EU Anti-Human Trafficking Day marked with commemoration of the legacy of Frederick Douglass

• Minister Stanton calls on public to know the signs of human trafficking
• Europe-wide prevention campaign to highlight trafficking across 24 European states

The Department of Justice and Equality and MECPATHS, an NGO collaborating with the hospitality sector in Ireland to raise awareness around Child trafficking and empower hotel management and staff to identify vulnerable children in order to help combat this crime, are marking EU Anti-Trafficking Day – which falls tomorrow, 18 October – with an event in Cork this evening to commemorate the visit of Frederick Douglass to the city in October 1845.

Mr Douglass, who himself escaped slavery, was an American anti-slavery campaigner, social reformer, orator, and a powerful advocate for society’s most vulnerable. The event also coincides with the launch of the first EU-wide prevention campaign on Trafficking in Human Beings developed by the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN).

Speaking ahead of the event, Minister of State with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton TD said: “While slavery is sometimes considered in the historical perspective only, the terrible truth is that modern day slavery and human trafficking remain a reality for all too many people around the globe. There is an onus on all of us to know the signs of human trafficking and to do what we can to eliminate this abhorrent practice. I very much welcome the EUCPN’s prevention campaign, which along with the existing Blue Blindfold campaign, will help draw attention to this incredibly important issue and teach people how to recognise the signs of trafficking.”

The event is being hosted at the Courthouse on Washington Street in the courtroom where Frederick Douglass delivered a speech during his visit to Ireland in 1845. His legacy resonates clearly with those working to combat the terrible crime of human trafficking. The event includes a narration of the original speech given by Mr Douglass and a letter of encomium from President Michael D. Higgins.

Speaking at the event, MECPATHS representative JP O’ Sullivan will say: “As a global phenomenon which is unfortunately also reflected in Ireland, Human Trafficking continues to affect countless adults and children who are held in Modern Day Slavery. This evening’s event was to identify this problem and to call on each person to be aware of their responsibilities in responding. Human trafficking will persist unless we all take action to tackle it. We all have a duty to act.”

In 2018, there were over 16,000 victims of trafficking identified in Europe. In Ireland, 8% of trafficking victims identified were children. The Department of Justice of Equality funds a number of important initiatives to raise awareness in the fight against human trafficking.

ENDS

Notes to editors

EU Anti-Human Trafficking Day is marked annually on 18th October. The Day, which has taken place every year since 2007, is an opportunity for both policymakers and the general public to continue to raise awareness around Human Trafficking and to reflect upon the actions being implemented across Europe to counter this growing criminal activity.

The Department of Justice and Equality has held events to mark the day for the last number of years. MECPATHS is to an NGO which works to counter child trafficking in Ireland in collaboration with the hospitality sector.

Speakers at tonight’s event

• Senator Jerry Buttimer, Leader of Seanad Eireann
• Mary Crilly of Cork Against Human Trafficking
• Kevin Hyland O.B.E. In 2018 Mr. Hyland was elected to the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). In 2014 he was appointed as the UK's first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Then in 2015 he received an OBE for "services to Combating Human Trafficking". Prior to his role as the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Mr. Hyland had a 30 year career as a police officer and was formerly head of the London Metropolitan Police Service’s Human Trafficking Unit
• Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Driscoll, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI)
• JP O’ Sullivan, MECPATHS

EUCPN awareness campaign

This year the Department of Justice and Equality is participating, with 23 other European states, in an awareness raising campaign on the issue of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB).

EUCPN (EU Crime Prevention Network) and EUROPOL, have joined forces to launch this initiative. It is designed to target victims and potential victims of human trafficking, who are not often addressed.

Our main goals are to step up the fight against this crime by informing:

• (potential) victims that they could be or become a victim of THB
• victims of THB where they can find help, protection and information
• victims of THB that they have EU-wide rights

On the national level, the Department of Justice and Equality has recruited support from NGOs, Government Departments and other organisations and offices to contribute to this effort in putting up posters and participating on social media on the 17th and 18th of October to raise awareness of this issue:

• Iarnrod Éireann have agreed to display posters in Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse Street train stations.
• Bus Éireann has agreed to support the campaign by displaying posters in the main bus stations nationwide
• INIS will be displaying posters in Burgh Quay registration office and in the International Protection Office
• the Border Management Unit at Dublin Airport will display the posters
• Legal Aid will be displaying posters in public offices and supporting the campaign on social media
• Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation will be displaying the posters in their offices and also supporting the campaign on social media
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will support the campaign on social media throughout the day
• Ruhama will display the poster and participate on social media
• the Immigrant Council of Ireland will be displaying posters in their public offices and participating on social media
• the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will also be supporting the poster campaign.

Blue Blindfold campaign

The Blue Blindfold campaign and logo was launched in December 2007 by the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC). The concept of the Blue Blindfold is 'Don't Close Your Eyes' to Human Trafficking. The Blue Blindfold represents the risk of people having their eyes closed and not being aware of the crime that may be going on around them. The logo has become an internationally recognised symbol of help for victims.

The international campaign is designed to:

• encourage police authorities, front line professionals and the public to open their eyes to human trafficking
• raise awareness, provide training and encourage information sharing worldwide
• support victims of human trafficking