International Women’s Day event in Nenagh Arts Centre
To mark International Women’s Day in Nenagh, a special event will be held in Nenagh Arts Centre this Thursday, March 6, at7pm. The event is titled Inspirational Women, Inspiring Change, and will focus on prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland. The night, which is being organised by the Men’s Development Network Ltd, will feature three main speakers, Mia de Faoite, a former prostitute telling her story of how she escaped prostitution and turned her life around; John O’Reilly, author, and former Garda inspector, who has 30 years’ experience working with victims of sex trafficking; and Alan O’Neill, CEO of Men’s Development Network, works with women’s groups that promote gender equality and ending violence against women. His group is seeking changes to legislation on prostitution and sex trafficking. The event is being sponsored Nenagh-based Labour councillor Virginia O’Dowd. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. Put it in your diary as an event not to miss. International Women’s Day itself will be on Saturday, March 8.
Mia de Faoite
Mia de Faoite had a successful job and a daughter and was thriving, but in 2002 she entered into a relationship that began a cycle from which she thought she would never escape. Mia did escape prostitution and has turned her life around and achieved her dreams of doing a university course. She is a survivor of prostitution and inspirational women and will discuss her experience of working in prostitution in Ireland.
John O’Reilly
John O’Reilly, author of ‘Sex Slavery-The Way Back’, was an Irish police inspector with over thirty years experience investigating serious crimes. John has worked with victims of sex trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will share his experiences and discuss techniques on how to support victims of sex trafficking.
Alan O’Neill (MDN)
Alan O’Neill is CEO of MDN which is a not for profit organisation based in Waterford City and works locally, nationally and internationally in alliance with women’s groups that promote gender equality and ending violence against women. MDN is 1 of 68 organisations supporting the Turn off the Red Light Campaign (TORL) which is seeking changes to legislation on prostitution and sex trafficking.