The UN's special rapporteur on human trafficking has called on the Government to introduce tougher legislation to penalise traffickers and protect victims.
Sigma Huda, who is visiting Ireland to take part in a seminar marking the abolition of slavery in British dominions 200 years ago, said the trafficking of people here for sexual or financial exploitation was a form of modern slavery.
She was disappointed with the Government's approach to trafficking which, she said, addressed the issue from an immigration rather than a human rights standpoint.
"It's not an immigration issue. These are people who are in a form of slavery or bondage; they are being controlled by others. They don't have power over their circumstances."
Instead of prosecuting victims, she said there should be a greater emphasis on providing them with support to ensure they were not placed in such a vulnerable position again.
"They have often been through a very traumatic experience and may need psychological support or counselling . . . They should be given an opportunity to redeem themselves or work without any strings attached.
"If they do have to go back to the country they came from, it should be with a degree of financial security."
Ms Huda said it was her understanding that the Government's forthcoming Sexual Offences (Trafficking in Persons) Bill did not address the issue of protecting victims.
However, the Department of Justice says victims' rights will form part of the Immigration and Residency Bill, the outline details of which were published last year.
Ms Huda also called on the Government to sign up to international treaties and protocols aimed at putting in place a more robust system to tackle human trafficking.
Ireland is one of a number of European countries that has failed to sign the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. It has also to ratify a number of UN protocol on the area.
Ms Huda said a form of witness protection programme for victims of trafficking could play a significant role in ensuring there were successful convictions against traffickers.
As of last year, there had been no successful prosecutions under our existing laws in this area, the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking Act) 2000 and the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act (1998).
Ms Huda will be speaking at Féile Bride, an event organised by Action from Ireland (Afri) this Saturday at St Joseph's Academy in Kildare town.
The need for stronger legislation to tackle trafficking will be a central theme of the seminar.
