THE COUNCIL of Europe convention on human trafficking, which obliges the Government to protect victims and to prosecute those who commit this heinous crime, came into full effect in the Republic last week. Strong international pressure to act more vigorously in tackling this form of crime has prompted the Government to introduce a number of legislative reforms in recent years which have enabled Ireland to work in close co-operation with other countries in bringing to justice those engaged in transnational offences. The UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and Human Trafficking Protocol, better known as the Palermo Convention, was ratified in June and makes it easier to deal with human trafficking across national borders.
Human trafficking has often been described as a modern form of slavery, made easier in a globalised world where national borders are less closely guarded. Invariably, the crime starts with the abduction of women from some of the world’s poorest regions and ends with their sexual exploitation for money in parts of the more affluent developed world – including Ireland. For the gang bosses who ply this criminal trade, the financial rewards are considerable. But for their victims, those forced to engage in prostitution, the hazards are great: the threat of physical violence and the risk of detention and deportation as illegal immigrants are just some of the dangers and concerns.
Ireland has faced strong international criticism in the recent past for its failure to take the crime of human trafficking more seriously. In 2009, just six prosecutions were instituted. Last year the US State Department, in its annual report on global human trafficking, was critical of the Government for its lack of zeal on this issue. Since that embarrassing public rebuke was delivered, matters have improved. And now with the Council of Europe also closely monitoring how Ireland meets its convention commitments to prosecute offenders and secure criminal convictions for what are major human rights abuses, the Government’s ongoing efforts will come under close and critical scrutiny.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, in welcoming the entry into force of the convention, has described it as “yet another milestone in the Government’s fight against human trafficking”. But how much a milestone, and how memorable, will depend on the level of success achieved in prosecuting and in convicting those engaged in human trafficking crimes.