By Andrew Howard

Last week (Friday 25 November), members of the House of Lords debated the issue of human trafficking during the Second Reading of the Human Trafficking (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill. The objective of the Bill, which was tabled by Lord McColl of Dulwich earlier this year, is to bring the requirements of the European Directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims into UK law.

ECPAT UK briefed 25 Peers before the debate on our campaign issues of guardianship, safe accommodation for child victims of trafficking and the appointment of an independent National Rapporteur (watchdog) on trafficking. These issues were discussed extensively and ECPAT UK was mentioned 11 times during the debate, more than any other NGO working on the subject of human trafficking.

On guardianship, Peers such as Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Berridge highlighted ECPAT UK’s belief that a system of guardianship is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of child victims of trafficking. Such a system would minimise the risk of child victims of trafficking going missing, assist in severing their links with traffickers, and provide a secure foundation to begin what, for most, will be a long and traumatic recovery.

Regarding safe accommodation, Peers supported ECPAT UK’s contention that child victims of trafficking should be provided with safe and secure accommodation and related supports. Baroness Massey quoted from ECPAT UK’s recent report on this issue, On the Safe Side, highlighting some of the principles we have drawn up for the safe accommodation of child victims of trafficking.

These include the need for these children to be asked about what makes them feel safe, and for them to be given access to a range of psychological, educational, health, social, legal, economic and language support that brings them safety and helps them recover. Baroness Massey also quoted a member of ECPAT UK’s Youth Group, a support group for child victims of trafficking: "Safety has to be taken seriously. I think it should be the main priority as there's no future when you're not safe."

On the National Rapporteur, Peers agreed with ECPAT UK’s belief that the Government’s Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (IDMG) is not compatible with the role of a National Rapporteur. The IDMG assists in co-ordinating and implementing government policy on human trafficking which means that it is not independent from the Government. For that reason it cannot ensure oversight and accountability. It also does not report to Parliament and only meets twice a year.

Lord Henley responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. Unfortunately, he simply reiterated the Government’s existing and inadequate response that the UK is already compliant with the majority of the measures in the EU Directive and that therefore guardianship and a National Rapporteur are not required. In light of this, ECPAT UK will continue to campaign vigorously to ensure that the Government changes its stance on these key child protection issues.

You can read the debate at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/111125-0002.htm.

Read ECPAT UK’s recent report on guardianship, Watch over me.

Read ECPAT UK’s recent report on safe accommodation, On the Safe Side.