Member's statement: All-Party Group on Modern Slavery and Sexual Exploitation: Inquiry

Member's statement by Mr Peter Martin on 19 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Peter Martin

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

19 January 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

All-Party Group on Modern Slavery and Sexual Exploitation: Inquiry

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5321998

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In 2015, my DUP colleague Lord Morrow got his Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill through the Assembly, and it became law. I am thankful to him for that. I am also thankful to Christian Action Research and Education, a Christian social policy charity, for its work at that time and its ongoing focus on the issue. However, human trafficking remains a pervasive, adaptive and deeply entrenched issue. Criminal networks continue to exploit gaps between immigration systems, labour markets and social protections, and technology has accelerated recruitment and control. As the chair of the newly formed all-party group on modern slavery and sexual exploitation, I am keen to push forward with our inquiry into the operation and impact of pimping websites in Northern Ireland. Globally, growing evidence shows that websites that cynically attempt to label themselves as "adult services" websites profit from the trafficking, exploitation and abuse of women and girls. Such websites are often heralded as providing women with empowerment. Instead, they are full of adverts for women who have been trafficked, deceived and manipulated. A House of Commons Committee recently found that the advertising of sexual services has moved increasingly online and that adult services websites are "the most significant enabler" of trafficking for sexual exploitation. I will pause briefly to thank the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, for her excellent work and research in the area. I also bring the Assembly's attention to the brilliant work of Ruth Breslin, who is the director of the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute in the South. Critical to addressing commercial sexual exploitation is tackling the persistent myth of choice. The presence of money does not negate the presence of coercion. Where there is an imbalance of power, or where there is vulnerability, fear or a lack of viable alternatives, consent is rendered meaningless. I am proud that my party, the DUP, introduced that legislation to protect women. However, we must all now refocus and adapt our energy to combat the new and pervasive enemy that is in our midst. If we are to call ourselves a society that values dignity and justice, we must ensure that exploitation is neither tolerated nor ignored. The measure of our commitment will be found not in words but in the protection that we offer our most vulnerable.

390 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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