financially support ventures, namely lap-dancing clubs, where women are abused and ask them to use their corporate responsibility to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of women.”

[oneangrygirl]

maybe i should move to a smaller country.

[sunnysmiles]

We've had small victories here too! a lot in part thanks to you.

I am sure that this is a small victory in terms of pornstitution's hold on Ireland too...

[oneangrygirl]

aw shucks.
but the only way to get everyone's attention in america at the same time is to be a celebrity or a murdered 6-year-old.
it makes me weary.

[sunnysmiles]

takes time - one person at a time. Sometimes I think I have been living in a bubble though. Not having a TV for so long has opened my eyes, now that I have one.

btw - just in case, know any hot, sexy celebs who'd represent for us?

[annared]

I covered the Dublin’s Stringfellows Lap dancing closure a while back in my blog. (Have not moved it over from my old blog yet) what I found interesting was that I found the story in a ‘local’ paper, was not even so much as a sniff in the daily tabloids.