Patrick Costello
Question:241. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to improve access to supports for victims of human trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30723/20]
View answerThursday, 15 October 2020
Questions (241)
Written answers
The Government is fully committed to addressing human trafficking in all forms, including through the provision of supports for victims of human trafficking and by educating the public to recognise the signs of trafficking and be aware that victims of trafficking can be found anywhere and can be hidden in plain sight.
Addressing human trafficking in a holistic manner requires the engagement of various stakeholders and a number of key actions undertaken recently or due to be completed soon in the near future, including -
- The designation of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) as Ireland’s independent National Rapporteur for Anti-Human Trafficking under article 19 of the EU Human Trafficking Directive.
- The commencement of a review of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which criminalised the purchase of sex as part of a wider approach to protection of persons trafficked into prostitution,
- Engagement by the Department of Justice and Equality with NGOs to identify solutions to the provision of accommodation to victims of trafficking, particularly female victims of sexual exploitation, and in respect of which a further announcement will be made by my colleague the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth;
- The establishment of a forum for victims and stakeholders in relation to human trafficking, which has met twice to date, and which will examine the need to update the existing National Action Plan on Human Trafficking, including to respond to the commitment in the Programme for Government to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls;
- working with the Forum in a review of the National Referral Mechanism in Ireland, learning from best practice models in other EU Member States;
- Drafting legislation to strengthen the penal framework on people smuggling, thereby implementing three international legal instruments in the area and;
- The recent launch of a joint multimedia campaign between the Department of Justice and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to raise public awareness about Human Trafficking. The awareness campaign has two primary objectives;
1.Raising Public Awareness around the existence of Human Trafficking in Ireland and educate them to recognise the signs of trafficking;
2.Raising Awareness of Victim Supports. The campaign will highlight for victims that help is available and how to seek it. In the first instance by contacting An Garda Síochána but also by providing information on how to contact victim support services offered by the state, NGO’s and international organisations.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact legislation that encompasses relevant EU measures and the UN Protocol against the smuggling and trafficking of migrants and to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls.
The Second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking was launched in 2016. The Action Plan involves a victim-centred and human rights based approach with the ultimate aims of preventing human trafficking, ensuring an effective criminal justice response and delivery of supports to victims. Great importance is also attached to the work of multilateral international organisations who are active in tackling human trafficking, including the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE and the European Union and Ireland continues to work with all our partners in those forums.
An Garda Síochána has committed significant resources to the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in Ireland. A specialised Garda Unit, the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit (HTICU), has been has been in place since 2009 to conduct investigations into human trafficking and provide advice, support and where necessary, operational assistance to investigations at district level. An Garda Síochána is also active in relation to trafficking gangs through work targeting organised crime - targeting their finances, their use of the internet and by working closely with other jurisdictions.