Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Claire Sugden has launched a consultation on a draft Northern Ireland Human Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy for 2016/17.

Ms Sugden said: “Human trafficking is an appalling crime where victims are robbed of their basic rights and forced into a life of slavery. Tackling these offences and the people who perpetrate them is a priority for me and for my Department.”

The draft strategy was developed by the Department of Justice after engagement with civil society partners on the DoJ’s Human Trafficking Engagement Group and statutory partners on the Organised Crime Task Force’s Immigration and Human Trafficking Subgroup.

Ms Sugden continued: “I believe that this draft strategy and the objectives and actions underpinning it reinforce Northern Ireland’s defences against these horrific crimes. The Strategy will facilitate effective investigations and prosecutions and will help to ensure that victims are identified, protected and supported.”

The consultation will run until Friday 9 September.

The Department is particularly keen to consult with organisations or agencies whose functions or activities seek to tackle human trafficking or slavery-like offences or to support the victims of these offences.