Ruhama Press Release on the Trafficking in Persons Report See here Thanks Sarah for your press release!
Ruhama Press Release: For immediate release
US State Department’s 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report calls on the Irish Government to hold traffickers to account and provide greater protection to victims.
20th June, 2014
The annual US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report was launched in Washington DC today. Ireland ranks in the top tier (Tier 1) of the 2014 report for its compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
On reading the report, Sarah Benson, CEO, Ruhama said: “We congratulate the US State Department for compiling another extensive report on the worldwide issue of human trafficking; highlighting in particular the progress but also importantly the shortcomings of countries, including Ireland, in their efforts to combat this heinous crime.”
Sarah Benson, continued: “As a front line service to victims of sex trafficking, we witness the human consequences where there are gaps in the systems to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and punish traffickers. We concur with many of the concerns outlined in this year’s TIP report, particularly those dealing with the identification and protection of victims. These concerns include the flawed identification process, the low quality of housing provided for victims and the cumbersome referral process.”
Sarah Benson said: “A number of the recommendations in the 2014 TIP Report echo those made in other reports including those from GRETA, the ESRI and the OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking. There is now an excellent opportunity for the Irish government to build the progress and learning gained in recent years and take on board these recommendations when developing the new National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.”
Sarah Benson went on to say: “We support the recommendations offered to Ireland by the TIP Report 2014, specifically calls to consider the need for funding increases to provide better services to victims in light of noted cuts in this area; and that the role of NGO’s needs to be formalised in the identification of victims, in cooperation with law enforcement.”
Sarah Benson concluded: “It is imperative, in addition to following these recommendations from the TIP report, that the unanimous Joint Oireachtas Committee for Justice’s recommendation to criminalise the purchase of sex is enacted in law. It is this demand for prostitution that is directly fuelling organised crime and major human rights violations of women and girls in Ireland today.”
ENDS
Contact for interviews: Sarah Benson, CEO, Ruhama, 086 6003115
Further information: Link to Country Narrative in the US TIP Report 2014 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/226846.pdf