Hundreds of women around the country are being forced to work as prostitutes after being trafficked to Ireland, the Justice Minister has told Newstalk Breakfast.

Helen McEntee was speaking after the Government launched the Third National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

The plan aims to end human trafficking in Ireland through a range of new measures aimed at supporting survivors and targeting those responsible.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Minister Helen McEntee said some of the women who have been trafficked here have suffered appalling abuse.

“This is something people maybe don't think about a lot, but we know that there are, for example, hundreds of women in this country who have been forced into prostitution,” she said.

“They have been locked in a room where they have been beaten, they have been starved, they have been raped until they accepted where they were and until they accepted that they would have to engage in prostitution.”

The new plan includes the introduction of a new referral system to make it easier for victims to come forward.

Specialist training will also be provided to anyone who may come into contact with victims of human trafficking across Government departments and State agencies.

Action Plan

Minister McEntee said the overall objective of the plan is to ensure Ireland has “as victim-centred an approach as possible”.

“What I mean by that is that we encourage victims of human trafficking to come forward so that we can provide them support and assistance, but that we also bring to justice those who are responsible for this,” she said.

“I mean, this is the most appalling type of crime when you think of it.

“This is treating individuals - people - like commodities and those who are responsible for this have absolutely no respect for human dignity, for human life, for basic human rights.

“So it is really important that those who are victims, that they know that there is a pathway for them to get help; to be provided with assistance and support, but also that those who are responsible, that they're brought to justice.”

Prostitution

The minister said sex work and human trafficking are “inextricably linked” in Ireland.

“If you look at the estimated figures from An Garda Síochána, between 1000 and 1,600 women are working in prostitution,” she said.

“Even if you were to take the lowest number of 1000, and even if you were to take a fraction of that, we are still talking about hundreds of women in this country who have been forced into prostitution.”

She said there are also people who have been trafficked into Ireland are now being forced to work in "absolutely dire" conditions for very low pay.

She said figures show that at least five children were trafficked into Ireland last year and in recent years, at least one person was trafficked here for the purposes of organ harvesting.

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If you are someone you know has been impacted by any of the issues discussed in this article you can contact:

Ruhama on 01 836 0292

The National 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline on 1800 77 8888