Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Launch of support services for victims of human trafficking welcomed

Published: 27 March, 2009

Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Mickey Brady, has said that the recent launch of support services for victims of Human Trafficking is a welcome development but has said that a lot more needs to be done in order to tackle this ever growing terrible crime.

Ms Brady said:

"Organisations, who have been involved in with working with victims of this crime have been trying to raise the issue for years, and on occasions were told that the north of Ireland didn't have a human trafficking problem. Unfortunately before Christmas a shocking realisation reached the people of Newry that human trafficking isn't something that happens a million miles away but was happening in our own city."

"While I welcome the announcement this week of new support services for victims of human trafficking, I still feel that a lot more needs to be done to tackle this vile crime."

"The launch of these services today alongside the admission that there is a problem with human trafficking must spur those government agencies with responsibility to deal with the issue to act now."

"Sexual exploitation is still the most common form of this enforced slavery and we have a responsibility to protect all victims of human trafficking from this."

"Given that the PSNI have said that they have rescued 11 people from human trafficking operations and sexual exploitation we need to ascertain quickly and address the levels of exploitation that are taking place." These figures are very likely the tip of the iceberg and many more remain in indentured labour."

""We also need a public campaign to alert people that there is a real problem in the North with human exploitation and encourage them to report anything they think might be suspicious to the PSNI."

"Everyone in society has a responsibility to stop this despicable practice and we all need to play our part. We all must work closely with those organisations on the ground that are dealing directly with victims and ensure they have the adequate resources to continue the vital work that they are carrying out."