The British government was today urged to increase the level of support available for victims of human trafficking in Northern Ireland.
The call was made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on what is Europe's anti-human trafficking day.
Chief commissioner Monica McWilliams said: "The Commission is concerned that victims of trafficking in Northern Ireland do not have adequate systems of safety and support available to them.
"We are therefore urging Government to improve on this situation as a matter of urgency."
A similar call was being made by the British Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights.
The PSNI has confirmed that trafficking is happening in the province, however because of the secretive and deceptive nature of the crime it has been difficult to estimate the extent of the problem and the numbers involved.
Ms Williams said the Commission welcomed Government commitments to ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Human Trafficking by the end of 2008.
"In particular we welcome the provisions for victims in the Convention, but what we need now is for practical measures to be clarified for Northern Ireland for victims to realise their rights to safety and support," she said.
PA