Human trafficking remains a pressing issue in Ireland, affecting both the north and south of the country. According to a 2023 report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, women account for 67% of people trafficked into Ireland. The most common form of trafficking is for sexual exploitation, making up 55% of cases, followed by labor trafficking at 38%. These statistics highlight the severity of the problem and the urgent need for action.
The United States State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report, published on June 24, 2023, designated Ireland as a Tier 2 country in trafficking. This classification indicates that while the Irish government is making efforts to combat trafficking, it does not fully meet the minimum standards set by the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Until 2018, Ireland had maintained the highest rank of Tier 1, making this downgrade a cause for concern among policymakers and activists.
Despite the downgrade, the Irish government has shown some progress in addressing human trafficking. The U.S. State Department acknowledged that Ireland has adopted efforts to guide national-level trafficking coordination, opened its first specialized trafficking shelter for women, and increased funding for victim assistance and awareness-raising activities. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in the areas of prosecution and victim support.
The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference has taken a strong stance against human trafficking, declaring it "wrong, illegal, and sinful." The bishops have called for greater cooperation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to address the issue, especially in light of increased immigration from Great Britain. They emphasize the need for heightened awareness among the general public, as trafficking often goes unnoticed despite being "hidden in plain sight."
Several organizations are actively working to counter human trafficking in Ireland. Catholic-based groups such as APT, Act to Prevent Trafficking, and Stella Maris Apostleship of the Sea are at the forefront of these efforts. The bishops have encouraged Catholic parishes to play a more active role by educating themselves about the signs of trafficking, raising awareness of available support services, and learning how to respond if they suspect someone has been trafficked into Ireland.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that Ireland has only dealt with "the tip of the iceberg" in terms of human trafficking and modern slavery. Speaking at a Santa Maria conference against modern slavery in Cork, McEntee admitted that the low number of successful prosecutions for human trafficking, just one, with two others pending, represents only a fraction of the actual cases involving people trafficked for the sex trade or exploited as modern slaves in the Irish labor market.
The Irish government faces significant challenges in addressing human trafficking effectively. The U.S. State Department report highlighted several areas requiring improvement, including the need for more convictions under anti-trafficking laws, particularly for labor trafficking. The report also noted the lack of adequate accommodations for trafficking victims and the absence of trafficking-specific training for judges. Additionally, no victims have ever been awarded restitution or compensation, indicating a need for better support systems for those affected by this crime.
