Trafficking victim support call

Some trafficked woman can be forced into prostitution

The government has been urged to increase the level of support available for victims of human trafficking in Northern Ireland.

The call was made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on what is Europe's anti-human trafficking day.

Chief commissioner Monica McWilliams said the situation had to be improved.

"The Commission is concerned victims of trafficking in Northern Ireland do not have adequate systems of safety and support available to them," she said.

The government'S Pentameter 2 operation to combat sexual exploitation and forced labour confirmed trafficking was occurring in Northern Ireland.

However, owing to the secretive and deceptive nature of this crime it makes it very difficult to estimate the extent of the problem in exact numbers.

Ms Williams said the commission welcomed government commitments to ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Human Trafficking by the end of 2008.

"In particular we welcome the provisions for victims in the convention, but what we need now is for practical measures to be clarified for Northern Ireland for victims to realise their rights to safety and support," she said.

The commission is carrying out research with the Equality Commission on the nature and extent of the problem of human trafficking in Northern Ireland and is due to publish its findings early next year.