Campaign Overview

Get the Full Picture is an innovative campaign that has been developed in collaboration with survivors of human trafficking. It aims to highlight the prevalence of human trafficking for sexual exploitation throughout Ireland and tells the stories of those who are impacted by it. The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the issue by a series of outdoor advertising, national radio advertisements, digital media and regional workshops.

The campaign, launched in Dublin on November 23rd 2021 by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Allison Gilliland puts survivor voices at its core. This brings the harsh realities of the prevalence of sexual exploitation in Ireland to the forefront of the minds of the Irish public using authentic, first-hand experiences. The campaign calls on the public to know the signs of human trafficking and to report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities. In addition, the campaign aims to break the silence around sexual exploitation. The press release for the campaign’s launch can be found here.

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Know the Signs of Human Trafficking

While it is important to be aware that people can exhibit many different behaviours as a result of having experienced human trafficking, there are some common signs that may help you to recognise a potential victim. These are:

• Uncertainty around their legal status (a lack of ID or other legal documentation)
• Uncertainty around their housing situation or living circumstances
• Lack of control of their finances
• Appearing dishevelled, bruised, injured, or malnourished
• Expressions of being isolated, anxious, or frightened
• Seeming disoriented or not knowing where they are
• Not being allowed to speak for themselves or make their own decisions
• Not having access to their own money or mentioning owing a large debt to someone else for entry to Ireland
• Offering overly sexualised answers or negotiating in a sexual way
• Mentioning living in multiple places over a short period of time/ “touring”
• A lack of English or literacy skills
• A lack of friends or acquaintances in Ireland
• Watching the clock in meetings or seeming to always have limited time to do things
• Constantly seeing new neighbours in your community or what appear to be different neighbours every few weeks
  
  

How to report suspicious activity

You can report suspicious activity to your local Garda station or by dialing 999 in an emergency situation.

You can also contact the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit at  1800 666 111 or the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit at (086) 828 2704  or  (086) 828 2515.

All reports will be treated in the strictest confidence. It is vital to understand that sexual exploitation happens every day in Ireland and one phone call could be the difference in supporting someone to break the cycle of this heinous crime.

Outdoor Advertising

A series of outdoor advertising is displayed across Dublin and other locations to raise public awareness of the campaign and two key messages associated with the human trafficking environment in Ireland; that sexual exploitation takes place in every county in Ireland and that the purchase of sex is a driver of the trade surrounding human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Radio Advertising

The campaign also features national and regional advertisements that ran all over Ireland. These advertisements were constructed on the basis of the experiences of Ruhama service users. You can hear these advertisements below:

Campaign Exhibition

The images in this campaign are the product of a collaboration between two artists, Sinead Dowling and Colm Mullen, Ruhama service users, and the frontline team at Ruhama. The images are a representation of the experiences of service users, the hidden nature of the sex trade, and the widespread prevalence of the issue in Ireland.

The below images and video featured at the top of this page were first displayed at the campaign launch event at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) on November 23rd. The artists’ statement can be found here:

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Regional Workshops

A series of regional workshops have also been arranged to deliver training to partner organisations, related stakeholders and the general public about knowing the signs of human trafficking and how to respond to survivors of human trafficking.

The delivery of these workshops has been rescheduled in light of the prevailing public health situation relating to COVID-19 provisions. The workshop locations will be: Limerick, Portlaoise, Wexford, and Drogheda. To express interest in attending these events in the new year, please contact Aimee Millar at [email protected].

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