Sligo conference addresses human trafficking

The issues of human trafficking and the sex industry are being addressed at an event in Sligo today.

Labour Women are hosting the conference in the Glasshouse Hotel this afternoon.

Last weekend Ireland was listed for the first time by the US State Department as a destination country for victims of human trafficking.

Speaking ahead of the event, Sligo Councillor Veronica Cawley, said it is a nationwide problem.

"We've had a case in Sligo two years ago where there was a 17-year-old girl from West Africa, being used in the sex industry," Ms Cawley said,

"And it turned out that she had been trafficking from Africa solely for this purpose."

Labour Women wants the government to introduce stronger legislation to ensure that the organisers behind the sex trade are prosecuted, and the victims are protected.