The Irish Government has revealed concerns that 22 Somali children are...

Dublin (Caasimada Online) — The child and family support agency in Ireland (Tusla) has informed the police of strong suspicions that 22 Somali children who arrived in the country unaccompanied have become victims of trafficking and human trafficking, as reported on Tuesday by The Irish Examiner.

Tusla provided statistics to the newspaper indicating that this year it has expressed concern about 35 children who have arrived in the country, with Somali children accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total number of suspected cases.

The information forwarded to security agencies is limited to suspicions of trafficking, and it does not officially confirm that all these children have become victims.

The Tusla agency did not comment on individual cases, and the newspaper did not disclose the ages of the children, the routes they took to enter the country, or the type of exploitation suspected.

Other children related to this warning include five from Afghanistan, two from Vietnam, Eritrea, and Gambia, and one child each from Guinea and Pakistan.

The agency stated that Somalia, Afghanistan, and Ukraine are the most common countries of origin for the unaccompanied children currently in Tusla's care facilities.

“Most children and young people arriving alone in Ireland are fleeing wars or humanitarian crises in their home countries,” a spokesperson for Tusla told the newspaper, noting that children who are without their parents face mental health issues, isolation, language barriers, and uncertainty about their future.

Identification challenges for victims

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) warned the government last September that the country has failed to officially recognize many child victims of human trafficking.

The commission's report showed that security agencies officially identified 18 children as victims in 2025, while in 2024 there were 10 children, with neither year including children born in Ireland.

The report specifically highlighted the dangers faced by unaccompanied children and those in government care facilities, as they do not receive adequate protection and support.

The report also stated that the police often do not recognize child victims used in criminal activities, due to confusion surrounding the legal definition of human trafficking.

The commission clarified that the trafficking of children does not require crossing a border or the use of force, but the recruitment of children for exploitative purposes is sufficient for that crime's definition.

Teresa Buczkowska, the executive director of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, stated in a statement: “There are a significant number of victims that remain unrecognized, and even when they are recognized, they often do not receive the protection and support they need.”

Delay in the implementation of the laws

A law passed in 2024 stipulated that other independent agencies would share the official power with the police to identify victims of trafficking.

The Minister of Justice of Ireland, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed in a written submission to parliament that the government is committed to strengthening the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to assist victims, but he acknowledged that the plan has faced operational challenges, particularly in how these changes would align with the country’s immigration and asylum system.

The minister noted that currently, the police of the country (An Garda Síochána) are the only ones legally able to identify victims, although the government is pursuing a step-by-step plan to grant that power to additional agencies.

The Human Rights Commission has urged the government of Ireland to promptly and without delay implement the legal framework, and to create a specific system for the protection of children that includes professional training and genuine accountability.