jacket abandoned on beach

© Lorena Ros & Dominic Ridley
People are trafficked to the UK from countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America

 
 
 
 

Take action on trafficking for forced labour in the UK

  

Currently there is no assistance for people trafficked into forced labour and there have been no prosecutions of this crime, even though it has been a criminal offence since 2004. Read the background information on this country action.

Anti-Slavery International's latest research found men and women were being trafficked into a range of forced labour including in agriculture, domestic work, construction, food processing and packaging, nursing, hospitality and the restaurant trade. The research underlined that trafficking needs to be seen as a human rights issue, and support services put in place for those who are being exploited.

Please act now by sending emails to the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP, and if you are in the UK, you can also write to your Member of Parliament and ask them to contact the Prime Minister.

Go to the Prime Minister's website where you can submit your email. Use the text below as a basis for your emails, although adapting it in your own words will have more of an impact.

If you are based in the UK, go to Parliament's website, where you can email your MP asking him or her to raise your concerns with the Prime Minister.

Thank you for your help, please continue your support by joining our Campaigns Network.

Dear Prime Minister

I welcome the progress made by the Government so far in tackling human trafficking, in particular the announcement that the Government will sign the Council of Europe Convention on trafficking. However there is a clear need to approach the issue of trafficking for forced labour from a human rights perspective. This focuses on the exploitation a person suffers, rather than considering it only as an immigration issue. I would urge the UK Government to take the following steps:

  • Take all necessary steps to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, 2005.

  • Retain the 1998 rule relating to migrant domestic workers which gives them one year renewable visas and the right to change their employer.

  • Establish an independent National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings in the UK, with a similar role to that of the Dutch National Rapporteur.

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

Yours sincerely

(your name)