THE GOVERNMENT’S new action plan to combat human trafficking will “create a hostile environment” for those who seek to commit the crime and bring Ireland into line with its international obligations, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has pledged.
The document, published yesterday, sets out measures introduced and identifies areas where further action is needed. Its provisions on victim protection were criticised by advocacy groups.
Key preventative measures include penalties of up to life imprisonment for trafficking of people for labour, sexual exploitation or removal of organs, awareness-raising campaigns and improved data collection.
On the protection of victims, the plan includes a “recovery and reflection” period of 60 days and temporary residence permits where suspected victims co-operate with an investigation or prosecution. It also states accommodation, medical treatment, counselling, legal aid and interpretation should be made available, where necessary, and endorses protecting the identity of suspected victims during criminal proceedings for trafficking offences.
Where children are identified as suspected victims, the State’s main focus will be placing them with families and the practice of housing children in hostels will be brought to an end. A recommendation of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate that an emergency alert system for missing children, similar to the “Amber Alert” in other countries, will be implemented.
Mr Ahern said the structures set out in the plan would bring Ireland into line with its international obligations, allowing for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings and the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
“This plan is a key element in fulfilling this Government’s commitment to tackling trafficking in people – one of the most horrendous crimes worldwide,” the Minister said.
“This plan is designed to ensure that we have a strategy in place which will proactively and comprehensively address this issue. We want to raise awareness of the issue among the general public and put in place the structures required to protect victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Fine Gael immigration spokesman Denis Naughten said he was appalled at plans to place trafficking victims in asylum centres. “This is the wrong place for genuine victims. It has failed to date to provide secure accommodation, healthcare, counselling or legal aid. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence that some victims are actually being groomed in asylum centres,” he said.
Mr Naughten suggested victims should be housed by the Sonas Housing Initiative, which offers accommodation and support to victims of domestic violence.
Ruhama, an organisation that works with women involved in prostitution, said it was important that guidelines and directives on the granting of protection for victims were properly applied.
“We are concerned that victims have to wait long periods of time before the recovery and reflection period is granted,” said Gerardine Rowley of Ruhama.