Topic:
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Anna Preston
Country: Ireland
Topic: Human Trafficking
Committee: SOCHUM
Delegate: Anna Preston
School: Williamston High School
1 in 3 victims of human trafficking is a child, 7/10 are women. According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP) by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), children are twice as likely as adults to face violence during trafficking. The UNODC also estimates that there are over 24.9 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time. Human trafficking includes forced labour, crime, begging, illegal adoption, sexual abuse. The factors that impact human trafficking include poverty, dysfunctional families, as well as immigration with minors being unaccompanied as well as homeless. Trafficking networks operate both domestically and internationally, often using weak border security and legal systems. Victims are transported across borders or within countries to locations where they can be exploited.
UN treaties relating to human trafficking that Ireland has signed include; The Protocol to Prevent Suppress and Punish Trafficking in PersonsEspecially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Signed in 2000 and a ratification in 2010 for Ireland, which aimed to prevent and punish human traffickers. Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 signed into law which puts an identification and support process for victims of trafficking into legislation in Ireland. In 2008, Ireland was one of many destination countries for women, men, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated that there are 8,000 victims in Ireland. However, between 2015 and 2019, An Garda Síochána only identified 293 adult victims of human trafficking and 25 child victims of human trafficking. These victims typically come from Nigeria, Romania, Albania and Kenya. Ireland established a specific human trafficking law entitled the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, which was amended by the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking)(Amendment) Act 2013. The Irish Government, in its Second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking in Ireland 2016, recognised human trafficking as a complex issue that involves a diverse range of victims and circumstances.
Ireland has been actively working to combat the atrocities of human trafficking both within the country as well as globally. Ireland’s approach is with legislative measures, victim support, and international cooperation. Ireland is dedicated to implementing anti-trafficking laws and having a special force in the police force to help give specialized services for human trafficking victims. This includes giving legal aid, healthcare, and shelter. Ireland as well focuses on media to educate citizens about the dangers of trafficking, how to get help if you are a victim and how to avoid being trafficked as well. Internationally Ireland is a participant in the European Union’s anti- trafficking efforts. Ireland is also a participant in the United Nations and supports global frameworks for anti trafficking subjects, such as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Ireland would like to ally with other members of the European Union to fight against Human Trafficking . This includes; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
