The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged authorities in Ireland to take further action against human trafficking, notably by improving prosecution of human traffickers and providing specialised shelters and compensation for victims.
GRETA’s latest evaluation report also urged the Irish authorities to adopt a national referral mechanism to ensure that different agencies are involved in identifying victims of all types of trafficking, and to provide trafficking victims with specialised assistance.
The report shows that the total number of presumed trafficking victims in Ireland fell from 103 in 2017 to 44 in 2021. Sexual exploitation remains the primary form of exploitation, but the number of people trafficked for labour exploitation – in sectors including fishing, farming, construction, catering and domestic work – grew over the same period.
Ireland must step up its fight against human trafficking, say Council of Europe experts