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take action on trafficking in the uk

Government research shows that there are an estimated 4,000 victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in the UK at any one time. Anti-Slavery International estimates that a further thousand more men, women and children are trafficked for the purpose of forced labour at any one time.

The Government has made progress on tackling trafficking in the UK. There had been 92 convictions for trafficking for sexual exploitation and four for trafficking for forced labour up to January 2009. However, although victims of trafficking have the right to compensation, and various compensation mechanisms are in existence in the UK, it is extremely rare for a trafficked person to receive compensation.

Compensation plays an important role in helping trafficked people recover from the physical, emotional and financial losses of their ordeal and also serves as a deterrent for traffickers.

Read the background information on this country action.

Please act now! Write to the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, to urge the Government to take action to ensure that victims of trafficking are able to access their right to compensation.

Fill in your name, address and email below and click on submit

If you are in the UK, please also write to your MP and ask him or her to raise your concerns with the Home Secretary about this issue. You can email your MP from Parliament's website or from the website www.theyworkforyou.com.

Thank you for your help. Please forward copies of any replies that you receive to g.wolfes@antislavery.org

Your message

Subject:

Dear Home Secretary,

I welcome the progress made by the Government so far in tackling human trafficking, particularly the adoption of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

However, although victims of trafficking are entitled to specialised support and protection under the Convention, I am concerned that in practice many obstacles remain in enabling them to access these rights. In reality, those subjected to trafficking in the UK are often not identified by the current referral system, are unable to access services to help them overcome their traumatic experiences, and are treated as criminals rather than victims of a crime.

These failures significantly hinder the recovery of victims from the psychological, physical and social consequences of their ordeal, alongside curtailing the fight by law-enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

I therefore urge the Government to successfully follow through on its commitments under the Convention by recognising the immediate need to: prevent further cases of trafficking; appropriately identify, protect and support victims, and adopt a victim-centred approach to anti-trafficking, thus ensuring they are treated fairly and can access the rights they are entitled to.

This would include the following measures:
- Reform of the identification process by adopting a multi-agency approach to decision-making, ensuring victims are referred to appropriate services, and they have a right of appeal.
- Increased resourcing for front-line services to assist victims of trafficking. 
- Appointment of an independent anti-trafficking watchdog based on the Dutch model to oversee anti-trafficking measures in the UK.
- Ensuring that no victims of trafficking are prosecuted for crimes they committed while under coercion. 
- Extension of the reflection period to 90 days to enable victims to properly reflect and improve cooperation with authorities.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

First name:

Last name:

Email:

Country

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Jeira holding a bottle of vodka

Jiera (19, Lithuanian) was a victim of human trafficking: "My life has been ruined by two men I thought were my friends. They trafficked me into prostitution was I was 17." She has taken refuge in drink and drugs.
© Karen Robinson/Panos Pictures