People are being trafficked all around us — it's time to act

To tackle human trafficking, we must target demand, use technological investigation tools, law reform, and increased prevention and detection methods

Victims of trafficking who are coerced into crime and slavery can be prosecuted for crimes they were made commit as result of their trafficking. And this stops victims coming forward to report human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a uniquely brutal crime, requiring a specific State response. It happens all around us, in our big cities, and our small towns, with victims often in plain sight. Agriculture, hospitality, and fishing industries, domestic work, and nail, hair and beauty salons are high-risk work settings for labour exploitation.

It’s a profitable crime, funding and fuelling broader criminal, and sometimes terrorist, activity. And it’s unfortunately an area where criminals can often expect to evade prosecution. If we can build a picture of how and where human trafficking is happening in Ireland, and then fix gaps in the national laws and practices that identify and support victims, as well as prosecute traffickers, we will spare future victims and send a clear signal to those who traffick people that they cannot act with impunity in our country.