The only international law guaranteeing trafficked people protection - the Council of Europe's Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings - is a year old from 17 May. But it remains unsigned by the UK Government.
Hundreds of women, children and men are trafficked into sexual exploitation and forced labour in the UK each year, yet the UK still has no guaranteed minimum standards of protection and support for all trafficked people. As a result, their treatment by the authorities is uncertain and may expose them to reprisals from traffickers, including retrafficking.
"Now is the time for the UK to commit to substantive protection for all trafficked people by pledging to ratify the Convention as part of the UK's action plan on trafficking. Further delay will only add to trafficked people's suffering", Aidan McQuade Director of Anti-Slavery International said.
Without guaranteeing protection for trafficked people, including at least 30 days to stay in the UK to receive emergency medical and psychosocial help, safe housing and legal advice as provided by the Convention, the victims of this crime remain at risk.
Countries with established systems of guaranteed protection that include permission to stay in the country to receive specialist support (a reflection delay), such as the Netherlands and Italy, prove not only do they help the trafficked person, but they also increase prosecutions against traffickers.
Currently the only support that exists in the UK is available to women who have been trafficked and prostituted in the country; access is limited by narrow criteria. There is no guaranteed support or protection for people trafficked into labour exploitation.
To date, 26 countries have signed the Convention.
The Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings was opened for signature on 16-17 May 2005. http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Trafficking
See the list of signatories: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=197&CM=8&DF=5/15/2006&CL=ENG
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and has 46 member states. It seeks to promote co-operation in Europe and the protection of human rights and democracy. http://www.coe.int
In January, the UK Government launched a public consultation on its national action plan against human trafficking. See the Government's proposal and Anti-Slavery International's response.
http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/europe
Anti-Slavery International http://www.antislavery.org
Please also see:
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women http://www.catwinternational.org
Make some noise for women in Darfur
Since 2003, thousands of women and girls have been raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence in Darfur. Join actor Don Cheadle and Snow Patrol in the international cry for justice.
http://noise.amnesty.org/site/c.adKIIVNsEkG/b.1630807/k.8DD9/Make_an_Impact.htm
Hundreds of women, children and men are trafficked into sexual exploitation and forced labour in the UK each year, yet the UK still has no guaranteed minimum standards of protection and support for all trafficked people. As a result, their treatment by the authorities is uncertain and may expose them to reprisals from traffickers, including retrafficking.
"Now is the time for the UK to commit to substantive protection for all trafficked people by pledging to ratify the Convention as part of the UK's action plan on trafficking. Further delay will only add to trafficked people's suffering", Aidan McQuade Director of Anti-Slavery International said.
Without guaranteeing protection for trafficked people, including at least 30 days to stay in the UK to receive emergency medical and psychosocial help, safe housing and legal advice as provided by the Convention, the victims of this crime remain at risk.
Countries with established systems of guaranteed protection that include permission to stay in the country to receive specialist support (a reflection delay), such as the Netherlands and Italy, prove not only do they help the trafficked person, but they also increase prosecutions against traffickers.
Currently the only support that exists in the UK is available to women who have been trafficked and prostituted in the country; access is limited by narrow criteria. There is no guaranteed support or protection for people trafficked into labour exploitation.
To date, 26 countries have signed the Convention.
The Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings was opened for signature on 16-17 May 2005. http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Trafficking
See the list of signatories: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=197&CM=8&DF=5/15/2006&CL=ENG
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and has 46 member states. It seeks to promote co-operation in Europe and the protection of human rights and democracy. http://www.coe.int
In January, the UK Government launched a public consultation on its national action plan against human trafficking. See the Government's proposal and Anti-Slavery International's response.
http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/europe
Anti-Slavery International http://www.antislavery.org
Please also see:
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women http://www.catwinternational.org
Make some noise for women in Darfur
Since 2003, thousands of women and girls have been raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence in Darfur. Join actor Don Cheadle and Snow Patrol in the international cry for justice.
http://noise.amnesty.org/site/c.adKIIVNsEkG/b.1630807/k.8DD9/Make_an_Impact.htm