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David Cameron vows crackdown on trafficking of Vietnamese children David Cameron vows to tackle trafficking of Vietnamese children
(about 11 hours later)
David Cameron is to promise a crackdown on the trafficking of Vietnamese children by ordering big British businesses to set out annually what they are doing to stop slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains.David Cameron is to promise a crackdown on the trafficking of Vietnamese children by ordering big British businesses to set out annually what they are doing to stop slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains.
As many as 3,000 Vietnamese children are thought to have been trafficked to Britain to work in cannabis farms and nail bars, and are often housed in atrocious conditions. Overall, the government scientific adviser has suggested there may be as many as 13,000 victims in the UK. Vietnam is the fourth biggest source country of people trafficked to the UK.As many as 3,000 Vietnamese children are thought to have been trafficked to Britain to work in cannabis farms and nail bars, and are often housed in atrocious conditions. Overall, the government scientific adviser has suggested there may be as many as 13,000 victims in the UK. Vietnam is the fourth biggest source country of people trafficked to the UK.
Cameron will also announce on Wednesday, during the first visit by a British prime minister to Vietnam, that the independent anti-slavery commissioner, Kevin Hyland, will lead a fact-finding mission to the country this autumn to identify what more the UK can do to defeat human traffickers.Cameron will also announce on Wednesday, during the first visit by a British prime minister to Vietnam, that the independent anti-slavery commissioner, Kevin Hyland, will lead a fact-finding mission to the country this autumn to identify what more the UK can do to defeat human traffickers.
Related: 10 arrested after raids in human trafficking operationRelated: 10 arrested after raids in human trafficking operation
In a report published this week on human trafficking worldwide, the US State Department found that: “Vietnamese organised crime networks recruit and transport Vietnamese nationals, especially children, to Europe – particularly the United Kingdom and Ireland – and subject them to forced labour on cannabis farms; they are lured with promises of lucrative jobs and compelled into servitude through debt bondage.In a report published this week on human trafficking worldwide, the US State Department found that: “Vietnamese organised crime networks recruit and transport Vietnamese nationals, especially children, to Europe – particularly the United Kingdom and Ireland – and subject them to forced labour on cannabis farms; they are lured with promises of lucrative jobs and compelled into servitude through debt bondage.
“Vietnam’s labour export companies – many affiliated with state-owned enterprises – sometimes charge fees in excess of the law for work abroad, leaving workers with exorbitant debts and vulnerable to forced labour and debt bondage.”“Vietnam’s labour export companies – many affiliated with state-owned enterprises – sometimes charge fees in excess of the law for work abroad, leaving workers with exorbitant debts and vulnerable to forced labour and debt bondage.”
Cameron is due to say: “It is shocking that thousands of Vietnamese children in the UK are being used for profit by criminal gangs and that dozens more children are estimated to arrive on our shores every month. That’s why it’s so important that we work with Vietnam to identify what more we can do to tackle this issue together.”Cameron is due to say: “It is shocking that thousands of Vietnamese children in the UK are being used for profit by criminal gangs and that dozens more children are estimated to arrive on our shores every month. That’s why it’s so important that we work with Vietnam to identify what more we can do to tackle this issue together.”
The idea of an annual statement came from NGOs during the Modern Slavery Act’s passage through parliament.The idea of an annual statement came from NGOs during the Modern Slavery Act’s passage through parliament.
Although it will be permissible for companies to say they have done nothing to check their supply chain for suspicion of human slavery, the government believes a statement making such an admission would lead to the company being named and shamed into action.Although it will be permissible for companies to say they have done nothing to check their supply chain for suspicion of human slavery, the government believes a statement making such an admission would lead to the company being named and shamed into action.
The proposal fits with Cameron’s theme of producing change through transparency. His announcement comes in the week that previously trialled proposals in the act come into force, including trafficking reparation orders that encourage the courts to use seized assets to compensate victims, and prevention orders to ensure those who present a risk of committing modern slavery offences cannot work in relevant fields, such as with children or as gang masters.The proposal fits with Cameron’s theme of producing change through transparency. His announcement comes in the week that previously trialled proposals in the act come into force, including trafficking reparation orders that encourage the courts to use seized assets to compensate victims, and prevention orders to ensure those who present a risk of committing modern slavery offences cannot work in relevant fields, such as with children or as gang masters.
Much of the research into modern slavery in the UK has been conducted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) thinktank, which has shown that some Vietnamese children trafficked often do not know which country they have been sent to and are so terrified of being abused that they refuse to reveal their circumstances.Much of the research into modern slavery in the UK has been conducted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) thinktank, which has shown that some Vietnamese children trafficked often do not know which country they have been sent to and are so terrified of being abused that they refuse to reveal their circumstances.
Related: Map: which countries are the worst for human trafficking?Related: Map: which countries are the worst for human trafficking?
This silence, coupled with widespread lack of awareness among law enforcement agencies, has, the CSJ warned, “led to an appalling reality whereby children who have been enslaved are then being imprisoned”.This silence, coupled with widespread lack of awareness among law enforcement agencies, has, the CSJ warned, “led to an appalling reality whereby children who have been enslaved are then being imprisoned”.
Hyland, who was appointed as anti-slavery commissioner last November, said: “I am very pleased that the prime minister has rightly recognised the trafficking of Vietnamese children and adults to the UK as a high-priority issue. Modern slavery is often international organised crime, and it can only be combatted through strong partnerships between source, transit and destination countries.”Hyland, who was appointed as anti-slavery commissioner last November, said: “I am very pleased that the prime minister has rightly recognised the trafficking of Vietnamese children and adults to the UK as a high-priority issue. Modern slavery is often international organised crime, and it can only be combatted through strong partnerships between source, transit and destination countries.”
Hyland will look at what programmes can be set up in rural parts of Vietnam, where many vulnerable children and adults are targeted by the traffickers.Hyland will look at what programmes can be set up in rural parts of Vietnam, where many vulnerable children and adults are targeted by the traffickers.
He said key responsibilities lie with UK authorities to target Vietnamese criminal gangs that ruthlessly exploit Vietnamese children in multiple ways to maximise the profit that can be gained from them.He said key responsibilities lie with UK authorities to target Vietnamese criminal gangs that ruthlessly exploit Vietnamese children in multiple ways to maximise the profit that can be gained from them.
This includes forced labour in cannabis factories and nail bars, as well as an increasingly diverse range of exploitative activities, as gangs move into other areas of crime.This includes forced labour in cannabis factories and nail bars, as well as an increasingly diverse range of exploitative activities, as gangs move into other areas of crime.