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Four leading UK charities (Amnesty International, Anti-Slavery
International, the National Federation of Women's Institute and
UNICEF UK) have called on the UK Government to sign up to the new
European
Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings,
which is formally opened for signature at the Council of Europe's
Summit of Heads State and Government meeting happening in Warsaw
today and tomorrow (16-17 May 2005).
Trafficking of men, women and children into the United Kingdom
for sexual exploitation and for other forms of forced labour, including
domestic slavery, agricultural work, packing and construction, is
a significant problem.
Although trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation are criminal
offences in the UK, the Government has failed to develop comprehensive
measures to protect and support people who have been trafficked
into the country. Signing up to the European Convention, the first
international law specifically for protecting trafficked people's
rights, will help guarantee this vital protection.
Home Office research in 2000, estimated that up to 1,420 women
were trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation (1). Trafficked
women and girls, from countries including Moldova, Romania, Albania,
Thailand and Nigeria have been forced to work as prostitutes in
every London borough (2). According to ECPAT UK research in 2004,
social services in 32 out of 33 London Boroughs are concerned about
trafficked children within their care (3).
Victims of trafficking are tricked or violently coerced into leaving
their homes. Maria, a Ukrainian woman, left her country to work
in Italy to raise money for her daughter's education. When her visa
ran out she met a man in Italy who said that he could arrange work
for her in the UK. She entered the UK with him, but once she arrived
here she was beaten, raped and forced into prostitution. She was
sold three times while in the UK and was made to work in various
parts of London.
The new European Convention Against Trafficking guarantees trafficked
people:
- a breathing period ('reflection period') of at least 30 days
during which they can receive support to aid their recovery, including
safe housing and emergency medical support;
- temporary residence permits for trafficked people who may be
in danger if they return to their country, and/or if it is necessary
to assist criminal proceedings.
Currently the only support that exists in the UK is available only
to women trafficked into prostitution and prostituted in the UK.
The Home Office funds the London-based Poppy Project, but only for
25 places, with access provided under narrow criteria and dependent
on the woman's agreeing to co-operate in an investigation or prosecution;
demand for spaces exceeds supply.
"The trafficking industry brutalises people and destroys
lives all over Europe on a daily basis. Victims of trafficking have
had all of their very basic human rights violated -- we must turn
the system around so that they are recognised as the victims and
not the perpetrators of crime.The European Convention is
an opportunity to protect these people. The UK government must sign
up to the new Convention." Amnesty International UK Director
Kate Allen said.
"We welcome this new Convention, which provides minimum
standards to protect trafficked people's rights. Anti-Slavery International
urges all members of the Council of Europe to take immediate steps
to ratify this important Convention." Mary Cunneen, Director
of Anti-Slavery International and member of the European Union's
Experts Group on Trafficking said.
"Our members believe the trafficking of women and children
is a crime against humanity and decisive action needs to be taken
now. In this day and age, it is horrifying and unacceptable that
women are being brought into the UK to be beaten, raped, and forced
into prostitution. Moreover, it is inexcusable that there is only
one safe house for victims of trafficking in the UK. The National
Federation of Women's Institutes calls upon all European states
including the UK, to give their full support to this Convention
and put in place the necessary measures to support, protect and
respect the human rights of victims of trafficking." Barbara
Gill, Chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes,
said.
"Trafficked children are abused, raped and exploited right
here in the UK, yet there is still no safe house providing specialist
care and protection for children. Without this special protection
children remain at risk even whilst in the care of social service
departments. They live in constant fear, under threat of harm to
themselves and their families, and need unconditional round-the-clock
care and support, which (to our disgrace) is not currently available
in the UK. The Council of Europe's Convention Against Trafficking
would oblige the UK to meet minimum binding standards for the protection
and support of trafficked people. We should be the first to sign
up!" David Bull, Executive Director of UNICEF UK said.
Link to
international news release:
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