Naomi Long

The 12-week public consultation seeks views and comments from individuals and organisations across all sectors to ensure that the resulting strategy is as informed, comprehensive and effective as possible.

Speaking yesterday, justice minister Naomi Long said: “It is fitting that this consultation is launched on International Anti-Slavery Day. Anti-slavery day is promoted around the world to highlight that the issues associated with modern slavery and human trafficking are wide ranging and can impact on all of us.

“Tackling it requires everybody to work together to ensure victims are supported, society is informed and that authorities are enabled to pursue the selfish and heartless offenders who prey on the most vulnerable in society.”

Following the enactment of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, this strategy is the first three-year strategy for Northern Ireland and the fifth overall.

As with previous strategies, commitments and objectives continue to be set out under three key themes, namely to pursue offenders, protect victims and prevent these crimes from occurring.

Mrs Long said: “We must ensure there is adequate support and protection for adult and child victims in tackling this form of criminality. Through collaborative work we can achieve commitments within the strategy in both the short, medium and long term to ensure Northern Ireland is a place free from human trafficking and modern slavery.

“I am also publishing the 2021/22 progress report which demonstrates the significant progress made by a range of partners to deliver the commitments in the 21/22 strategy; we cannot however afford to let our guard down in tackling this heinous crime.”