Child Trafficking in Ireland

On Tuesday 26th November, ICON launched an animation, ‘The Runners- A Trafficking Timeline’ which highlights the impact on children and young people when they are trafficked for criminal activities in the North East Inner City Dublin.  The animation was developed following an involved research process that included the testimonies and voices of children and parents who have become trapped in a cycle of fear, distress and harm when they were trafficked. The animation shows the silent and hidden in plain sight nature of the crime. 

·         This definition comes from the United Nations Palermo Protocol. A child is defined by the Palermo Protocol and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as any person under the age of 18. 

·         Child Trafficking is regarded as a form of modern day slavery.

The trafficking of children is a process comprised of two distinct stages: the Act and the Purpose. This is the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or reception of persons, including the exchange or transfer of control over those persons … for the purpose of exploitation.”

The presence of the three distinct elements is observed in the definition of human trafficking as set out in the

-                      Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime.

In Ireland, these definitions have been incorporated into the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013.

Child trafficking is taking place every day in communities across Ireland and is having a profound impact on those who are trafficked, their families and the wider community. It is time for action.

-        This type of criminality is child trafficking by definition and evidence.

-        It is widespread and is having a serious impact on families and communities.

·           The extent and impact of trafficking on families and communities needs to be recognised. 

·           The state and its structures and agencies need to work in partnership with communities and ensure they are adequately resourced to work with those affected by the issue.

·           Appropriate policy & legislation based on lived experience must be provided that can both help prevent and respond more effectively to the trafficking of children.

 

Please visit www.runnersfilm.ie to view the animation and for more information.