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Anti-trafficking training
About human trafficking
Human trafficking is a serious issue in Ireland. In 2020, Ireland was one of 3 EU countries placed on an international watch list for not doing enough to fight trafficking. Victims of trafficking in Ireland are usually women, and they are mostly trafficked for sexual exploitation.
There are many challenges to stopping human trafficking in Ireland, including barriers to identifying victims by authorities, and lack of dedicated supports and services for women, including safe accommodation.
Immigrant Council anti-trafficking training
As a leading national anti-trafficking organisation with expertise in legal representation of victims of trafficking, the Immigrant Council provides dedicated training for frontline service providers and practitioners in the area of human trafficking. Our training aims to address the gap in swiftly identifying victims of trafficking and intervening to provide appropriate supports in helping victims escape a life of exploitation.
Due to the often highly gendered nature of instances of trafficking in human beings, and the particular needs of women and girls in this area, the Immigrant Council ensures that the gender dimension of trafficking situations is present within all training delivered. In addition to the particular needs arising from this gender dimension from the perspective of possible sexual assault and trauma, the Immigrant Council also incorporates elements of cultural appropriateness as regards women on specific national, ethnic or religious backgrounds.
The Immigrant Council's Anti-trafficking training is available for free throughout the year during scheduled public training webinars, as well as on-demand for businesses, organisations and service providers for groups of 10+ people. Contact us for personalised training or view public training sessions.
Audience
Our Anti-trafficking training is best suited for frontline practitioners and service providers who may directly or indirectly encounter potential victims of trafficking. These contacts include but are not limited to: Citizens Information Centres, Social Welfare Offices staff, Local Authority frontline staff, Community groups and local organisations, cultural and migrant organisations, legal aid centres, public transport providers and other transport authorities.
Goals
Understand the issue of human trafficking, the impact on vulnerable migrant groups, how to identify victims of trafficking and supports available.
Structure and format
To accommodate busy working environments of frontline workers, our anti-trafficking training is offered in single or multiple sessions as required to ensure all staff within your organisation have access.
For the remainder of the Covid-19 pandemic the training will be conducted online through Zoom using webinars and breakout rooms and run for no longer than 2 hours long with a focus on attaining an even mix between instruction/information and interactive activities to assure trainee interaction and attention.
Training materials will be provided to participants by email prior to the webinar, and evaluation forms sent out following completion.
Training will be offered at two levels, which can be adapted for the needs and skillset of attendees:
- Introductory: Focussing on the basics of human trafficking including different forms of trafficking, how victims are defined, how trafficking is recognised, how to react and/or refer victims to available supports.
- Advanced: Statistics in relation to trafficking in Ireland and globally; push and pull factors which drive trafficking; difference between human trafficking and people smuggling; country profiles in relation to victims of trafficking in Ireland; Case studies presented through interaction and self-testing.
Both of the above modules can be delivered as standalone training sessions, or combined depending on the needs and existing knowledge base of attendees.
Standard topics
- The basics of human trafficking: What is trafficking? What are the different forms?
- Human trafficking statistics in both Ireland and internationally.
- Who are the victims of trafficking? How do we define a victim?
- How to recognise trafficking
- How to react, report and refer when you see trafficking happening
- Processes involved in identifying and supporting victims of trafficking
- Case studies
Meet the trainer
Jennifer Okeke, Anti-trafficking Coordinator
Dr. Jennifer Okeke is the Anti-Trafficking Coordinator with the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Vice Chairperson of the National Women Council of Ireland (NWCI). She is a community activist and former chairperson of a migrant women’s organisation based in Ireland. Jennifer is a board member of the European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW) and has extensive knowledge and expertise on issues of GBV, anti-trafficking, human rights and migration (refugees, asylum seekers, direct provision). She has a proven history of supporting local migrant communities in the promotion of integration.
Jennifer was recently awarded a PhD from Dublin City University, and her research was on the experience of African migrant women trafficked into/through Ireland for sexual exploitation. She holds a Master's in International Relations, from the School of Law and Government, DCU and a BSC from University College Birmingham
About Immigrant Council of Ireland training
The Immigrant Council provides training programmes and workshops to businesses, schools, associations and organisations covering a wide suite of topics related to immigration and migrant rights, as well as diversity and inclusion.
Whether you are looking to upskill your frontline staff, build a more diverse and inclusive workforce, or simply looking to fulfil Diversity & Inclusion requirements for your company our training is suited for multiple audiences across many different sectors.