The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013 has been passed by both houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill was necessary to ensure that Irish law fully complies with Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. The Bill criminalises trafficking for the purposes of forced begging and trafficking for criminal activities. Human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and exploitation for the removal of human organs had already been criminalised under Irish law by the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008.
The Bill also contains provisions which better enable children to give evidence in criminal prosecutions. It raises the current age limit for out-of-court video recordings of a complainant’s evidence from 14 to 18. It also provides for evidence to be delivered by video recording where the witness is under 18.
Commenting on the Bill, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said, "Trafficking in human beings is an appalling crime, a serious abuse of human rights and an affront to the dignity of the human person. We must use all the tools and resources at our disposal to prevent and combat human trafficking, prosecute the perpetrators and protect its victims."
Click here to press release from the Department of Justice.
Bulletin readers may recall that a recent report by the US State Department described Ireland as “a destination, source, and transit country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour.”