Vulnerable Men, Women and Children in Slavery
- Forced labor?
- Domestic Servitude?
- Sexual Exploitation?
- Slavery?
Owning a slave has never been cheaper than it is today. Women, children, and also vulnerable men, work in factories, mines, fields, restaurants, hotels, homes, and in every facet of the sex industry. This slavery exists in every country, including Ireland.
In fact, trafficking in women and girls has become one of the fastest growing enterprises in the world. The United Nations estimates that over two million women and girls are taken from their homeland into other countries under false pretenses for the purposes of forced labor, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation. Trafficking and slavery are never "stand alone crimes." They are linked to money laundering, drug trafficking, document forgery, human smuggling, rape, and torture.
The United Nations estimates that 4 million men, women and children are bought and sold each year. The US State Department's 2005 "Trafficking in Persons" report estimates that 800,000 to two million women and girls, some as young as age five, are trafficked across national borders each year and bought and sold for sexual purposes. The same report notes that, at any given time in our world, 12.3 million women, men, and children are enslaved in forced labor, bonded labor, sexual servitude, involuntary servitude, or domestic servitude. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that, in the USA alone, trafficking and slavery generate 9.5 billion dollars a year.
Experts in the field say that one of the most difficult realities in the trafficking issue is the propensity of governments worldwide to treat trafficked persons as criminals or as unwanted undocumented workers rather than as people with human rights that are being violated. Moreover, the reality of trafficking and slavery remains mostly invisible in many cultures and countries. Trafficking for labor or the sex trade often occurs right under our noses. We simply do not see it. Nor do we recognize the women, children, and men who are the victims.
This modern-day slave trade is not only one of the most horrific human rights issues of our time, but is also a significant health issue, for the global sex market is hastening the spread of HIV-AIDS and other diseases.
This is a complex, multi-national, economically-driven, politically charged reality... a reality that impacts us even if we do not yet recognize it. We are called to respond. First, we must strive to understand the situation, a situation so far beyond our personal experiences that we may minimize it, or even redefine it solely in terms of a personal experience of violence or sexual abuse. It is, indeed, that, but it is so much more complicated. (END)
Statement from Joint IRISH NGO Group concerned with
Trafficking in Human Beings
In our considered view, this year’s TIP Report departs from standards of objectivity and lacks a checking of data, thereby drawing inaccurate conclusions.
This report has not highlighted the current legislative vacuum in Ireland in relation to trafficking, not does it include the fact that the Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences Bill) 2006 was sent to the Irish Human Rights Commission to assess its compatibility with Ireland’s obligations to Human Rights standards.
The report also refers to a figure of €580,000 being provided by the Government to ‘a local NGO’ to fund victim care and living expenses while victims await court appearances’. We are not aware of any such figure being provided for this purpose.
Our main concern around this report is that it does not reflect the reality of trafficking of persons into
Issued by the following groups:
(Contact details of spokespersons alongside individual organisations)
Ruhama (Ireland) – Gerardine Rowley – 353 86 2591247
Amnesty International Ireland – Fiona Crowley – 353 01 6776361 / 353 087 2505551
CORI/IMU Ad Hoc Working Group on Trafficking – Maura O Donohue –353 085 7161916
Migrant Rights Centre
National Women’s Council (Ireland) – Joanna McMinn – 353 01 8787248
European Women’s Lobby (EWL) – Grainne Healy – 353 087 2473286
EWL Irish Observatory on Violence against Women – Monica O Connor – 353 01 8787248
What is trafficking? Why does trafficking occur? What are its causes?
Australia July 4th 2007: CRA's 180 members have pledge to "do what we can within our structures and ministries to promote justice and healing for victims of trafficking". The members have also agreed that CRA should take a "collective and public stance" against trafficking in women, children and men. This gives formal CRA recognition to the work of ACRATH, Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans, which has been supported by a substantial number of congregations, individually. The decisions were taken at the CRA 2007 Assembly held in Perth.
Since May 2005, a National Religious Congregations' Anti-Trafficking Working Group has operated to raise awareness about the issue, to provide support for the women rescued from slavery and to work towards visa reform. This group also works collaboratively with, and in support of, other networks involved in this area of Trafficking in Persons, especially in women and children.
At last year's assembly (2006) in Adelaide, CRA members helped bring the plight of this modern-day slavery into sharp focus with a public rally. ACRATH Coordinator Sr Pauline Coll SGS says that Australia is considered a "high"-ranked destination for trafficking in persons, while our neighbour, New Zealand is considered "medium". Mostly women are the victims while the number of minors is less and there are no references to men and boys as victims of trafficking in this region.
Trafficking in Australia is primarily, but not exclusively, for sexual exploitation. "Trafficking exists in almost all countries of the world," Sr Pauline said. It is estimated that between 700,000 and two million people are trafficked into the sex industry, forced labour, domestic labour, for marriage or for body organs, each year. Clandestine in nature yet highly profitable, it is an evil in our own communities that must be publicly worked against."
In a report to the CRA 2007 Assembly, Sr Pauline said that during the past 12 months, ACRATH had continued to work in education, awareness raising, advocacy and lobbying, networking and collaborating with various groups, both religious and civil, nationally and internationally. Catholic Religious Australia is the peak body for 180 religious orders in Australia, representing more than 8000 religious sisters, brothers and priests.
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