ICI Anti-Trafficking Project
The trafficking of human beings is a human rights violation , and it is often referred to as the “modern slavery”. Ireland is affected by this problem like every other developed country. In particular , trafficking of migrant women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation has become a major concern across the world and in Ireland.
The ICI has developed a programme of work in response to the issue of human trafficking for sexual exploitation that will includeresearch , policy development , and public awareness , work with service providers , campaigning and advocacy.
Research - a central plank of the research programme is a major project , to be completed by January 2009 , which will:
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document the extent and effects of the sexual exploitation and trafficking of migrant women and children in Ireland
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examine the organisation and operation of the sex industry in Ireland into which women are trafficked and exploited
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develop policy proposals for legislation, national strategic plans and service provision
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highlight how victims can be protected and supported and how prostitution, sexual exploitation and trafficking can be prevented
See research terms of reference and advisory committee members pdfs below.
The research will:
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collect data on the nature and causes of trafficking, prostitution and sexual exploitation of women and children in Ireland with special reference to migrant women
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interview women who have been exploited in the sex industry
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interview service providers and key people from migrant-led organisations
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survey promising international practice in relation to legislation, national strategic plans and service provision in order to inform Irish policy and practice
Campaigning and advocacy – the ICI’s legal team analyses the proposed legislation in the area of human trafficking and offers comments and recommendations. The ICI has been invited to present its comments at the Oireachtas on several occasions.The Immigration , Residence and Protection Bill will , when enacted , provide protection to victims of trafficking on a statutory basis. Meanwhile , the Department of Justice , Equality and Law Reform has introduced administrative immigration arrangements for victims of trafficking which offer suspected victims of trafficking a recovery and reflection permit and a temporary residence permit on certain conditions. This is a result of considerable lobbying and advocacy by the ICI and other organisations to widen the definition of victims and to provide a reflection and recovery period. See ICI submission to the Government , below.
Policy development - through a series of roundtable discussions dedicated to different aspects of the trafficking phenomenon, the ICI provides a forum for in-depth discussion for statutory and non-governmental stakeholders (national and international). The aim of hosting the roundtables is to provide international experience in developing our national policies and procedures.
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mapping of service providers nationally and international ‘promising practices’
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researching trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation – the international experience
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informing the ICI’s submission to the national anti-trafficking action plan
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protecting victims: Ireland and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
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identification and referral mechanisms
The ICI actively participates in the consultations organised by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (DJELR) that are designed to inform the development of a National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking. The ICI is also part of the quarterly consultations of the Interdepartmental High Level Group to tackle trafficking in human beings and participates on working groups on trafficking for sexual exploitation , child trafficking and a national referral mechanism.
Public awareness - the ICI is engaged in the debate on anti-trafficking and sexual exploitation. We are developing a communications strategy that will be informed by our research and be implemented from 2009. In the interim , we provide key input into the debate.
Service provision – the ICI provides a specialist legal advocacy service to victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. We provide legal expertise and support for victims in the area of immigration law and policy. We are working in partnership with other agencies and service providers to develop a national plan of direct and referral services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The ICI’s policies and submissions on issues relating to trafficking can be found below and in the Publications section of this website.
For further information about the ICI´s Anti-Trafficking Project, please contact Nusha Yonkova at nusha@immigrantcouncil.ie
Summary of ICI’s anti-trafficking research project
ICI anti-trafficking research project advisory committee
ICI submission to the Government’s anti-trafficking national action plan