Five Albanian men were sentenced in London on 1 December to a total of 63 years for trafficking women to the United Kingdom from Lithuania. This coincides with UN International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
(2 December).

Agran Demarku and his brother Flamur were each sentenced in Southwark Crown Court to 18 years in prison, and Izzet Fejzullahu to 14 years for trafficking women and girls from Lithuania to the UK and forcing them into prostitution.

Other members of the trafficking gang were Xhevair Demarku, who pleaded guilty to trafficking within the UK and conspiracy to control prostitution and was sentenced to five years, and Bedari Demarku, who was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The case marks an important step forward in prosecutions of traffickers, but protection for the victims of trafficking remains a serious concern.
Anti-Slavery International is urging the UK Government to sign the Council of Europe's European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, the first international law which specifically protects trafficked people's rights. Under it, all trafficked people may remain in the country for at least 30 days to receive emergency medical assistance, safe housing and legal advice.

Currently support for trafficked people in the UK is available only to women trafficked into prostitution and prostituted in the country. 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; need for spaces far exceeds supply. Funding for this project is only guaranteed for another four months.

Anti-Slavery International, together with Amnesty International, ECPAT UK, UNICEF and other concerned organisations, will continue to lobby the UK Government to sign and ratify this vital convention. To date, 15 governments have signed the Convention.

Take action