Minister Shatter welcomes publication by the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) of the Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Ireland
The Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) today published a report on Ireland’s implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This report follows a country visit by members of GRETA to Ireland in late 2012; this process involved a very constructive dialogue process between GRETA, the Irish authorities and representatives of civil society.
Speaking today Minister Shatter said “I welcome the Report of the Council of Europe Group of Experts as a most useful independent overview of Ireland’s progress to date and a useful learning experience. The publication of this Report is most timely given that we are in the process of drafting a second National Action Plan in relation to Human Trafficking. This Report and other reports from international bodies, such as the Report of the OSCE Special Rappourteur on Human Trafficking which was published earlier this year, will be carefully considered as part of this process.”
He further stated that “While much has been done in Ireland in a relatively short period of time in the area of preventing and combating human trafficking, I believe that there is much to be learned from independent evaluations of our approach to this issue and the Irish Government continues to be committed to tackling the issue of human trafficking, supporting victims and pursuing traffickers. I welcome the positive comments made in the Report in relation to our efforts to date and will carefully consider the insights of the Group of Experts in relation to our approach. This Report is an important contribution to supporting the ongoing development of our policies and practices to combat this most heinous human rights abuse”.
The Report is generally positive in relation to Ireland’s implementation of the Convention and notes in particular:
the setting up of the High Level Interdepartmental Group on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Justice and other specialised units within Government departments and agencies;
the adoption of a comprehensive national anti-trafficking action plan and the allocation of human and financial resources to ensure its implementation;
the considerable efforts made in the areas of awareness raising and training as a form of prevention of human trafficking;
the availability of free legal advice and a range of information materials for victims of trafficking;
the provision of a recovery and reflection period longer than the minimum of 30 days envisaged in the Convention and more flexible arrangements for child victims;
the strengthening of the child care system which has limited to an important extent the disappearance of unaccompanied minors.
The Report also makes a number of observations and recommendations in relation to areas in which they believe efforts can be enhanced. These include measures to strengthen action to combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation; paying increased attention to prevention and protection measures addressing the particular vulnerability of children to trafficking and an examination of the current processes for the identification of victims of human trafficking.
The new National Action Plan is currently being developed, in consultation with State, NGO and international stakeholders and the contents of this Report will be carefully considered as part of this process.
The full report including Ireland’s response can be seen at http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/trafficking/default_en.asp.