Child Trafficking Colin Walker Deputy Director ECPAT UK
ECPAT UK End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking ECPAT UK is a children s rights charity campaigning for the protection of child victims of trafficking and children exploited in tourism and the prevention of such crimes Research, Campaigning, Training, Youth Programme Network in over 75 countries
Definition of Human Trafficking UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime The Palmero Protocol : The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation" Child - anyone under the age of 18 Children have special legal status
UK - What is the evidence? NRM to date: 784 children referred (29 per cent of total) Sexual exploitation = 28 per cent Domestic servitude = 14 per cent Labour exploitation = 31 per cent Key source countries: Romania Vietnam Slovakia China UK Nigeria
Why are children trafficked? Why? Whom? Demand & supply Poverty Lack of education Discrimination Cultural attitudes & beliefs Inadequate local laws & infrastructure Political conflict Family Community Opportunistic individuals Organised criminal gangs
Traffickers control Violence: physical & sexual Removal of identity documents Threats Social isolation Debt bondage Dependency Voodoo - traditional beliefs
Sexual Exploitation Brothels, nail bars, massage parlours, night clubs, residential homes, child abuse images Children trafficked for other forms will often also be vulnerable to sexual exploitation Mainly girls 12-17, although little research conducted about boys Most identified source areas are China, Eastern Europe, Africa, UK Nationals
Domestic Servitude Working in domestic households Responsible for all household chores and caring for children No education Often suffering physical, sexual, emotional abuse African tradition which is being abused Often living in private fostering arrangement Most identified source areas are East and West Africa
Forced Labour Restaurants, agriculture and construction sites Lour hours in hazardous conditions Poor, cramped living conditions Often expensive physical and sexual abuse Key source areas: East/West Africa, Afghanistan, China, Vietnam
Enforced Criminality Pick pocketing, ATM theft, DVD selling, cannabis cultivation Organised gangs Controlled through debt bondage Locked in homes Key source areas: Vietnam (cannabis), Eastern Europe (esp. Romania)
Fraud Illegal adoptions, benefit fraud Passed around communities Bought illegally internationally Child as commodity vulnerable to abuse Key source areas: Africa, China
Forced Marriage Mainly girls trafficking in to and out of UK Forced to marry older men, or to help others gain legal status Vulnerable to domestic servitude and sexual exploitation Key source areas: Pakistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh
Key issues Culture of disbelief Immigration issue rather than child protection Identification Multi agency safeguarding response Safe and secure accommodation Carers with parental responsibility Robust Care Plan Age assessment Access to legal professionals Prosecution rather than protection Poor prosecution of traffickers themselves
3 small steps Guardianship Child victims of trafficking alone in foreign land without support from trusted adults Huge variations in level of support provided No one with parental responsibility No one to provide guidance ECPAT UK calling for a system of guardianship to be introduced across country UK current in breach of international obligations
3 small steps Anti Trafficking Commissioner Lack of reliable data about trafficking No independent oversight of Government s anti-trafficking activity 2005 Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
3 small steps Safe Accommodation Hugely important issue Big variations in quality of care Far too many children go missing once placed in care Need for implementation of common principles
Get involved ECPAT UK exists to campaign We need your help Visit our website Constant stream of actions that you can take
Thank you www.ecpat.org.uk 0207 233 9887 info@ecpat.org.uk c.walker@ecpat.org.uk