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 ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales Launches Study on Child Trafficking in Wales Keith Towler, the ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales, will today publish the findings of a study on child trafficking in Wales. Conducted by ECPAT UK on behalf of the ChildrenÕs Commissioner, the study Š ŌBordering on ConcernÕ Š focused on finding an evidence base for child trafficking in Wales. It also examined the levels of awareness of child trafficking issues among social services and selected voluntary sector organisations, explored how identified cases of child trafficking had been dealt with by social services and the extent to which local authorities promote cooperation between statutory and other agencies. Evidence was found of confirmed and suspected cases of child trafficking encountered by social services, the voluntary sector and the police. Practitioners described 32 cases that caused them concerns; these cases involve children aged three and a half years and upwards, from a variety of countries of origin. Notably, more boys than girls were identified during the study. The report concludes with six recommendations from the ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales, ranging from the need for the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake an audit of relevant training currently available to practitioners, to tasking the Government to convene an all-Wales group on trafficking whose remit shall include collecting and disseminating relevant data and information and monitoring trends. It goes on to recommend that all Local Safeguarding ChildrenÕs Boards implement the Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked Guidance 2008 within one year of the publication of the report. Keith Towler, the ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales, explains his reasons for commissioning the research:
ŅFor child trafficking to be tackled effectively there first has to be an acceptance that it exists.
The sample weÕve got here is small but is undoubtedly only the tip of the iceberg. I hope this research will help shift the culture of disbelief and that practitioners will start working together to ensure all children and young people in Wales Š wherever they originate Š enjoy the same rights, including the right to be safeguarded.Ó
Christine Beddoe, from ECPAT UK, who led the study added: ŅTrafficked children were found throughout Wales but there was evidence of a number of barriers to identifying children and keeping them safe. Of these barriers the most worrying was that professionals didnÕt believe it could happen. This left children vulnerable. Government agencies must actively promote child trafficking as an issue that can and does happen in their local area.Ó “There’s a job to be done, but none of the existing agencies is suited to do it that is why we need a Human Trafficking Rapporteur,” said Beddoe. The ChildrenÕs Commissioner for WalesÕ Recommendations: 1. Training: within one year from the publication of this report the Welsh Assembly Government undertakes an audit of relevant training currently available to practitioners and considers providing funds to administer an all-Wales training programme for practitioners on how to recognise and respond effectively to the needs of children who may have been trafficked. 2. Specialist worker: the WSMP should continue to raise awareness of the role of its Refugee Children Advice and Information Worker. The role of this worker is to provide advice and information on a whole range of issues related to refugee children, which includes signposting callers to the appropriate organisations and individuals on a particular topic, including trafficking. All Local Safeguarding ChildrenÕs Boards (LSCBs) should ensure information is disseminated to relevant organisations. 3. Specialist foster carers: the Welsh Assembly Government expressly consider within their Vulnerable ChildrenÕs Strategy the needs of children who may have been trafficked including the training and support for foster carers. 4. ŌIntelligenceÕ Bulletin: the Welsh Assembly Government within one year of the publication of this report convene an all-Wales group on trafficking to meet periodically and whose remit shall include collecting and disseminating relevant data and information and monitoring trends. 5. Welsh Assembly Government (WAG): the Welsh Assembly Government to consider these suggestions and the evidence in this report and respond within one year of the publication of the report. 6. Local Safeguarding ChildrenÕs Boards (LSCBs): all Local Safeguarding ChildrenÕs Boards to implement the Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked Guidance 2008 within one year of the publication of this report. ENDS PRESS CONTACT Notes to the editor The ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales was established by legislation. The Care Standards Act 2000 created the post and the ChildrenÕs Commissioner for Wales Act 2001 broadened the remit and set out the CommissionerÕs principal aim: to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children in Wales. For further information see the website: www.childcomwales.org.uk |
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