IRENE: Women involved in Street Prostitution: outreach and basic Services

Project facts

Project promoter:
St. Jeanne Antide Foundation
Project Number:
MT03-0002
Target groups
People at risk of poverty,
Minorities
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€27,475
Final project cost:
€27,475
From EEA Grants:
€ 24,728
The project is carried out in:
Malta

Description

Aiming to combat poverty, social exclusion and sexual exploitation of vulnerable women, the project focuses on the development and provision of support services to a target group that is undeserved within the continuum of services provision nationally – vulnerable women involved in street prostitution. These Vulnerable women are poor, are socially excluded and have unmet basic human needs; are vulnerable to coercion, violence and exploitation; are likely to suffer form mental health problems; are prone to repeat arrests and imprisonment; are entrenched in drug problems; may be controlled by pimps or partners having drug problems which women end up funding and sustaining through their involvement in prostitution; and lacks support to access services. The target group of the IRENE Project are vulnerable women involved in prostitution. At the core of their vulnerability to become involved in prostitution is childhood sexual abuse and subsequent relationships with abusive men.

Summary of project results

The plight of vulnerable women involved in street prostitution is a hidden but very real problem in Maltese society. Given the stigma, derision and intolerance, coupled with the perceived risks involved in extending support to persons involved in prostitution, the country still lacks support specifically targeting this category. On a regular basis, vulnerable women involved in street prostitution face physical and sexual assaults, criminalization for soliciting work, fear of further traumas from violent attacks, and a chaotic lifestyle lacking a stable and safe residence that they can call home. The project aimed to offer support services to women involved in prostitution through street outreach work in a locality known by the police and community for its concentration of women who loiter to attract those looking to pay for sex and through the setting up and running of a drop-in centre and in-house clinics in the vicinity. The project managed to reach the agreed targets, some of which were over achieved. This is evident from the fact that the Dar Hosea day centre for prostituted women, started with EEA start-up funds under the Irene Project, is growing strong and has attracted a partial grant for 2016 and full funding for 2017. Women are promoting the service by word of mouth and outreach work has increased. A number of women have, against all odds, managed to exit prostitution and are doing well. Currently the centre is run by a Manager who is a Social Worker and 15 Volunteer Social Support Workers who work on a roster basis. In order to maintain contact with women serving a prison sentence linked to prostitution, a team of 4 very dedicated volunteers continue to run Monday morning crafts production sessions in prison. This service element is in its third year. Also additional funds to cover the full cost of the rent of a small maisonette used as a drop-in centre for service users was sourced, also furnishings were donated; a Procedure Manual was formulated; a long term premises for Hosea House was identified, refurbished and opened; a manager for Hosea House was recruited and trained; 61 women involved in prostitution were supported (baseline 30); 40 (in which the baseline was 30) in-house clinics for screening of sexually transmitted infections were opened; 145 (out of 120) sexual health education sessions were carried out; and night shelter for service users was obtained.

Summary of bilateral results