Bill to criminalise human trafficking for 'forced begging'

Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence: Alan Shatter

Human Trafficking for the intent of 'forced begging' will be criminalised following publication of new legistlation by Justice Minister, Alan Shatter.
 
The Minister, today published the the Criminal Law, (Huaman Trafficking) Bill 2013(Amendment) that will be used to make changes to the criminal law provisions of the EU directive.


The directive provides for the criminalisation of two additional forms of exploitation that are not currently covered by existing legislation: Trafficking for the purpose of 'forced begging' and trafficking for 'criminal activities'.

Making the announcement, the Minister said: "Trafficking in human beings should not be tolorated and everything possible should be done to ensure the protection of those whop are vulnerable". 

The Minister also said that he wanted to see the individuals who benefited from human trafficking beeing brought to justice. 

The previous 2008 act already criminalised human trafficking for sexual exploitation and labour exploitation, but the new bill will see this extended to cover forced begging and criminal activities. 

"We have a duty to ensure that vulnerable people are not exploited and that a comprehensive approach is taken to tackling the evil of human trafficking," the Minister said.


 

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