Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his Department continue to highlight issues such as the trafficking of women and children throughout the globe with particular reference to the seriously affected locations; the extent to which he continues to use the UN Security Council as a vehicle for challenging such activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58095/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland actively engages in European Union, Council of Europe, OSCE and United Nations efforts to combat trafficking in persons. This includes our work across the UN system, including at the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and at the UN Human Rights Council.

At the UN Security Council the issue of trafficking in persons is considered in the context of certain country-specific discussions. Ireland actively engages in these discussions, in addition to co-chairing the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security. UN Security Council resolution 2331 recognised the trafficking of women and girls in conflicts as a form of violence against women. Ireland also actively engages on this issue at the UN Human Rights Council and Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

Most recently, Ireland co-sponsored the resolution on trafficking in women and girls at Third Committee of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Ireland was also pleased to deliver a national statement in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Siobhán Mullally, who presented her valuable report on the gendered dimensions of trafficking in the context of climate change.

At EU level, combating trafficking is a key priority in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Plan’s objectives include promoting measures to prevent and fully eradicate trafficking in human beings, including by countering impunity for all perpetrators involved. On 14 April 2021, the Commission adopted a new EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025) and the ongoing evaluation of the Anti-trafficking Directive aims to update the EU legal framework to ensure efficiency in addressing the current challenges.

Furthermore, Ireland provides core funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The IOM works in partnership with governments, the United Nations, international and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and development partners on all aspects of counter-trafficking responses: prevention, protection, and prosecution.