The Council of Europe agreed the first international law which specifically protects trafficked people's rights on 3 May.

The European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings provides all trafficked people with guaranteed minimum standards of protection, whether trafficked into sexual exploitation or forced labour.

This includes at least 30 days to remain in the country to receive emergency medical assistance, safe housing and legal advice.

The Convention was opened for signature and ratification two weeks later. To date, of the Council's 46 members, 15 governments, including Austria, Italy, Portugal and Moldova, have signed. Spain, France and the United Kingdom are among those that have not.

The UK Government feels the Convention "contains measures which we believe may actively encourage people traffickers and may place more vulnerable victims at risk", but it will keep the option of signing under review.

Even though all forms of trafficking are criminal offences in the UK, there are no guaranteed measures to help all people trafficked into the country. The only support that exists is available only to women trafficked into prostitution and prostituted in the UK.

Anti-Slavery International, together with Amnesty International, ECPAT UK, UNICEF and other concerned organisations, will continue to lobby the Government to sign and ratify this important new law.