Tag Archives: human trafficking

Human trafficking was the subject chosen by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly for his mass of installation at the Cathedral of Assumption in Thurles on Sunday. He warned that Irish people are directly or indirectly encountering the victims of trafficking. “Victims have been found in different sectors of society. We need to stay alert to this reality and work in our local communities to eradicate it,” he said. Archbishop O’Reilly noted that the date of his installation as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly coincided with the first international day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking and the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita. “Whilst St Josephine Bakhita is a name that may not be familiar with all of you, for those here present from Africa it will be a name that they are familiar with. St Josephine was born in Sudan in 1869 and kidnapped for slavery before she was nine years old. Such was her trauma that she forgot her birth …

Serious concern about the exploitation of women relating to the sex industry was expressed by a local councillor this week. In a motion presented to Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard asked that “this council recognises that the trafficking, exploitation and abuse of women and girls is taking place in County Clare and throughout the country within and as a direct result of prostitution. This council understands prostitution to be a form of men’s violence against women that affects individuals, communities, and society as a whole and that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a modern form of slavery and an abuse of human rights”. In the motion, which was strongly endorsed, she said, “This council calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to implement the Justice Committees unanimous recommendations to introduce laws, which make it an offence to pay for sex and is seeking such laws. This legislation must criminalise the demand for paid sex, decriminalise the seller …