#Human Trafficking

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#Human Trafficking

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence, and International Instruments) Bill 2025 was originally intended to include the three key aspects of exploitation. Stock picture: Alamy</p>

news

Ireland misses deadline to expand human trafficking laws

Forced marriage, surrogacy exploitation, and illegal adoption should have been recognised as exploitation, according to advocates

<p>There were 18 children identified as victims of human trafficking in Ireland last year. They are among 38 children who have been identified as victims of the crime here since 2024.</p>

spotlight

Parents in Southeast Asia bring their children to be sexually abused for 'paying customers' in Ireland

<p>The outgoing UN special rapporteur on human trafficking Siobhán Mullally, professor in human rights law and director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway. Picture: University of Galway</p>

news

State's failure to tackle human trafficking akin to accepting 'concreting over burial remains in Bessborough'

Young women sitting in dark room feeling pain with life problem. suffering from husband violence, Stop violence against and se

politics

Trafficked women are forced to have sex in brothels 'in every town in Ireland'

Teen woman with headache holding her head

news

Child trafficking: 'Alarming' that children can travel into Ireland without correct checks in place

Child abuse concept, silhouette of child confined in a dark room, prisoner or child abduction, child abuse human trafficking.

news

Children aged six trafficked into criminality as issue 'largely ignored' by State

Model scout for Jeffrey Epstein found dead at his home near Paris

Model scout for Jeffrey Epstein found dead at his home near Paris

Daniel Siad faced allegations of rape and trafficking in France and appeared in more than 1,000 documents in Epstein files

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

TO MATCH BC-SWEDEN-PROSTITUTION.

Nine brothels inspected in Cork as part of human trafficking crackdown

Ireland was involved in an annual international anti-human trafficking operation with Europol and other international partners

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Chinese Peasants Looking For A Better Life In The Cities

Irish Examiner view: Culpability extends to exploitative customers

ur outrage must also extend to the people whose money, indifference, or wilful ignorance make trafficking worthwhile

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Tate Brothers

Lawyer for Andrew and Tristan Tate vows to fight their extradition to UK

Joe McBride raised possibility of US president Donald Trump intervening in the extradition proceedings, arguing 'he was elected to fight against this kind of nonsense'

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

a woman sitting on ground with arm around lower head, sexual violence , sexual abuse, human trafficking concept

Victims forced into sexual exploitation within 24 hours of arriving in Ireland, gardaí say

Brazil is the most active country in human trafficking in Ireland and women are often providing sexual services within 24 hours of arrival

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Teenage mental health stock

Cork arrest of man wanted in Germany linked to major international human trafficking crackdown

Some 1,024 arrests were made globally as part of Operation Global Chain

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

view of a child victim of child abuse in his room

Alleged child kidnapper arrested in Cork massage parlour

A man wanted in Germany for child kidnapping, illegal restraint and hostage taking was arrested by gardaí at a Cork massage parlour, gardaí have confirmed.

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Our navy's work in the Mediterranean shows importance of triple lock

Our navy's work in the Mediterranean shows importance of triple lock

Ireland has gone from saving thousands of lives at sea, to participating in missions that aid human rights violations, to new laws that will permit troop deployment to hostile military missions

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Trump Bondi

Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general, White House official says

Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi was not moving ‌quickly enough to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Late Late Show talking points, including Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips calling for Irish investigation

Late Late Show talking points, including Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips calling for Irish investigation

Plus, Dancing with the Stars reaches a milestone episode, and Dominic Cooper reflects on the beauty of Donegal

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Justice Department Jeffrey Epstein

Epstein estate agrees to $35m settlement in victim class action

Settlement would provide 'a confidential avenue for financial relief' for Epstein victims who have not already resolved claims against the estate

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Aylsham Police Station amid a report of an arrest in Aylsham

'Uncharted territory': British monarchy faces existential risk after Andrew arrest

As bad as the arrest is for the former prince, author Andrew Lownie thinks there is now an existential risk to the House of Windsor and the monarchy itself

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

King Charles says ‘law must take its course’ as brother Andrew taken into custody

It is understood neither the king nor Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Over the shoulder view of a child using a smartphone in a home environment

Group suggests Tusla use tracking devices on phones of children at risk of trafficking

Some members of the Children’s Rights Alliance also 'believe the lack of action by Tusla is linked to the shortage of available care placements'

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Every abuse story has the same dynamic — power vs vulnerability

Every abuse story has the same dynamic — power vs vulnerability

While we talk about Epstein and the powerful men in his orbit it's easy to forget this abuse is happening all over society, all the time, writes Niamh Ní Dhomhnaill

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Peter Mandelson - Jeffrey Epstein comment

S Terry Prone: Epstein fallout exposes Starmer as the weak leader he has always been

When the Epstein files showed Petey for what he was, the dimwit in Downing Street complained bitterly that Petey had lied to him. Imagine. Shock, horror

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Good Friday Agreement 25th Anniversary

Former US senator George Mitchell reiterates Epstein denials as university severs ties

A statement said: 'At no time did Senator Mitchell observe, suspect, or have any knowledge of Epstein engaging in illegal or inappropriate conduct with underage women. '

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Justice Department Jeffrey Epstein

ieExplains: What have we learned from the newly released Epstein files?

Latest documents indicate high-profile figures continued friendships with financier after child sex abuse convictions

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Upset girl on her smartphone in the dark.

'Trafficking victims in Cork don't come forward for fear of court or deportation'

'All we need is your age and first name': Sexual assault treatment unit specialist encourages trafficking victims who may have been sexually assaulted to come forward

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Street prostitute of Eastern Europe

Gardaí arrest four in joint human trafficking operation with police from Brazil and Europol

Gardaí searched four locations in Dublin on Wednesday morning, in conjunction with simultaneous searches taking place in Brazil

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Emergency national alert system

Vulnerable people in the North or near the Border warned of phone alert test

People such as victims of human trafficking or domestic abuse who have 'secret' phones are being warned to silence their phone ahead of Sunday's UK-wide alert test

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Gardaí inspect 92 brothels as part of major operation targeting human trafficking

Gardaí inspect 92 brothels as part of major operation targeting human trafficking

Also, As part of the major operation, 37 flights were monitored at Dublin Airport

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

silhouette of depress woman standing in the dark with light shine behind

New Cork/Kerry centre 'has met dozens of migrants trafficked for sexual exploitation'

As it formally launches its Cork and Kerry service, Ruhama says it has already dealt with 80 alleged victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the region

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

France Kardashian Heist

Sarah Harte: The murky international surrogacy racket needs to be spotlighted

We must reconcile an adult's desire to have children with the rights of those children or we risk repeating mistakes of the past

Wed, 28 May, 2025

trafficking

Tusla and Department of Children to meet with gardaí on new system to identify trafficking victims

It is expected rollout of new referral mechanism will lead to an increase in the number of children and adults identified by frontline workers

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Teenage mental health stock

Advocacy group working to prevent child trafficking seeks meeting with children's minister

Mecpaths said it was 'the first time that we have seen any willingness from this department to talk about the issue'

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

Sad girl in hooded top, sitting on a window ledge with head in hands in despair

'Any child can be vulnerable to trafficking in Ireland'

Advocacy group Mecpaths warns of low detection rates of child sexual and criminal exploitation

Sun, 16 Feb, 2025

Commission finds Ireland's low rate of identification of child trafficking victims 'concerning'

Commission finds Ireland's low rate of identification of child trafficking victims 'concerning'

Currently, only gardaí can identify victims of human trafficking, although guidelines are being drawn up for a new mechanism to allow other frontline agencies to identify victims

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

INTERPOL Operation Liberterra II

Figures on human trafficking victims 'a considerable underestimate of the true number'

Advocates believe actual figures of victims in Ireland is much higher than numbers contained in UN report because currently, only gardaí can identify victims

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

trafficking

People have been trafficked into Ireland for removal of their organs for transplants, new report finds

Traffickers profit through the sale of organs to people who are 'unable or unwilling to wait for legal transplants', with kidneys the most harvested organs, according to UN report

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Stealing from a credit card

Irish Examiner view: Sex traffickers operating in plain sight

SERP’s report should make us reconsider what is and what is not acceptable in a decent society

Fri, 27 Sep, 2024

Nostalgic shadow

Sex websites 'are facilitating exploitation of women by pimps and traffickers'

SERP notes 'definitive indications of exploitation' on one website and says 'we have previously identified that victims of trafficking have been advertised on it'

Thu, 26 Sep, 2024

Ireland experiencing 'epidemic' of domestic and gender-based violence

Ireland experiencing 'epidemic' of domestic and gender-based violence

Helen McEntee says a long-awaited review of 2017 sexual offences legislation, which made paying for sexual services a criminal offence, should be ready within weeks

Fri, 20 Sep, 2024

Sex trafficking support charity reports 30% spike in demand for services

Sex trafficking support charity reports 30% spike in demand for services

Some 108 people accessed Ruhama’s trauma and counselling service in 2023 for healing and recovery from sexual violence — a 31% rise on the previous year

Thu, 19 Sep, 2024

Girl covering her eyes with her hands

System allows child trafficking victims in Ireland to go undetected, warns human rights agency

Children have accounted for 8% of all identified victims of trafficking in Ireland in the past 11 years

Wed, 18 Sep, 2024

trafficking

State 'failing to protect' victims of child trafficking

"It is critical that people are aware that child trafficking is happening in Ireland, and be aware of how to report any suspicions," said Mecpaths education manager Ann Mara.

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

trafficking

Sex trade myths encouraging trafficking of children

The perception these crimes only happen in faraway lands is a myth — they are happening right here in Ireland

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

Sad girl in hooded top, sitting on a window ledge with head in hands in despair

‘Number of children being trafficked here is underestimated’

Last year, the UK identified 7,000 child trafficking victims; Ireland identified just five. MECPATHS wants more education about the crime and reform of the way it is detected

Mon, 29 Jul, 2024

Woman suffering from depression

Government urged to fast-track guidelines for identification of human trafficking victims

Under new mechanism, State agencies and NGOs will be involved in the formal recognition of victims

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

a woman sitting on ground with arm around lower head, sexual violence , sexual abuse, human trafficking concept

Finally making progress on tackling crime of human trafficking

The roll out of national reporting mechanism is a key step in appeasing the critics of the Republic’s progress on tackling human trafficking at a time of massive movement of people across the globe

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Human trafficking prosecution 'just tip of the iceberg', says McEntee

Human trafficking prosecution 'just tip of the iceberg', says McEntee

Minister Helen McEntee was speaking in Cork at the two-day Senior Leadership Summit on Collectively Combatting Human Trafficking Conference

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Woman suffering from depression

Human trafficking victims living in 'highly unsuitable' direct provision accommodation, charity says

Ruhama calls for pilot scheme in Dublin of accommodation provided specifically for victims of international trafficking to be rolled out across the country

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Britain is top destination for human trafficking

US calls on Ireland to improve identification of victims of human trafficking

The report comes as a large-scale joint operation against human trafficking has led to 219 arrests

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Ireland stock

Justice department pushes for sexual offences legislation reform ahead of summer recess

The sole agency which can currently identify victims of human trafficking is An Garda Síochána, but this will change under the new legislation

Tue, 18 Jun, 2024