Ireland signs Council of Europe Convention against human trafficking

Ireland has signed the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, a major step forward for a country that is still formulating its first legislation on the subject. Following a growing realisation that there was a problem with the trafficking of women and children into exploitation in the country, Tánaiste Michael McDowell said “Signing this Convention is a further and visible demonstration of Ireland’s continuing commitment to the global fight against human trafficking. Trafficking is an insidious criminal practice, which preys on vulnerable people and the Government will not tolerate it in this country. While instances of trafficking have been rare to date we cannot assume that this will continue and in this context it is important to send an appropriate signal of the Government’s approach.”
It is important that Ireland now ratifies the convention and then puts in place the legal measures which will make prosecutions possible and also provide protection and care for victims.
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