Politics

Noeline Blackwell: Not far from you, there will be a victim of human trafficking living in fear

It is a brutal crime that comes with a low risk and high profits. It spreads misery worldwide, but business is booming and convictions are low. In 2022, the EU registered more than 10,000 victims of human trafficking, two-thirds of whom were women and children, with the majority trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Legislation on human trafficking must prioritise helping victims if it is to be successful. Photo: Stock image It is a brutal crime that comes with a low risk and high profits. It spreads misery worldwide, but business is booming and convictions are low.

In 2022, the EU registered more than 10,000 victims of human trafficking, two-thirds of whom were women and children, with the majority trafficked for sexual exploitation. Some estimates suggest that, internationally, less than 1pc of survivors of human-trafficking cases are identified. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.