In 2023, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) confirmed the identification of 53 individuals, including five children, exposed to human trafficking in Ireland. The report also pointed out a substantial rise in the number of female victims. Compared to the previous year, there was a general increase of 26% in victim numbers, with a significant 33% surge for females across all types of trafficking.
The annual National Anti-Human Trafficking Report from IHREC indicated that out of the total victims, females comprised 79%, with 42 cases, which was an increase from 27 in 2022. Conversely, the male victims, amounting to 21%, decreased to 11 from 15 in 2022.
There were five minors in 2023, including four girls who had fallen victim to trafficking. Two girls were sexually exploited, while the other three children were coerced into criminal activities.
Since 2013, an alarming number of 566 people have been victimised by human trafficking; 44 were children, accounting for 8% of the total victims. Although this is significantly lower than the EU’s average of 15%, the IHREC states that this could be due to inadequate systems in identifying young victims of trafficking.
Reporting on the overall numbers of victims is suspected to be around 40% less than the reality, due to the covert nature of these crimes and the difficulty associated with verification of victims, as suggested by the IHREC.
In terms of the form of exploitation, primarily, victims (28 in total) were trafficked for sexual exploitation, while 16 for forced labour. The other nine victims were involved in criminal activities. There was a noticeable decline in the number of male victims identified overall in 2023, specifically for labour exploitation, which is predominantly a male-dominated crime, with numbers reducing from 12 in 2022 to eight in 2023.
Data shows a significant shift in 2023 where the number of individuals reported to be trafficked for criminal endeavours rose to nine from none in 2021, making up 17% of all trafficking victims. For the first time since 2019, six women were among those trafficked for criminal actions.
According to a report, Ireland’s situation aligns with a broader European trend where unique and less conventional exploitation forms, such as coerced marriages and unlawful adoptions, are escalating. Over half the victims in 2023 (28) came from Africa, while 15 came from Europe, eight from Asia, and two from Latin America.
Sex industry establishments, such as brothels, escort businesses, adult film industry, and massage parlours, were highlighted in the same report as high-risk zones for sexual exploitation. Jobs in farming, construction, seasonal roles, food manufacturing, hospitality, cleaning, and home-based roles were identified as potential areas prone to labour abuse.
Although the IHREC commends newly-passed legislation in July intended to simplify victim identification, it cautions over notable “gaps”, particularly child trafficking, and suggests a distinct system for identifying child victims, referring them, and giving them aid.
The report re-emphasises that victims should be treated fairly irrespective of their nationality, immigration status, or asylum claims, and stresses their legal protection from prosecution.
Simultaneously, the IHREC has suggested nationwide advocacy aimed at challenging the surge in technology-driven trafficking, specially addressing young men as potential purchasers.
In addition, the IHREC has called for scrutiny of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act, expressing concerns that the government hasn’t taken ample measures to thwart and battle exploitative surrogacy, which it labels as a distressing new form of trafficking.
The report states that trafficking and exploitation forms extending beyond sexual and labour abuse are on the rise across Europe, citing forced marriage, unlawful adoption, and surrogacy as instances.