Trafficking charity marks 1st anniversary
THE first hand experiences of a human trafficking survivor were told in Sligo last week at a function to mark the first anniversary of Invisible Traffick.
‘ Mia’ told her story in the Glasshouse Hotel last Thursday night, after travelling down from Dublin.
Invisible Traffick is a charity working to try and stop people becoming victims of modern day slavery.
Their Sligo branch was set up last year by Mary McSharry and now has ten volunteers donating their time to raising public awareness of human trafficking in Ireland.
Other speakers on the night included Detective Inspector Paul Molloy, of the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit.
He told attendees about human trafficking in Ireland and the response of both the State Agencies and the NGO community.
Invisible Traffick Director and founder, Gail Bunting, spoke about what they hope to do going forward through awareness and education. She also spoke about a telephone helpline that is being set up in Northern Ireland, and a safe house in Yorkshire, England.
The Sligo branch is aiming to campaign in local schools about trafficking.
“I saw news reports and thought ‘ this is happening in our communities’,” said Mary. “Unless we do something it’ll continue so that’s how I got involved. ‘ The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men ( and this little old lady) to do nothing,” she said.