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  1. Latest news
  2. Blog

Blog

We must listen to children if we are to protect them from exploitation

We must listen to children if we are to protect them from exploitation

On National Child Exploitation Awareness Day 2021, ECPAT UK's CEO Patricia Durr blogs about the need to ensure children's voices are heard and their rights are respected if we are to protect them from exploitation and harm. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 18th March, 2021

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

20th anniversary of the Palermo Protocol

20th anniversary of the Palermo Protocol

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Palermo Protocol – the world’s first legally binding instrument with an agreed definition on human trafficking. ECPAT UK’s Sinead Geoghegan writes about child trafficking in the UK 20 years on and what we need to do to prevent trafficking and support victims. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 27th November, 2020

Updated: 22nd December, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Raising more than money in ECPAT UK's summer sportathon

Raising more than money in ECPAT UK's summer sportathon

This summer, ECPAT UK’s supporters are taking part in a summer sportathon to raise money for our work. Our fundraiser, Lois Fallon, blogs about her experience taking part and raising more than money in the process, and shares her top tips for fundraising success. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 20th August, 2020

Updated: 31st August, 2020

Precarious journeys, precarious futures

Precarious journeys, precarious futures

The devastating news of 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex has rightly sent shockwaves across the UK and highlighted the current dangers faced by people trying to cross the UK border. We know that people migrating face precarious journeys, however their vulnerability doesn't end on arrival in the UK. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 3rd December, 2019

Updated: 27th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

ECPAT UK youth group members are Global Citizens!

ECPAT UK youth group members are Global Citizens!

Members of ECPAT UK's youth groups for victims of trafficking were recently invited to Co-op's Global Citizen event at the O2 Academy in Brixton. In this blog post, they reflect on the evening and share their experience of the event. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 21st September, 2018

Updated: 24th September, 2018

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

BBC Two’s 'The Prosecutors': Highlighting gaps in support for child victims of trafficking

BBC Two’s 'The Prosecutors': Highlighting gaps in support for child victims of trafficking

ECPAT UK’s Information, Media and Communications Officer, Sinead Geoghegan, blogs about BBC Two’s 'The Prosecutors' episode documenting the UK’s first conviction under the Modern Slavery Act for labour exploitation of children, and how it highlighted gaps in support for child victims. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 23rd August, 2018

Updated: 23rd February, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Child victims of modern slavery also suffer under the UK’s hostile immigration regime

Child victims of modern slavery also suffer under the UK’s hostile immigration regime

Following the recent Windrush scandal, ECPAT UK’s Policy and Campaigns Officer, Catherine Baker, blogs about the impact of the UK's hostile immigration environment on child victims of trafficking and children at risk of exploitation. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 11th May, 2018

Updated: 8th April, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Raising awareness of child trafficking risks in Vietnam

Raising awareness of child trafficking risks in Vietnam

ECPAT UK’s Project Officer, Leah Davison, recently returned from Vietnam where ECPAT UK, Anti-Slavery International and Pacific Links Foundation launched their new short film, The Secret Gardeners. Leah reflects on the film launch and the factors driving the trafficking of Vietnamese children. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 23rd January, 2018

Updated: 20th June, 2018

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Failure to adhere to child protection rules puts refugee children at risk on arrival in Europe

Failure to adhere to child protection rules puts refugee children at risk on arrival in Europe

ECPAT UK’s current Children’s Champion, solicitor Kalvir Kaur, recently returned from volunteering in Lesvos. Here she details her concerns that some refugee children arriving in Europe are being left vulnerable to exploitation. Read more

Posted to: Blog

Published: 24th November, 2016

Updated: 20th June, 2018

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Showing 10 of 9

Latest

  • SPACE TO THRIVE: we need more support for child victims of trafficking and exploitation to recover from trauma and abuse

    SPACE TO THRIVE: we need more support for child victims of trafficking and exploitation to recover from trauma and abuse

    Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. Here, ECPAT UK reflects on the impact that trafficking and exploitation can have on the mental health of children and young people, and outlines how we can better support child victims to recover from trauma and abuse.

  • Queen's speech announces significant reforms affecting children's rights

    Queen's speech announces significant reforms affecting children's rights

    The Queen’s Speech 2022 confirmed that in the new parliamentary session, there will be significant reform affecting the rights of children and young people. On the heels of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the government has announced more modern slavery legislation. It has affirmed too that the Online Safety Bill is carried over from the last parliamentary session. Also announced was a new Bill of Rights.

  • ECPAT UK welcomes the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s annual report as Dame Sara Thornton stands down from the role

    ECPAT UK welcomes the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s annual report as Dame Sara Thornton stands down from the role

    Last week, Dame Sara Thornton’s third and final annual report as the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner was laid before parliament. ECPAT UK welcomes the report and thanks the Commissioner and her office for all their work over the past three years, especially the focus on child victims and their rights to protection and care.

  • Harmful Nationality and Borders Act passes - April 29th 2022

    Harmful Nationality and Borders Act passes - April 29th 2022

    Following a hard-fought battle to increase rights and protections in the legislation, the Nationality and Borders Act received Royal Assent this week. The Act will have a devastating impact for all trafficked children, and for migrant children who are at high risk of exploitation.

Most read

  • Child trafficking statistics

    Child trafficking statistics

    The latest data on the number of victims of trafficking in the UK and worldwide.

  • The Secret Gardeners: New film on child trafficking from Vietnam

    The Secret Gardeners: New film on child trafficking from Vietnam

    The Secret Gardeners aims to inform professionals about the plight of children who are forced by organised crime gangs to grow drugs in houses across the UK but who often face criminalisation and prison.

  • National Referral Mechanism

    National Referral Mechanism

    The National Referral Mechanism is a process set up by the Government to identify and support victims of trafficking in the UK. It was born out of the Government's obligation to identify victims under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking, which came into force on 1 February 2008.

  • Volunteer

    Volunteer

    ECPAT UK relies on committed volunteers to support the work that we do. Without their help, we would not be able to campaign as effectively against child exploitation.

  • What is child trafficking?

  • Urgent action needed: Independent guardianship for all trafficked, unaccompanied and separated children

    Urgent action needed: Independent guardianship for all trafficked, unaccompanied and separated children

    Last October, an incredible 120,535 supporters called for specialist support for all trafficked children. However, the fight is not finished. Make sure your voice is heard by contacting the Home Secretary asking him to provide guardianship for all trafficked, separated and unaccompanied children

  • Demand specialist support for trafficked children

    Demand specialist support for trafficked children

    In 2018 we worked with Care2 to call on the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, to overhaul the current system of identification and support for victims of trafficking – the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

  • Our team

    Our team

    ECPAT UK's team has more than 30 years' experience working on issues of child trafficking, child protection, child sexual exploitation, unaccompanied children, modern slavery and more.

  • Before the Harm is Done: Examining the UK's response to the prevention of trafficking

    Before the Harm is Done: Examining the UK's response to the prevention of trafficking

    The UK Government is failing to protect thousands of children from exploitation by lacking a plan to prevent child trafficking, according to a new report by the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), a coalition of twelve UK-based charities, including ECPAT UK. The report Before the Harm is Done, stresses that the UK has no specific strategy in relation to preventing trafficking in children, putting thousands of children at risk.

  • Heading back to harm: A study on trafficked and unaccompanied children going missing from care in the UK

    Heading back to harm: A study on trafficked and unaccompanied children going missing from care in the UK

    Trafficked and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are going missing from UK care at an “alarmingly high” rate, according to a new study by leading charities ECPAT UK and Missing People.

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Report immediate concerns about a child's welfare

If you have an immediate concern about a child's welfare, please contact your local council's social care department, who are available 24 hours a day. You can find their contact details on the Directgov website or in the phone book.

You can also contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If your concern is urgent, please call the police in your area or 999.

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