Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2019, Blaðsíða 12

For years, Iceland has been under inter-
national and domestic pressure to take
government action to address what
experts have persistently pointed to as
abundant symptoms of human traffick-
ing. Now, rescuing victims may soon
be more practical, as the Ministry of
Justice will head meetings this month
to organise national efforts against the
control and exploitation of individuals.
In Iceland?
The United States’ Trafficking in
Persons Report revealed in June that
domestic and foreign victims are being
exploited in Iceland, specifically via
labour trafficking, sex trafficking, and
forced begging. This data was derived
from local sources who continually
see cases matching human trafficking
criteria, but are unable to make any
headway towards convictions due to
Iceland’s current system to combat traf-
ficking, or lack thereof.
Local human trafficking is rarely
discussed publicly in Iceland, largely
due to misconceptions of what the
crime actually looks like in our commu-
nities. Public awareness is one of many
components that should be organised
under a National Action Plan To Combat
Trafficking in Persons. This plan would
set strategic prioritisations to combat
trafficking nationally, and include who
will take care of what, how, and with
what funding. There is currently no
such plan after the last (generally criti-
cised) plan expired in 2016.
“The worst thing about trafficking
in Iceland—the reason there is no real
progress—is because no one has been
made responsible for taking specific
measures in the fight against traffick-
ing,” explains Drífa Snædal. As the pres-
ident of the Icelandic Confederation
of Labour, and former director of the
Women's Shelter, she has encountered
numerous cases of trafficking through-
out her career. It is this regular expo-
sure to the problem that has made Drífa
a passionate advocate for an action plan
to assign such responsibilities.
A Failing Structure
The current lack of an action plan to
combat trafficking is not only a viola-
tion of international law; it is also cost-
ing current victims their freedom.
“Trafficking cases we have identi-
fied are being lost,” says Drífa. “We
have failed to take care of these victims
properly.” Even when someone is iden-
tified as a victim of trafficking, Drífa
explains that a variety of different
parties must organise to allocate food,
lodging, legal aid, and medical and
psychological services. Collaborating
across organisations and ministries
while simultaneously working to build
a solid legal case has proven unsuc-
cessful.
“Good work is being done,” Drifa
assures, “but it has been taking far
too long to actually help victims.”
Victims often leave Iceland before any
real justice can be achieved, and risk
re-victimization when lacking proper
rehabilitative intervention.
“Trafficking is like drugs,” Drífa
explains, “You get the statistics out of
the issue based on the resources you
put in.”
Currently, those statistics leave us
with only one successful human traf-
ficking conviction, which was made in
2010.
Progression Towards
Real Change
Drífa is optimistic about the commit-
tee's meeting this month to develop
an implementable action plan. “I feel
there has been a change in the politi-
cal attitude,” she said, noting that the
committee was a commitment from a
“Government's Focus of Action” policy
released in March.
Left-Green Party MP Andrés Ingi
Jónsson also said he is optimistic, but
cautiously so. “Not having an Action
Plan for so long gave the impression
that combating trafficking wasn't a
very high priority,” he explains. “Hope-
fully the new plan will be followed by
concrete action and maybe—most
importantly—the allocation of neces-
sary resources”
Drífa’s first recommendation, as a
committee member, will be to assign
a national coordinator to optimize
victim assistance and provide much
needed oversight. The results of the
committee meetings will determine
the national capabilities to combat
trafficking and, ultimately, victims’
chances for escape.
Words:
Logan Sigurðsson
Photo:
Art Bicnick
12 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14— 2019News
WHALES, PUFFINS & REYKJAVÍK
May
10:00, 12:00
14:00
June
10:00, 12:00
14:00, 16:00
20:00
July & August
09:00, 10:00, 11:00
12:00, 13:00, 14:00
15:00, 16:00, 20:00
Price: 21.990 ISK
#WHALESAFARI • #THEULTIMATEWHALEWATCHING • #CLOSERTONATURE
+354 497 0000 • INFO@WHALESAFARI.IS • WHALESAFARI.IS
“AMAZING
EXPERIENCE 10/10,
WOULD BOOK AGAIN!”
“THE COOLEST
EXPERIENCE IN
ICELAND!!”
“WE WOULD HIGHLY
RECOMMEND THIS TOUR.
DEFINITELY A 5 STAR COMPANY”

2018
CERTIFCATE of
EXCELLENCE
P R E M I U M
WHALE
WATCHING TOURS
CLASSIC
PUFFIN
PREMIUM
PUFFIN
EASY FAMILY TOUR UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
1ST OF MAY - 15TH OF AUGUST
08:00, 10:00, 12:00 & 14:00
PRICE
ISK:
7-15 YEARS: 3250 ISK
0-6 YEARS: FREE6.500
1ST OF MAY - 31ST OF MAY
1ST OF JUNE - 20TH OF AUGUST
MINIMUM HEIGHT & AGE:
145 CM / 10 YEARS
9:00, 13:00 & 17:00
9.30, 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.30,
14.30, 15.30, 16.30 & 17.30
PRICE
ISK: 9.990
#PUFFINTOURS #MRPUFFIN /REYKJAVIKBIRDWATCHING WWW.PUFFINTOURS.IS +354 497 2000 INFO@MRPUFFIN.IS
PUFFIN & BIRDWATCHING
UP TO 13 DAILY DEPARTURES
FROM REYKJAVIK OLD HARBOUR
Hope For Victims Escaping
Trafficking in Iceland
The new human trafficking comittee will start meetings this month
"We have failed to take care of these victims properly."