'Human Trafficking in Ireland: Then, Now, and What Comes Next'

Source: APT Ireland

Twenty years ago, a small group of determined women gathered in Dublin with a shared conviction: that human trafficking could no longer be ignored. What began as a conversation became a movement. This year, Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland (APT) marks two decades of awareness, advocacy, and action-yet the crime it seeks to end remains deeply embedded and largely hidden in Irish society.

This recent APT 20th anniversary webinar was both a celebration and a stark reminder: progress has been made, but the fight is far from over.

APT's roots lie in the lived experiences of religious sisters working across the globe. Sister Isabelle Smyth reflected on how her colleague, Sister Maura O'Donohue, first encountered the realities of trafficking while working in HIV/AIDS outreach in Africa and Asia. What she witnessed-women and children exploited, controlled, and commodified-compelled her to act.

By 2005, that urgency had reached Ireland. After a powerful Human Trafficking awareness event, one participant voiced what many felt: this time, they would not walk away. APT was born soon after, meeting monthly and building momentum through education, advocacy, and political engagement moving from that place of silence to solidarity.

Over time, the organisation expanded its reach, helping to establish the Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE), a European network of religious working against trafficking, and contributing to Talitha Kum, a global alliance with the same imperative. What began as a local response quickly became part of an international movement.

For APT, the fight against trafficking is not only social-it is moral. Sister Noreen O'Shea framed the organisation's mission through a powerful lens: the call "to bring good news to the poor… to proclaim liberty to captives." But the reality they confront is harsh. This was to be a mission grounded in Human Dignity. Noreen offered that prayer is a vital part of APT Ireland's work, with time dedicated not only to praying for victims and their families, but also to praying for those who perpetrate these crimes.

Victims are often lured to Ireland under false promises of employment, only to have their documents confiscated and their freedom stripped away. Many are moved frequently across the country- "toured" between locations-ensuring they remain isolated and dependent.

Unlike drugs or weapons, which can only be sold once, human beings are exploited repeatedly. As one speaker noted during the webinar, a trafficked woman can be sold multiple times a day-treated not as a person, but as a product.

Despite a growing awareness, human trafficking in Ireland remains largely hidden. Official figures show 67 identified victims in 2024, but experts agree this represents only a fraction of the true scale.

Ireland is primarily a destination country, with sexual exploitation the most common form of trafficking. But, noticeably forced labour is also increasing, particularly in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and domestic work.

Crucially, the systems designed to identify and support victims are not functioning effectively. A National Referral Mechanism exists but is not fully operational, and still, only Gardaí can formally identify victims-creating bottlenecks and missed opportunities for intervention. Research suggests that actual trafficking levels may be up to 50% higher than detected figures, underscoring how much remains unseen.

Children at Risk: A Growing Crisis

One of the most urgent issues highlighted during the webinar was the trafficking of children. JP O'Sullivan of MECPATHS presented deeply concerning data. The average age of trafficked children in Ireland is just 14, and many cases involve exploitation within family or community networks.

Children are trafficked not only for sexual exploitation but also for criminal purposes, including drug running. In some cases, children as young as seven are being groomed and coerced into illegal activities. Frontline professionals often fail to recognise the signs. Children being described in terms of "risky behaviour" or "non-compliance" can obscure the reality that these children ARE victims themselves and not offenders.

Even more troubling is the vulnerability of children in state care. Reports of children going missing - 44 in 2025 alone-raise serious concerns about systemic failures to protect those most at risk. Children who go missing in care are very much at risk of being trafficked and the incidence of children 'going missing' is growing at an alarming rate.

Why Collaboration Matters

APT's strength lies in its collaborative approach. Over the past 20 years, it has worked with other religious, government departments, educators, healthcare providers, and international networks to build a coordinated response to trafficking. One promising development is its involvement in healthcare training. With over 80% of trafficked women accessing medical services within their first year of exploitation, healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to identify victims and intervene. An ongoing APT Ireland campaign tries to alert staff and victims alike in healthcare settings to the possibility that indeed healthcare professionals may be uniquely placed to identify a victim of trafficking.

Education initiatives, including our CAPTIVES school programmes and parish outreach continue to play a key role in raising awareness and preventing exploitation before it occurs.

A consistent message throughout the webinar was the need to address demand. Trafficking for sexual exploitation exists because there is a market for it. Reducing demand-through legislation, education, and cultural change-is essential. Speakers also pointed to broader systemic issues: insufficient victim supports, lack of specialised accommodation, low conviction rates, and gaps in training across the legal and social care sectors. As John McGeady of Social Justice Ireland noted in his response: government priorities are reflected in where resources are allocated. Without sustained investment, meaningful change will remain out of reach.

Looking Ahead: From Awareness to Action

Anne Kelleher of APT Ireland, who moderated this event reflected that APT's 20th anniversary is both a milestone and a moment of reckoning. The organisation helps bring human trafficking out of the shadows, but awareness alone is not enough.

Its ongoing work includes advocacy, public education campaigns, and collaboration with national and international partners. It also continues to call for concrete reforms: a functioning referral system, better victim supports, stronger enforcement, and a clear focus on protecting children. Underlying all of this is a simple truth: that even one victim is too many.

Human trafficking is often described as "hidden in plain sight." It exists in cities, towns, and communities across Ireland, sustained by silence, demand, and systemic gaps. APT's message after 20 years is clear: ending trafficking is not the responsibility of a few organisations-it is a collective task, a shared responsibility. Awareness must lead to action. Action must lead to change. And change must come now.

The recording can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl2FQBdTImM

LINK

Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland: https://aptireland.ie/