The launch of a best-practice guide on supporting women who have been trafficked into EU countries for sexual exploitation will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, 24th November, at 11am.
The guide has been developed by the member organisations of ASSIST, a European project led by the Immigrant Council of Ireland. It focuses, in particular, on how to provide gender-specific legal assistance and integration supports to women who have been trafficked.
The guide will be launched during an online seminar tomorrow, featuring inputs from – amongst others:
- Dr. Nusha Yonkova, Gender and Anti-Trafficking Expert at the Immigrant Council of Ireland;
- Dr. Myria Vassiliadou, former EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator;
- Linda Latham, Manager of the HSE’s Anti-Trafficking Unit;
- Deaglán Ó Briain, Principal Officer – Community Safety Policy, Department ofJustice;
- Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama;
- Noeline Blackwell, CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; and
- Anna Zobnina, Coordinator of the European Network of Migrant Women.
Topics covered during the event will include:
- Providing gender-specific legal assistance and practical supports to trafficked migrant women.
- Challenges in relation to the trafficking of migrant women in Europe.
- Ireland’s response to sex trafficking.
- The latest advances in understanding human trafficking as a form of gender-based violence.
- Innovative ideas arising from the ASSIST project.
Beatrice, a survivor of sex trafficking, will give an input at the event, focused on the provision of peer-to-peer support for trafficked migrant women.
Commenting in advance, Dr. Nusha Yonkova of the Immigrant Council said: “The ASSIST project is focused on identifying and providing gender-specific legal assistance, information and wrap-around supports for trafficked migrant women, so that they can integrate into the societies in which they live. It looks at areas such as housing, integration, education and training, and family supports, as well as psychological and legal services.
“Ireland has repeatedly been criticised internationally for failing to adequately support people who have been trafficked. It is our hope that policymakers will draw on the best practices described in this new guide to improve how we support trafficked women, and ensure they can integrate into society and rebuild their lives.
