Women’s organisations in Letterkenny say they are on alert for any potential exploitation of Ukrainian refugees.

It comes after Ireland’s largest escort website service offered men the opportunity to live out their “war inspired fantasies” with Ukrainian women, a webnair has heard.

Escorts Ireland has reported a 250 per cent increase in interest for Ukrainian women, European anti-trafficking expert, Valiant Richey from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has warned.

“In some countries, the spike (in online searches for buying sex from Ukrainian women) was as much as 600 per cent. There was an immediate interest in exploiting them,” he said.

Mr Richey said around the time that a mass movement of vulnerable Ukrainian women and girls were moving across Europe, there was a “significant spike” in line searches “related to buying sex from Ukrainian women”.

There are currently more than 1,300 Ukrainian refugees in Donegal. Speaking to the Donegal News, Dr Marie Hainsworth, Manager, Donegal Domestic Violence Service, said the emergence is very disturbing. She expressed her concerns that in some instances lax vetting could potentially endanger already vulnerable women and children.

“Primarily, it is women and children who have arrived in Donegal from Ukraine having fled war in their country. They have little to no protection. People have opened their doors, most of whom I would say out of the kindness of their hearts but there is a element, a cohort of people who will use this awful situation to their own advantage. Ukrainian people are going into homes, often the people in those homes are not being vetted and we foresee a lot of issues coming down the line.

“People have been left traumatised by war, by what has happened in their country and having to leave family behind. We have to also remember the language barrier in this situation, which adds to their vulnerability.”

Ms Hainsworth said Donegal is location that will be attractive to perpetrators.

“People tend to think exploitation and trafficking take place in large cities, but in reality Donegal is very attractive because it is so vast and rural. Escort sites are used widely in Donegal.

“It’s all interlinked and it is a reflection of where we are. We have heard stories of women in relationships who have been forced into having sex with their partner’s friends for money. There seems to be a level of acceptance.”

Dr Hainsworth said some people may not be aware they are being exploited or trafficked. She said anyone with concerns should immediately contact gardaí. She said local women’s organisations and agencies do liaise with gardaí and there is very much a joined-up approach.

“It’s important to have these supports in place. We don’t want to find ourselves in a horrible place six or seven years down the line picking up on the after impact of this.”

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