Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD - 2006 Ard Fheis speech on Equality and Human Rights
I am urging the Ard Fheis to support motions 16 through 19 dealing with
issues of human trafficking, asylum seekers and more general rights to
residence with a particular emphasis on children.
A 2005
'Trafficking in Persons' report has estimated that approximately 600,000 to
800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders
each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls and up to 50 per
cent are minors. Motion 16 proposes a definition of trafficking and opposes
any criminalisation of victims. It also calls on the British and Irish
Governments to accede to the Palermo Protocol - that is the Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and
Children, Supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised
Crime (2000).
Trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women
and children must not be seen simply as a problem faced elsewhere in the
world, it is happening here. Motion 17 condemns this state's deplorable
treatment of the unaccompanied minors entrusted to its care - treatment
which amounts to nothing short of neglect. All children regardless of their,
or their parents, country of origin have the right to be protected from
harm. According to media reports since 2000 at least 250 asylum seeking
children in Ireland have gone missing. Many of these from Health
Board/Health Service Executive care. Research from other countries
demonstrates a terrifying link between human trafficking, children going
missing from care and sexual exploitation. 20 of these children are
currently missing with little or no response from the authorities. Even the
Garda missing persons list includes just 6 of the 20 children. I questioned
Michael McDowell on this but he refused or does not care to explain this
discrepancy and state failure. These non-Irish children who are often in
need of intensive social work interventions are frequently housed in private
hostel accommodation that falls outside the remit of the Social Services
Inspectorate. The HB/HSEs have made numerous requests for further resources
to address this situation, which they recognise as grossly inadequate care.
Mary Harney and her FF predecessor repeatedly refused these requests. The
Tanaiste also refused to answers questions that I put to her on the numbers
missing and their countries of origin reinforcing my belief that she simply
does not care about these children.
Unlike the Dublin and
Westminster governments, in Sinn Fein we recognise that children's rights
are human rights which must be actively protected. We also embrace the moral
and legal imperative to cherish all children equally and deem the
realisation of this responsibility a benchmark against which genuine Irish
republicanism must be judged.
Finally, I will also take a brief
moment to support motion 3 on the clar. The Disability Act passed last year
was and is a slap in the face to all those people with disabilities, their
families, friends and advocates who while seeking rights-based legislation
were led on a 5 year merry-go-round of consultations that were ultimately
meaningless in terms of the resulting legislation. The Disability Act 2005
is also in breach of the equivalence requirement of the Good Friday
Agreement and Sinn Fein will continue our efforts to ensure that it is
scrapped and replaced with rights-based legislation.