US Govt report highlights need for enforcement of Ireland's anti-trafficking laws

28 June 2017

Labour spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Senator Ivana Bacik, has expressed concern over a report by the US Government claiming that Ireland remains both a ‘destination’ and ‘source’ country for victims of human trafficking.

The annual Trafficking in Persons 2016 Report by the US State Department noted that a conviction for trafficking had not been recorded here since 2013.

Senator Bacik said:

“While the report acknowledges positive legal change here with the enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, and welcomes the increase in trafficking prosecutions over the past year, it also points out that no convictions have been secured under anti-trafficking legislation since 2013.

“The difficulty with obtaining convictions should be of real concern, particularly as the report on Ireland concludes that we are a ‘destination and source country for women, men and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour, including forced criminal activity’.

“This finding shows the urgent need for increased emphasis on enforcement of our anti-trafficking laws, and for increased supports to be made available for those organisations working with victims of trafficking in Ireland.”