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| Experts call on government to appoint human trafficking commissioner | |
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| As the British government makes a renewed commitment to eradicate human trafficking, policy experts are warning that the system itself is still working against the effective protection of victims. | As the British government makes a renewed commitment to eradicate human trafficking, policy experts are warning that the system itself is still working against the effective protection of victims. |
| Campaigners say there is a pressing need for independent leadership in the form of a human trafficking commissioner. Opening an exhibition about human trafficking recently, David Cameron said: "Modern day slavery comes in many forms and we have to have a really concerted approach to crush it, to stamp it out and to make sure that we look at the rights of those who are affected." | Campaigners say there is a pressing need for independent leadership in the form of a human trafficking commissioner. Opening an exhibition about human trafficking recently, David Cameron said: "Modern day slavery comes in many forms and we have to have a really concerted approach to crush it, to stamp it out and to make sure that we look at the rights of those who are affected." |
| That promise was reiterated at a recent conference organised by the Salvation Army in London. The Salvation Army has been providing support to victims of trafficking since 2009. Under the national referral mechanism, victims in the UK are given 45 days of support – known as reflection and recovery period. The Salvation Army contracts out the provision of this support to smaller groups around the country, who provide specialist services such as housing and counselling. | That promise was reiterated at a recent conference organised by the Salvation Army in London. The Salvation Army has been providing support to victims of trafficking since 2009. Under the national referral mechanism, victims in the UK are given 45 days of support – known as reflection and recovery period. The Salvation Army contracts out the provision of this support to smaller groups around the country, who provide specialist services such as housing and counselling. |
| In her opening speech at the conference, the UK minister for victims Helen Grant said that her ambition is for the government to "eradicate all forms of trafficking." The conference had government backing and brought together professionals from across a wide range of sectors to raise awareness of trafficking among frontline staff in local authorities. | In her opening speech at the conference, the UK minister for victims Helen Grant said that her ambition is for the government to "eradicate all forms of trafficking." The conference had government backing and brought together professionals from across a wide range of sectors to raise awareness of trafficking among frontline staff in local authorities. |
| Experts, however, raised concerns about whether the focus is on the areas where change is needed most. | Experts, however, raised concerns about whether the focus is on the areas where change is needed most. |
| Klara Skrirankrova, trafficking policy co-ordinator at Anti Slavery international said that networking opportunities at the conference, while helpful, left her with concerns about how government policy is being implemented on the ground. "I've never met the service providers before; some are completely new to trafficking. It's a big eye opener for them, they didn't appreciate all the issues that this client group have and how difficult it is caring for them." | Klara Skrirankrova, trafficking policy co-ordinator at Anti Slavery international said that networking opportunities at the conference, while helpful, left her with concerns about how government policy is being implemented on the ground. "I've never met the service providers before; some are completely new to trafficking. It's a big eye opener for them, they didn't appreciate all the issues that this client group have and how difficult it is caring for them." |
| Skrirankrova worries that the way the system is set up, giving 45 days of funded support to each victim, leaves these groups unable to offer the help they want. "There is frustration at the limited scope of what is possible to provide under government funding. | Skrirankrova worries that the way the system is set up, giving 45 days of funded support to each victim, leaves these groups unable to offer the help they want. "There is frustration at the limited scope of what is possible to provide under government funding. |
| "There is a clear message that it is impossible to do anything in the 45 day reflection period. To draw a parallel, imagine a very vulnerable British person getting such help, then add in that this person is an irregular migrant who doesn't speak the local language; 45 days is literally impossible." | "There is a clear message that it is impossible to do anything in the 45 day reflection period. To draw a parallel, imagine a very vulnerable British person getting such help, then add in that this person is an irregular migrant who doesn't speak the local language; 45 days is literally impossible." |
| Anti Slavery International is part of the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Network, set up to monitor government compliance with EU trafficking conventions. Working with child trafficking group ECPAT, they are currently launching a renewed campaign for a trafficking commissioner, aimed primarily at politicians and fellow professionals. | Anti Slavery International is part of the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Network, set up to monitor government compliance with EU trafficking conventions. Working with child trafficking group ECPAT, they are currently launching a renewed campaign for a trafficking commissioner, aimed primarily at politicians and fellow professionals. |
| They want to see independent oversight of government policy, an independence which they say the all-party parliamentary group of human trafficking, however useful its work, cannot provide. | They want to see independent oversight of government policy, an independence which they say the all-party parliamentary group of human trafficking, however useful its work, cannot provide. |
| Another major focus of the conference was the issue of protection of victims within the criminal justice system. Representatives of the Home Office, police and Crown Prosecution Service all spoke about their commitment to protecting victims who give evidence against traffickers. | Another major focus of the conference was the issue of protection of victims within the criminal justice system. Representatives of the Home Office, police and Crown Prosecution Service all spoke about their commitment to protecting victims who give evidence against traffickers. |
| But Ryszard Piotrowicz, professor of law at Aberystwyth University raised the question of the criminalisation of people who are forced to commit crimes by their traffickers. He said: "When it comes to crime a lot needs to be done to inform people who come into contact with victims of trafficking. Every legal system recognises the notion of duress, but that principle is not sufficiently recognised by the police, prosecutors, judges. Somebody shouldn't be held responsible for a crime they didn't choose to commit." | But Ryszard Piotrowicz, professor of law at Aberystwyth University raised the question of the criminalisation of people who are forced to commit crimes by their traffickers. He said: "When it comes to crime a lot needs to be done to inform people who come into contact with victims of trafficking. Every legal system recognises the notion of duress, but that principle is not sufficiently recognised by the police, prosecutors, judges. Somebody shouldn't be held responsible for a crime they didn't choose to commit." |
| The British government has been criticised in recent weeks over what lawyers describe as the 'routine' conviction of children and adults for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked. | The British government has been criticised in recent weeks over what lawyers describe as the 'routine' conviction of children and adults for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked. |
| Piotrowicz also believes that an independent commissioner would provide a crucial way of holding the government to account. | Piotrowicz also believes that an independent commissioner would provide a crucial way of holding the government to account. |
| Andrew Wallis, chief executive of charity Unseen, chaired the recent report on trafficking by the Centre for Social Justice, 'It happens here'. The report also called for an independent commissioner and made it a central plank of it's reform agenda. | Andrew Wallis, chief executive of charity Unseen, chaired the recent report on trafficking by the Centre for Social Justice, 'It happens here'. The report also called for an independent commissioner and made it a central plank of it's reform agenda. |
| There has been no response from the government yet, but Wallis is hopeful that it could still happen. "The government is considering it. We want it wrapped up in a Slavery Act, a post along the lines of the cdhildren's commissioner that has statutory powers and is accountable to government." | There has been no response from the government yet, but Wallis is hopeful that it could still happen. "The government is considering it. We want it wrapped up in a Slavery Act, a post along the lines of the cdhildren's commissioner that has statutory powers and is accountable to government." |
| He welcomes the focus on spreading awareness among ground level staff but says a commissioner is vital. "There is no doubt that the way the UK will tackle this is through multi-agency work, but there is an Achilles heel in leadership. | He welcomes the focus on spreading awareness among ground level staff but says a commissioner is vital. "There is no doubt that the way the UK will tackle this is through multi-agency work, but there is an Achilles heel in leadership. |
| "David Cameron wants the UK to lead but we aren't taking bold steps. We have an amateurish response to a professional crime. If you are a trafficker it's high return, low risk and we want to change that." | "David Cameron wants the UK to lead but we aren't taking bold steps. We have an amateurish response to a professional crime. If you are a trafficker it's high return, low risk and we want to change that." |
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