This year marks the 20th anniversary of APT Ireland, a faith-based, volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to preventing trafficking in persons, especially the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation.
Formed under the auspices of AMRI (Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland), APT has spent two decades raising awareness, educating communities, collaborating with statutory agencies, and shining a spotlight on modern slavery in Ireland and beyond.
As we gathered to celebrate this milestone, we reflected on how far the movement has come, and also on how far there is still to go. APT is keenly aware that the legislative backbone of Ireland’s response to human trafficking remains the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, enacted on 7 May 2008. This law implements international obligations under EU and UN frameworks to criminalise trafficking of adults and children for sexual exploitation and other forms of exploitation. Over time, the 2008 Act has been consolidated and remains in force as the primary domestic legislation addressing trafficking in persons.
Beyond legislation, Ireland has developed a broader response infrastructure: victim identification, accommodation for victims, support services, and cooperation across immigration, social, health, and law-enforcement sectors. Yet legislation and systems alone are not enough. They must be backed by awareness, education, vigilant communities, and moral commitment. That is where APT’s contribution becomes indispensable.
From its earliest days, APT has distinguished itself as a unique, faith-grounded force against trafficking. Its membership draws on religious congregations and missionary societies, bringing together people motivated by moral conviction and compassion.
Some of APT’s key contributions over the years:
Education in schools: The “cAPTives” Human Trafficking Awareness-Raising Programme,
developed by APT, is a four-week resource designed for Transition Year and 5th Year students. It
combines video modules, supportive resources, and teacher mentoring. It covers fundamental
questions: what we mean by “trafficking,” why we use terms like “slave/slavery,” what drives
traffickers, how profitable trafficking is, and how individuals can act to challenge demand. Notably, a
module on Cyber Safety was developed in collaboration with CyberSafeIreland.
Raising awareness in health-care settings — By recognising that many victims of trafficking will
come into contact with health services, APT helped launch a nationwide campaign in 2025 to raise
awareness in health-care environments. This continues and only recently in this season of Advent
we brought the issue of human trafficking to the parishes of Glasthule, Dun Laoire and Dalkey in
Dublin.
Collaboration across sectors — APT brings together voices from statutory agencies, voluntary
organisations, religious congregations, and grassroots communities to ensure a joined-up, holistic
response to trafficking. This cross-sectoral approach helps bridge gaps between law, social policy,
health care, and community support.
Through these efforts, APT has helped transform trafficking from a hidden, marginal issue into a matter of national concern, one that demands vigilance, compassion, and collective responsibility.
The 20-year anniversary gathering brought together a diverse group of voices; educators, religious
leaders, social workers, health professionals, and advocates, underscoring the broad coalition that
underpins APT’s work. At this event it was noted that from APT grew the European Network that is
RENATE in 2009 and subsequently Talitha Kum.
Representatives from volunteering networks and organisations, such as MECPATHS Ireland (Mercy Efforts for Child Protection Against Trafficking), RENATE – Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation, HSCEHT, AMRI, and national media — including a journalist from The Tablet — each bringing distinct, yet complementary, perspectives and strengths.
The diversity of contributors, religious orders, universities, health-care educators, social policy experts,
and grassroots volunteers, testified to APT’s remarkable capacity to gather and unite a wide-ranging
community around the shared mission of ending human trafficking.
Contemporary Challenges: Social Media, Prostitution & New Forms of Exploitation:
As highlighted in a recent article in The Tablet, social media has dramatically changed how prostitution and trafficking operate, making victims more accessible than ever. The anonymity and reach of digital
platforms have facilitated the recruitment, advertisement, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals,
especially women and children. This underscores the fact that human trafficking is not a problem of the past. It is evolving, and so must our response. Indeed the ability to hide and move funds further adds to the ability of the internet to facilitate the growth of human trafficking.
The pandemic, economic pressures, global migration, and digital technologies have all contributed to new vulnerabilities. Traffickers adapt, and victims often remain invisible. These trends make the continued work of APT, and groups like Health and Social Care Education in Human Trafficking (HSCEHT) and MECPATHS, all the more urgent.
Looking Ahead: Education, Awareness, Collaboration & Hope:
As APT Ireland marks 20 years, the work ahead remains vast. But the foundations laid over two decades, advocacy, inter-agency cooperation, educational outreach, and community mobilisation, give cause for
hope in this jubilee year. APT has identified some key priorities for the coming years:
Expand educational programmes — bringing the cAPTives programme into more schools, youth
work settings, and community groups.
Respond to digital exploitation — adapting awareness campaigns, prevention strategies, and
support services to the realities of social-media-driven recruitment and exploitation.
Strengthen collaboration across sectors — between statutory agencies, religious congregations,
non-profits, academic institutions, media and civil society — because lasting change requires a
network, not a single actor.
Above all: maintain vigilance, compassion, and solidarity.
Human trafficking thrives in isolation, stigma, poverty and invisibility. Through awareness, education, and collective commitment, we can challenge the demand, protect the vulnerable, and offer hope to those caught in the web of exploitation. On this 20th anniversary of APT Ireland, we honour the
many individuals; sisters, volunteers, social workers, educators, health professionals, advocates — whose dedication and courage have kept the issue of human trafficking alive in public consciousness, and who have worked quietly but resolutely to prevent exploitation and to protect the vulnerable.
At a time when modern slavery is becoming increasingly hidden and complex, the mission of APT Ireland remains as urgent as ever. May the next 20 years see even greater awareness, more effective prevention, and renewed solidarity with all victims of trafficking.
Brian O’ Toole – APT Ireland – December 2025