Specialist Immigration Advocacy Service

Friday, 03 September 2010

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) prioritises support for migrants who have experienced human rights abuses in this country. Among these most vulnerable migrants, we have established special support for people in the following categories:

• women who have been trafficked to Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation
• women subjected to sexual exploitation within the sex industry
• victims of domestic violence
• unaccompanied minors

The ICI’s unique position as an Independent Law Centre allows us to use our expertise in the area of Irish immigration law to offer high quality legal advice and representation to migrants who have experienced human rights abuses. We can provide support and advice to migrants in relation to their immigration status in Ireland, their immigration-related dependency on abusive family members and a range of issues facing victims of trafficking, including liaison with An Garda Síochána.

The purpose of the ICI’s Specialist Immigration Advocacy Service is to provide quick, holistic and appropriate responses to the needs of vulnerable clients. To ensure easy access to this service, we have a dedicated mobile telephone line (085 172 3172) and we are committed to ensuring confidential and priority access to support services and legal advice. We view our Specialist Immigration Advocacy Service as an integral part of our overall strategy of working in cooperation with other organisations to provide free, confidential and reliable information, quality legal advice and representation, as well as appropriate referrals as necessary.

To access the service, please phone our dedicated mobile telephone number, 085 172 3172. Alternatively, contact can be made through the ICI’s Information and Referral Service on 01 674 0200 between 10am and 12.30pm and between 2pm and 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Information and Referral Service is closed on Wednesdays.

The Legal Aid Board also provides legal services on some matters to people who have been identified by the Garda National Immigration Bureau as “potential victims” of human trafficking under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. For more information, see www.legalaidboard.ie.