Cork Stop Sex Trafficking welcomes the launch of Anti Trafficking Unit in the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform. Click here for press release
The Criminal Law (Human
Trafficking)
Bill has
finally
been published.
Read the
full text
of the Cork
Stop Sex
Trafficking
Campaign's
press release
below:
15th October 2007
PUBLICATION OF THE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
BILL
The Cork Stop Sex Trafficking
Campaign
welcomes
the publication
of the Human
Trafficking
Bill. This
legislation,
if enacted,
will bring
Ireland's
legislation
in line
with other
European
States.
In particular,
we welcome
the extended
provisions
on prosecution
of Child
Trafficking
Offences.
The guarantee of anonymity
for victims
of trafficking
in trials
is welcome.
This provides
an important
protection
against
further
victimisation
and abuse.
It is disappointing
that there
are no other
references
to the rights
of victims
in the Bill.
We note
and welcome
the Minister's
intention
to strengthen
protection
of victims
in the forthcoming
Immigration
Residence
and Protection
Bill. However,
it would
have been
preferable
to include
these provisions
in a dedicated
Human Trafficking
Bill. Effective
law enforcement
requires
victim protection,
as the Minister
himself
recognised,
to ensure
that victims
will come
forward
and give
evidence
to law enforcement
bodies.
Trafficking is not
only a law
enforcement
issue but
a human
rights problem.
Victims
of trafficking
require
protection.
Expansion
of law enforcement
powers should
go hand
in hand
with victim
protection.
Mary Crilly
Stop Sex Trafficking
Campaign
- Sexual
Violence
Centre Cork
In June 2006, University College Cork (Ireland) hosted a conference to highlight the issue of sex trafficking, an international phenomenon involving the transnational movement of women and young people into forced prostitution. The conference was widely attended by service providers, voluntary and community organizations, academics, students, religieuse, politicians and Gardai. As a result of the issues raised at the conference and a keen interest among participants to raise awareness in Cork, a campaign was initiated to STOP sex trafficking.
UCC CONFERENCE JUNE 2006
Speakers: Dr. Sandra McAvoy, UCC; Mary Crilly, Sexual Violence Centre Cork; Simon Coveney, MEP; Dr Eilis Ward, NUIG; John O'Reilly, Garda Inspector; Dr. Joanna McMinn, NWCI; Kathleen Fahy, Ruhama
Since the conference in June the group has met regularly to develop a campaign to STOP Sex trafficking. The focus of the campaign is on lobbying for changes to the Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 and raising public awareness on the issues surrounding trafficking in Ireland and Cork in particular.
Many believe that sex trafficking does not happen in Ireland. It is difficult to get access to the actual number of people trafficked due to the secret and underground nature of illegal activity and the understandable reluctance of victims to come forward. However, Cork in particular, has been identified as a popular transit region for traffickers and evidence from service providers indicates that the sex trade is thriving. According to the Irish Refugee Council, over 300 unaccompanied children arriving in Ireland have gone missing and of which many are feared to have fallen prey to traffickers. Raising public awareness on trafficking is crucial to understanding the true scope of the problem. During the 16 Days of Action Against Gender Violence (November 25 - December 10) the group was involved in highlighting the issue of sex trafficking around Cork. The Campaign is also collecting signatures for a petition to the Minister of Justice to protect victims of trafficking in legislation. Click here to sign the petition
News
17th May 2008 - Conference on Child Trafficking UCC - Organise by Dept. of Applied Social Studies.
Shirley Martin Applied Social Studies UCC.
Mary Crilly and students from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal
Panel of speakers at Child Trafficking Conference.
Marion Walsh, Head of the Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Dept. of Justice and Law Reform.
Congratulations to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, who came joint second in the Young Social Innovator Competition in Dublin. Their project highlights Sex Trafficking. Click here to visit their website
Flesh the play will be on in St. Johns Theatre in Listowel on Friday 23rd May. Flesh has played to full houses in Cork and Dublin. Book Early.
Marion Walsh Exexutive Director Anti Human Trafficking Unit and Mick Quinn Assistant Principal Officer Dept Justice Equality and Law Reform meeting with menbers of the Stop Sex Trafficking Campaign.
Symone and Richard from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal showing their bebo site which has information on Sex Trafficking.
Sex Trafficking Play - Firkin Crane January 2008
Mary Crilly with cast members and students from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Blarney at the performance of Flesh at the Firkin Crane Theathre Cork.
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Blarney - highlighting the issues of Sex Trafficking
Amnesty International Human Trafficking Debate - Ucc 19th November 2007
Trafficking
in Human Beings
- Public Consultation
- In conjunction
with the Criminal
Law (Human
Trafficking)
Bill, the
Minister for
Justice, Equality
and Law Reform
has announced
the development
of a National
Action Plan
which will
lead to Irish
ratification
of the Council
of Europe
Convention
on Action
Against Trafficking
in Human Beings.
The public's
views are
being sought
on what should
be included
in the National
Action Plan.
Submissions
are invited
before 30th
November 2007.
Contact the
Department
of Justice for
further details.
An
important report
on the Trafficking
of Women
into Ireland, published
by Dr Eilis
Ward and
Dr Gillian
Wylie
in October
2007, finds
evidence
that more
than 75 women
have been
trafficked into Ireland
to work
in the sex
industry between
2000 and
2006. Access
the report here
Criminal
Law (Human
Trafficking) Bill -
read the full
text of the
Department
of Justice's
press release
here
Common
Ground - The
Campaign took
the Stop Sex
Trafficking
message to secondary
schools in Cork
city and county
over the three
days of the
second annual
Common Ground
exhibition.
Bishops of
Cork and Kerry
support Campaign
- Bishop
Buckley and
Bishop Murphy
have invited
the priests
of Cork and
Kerry to highlight
the issue
of Sex Trafficking
in masses
on Sunday
15 th July
2007. The
Gospel for that day
is the Good Samaritan.
An outline
of a homily has been
forwarded to all parishes.
Presently we are making
contact with Bishops
around the country
in order to gain support
for the campaign.
Suggested
reflections for the
celebration of the
Eucharist in all parishes
of the Diocese of Cork
on Sunday, 15 th July
2007: Click Here
Sign
the online petition
to the Minister
of Justice to
amend the Criminal
Law (Trafficking
in Persons and Sexual
Offences) Bill 2006 to
include protection
for victims. Click here to
sign the petition
Date
for your diary
- July 3rd to
July 5th - European
Slave Trade:
Character, Causes
and Challenges
- Trinity College
Dublin - A major
conference to
mark the 200th
anniversary
of the abolition
of the slave
trade. Click
here for
further details.
April
23rd - the National
Women's Council
Of Ireland
hosted a
meeting with
candidates in
the General
Election. Members
of the campaign
went along to
high the issue
of sex trafficking.
March
8th - INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY
- campaigners
from Cork, Mallow
and Tralee took
to the streets
to collect signatures
for the STOP
SEX TRAFFICKING
petition.
A major
conference took
place in Tralee,
Co Kerry, on
January 27th
to launch a
Kerry campaign
against sex
trafficking.
Members
of the campaign
met with senior
Gardai and member
of the Garda
National Immigration
Bureau in January
2007.
Days
of Action Against Gender
Violence took place this
year from the 25th November
to 10th December. The
Campaign took to the
streets collecting signatures
for the peition to the
Minister of Justice and
raising public awareness
of the problem of sex
trafficking. We will
continue to collect signatures
and protest until the
legislation reflects
the needs of victims
in legislation. Click here to
sign the petition and
if you or your organisation
would like to get involved
with the campaign please
contact Mary Crilly.
Human Trafficking: Modern Slavery? Conference Saturday 25TH November 2006 10.15 am - 1.30 pm
Green Hall, Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. Click here for speakers
Cork TDs Noel O'Flynn, Dan Boyle and Kathleen Lynch present their views on the Trafficking Bill at the meeting held November 13 7:30pm at the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.
Mary Crilly, Dr. Sandra McAvoy and Dr. Siobhan Mullally meet with Labour TDs to discuss the group's submission on the Trafficking Bill 2006 to include amendments for the protection of victims.
Submission to Minister of Justice regarding Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill 2006. Click here for full text
