Picture: Senator Comyn Hosting the ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ campaign in 2025
Louth Senator Alison Comyn yesterday launched the second year of the “Hidden in Plain Sight” campaign in Leinster House, alongside Soroptimist International.
The national campaign aims to raise awareness of human trafficking, help communities understand the realities of exploitation, recognise the warning signs, and report suspected cases.
Just last week, nine brothels were inspected in Cork and a further six were inspected in Limerick as part of an international operation targeting human trafficking.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Senator Comyn said:
“Human trafficking is a hidden crisis happening in plain sight. Many people still believe it is something that only happens overseas or in major cities, but the reality is that exploitation is taking place in communities right across Ireland, including rural towns and villages.
“The purpose of this campaign is simple. We want people to understand what human trafficking looks like, recognise the warning signs and know how to report concerns. The more people understand the reality of this crime, the harder it becomes for traffickers to operate unnoticed.
The Louth senator said human trafficking disproportionately affects women and girls, with around six in every ten identified victims globally are female.
“Too many young women are lured to Ireland with false promises of employment or a better life, only to find themselves trapped in exploitation and abuse. In many cases, women are forced into prostitution within days of arriving and subjected to horrific levels of coercion and control.”
“There is also a demand side to this issue. The existence of a market for prostitution creates opportunities for organised crime groups to exploit vulnerable women. I hope this campaign encourages people to think about the human cost that can lie behind the services they are purchasing.”
