Ireland at Level 2 of the 2024 Human Trafficking Report

Ireland has once again been grouped into Tier 2 of the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, released by the US Department of State on Monday (June 25).

Under Tier 2, Ireland is one of “countries whose governments do not fully comply with the requirements of the TVPA”. [Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000] minimum standards, but make significant efforts to comply with these standards.

Each country in the report is grouped into one of four categories: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watchlist, and Tier 3. The ranking in each tier “is not based on the magnitude of the problem” 'a country but on the scale of the government's efforts'. to meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, which are generally consistent with the Palermo Protocol.

Ireland was previously included in Tier 1 of the annual report, but was downgraded to Tier 2 in 2018.

In 2020, Ireland was further downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List, then returned to Tier 2 in 2022 and 2023.

In this year's report, almost 100 countries make up Tier 2, including other European countries: Albania, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, the US, UK, Canada and Australia have reached Tier 1 which includes “countries whose governments fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards for eliminating trafficking.”

In more detail, here's what this year's report says about Ireland: “The Irish government does not fully meet minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.

“The Government has demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; Ireland therefore remains at Level 2.

“These efforts included adopting a NAP to guide national trafficking coordination, opening its first specialized anti-trafficking shelter for women, and increasing funding for victim assistance and awareness activities.

“Law enforcement launched more investigations, prosecutors filed initial labor trafficking charges, and courts convicted more traffickers under laws prohibiting trafficking.

“Law enforcement has identified more trafficking victims and the government said it has provided comprehensive training to various officials and NGOs.

“Government officials participated in extensive investigations and international partnerships, which resulted in the identification of victims and the arrest of suspected traffickers.

“However, the government has failed to meet minimum standards in several key areas.

“The government has not convicted any traffickers for trafficking and instead relied on laws prohibiting trafficking that sometimes resulted in inadequate penalties and has never convicted a trafficker for labor trafficking in under its anti-trafficking law.

“Systemic deficiencies in victim identification, referral and assistance persisted; the government did not amend its NRM and, therefore, did not identify any Irish nationals as victims.

“The government has not overhauled its accommodation framework for victims of trafficking, which continues to leave victims in inadequate and unsuitable accommodation.

“The government has not reported providing any specific trafficking training to any judge and has never provided restitution or compensation to any victims.”