Human Trafficking in [Ireland Street Children in [Ireland] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Ireland] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery Republic of Ireland [ Country-by-Country
Reports ] The Ireland is a
destination country for women, men, and children trafficked for the purposes
of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. An academic study by the
National University of Ireland Galway and Trinity College concluded that a
minimum of 76 victims were trafficked into Ireland for sexual exploitation
between 2000 and 2006, and an NGO working with immigrants reported 46 cases
of suspected labor trafficking from July 2005 to December 2007. Women from
Eastern Europe, Nigeria, other parts of Africa, as well as smaller numbers
from South America and Asia, have reportedly been trafficked to Ireland for
forced prostitution. Labor trafficking victims reportedly consist of men and
women from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, and the Philippines, although there
may also be some victims from South America, Eastern Europe, and other parts
of Asia and Africa. An Irish NGO reported that most forced labor victims are
found in domestic labor, and restaurant and agricultural work. Unaccompanied
minors from various source countries, particularly in Africa, represent a
vulnerable group in Ireland that may be susceptible to trafficking and
exploitation. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June,
2008 [full country report] |
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CAUTION: The following links have been
culled from the web to illuminate the situation in ***
FEATURED ARTICLES *** Irish Refugee Council - Draft Information Note on Human Trafficking THE IRISH CONTEXT - INVESTIGATION - In Ireland neither the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking Act) 2000 nor the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 has ever resulted in a successful prosecution for the crime of trafficking, though individuals have been arrested and charged. This is in contrast to other countries which have had successful prosecutions. There were approximately 7,000 prosecutions in some 20 countries and 3,000 convictions. Unfortunately many countries, including Ireland, do not have strong legislation to allow for successful convictions Ireland named as major route for child trafficking Ireland has been pinpointed as a major route for trafficking children doomed to a life of slavery or prostitution in Britain. An official report from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) explicitly names Ireland as a route for bringing illicit human cargo into the UK. ***
ARCHIVES *** Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – NGOs reported
that women were smuggled or trafficked into the country, primarily for sexual
exploitation, and that men may be smuggled or trafficked into the country for
work in the construction industry or agricultural sector. There were no
reliable statistics on the number of possible victims of trafficking in the
country, but the most credible NGOs reported there were fewer than 15
victims. NGOs also reported that traffickers targeted younger women who were
more vulnerable, had little language skill, and no legal status or recourse
and placed them in apartments, where activities were easier to hide. NGOs
reported that traffickers used the Internet to advertise and solicit victims. Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2006 [DOC] [76] While noting the Child Trafficking and Pornography
Act of 1998 and the 2006Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences Bill, the
Committee regrets the lack of specific information on the situation of
children victims of abduction and sale or traffic for any purpose or in any
form. Trafficked
prostitutes not to be deported Women trafficked into Ireland for
prostitution will no longer be deported or jailed on conviction, and will
instead receive treatment and counselling, in a dramatic shift in the
approach aimed at tackling human trafficking. This new approach - which is
already being used in Italy and Portugal - is aimed at encouraging women
trafficked into the state for sexual exploitation to provide assistance in
criminal investigations. The move follows the signing earlier this year of the
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. New
unit to fight human trafficking A new unit, dedicated to
co-ordinating the implemention of a national strategy to tackle human
trafficking, has been set up. Gap
in trafficking supports - report The report found at least 76 women
were trafficked into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation between
2000 and 2006. Most of the women were brought in from eastern Europe, but
others came from Africa, Asia and South America. The report noted that 36 of the women have
had no recent contact with support agencies.
Twelve remain in the Irish asylum system, and 10 were granted leave to
stay in Ireland or were given refugee status. Trafficking
task force targets child sex trade Children who are forced to work as
prostitutes or in the illegal labour market will be the top priority of the
joint Irish/British crackdown on human trafficking launched last week - htcp Report
highlights human trafficking An organisation working with
prostitutes says it is dealing with more and more women who have been
trafficked into Ireland for prostitution.
Ruhama says it knows of 216 women that have been brought to Ireland in
the last seven years for that purpose. Ireland
named as major route for child trafficking Ireland has been pinpointed as a
major route for trafficking children doomed to a life of slavery or
prostitution in Britain. An official
report from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) explicitly names Ireland as a
route for bringing illicit human cargo into the UK. Investigation
into human trafficking A major new study has been
commissioned to determine the scale of illegal trafficking into Ireland. The
research has been commissioned in the wake of the shocking revelation that
children are routinely smuggled through Rosslare Harbour. In a BBC report, an undercover journalist
filmed a Bulgarian criminal as he confessed to regularly using the Wexford port
to traffic women and children into Britain.
Most end up working in the sex trade when they reach their final
destination. The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) hopes that the new study
will help authorities to understand the best way to help women and children
who are brought to Ireland to be sexually exploited. Ireland
a gateway for child smuggling: BBC Ireland is being used as a gateway
to smuggle children from Bulgaria to Britain, according to claims made in an
expose on child trafficking. A member of an organised criminal
gang in Bulgaria told BBC News that their preferred route to smuggle children
was across land through France and Ireland. The incoming government must act
quickly to criminalise human trafficking and to protect the victims of this
trade. The latest Trafficking in
Persons (TIP) Report produced by the US State Department reveals that during
2006 “Zambian girls were trafficked to Ireland for commercial sexual
exploitation”. It also states that men and women from Latvia were trafficked
to Ireland and the UK “for the purpose of forced labour.” Commission
launches probe into human trafficking The Human Rights Commission on
both sides of the border have set up a joint initiative to investigate the
extent of human trafficking throughout Ireland. The move follows reports from some aid
agencies that forced prostitution is becoming a growing problem in both the
Republic and the North. Amnesty
slams Irish failure to address human trafficking Amnesty International has
criticised Ireland's failure to take adequate measures to address human
trafficking. In its latest annual
report, the human rights organisation says Ireland is the only European
country with no legislation on human trafficking. Ireland
signs EU human-trafficking convention "While instances of
trafficking have been rare to date we cannot assume that this will continue
and in this context it is important to send an appropriate signal of the
Government’s approach.” Today’s
signing will ultimately result in more formalised structures being put in
place which will put safeguarding the human rights of victims to the fore,
while providing greater support for victims as well as putting the
legislative framework in place to prosecute the organised criminal gangs
involved. How to Help Victims of Human Trafficking? http://www.demaz.org/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0056&n=001025&g= IN IRELAND, A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION IS ENGAGED IN LIBERATING STRANGERS FROM WHITE
SLAVERY …
there is an address of the Irish NGO "Ruhama" to victims of this
evil, published on 6 world's popular languages, including Russian. It
includes the statements of the following kind: "We work with women and
for women, dealing with prostitution. Do you feel to be driven into a corner?
Are you lonely? Are you scared? Does anybody threaten you or your relatives?
Have you passports and documents been seized? Are you made to have sex with
others? Trust us and tell about that. Call
018360292 (during working hours).
We shall help you to find a way out. We shall help you to find a refuge. We
shall listen to you and support you in confidence and without pressure". Irish bishops
condemn human trafficking The Irish bishops urge their
government to ratify international conventions against human trafficking,
extend protection to victims, and cooperate in efforts to abolish "this
modern form of slavery." The Protection Project - Ireland [DOC] FACTORS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRAFFICKING INFRASTRUCTURE - Evidence suggests that organized criminal gangs
are helping international traffickers establish trafficking routes in LEANBH - PROTECTING BEGGING
CHILDREN THE DANGERS OF BEGGING - · Children who are abandoned to beg or forced to beg with parents (sometimes from early infancy) represent a clear-cut child protection issue.· Such children are often deprived of their constitutional right to education. They are exploited, demeaned and have their human dignity assaulted. They are out in all kinds of weather placing their health, physical, emotional and psychological development at risk. Report by Special Rapporteur - 2003 [48] Sale and trafficking of
children for purposes connected to slavery are criminalized under the Slave
Trade Act of 1824 and under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act of 1998
it is an offence to traffic in or abduct children for the purpose of sexual
exploitation. Prostitution itself is not an offence, but soliciting in the streets,
or living off the earnings of another’s prostitution constitutes an
offence. Criminal liability is incurred regardless of the age of
the prostitute or client. The Children’s Act of 2001 provides a framework of
safeguards stipulating how children must be treated in police custody and the
operation and special proceedings of the Children’s Court. Irish Refugee Council - Draft Information Note on Human Trafficking THE IRISH CONTEXT - INVESTIGATION - In Ireland neither the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking Act) 2000 nor the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 has ever resulted in a successful prosecution for the crime of trafficking, though individuals have been arrested and charged. This is in contrast to other countries which have had successful prosecutions. There were approximately 7,000 prosecutions in some 20 countries and 3,000 convictions. Unfortunately many countries, including Ireland, do not have strong legislation to allow for successful convictions Campaign bids to highlight human trafficking The severity of human trafficking will
be in the spotlight today at the launch of a nationwide publicity
campaign. Despite Ireland's being
ranked as a low-risk destination for victims, the initiative is expected to
heighten awareness among local communities of the effects of the horrifying
crime. The programme, spearheaded by
the Gardaí in conjunction with Crimestoppers, will mirror an operation which
brought police forces and other agencies in the UK together to tackle the
growing problem of the trafficking. Human
Rights Commission welcomes initiative on combating human trafficking in
Ireland The extent of this problem in Ireland - First
Counter-Trafficking Information Campaign IOM has welcomed the launch of the
first information campaign in Minister McDowell publishes report on human trafficking The Minister also participated in the launch of the Crimestoppers campaign on trafficking in human beings. Posters will be displayed at airports, ports, bus and railway stations, among other places. The posters will advertise a free phone helpline - 1800 25 00 25 - and anyone who rings the number can be assured that their call is anonymous, safe and free. Coveney
highlights trafficking in debate on Human Rights Report EU
Human trafficking law to combat exploitation The Framework Decision will
impose strict penalties, including a possible eight-year prison term, on
anyone involved in the recruitment, transportation and harboring of people
when there is: force, coercion or threat, including abduction, deceit or
fraud, abuse of people's vulnerability, payments given to someone who has
authority over a victim. The document
will also create new crimes where the trafficking is with the purpose of:
using the person's labor, including forced or compulsory labor, slavery or
servitude involving the person in prostitution
and other forms of sexual exploitation, including pornography. Freedom
House Country Report - Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Status: Free Human Rights Overview by Human
Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide All material used herein
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Human Trafficking in [Ireland Street Children in [Ireland] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Ireland] [other countries]