Trafficking in Persons APT – Act to Prevent Trafficking

The trade in and abuse of human beings by criminals to make money. Human Trafficking threatens women, men & children What is trafficking in Persons?

 Forced labour  Sale of human organs  Sexual exploitation Different forms of human trafficking - people are bought and sold as commodities

 Smuggling of migrants and human trafficking both involve moving human persons for profit  Smuggled persons are left to their own devices on arrival  Trafficked persons are under the control of others Smuggling Vs Trafficking

Trafficking & Smuggling: Similarities and Differences

Because of  POVERTY  INEQUALITY – in gender attitudes  PROFIT – second most lucrative illegal ‘industry’  PORNOGRAPHY  DEMAND Why are people trafficked?

Traffickers recruit through –  Fake adverts – care work, modelling, dancing, hotel/bar work/study/travel  Casual acquaintance/ ‘friends’ How are persons trafficked?

 Women/children mainly  People lacking money/opportunities  People wishing to improve their lives, from all backgrounds, races, and classes  Unskilled labourers Who is trafficked?

Some statistics…

A trafficker has many faces –  Male and female  Members of organised gangs  Boyfriends  Family friends Who are the traffickers? EVEN CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS

 Violence – rape and beatings force them to comply  Threats/blackmail – against their families back home  Debt servitude – held in bondage and responsible to trafficker Why don’t trafficked persons escape?

Julia Aged 17, was given clothes and boots and a bag of condoms and told to do anything that clients wanted. Forced to have sex with a minimum of four men per night. Lydia From Poland, was chaperoned daily to a brothel in Italy and her movements were controlled. When she returned each day, her trafficker raped her in the apartment. She was subsequently brought to Ireland and forced into prostitution. Kiky From Nigeria, was held in total captivity in a house in Ireland for two years. Extracts from profiles Names have been changed to protect identity

TIP –  Is the most shocking form of human rights abuse and modern day slavery  Is happening now, here, there, and wherever you are  It could happen to someone you know Why should we care?

 Lack of trust/Anger/Fear  Insecurity/Confusion  Shame/Guilt  Depression/Helplessness  Post-traumatic stress disorder – e.g. flashbacks Effects on trafficked persons

Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 women and children are trafficked around the world for sexual exploitation and forced labour – a fast growing $32 billion industry Trafficking: Modern day slavery

The Magnitude of Human Trafficking 2 to 4 million people worldwide every year

TIP South East Asia Routes

TIP USA Routes

TIP Africa Routes

1. The Palermo Protocol and 2. The Council of Europe European Legislation to combat trafficking

Basic purpose –  to prevent and combat trafficking  to protect and assist victims  to promote international cooperation The Palermo Protocol

 A 'reflection period' of at least 30 days  safe and secure housing  psychological and emergency medical assistance  information in a language the trafficked person can understand  renewable residence permits to trafficked persons  compensation for the abuses suffered Council of Europe

The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 PREVENT Trafficking - PROSECUTE Traffickers - PROTECT Victims  It is a criminal offence to solicit or importune, in any place, for the purpose of prostitution, a person whom one knows to have been trafficked.  The victim is allowed 60 days of recovery.  Administrative procedures in place for protection of victim.  Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU)models best practice for protection of victim. Ireland present legal stance

WHAT CAN WE DO Trafficking in Persons

 Become informed of human trafficking  Share information  Report any suspicious events, happenings in your local area to local police  Encourage people to talk to each other about this modern day slavery  Sign petitions  Promote non violence in all situations  Respect the dignity of each person  Organise a speaker to your relevant groups  Promote fair trade and check retailers supply chain WHAT CAN WE DO?

Gracious God, we trust you. Lead us in truth. Let us follow paths that respect and value all people, that none may be abused, used, bought or sold. Pardon our complicity in the demand that promotes modern-day slavery. Forgive us the ways in which we and our society exploit others through trafficking, prostitution, pornography, forced labour and oppression. Give us strength and courage to act, so as to bring an end to the demand that fosters all exploitation, but especially that of women and children. May we be guided forever O God, on the way of compassion, justice And love. Amen Prayer for those trafficked and for those who work on their behalf

I have come that they might have life and have it to the full… Jn 10:10

Websites International Organisations - Christian Organisations Against Trafficking in Human Beingswww.coatnet.org - Anti Slavery Internationalwww.antislavery.org - Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) - The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) Internationalwww.catinternational.org - Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation List of Resources