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BIRMINGHAM DOCTORS IN SLAVERY
STORM
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Two Birmingham doctors are wanted by police
for questioning in connection with alleged abuse of their 15-year-old
domestic worker.
The child domestic was brought by the couple when they came to take
up posts in Birmingham hospitals from Pakistan.The case raises two
issues which are of great concern to Anti-Slavery International.
The first is the growing problem of the abuse of domestic workers
in the UK. Anti-Slavery International and the support group Kalayaan
know of over 2000 cases since 1987 where domestic workers have been
subjected to extreme abuse by their employers. This is in the London
area alone.
The second issue is the world-wide problem of child domestic work.
This is the single largest employment category for girls in the world.
In many countries, including Pakistan, children may effectively be
sold into domestic service in order to pay of debts that their parents
have taken on. This group is extremely vulnerable to, psychological,
physical and often sexual abuse.
There is rarely any legislation regulating or prohibiting child domestic
work.Anti-Slavery International is supporting a Bill currently going
through the House of Lords that will give added protection to overseas
domestic workers in the UK. Anti-Slavery is also lobbying for governments
including Pakistan to introduce effective legislation to stop the
abuse of child domestic workers
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| 6 January 1997 |
ASI/N/1/97 |
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