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Sex trafficking 'must be tackled' | Sex trafficking 'must be tackled' |
(1 day later) | |
Ministers must take "immediate action" to end the growth of people trafficking in the UK, MPs and peers say. | Ministers must take "immediate action" to end the growth of people trafficking in the UK, MPs and peers say. |
Unpublished Home Office figures suggest 4,000 women victims of trafficking for prostitution were in the country at any one time in 2003, an inquiry found. | Unpublished Home Office figures suggest 4,000 women victims of trafficking for prostitution were in the country at any one time in 2003, an inquiry found. |
The Joint Committee on Human Rights is calling for more protection for immigrants and specialist support for victims of sexual exploitation. | The Joint Committee on Human Rights is calling for more protection for immigrants and specialist support for victims of sexual exploitation. |
The Home Office would "look carefully" at the proposals, a spokeswoman said. | The Home Office would "look carefully" at the proposals, a spokeswoman said. |
'Serious human rights issue' | 'Serious human rights issue' |
The committee described trafficking as "one of the most serious human rights issues in the modern world". | The committee described trafficking as "one of the most serious human rights issues in the modern world". |
Official figures say between 142 and 1,420 women were trafficked to the UK in 1998. | Official figures say between 142 and 1,420 women were trafficked to the UK in 1998. |
Of even greater concern is the lack of knowledge we have of the extent of the trafficking of young children Andrew Dismore, committee chairman href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_10_06_trafficking.pdf" class="">Human-trafficking report (506KB) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
The committee said that: "10 years ago, 85% of women in brothels were UK citizens [and] now 85% were from outside UK". | The committee said that: "10 years ago, 85% of women in brothels were UK citizens [and] now 85% were from outside UK". |
It also called for data on men and children trafficked for work to be compiled. | It also called for data on men and children trafficked for work to be compiled. |
The government had to set up a national identification system and improve training in the identification of victims. | The government had to set up a national identification system and improve training in the identification of victims. |
The committee's chairman, Labour MP Andrew Dismore, said: "The growth and extent of people trafficking into the UK is extremely worrying. | The committee's chairman, Labour MP Andrew Dismore, said: "The growth and extent of people trafficking into the UK is extremely worrying. |
"We should recognise women trafficked for prostitution through deception, fear and violence as victims of this serious crime and not immigration offenders or criminals themselves. | "We should recognise women trafficked for prostitution through deception, fear and violence as victims of this serious crime and not immigration offenders or criminals themselves. |
"Of even greater concern is the lack of knowledge we have of the extent of the trafficking of young children, for domestic servitude or, even worse, labour in the drugs trade." | "Of even greater concern is the lack of knowledge we have of the extent of the trafficking of young children, for domestic servitude or, even worse, labour in the drugs trade." |
'No adequate system' | 'No adequate system' |
Workers were often "trapped by violent and abusive employers", he added. | Workers were often "trapped by violent and abusive employers", he added. |
Daniela Reale, exploited children adviser at Save the Children, said: "At the moment there are no adequate systems in place for these children. | Daniela Reale, exploited children adviser at Save the Children, said: "At the moment there are no adequate systems in place for these children. |
The children involved are particularly susceptible as they may not speak English, and have no one to turn to for help Natalie CroninNSPCC | |
"Any child who has been trafficked will have had a deeply traumatic experience and will need crucial specialist support including safe house accommodation, access to education and basic services and support to address the trauma they have experienced." | "Any child who has been trafficked will have had a deeply traumatic experience and will need crucial specialist support including safe house accommodation, access to education and basic services and support to address the trauma they have experienced." |
Children's charity NSPCC also said more help was needed for children. | |
"Child trafficking is a cruel and abhorrent form of child abuse," NSPCC head of policy and public affairs Natalie Cronin said. | |
"The children involved are particularly susceptible as they may not speak English, and have no one to turn to for help." | |
The UK is a major destination for human trafficking victims, mostly women forced to work as prostitutes, the United Nations says. | The UK is a major destination for human trafficking victims, mostly women forced to work as prostitutes, the United Nations says. |
The committee's report urges the government to publish research into organised crime markets. The research is currently being conducted by the Home Office. | The committee's report urges the government to publish research into organised crime markets. The research is currently being conducted by the Home Office. |
The protection of victims should be the focus of all policies, it adds. | The protection of victims should be the focus of all policies, it adds. |
And the government should sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, the report says. | And the government should sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, the report says. |
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The Home Office co-operated fully with the JCHR inquiry and provided both written and oral evidence. | A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The Home Office co-operated fully with the JCHR inquiry and provided both written and oral evidence. |
"We will now look carefully at the report and its recommendations." | "We will now look carefully at the report and its recommendations." |
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