celebration of the issue of human trafficking

Joint Press Release






At a ceremony in Dublin today the Minister for Disability, Equality and

Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD, and the Northern Ireland Justice Minister

David Ford, MLA presented prizes to the winners of a photography and video

competition held for third level students throughout Ireland to raise

awareness of the issue of human trafficking.



The idea of the competition was to encourage third level students to become

aware of the issue of human trafficking and to consider what it really

means, while at the same time showcasing their huge creative talents.

Entrants were asked to research human trafficking and present their

understanding of the issue via a photograph or short video. Entries were

then judged by an independent panel comprising Ms Amanda Byram, TV

Presenter and Spokesperson for the anti-trafficking organisation Love 146;

Irish Artist Colin Martin from the Royal Hibernian Academy and Journalist

Eamonn Mallie.



Judges’ marks accounted for 80% of the overall marks for each entry with

the remaining 20% decided by members of the public through Facebook where

they voted on the 12 short-listed entries. The prize winners in each

category were:-



Video:

1st Tony Farrelly Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown

2nd Fergal Murphy Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown

3rd John Hyland Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown



Photography:

1st Patrick Hughes Athlone Institute of Technology

2nd Nathan Cafolla Athlone Institute of Technology

3rd Alison Metoudi Queens University



Speaking at the ceremony today Minister Lynch said: “Trafficking of human

beings for sexual and/or labour exploitation or the removal of organs is a

heinous crime that has no place on the island of Ireland. I would like to

congratulate all those who took part in this competition and in particular

the winners in each category. The standard of entries in the competition

was exceptionally high and showed a great understanding among students of

the issues surrounding human trafficking. It is so important that

everyone, including the youth in society today, is aware of what human

trafficking is and can take action by reporting their suspicions to the

authorities.”





Justice Minister David Ford said: “The competition provided a great

opportunity for my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality to

tap into the energy, enthusiasm and ideas that third level students have on

this issue. I am impressed by the creativity displayed and believe that

the innovative videos and photos produced will help to raise awareness of

human trafficking, especially amongst the student population.





Like Minister Lynch I would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry

to the competition and offer my congratulations to those who were

short-listed and to those who are receiving an award this evening.”





Members of the public can report suspicions of human trafficking

anonymously to the Garda Síochána through Crimestoppers at 1 800 25 00 25

or via a dedicated email blueblindfold@garda.ie. Anyone with suspicions of

human trafficking in Northern Ireland can report their concerns anonymously

to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



18 December 2012



ENDS







Note for Editors:



The joint human trafficking photography & video competition was launched to

coincide with EU Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October, 2012.



The prize awarded in each category was as follows:



1st prize €1,000

2nd prize €500

3rd prize €250



The twelve short-listed entries can be viewed on both the AHTU’s Facebook

page and the OCTF’s Facebook page.



The title of the Facebook pages are:

Anti Human Trafficking Unit Ireland

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Anti-Human-Trafficking-Unit-Ireland/305656599447325





Organised Crime Task Force Northern Ireland

www.facebook.com/pages/OCTF/136184833076303





Regards

Sport against Racism Ireland

I am sending you a link to an article in today's (19th December) Irish


Times about the Ireland Under-15 football team which defeated Juventus

yesterday in Qatar. The team's coach, Niall Harrison, says that this is

the most ethnically diverse squad ever sent abroad by the FAI.



There are interviews with Des Tomlinson, the FAI's Intercultural Officer

who is also on the board of "Show Racism the Red Card", with Ken McCue of

"Sport against Racism Ireland", and with Johnny Bootman of Corduff FC. All

four spoke of the challenges young players face and the contribution they

are making.



http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1219/1224327997546.html



Regards

programmes

I am sending you a link to an article in today's (19th December) Irish


Times about the Ireland Under-15 football team which defeated Juventus

yesterday in Qatar. The team's coach, Niall Harrison, says that this is

the most ethnically diverse squad ever sent abroad by the FAI.



There are interviews with Des Tomlinson, the FAI's Intercultural Officer

who is also on the board of "Show Racism the Red Card", with Ken McCue of

"Sport against Racism Ireland", and with Johnny Bootman of Corduff FC. All

four spoke of the challenges young players face and the contribution they

are making.



http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1219/1224327997546.html



Regards

programmes

I am sending you a recent press cutting from the Irish Examiner reporting


on the prosecution of a man in Cork for racially motivated verbal abuse of

a non-Irish national.



http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/elderly-man-avoids-conviction-for-racial-abuse-on-street-216723.html



Regards

Programmes

I am sending you a link to an RTE programme ("Coal, Frankincense and Mirror


") which was broadcast last night (17th December 2012). The documentary

followed the making of Nativity Plays in 4 schools around Ireland and

showed some of the diversity of populations in Irish schools today.

http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10096255/



Regards

People Before Profit Alliance Councillor Brid Smith in support of Egyptian people Struggle

Emergency Motion passed at Dublin City Council 8th February, 2011

This Council declares its total solidarity with the heroic democracy protesters of Egypt, and especially with those currently occupying Tahrir (Liberation) Square. It strongly supports their demands: for the immediate removal of the dictator, Hosni Mubarak, from his office as President; for the repeal of the anti-democratic Emergency Law (which since 1981 has given the notorious State Security Forces the right to detain people without charge or trial); for the dismantling of the whole Mubarak regime of murder torture and corruption; for full freedom of the press and genuine democratic elections. This Council resolves to refuse all collaboration with the illegitimate Mubarak Government or its agents .
This Council also calls upon the Irish Government to; a) end all diplomatic relations with the Mubarak/Suleiman regime until such time as a new democratically elected government is established; b) to make a public statement of its support for the democracy movement; c)to vote accordingly at the United Nations and in the EU Council of Ministers and European Parliament; d) to call publicly for Mubarak to be put on trial at the International Court of Human Rights at the Hague.

- Councillor Brid Smith
People Before Profit Alliance

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