A short presentation of next steps and actions presented by the North Atlantic Maritime Project in Limerick Ireland in May 2016. The project is an initiative of the Santa Marta Group - an alliance of international police chiefs and Catholic bishops from around the world working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and modern day slavery.

1. North Atlantic Maritime Project
Support, Prevent, Detect
ACTIONS

2. Awareness Raising
Encourage victims to engage with support services.
Build awareness within society about the “hidden crime” of Human Trafficking and Labour
Exploitation within our communities.
Encourage support from State Agencies, NGOs, local communities, Religious groups, Business and
Industry. People want to help!
Investment in research and analysis to support our response to Human Trafficking.

3. Training
Recognise the obligation by State agencies to “Protect” Victims from often ruthless organised crime
gangs and from the emerging trend of smaller disorganised groups involved in Human Trafficking
and Labour Exploitation.
Expand training of State Agencies and NGOs on how to identify the Victims of Human Trafficking
and Labour Exploitation; and on gathering evidence to support the successful prosecution of
offenders.
Adapt training to the requirements of the trainee and their level of intervention.
Awareness training for the Judiciary.

4. Compliance with the EU Directive on Victims Rights
Improve work on in the area of Child Victims and protection for unaccompanied minors.
Continued provision of assistance to Victims.
Improvement in State compensation for Victims and the stripping of assets from traffickers.
Include “Best Practice” into National procedures.
Obligation on State Agencies to ensure non-refoulement.
Establish legitimate means for migration.

5. Future Considerations
Continue the theme of Partnerships in practice from strategy to delivery of operational actions.
When you are supporting a Victim, remember to have “empathy and compassion for those who
have not been as fortunate as others”.
Victims will often have “loyalty” to their controller, as a result of months or years of punishment
for disobedience.
A kind word or small gesture of humanity can have lasting positive results for those who are
surrounded by cruelty, pain and hardship.

6. Future Considerations
Continue the theme of Partnerships in practice from strategy to delivery of operational actions.
When you are supporting a Victim, remember to have “empathy and compassion for those who
have not been as fortunate as others”.
Victims will often have “loyalty” to their controller, as a result of months or years of punishment
for disobedience.
A kind word or small gesture of humanity can have lasting positive results for those who are
surrounded by cruelty, pain and hardship.