In this newsletter………..see our report on the Cross Border Trafficking Forum, View photos from the Police
World Games, NGO updates and the Latest from the EU Anti-Trafficking website
ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT
NEWSLETTER 4
October 2013
EU ANTI TRAFFICKING DAY 18TH OCTOBER
IN THE NEWS
Since our last issue. . . .
Recent PQ’s
To view recent
Parliamentary
Questions about
human trafficking
click the following
links.
http://www.oireachta
s.ie/documents/op/S
ep13/Questions/pq24
0913.pdf
Cross Border Human Trafficking Forum
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CSPE packs for
schools
AHTU published a
notice on their FB
page for schools to
Pictured Minister Shatter and Minister Ford with some speakers from the forum.
contact them if they
require CSPE packs
for their Human
Rights studies.
***
Presentations
AHTU made
presentations to the
following:
Representatives from a wide range of State, Non-Governmental and
International Organisations from both sides of the border and from
countries including the United States of America, Norway, Scotland
and the UK participated in the Forum. A key aim of the event, which
was held to coincide with EU Anti - Trafficking Day (18 October) ,
was to develop stronger partnerships and to allow all the organisations
involved learn from each other.
Speakers at the event included Professor Siobhán Mullally – Professor
of Law UCC and member of GRETA, Chief Supt John O’Driscoll,
GNIB, D/Supt Phillip Marshall PSNI and Sarah Benson Ruhama.
John Kelly from the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA)
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and Khara Glackin from the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme
(STEP) also spoke at the Forum.
British-Irish
Parliamentary
Assembly
Evangelical
The day involved workshops addressing questions on the location and
identification of victims and on demand reduction measures for the
various forms of trafficking. The discussions in the workshops were
lively and informative with participants sharing their practical
experience and exchanging information on best practice and the
challenges faced in the different jurisdictions represented. Key
action points from each workshop were reported back to the Forum.
Academy, Bad
Boll. Germany
DIT Final year
Social Care
Students
UCD Belfield
Second year
Master students
of Social Work
***
Awareness Raising
If you are raising
Pictured above at the Cross Border Human Trafficking Forum: L to R. Nush Yonkova,
Immigrant Council of Ireland, Amaka Okonkwo, Akiwda, Patricia Stapleton, Doras
Lumíni, and David Gilbride, Anti Human Trafficking Unit.
awareness of Human
***
Trafficking.....
AHTU have a range
GRETA Report
of accordion leaflets,
Minister Shatter welcomed the Publication of the report by the
Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in
Human Beings (GRETA) which concerned the implementation by
Ireland of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against
Trafficking in Human Beings.
pens, keyrings and
posters available.
Please contact
ahtudivision
@justice.ie with the
name of your
organisation and the
quantity you require.
This report followed a country visit by members of GRETA to Ireland
in late 2012; the process involved a series of comprehensive meetings
between GRETA, the Irish authorities and representatives of civil
society over the course of a week.
The full report including Ireland’s response can be seen at
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/trafficking/default_en.asp.
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In April 2011 the EU adopted Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating
trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, replacing Framework Decision
2002/629/JHA. Member States had two years in which to transpose this Directive. Earlier
this year DOJ&E formally notified the EU Commission that it has fully transposed this
Directive.
***
Below: Irish team at the World Police & Fire Games 2013 wearing "Stop Human Trafficking" jersey and raising awareness of the
Blue Blindfold Campaign
Members of An Garda Síochána, Irish Prison Service and Dublin Fire Brigade competed in
field hockey at the World Police & Fire Games 2013 in Belfast on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of
August. They chose to promote an awareness of human trafficking by wearing the message
‘STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING’ on their jerseys. At the end of each of their games they
presented tee shirts sporting the Human Trafficking logo to other teams from around the
globe. The team had the support of the Irish Hockey Association who put a link to
www.blueblindfold.gov.ie on their website.
The team won the bronze medal and did us all proud.
Irish team member at the World Police & Fire Games 2013 wearing "Stop Human Trafficking" jersey
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UPDATES FROM NGOs
Since our last issue. . . .
L to R: Greg Heylin (Victims of Crime Office Director); Maria McDonald BL (author of guide) and Mark
Kelly JUSTICIA Consortium Leader and ICCL Director
Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
The Victims’ Directive is a brand new piece of EU-level legislation that protects victims of
crime and was adopted at European level on 15 November 2012. The Directive must be
implemented by all EU Member States by 16 November 2015 at the latest. On Monday 23
September the legislative action that the Government must take was highlighted at a launch
in Dublin's Law Society of the JUSTICIA European Rights Network's comprehensive guide
entitled 'Know Your Rights Guide on the Victims' Directive'. The JUSTICIA Network was
delighted to welcome Greg Heylin, Director, Victims of Crime Office, to officially launch
the publication, as well as Maria McDonald BL, author of the Guide itself. Speaking at the
launch, ICCL Director and JUSTICIA Consortium Leader, Mr. Mark Kelly, said:
"Respecting the human rights of victims, without undermining the core procedural rights of
people suspected of crimes, is a cornerstone of a fair criminal justice system.”
Doras Luimní
To mark EU Anti-Trafficking day 2013 Doras Luimní will host a screening of the featurelength documentary by Mimi Chakarova, ‘The Price of Sex’, on Thursday the 17th of
October at 7pm in the Locke Bar, Georges Quay, Limerick. This documentary depicts the
harrowing stories of young Eastern European women who have been drawn into the world
of sex trafficking and abuse. For further updates please see our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/502409639847914/
Doras Luimní welcomes the first independent evaluation of the Irish anti-trafficking
framework by the Council of Europe’s expert group, GRETA saying “we share the groups
concerns regarding the lack of criminal convictions of traffickers in Ireland. As recently
evidenced in Limerick, pimps and traffickers are vastly under-represented in terms of
prosecutions for organisation of prostitution in the city. We welcome the chance to work
more closely with state agencies to help identify victims of trafficking in Ireland, as per
GRETA’s recommendations”.
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Immigrant Council of Ireland founder, St Stan, Chief Executive Denise Charlton, Author Rachel Moran and Former
Tánaiste Mary Harney unite against trafficking for exploitation at the Annual Mothers and Daughters Lunch at Dublin’s
Mansion House.
Mothers and Daughters Unite Against Sex Trafficking
Over 200 women from Irish media, business, politics, sport, the arts and every other area of
Irish life gave their support to the annual Mothers and Daughters Lunch in Dublin to
support the anti-trafficking work of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council has provided support to 50 victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and is
one of the founding members of the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign.
The guest speakers were former Tánaiste Mary Harney and author of ‘Paid For’ Rachel
Moran, both received standing ovations.
Immigrant Council Chief Executive, Denise Charlton, told those attending that a key
milestone had been reached in Ireland’s response to trafficking, with the publication of the
Oireachtas Justice Committee report which unanimously backed laws targeting demand, or
the buyers of sex.
The Immigrant Council is stepping up its efforts to have the recommendations implemented
by mobilising supporters across the country to email TDs and by staging social media
THUNDERCLAPS whereby people are asked to donate a Tweet or Facebook post to the
campaign.
Full details are available at www.immigrantcouncil.ie
Latest from the EU
Guidelines on identification of victims
The Commission published this Reference document on the Guidelines for the identification of
victims of trafficking in human beings especially for border guards and consular services. The
document provides for a list of indicative guidelines, refers to the existing handbooks and manuals
and lists the projects on the identification of victims and thus encourage their systematic use.
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/EU+Policy/Guidelines_identification_victims
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The EU rights of victims of trafficking now available in all European languages
This document provides a practical and comprehensive overview of victims' rights based on the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, EU directives, framework decisions and
European Court of Human Rights case law.
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/EU+Policy/EU_rights_victims
Trafficking in Human Beings and Gender – the EU Perspective
In September 2013 EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom delivered a statement at
the Ministerial Roundtable concluding the Inter – Ministerial conference: “The New York
Convention 65 years later; observations and new perpespectives”.
In her speech Commissioner Malmström stressed that human trafficking is a gross human rights
violation. She highlighted that trafficking of women and girls is a form of violence against women,
which is rooted in gender inequalities and in sex discrimination. Commissioner Malmström stressed
that it is crucial that all EU Member States transpose the EU Human Trafficking Directive, and
make sure its provisions are fully implemented.
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/EU+Policy/THB_Gender_EU_Perspective
This newsletter includes links to material and sources and is provided by way of information. The information and
opinions included are not necessarily endorsed or supported by the department of Justice and Equality.
Copyright 2013 Department of Justice & Equality.
All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: AHTU@justie.ie
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