Ms Monica O'Connor:

I have prepared a note. There has been a lack of clarity. It is important to state that the recommendation comes from the UNAIDS advisory group which has stated that it does not represent the views of the UN.

With regard to criminalisation, the Swedish approach has been to decriminalise and enhance harm reduction services. Therefore, binary or polarisation of the issue is totally unnecessary. Obviously if one decriminalises victims then one ensures that there is access to all HIV and healthcare. The situation in Europe is very different to what was referred to by the UN. For example, Sweden does not have an anti-harm reduction policy. The polarisation of the matter ensures that there is an enhancement of harm reduction and harm elimination. It is a parallel and complimentary system. I accept that in places like India, which has a massive level of children and young people in prostitution, one does not want to criminalise them in such a way that they cannot access healthcare. That is not what the Swedish or Nordic approaches are about. There is confusion about the report, that it somehow suggests that what we are advocating in Ireland is not entirely supportive of harm reduction.

There is some confusion about gay and lesbian rights in this report. Obviously adult consensual sex is an entirely separate issue from buying somebody for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sometimes it is presented as if we are denying healthcare or HIV and AIDS services but we are not. I advocate that we provide all of those services and move towards criminalising demand.