The Human Rights Commission warmly welcomes the initiative of An Garda Síochána and Crimestoppers in highlighting the incidence of human trafficking in Ireland and alerting us to the potential for such abuse to increase.
"Trafficking in human beings constitutes one of the most severe violations of human rights in the world today. It has been identified as a contemporary form of slavery. This issue has been highlighted for some time by the Irish Human Rights Commission and in that context we endorse the measures announced today and see it as the first step of a campaign which deserves widespread public support" stated the President of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Maurice Manning.
"The alerting of public awareness to this form of abuse of human rights is a positive proactive response from An Gardaí and Crimestoppers which the Human Rights Commission welcomes. The extent of this problem in Ireland is largely unknown as there is inadequate research into the phenomenon and because it lacks visibility. However, it appears that there is an increased incidence of human trafficking and in particular in the volume of women being trafficked into the country for sex industry. An initiative which serves to build awareness and vigilance is a positive development" said Dr. Manning.
"It is very important that official recognition should be given to the fact that trafficking is not just an issue of law enforcement, but also, that it’s a human rights issue. Trafficking is an atrocious violation of human rights. It involves the forcible movement of very vulnerable people – who are ensnared and tricked – into the sex industry, into domestic servitude or into other forms of forced labour. It must be recognised as fundamentally an issue of human rights before any meaningful progress can be made in the fight against trafficking" concluded Dr. Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission.
For further information, please contact:
Mary Ruddy
Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer
Irish Human Rights Commission.
Jervis House,
Jervis Street,
Dublin 1.
Tel. 01 8589 601
Mobile: 087 2400695
E-mail: info@ihrc.ie
Website : http://www.ihrc.ie