Human Trafficking expert calls for better long term after care for trafficking victims
LONG term after care must be provided for victims of Human Trafficking in Ireland.
That’s according to the head of the UK charity Invisible Traffick (IT)Alison Ellis.
She was speaking in City Hall last Thursday at an Awareness Raising Event. The event celebrated their two year anniversary and coincided with Human Trafficking Awareness Week 2017.
Mary McSharry (IT IRL Director) kicked off the event explaining a little about her work with IT in Sligo. She explained that the main role of IT IRL is to raise awareness and get the public engaging in the issue of human trafficking.
Alison Ellis (IT GB Director) spoke about her work across the water. She explained that many charities in Great Britain do lots of awareness raising and instead felt what was missing was long term after care for survivors of human trafficking.
She then spoke about her work in Tamar House, a safe house set up by IT GB for female survivors of sexual exploitation.
Alison was followed by Anti-Trafficking Project Officer for Immigrant Council of Ireland Edward Keegan who spoke about his work in Dublin.
He explained the legislation in place in order to keep human trafficking survivors safe by helping them remain in Ireland, and how they ensure survivors are provided with adequate housing.
There was then a question and answer panel including Edward Keegan, Detective Inspector Paul Molloy of the Garda, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and Simone Barnett from the Department of Justice Anti Human Trafficking Unit who answered questions from the audience.
The event was closed by the Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Cllr Hubert Keaney who highlighted everyone’s responsibility to fight human trafficking, whether by teaching our children about respect for women, or simply telling others about it.