Calls for greater protection for victims of human trafficking
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said better protection measures must be put in place for victims of human trafficking.
The Council has today published a submission to Government, calling for a legal framework and compensation to be established for those exploited by traffickers.
Recent figures provided to the US Department of State by Ireland showed at least 46 people, including 13 children, were brought into the country by trafficking gangs last year.
The majority of those identified had been sexually violated.
Communications and Advocacy spokesperson for the Immigrant Council, Jerry O' Connor, said victims of trafficking should be treated with respect, and not as criminals.
"We want to see measures put in place to ensure that victims are given early access to legal representation - that their rights are protected, and that they're not treated as being a party of a crime," he said.
He said an national action plan to combat trafficking would ensure a "robust" response to the problem, and send a message to organised crime that Ireland is not a "soft target" for exploitation.
