Definitions and Guidelines

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Projects

ECPAT UK works with a variety of partners and funders in the UK and abroad on projects to improve global responses to child trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

Global Call for Evidence

This Global Call for Evidence is part of our study being conducted jointly with the University of Bedfordshire funded through the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC). The study seeks to identify ways to improve outcomes for young people who have experienced human trafficking and/or modern slavery. Read more

Pathways project

The Pathways project aims to build the capacity of social workers and child protection professionals to support children and young people who are potential victims of trafficking. It comprises partners from European NGOs including the Red Cross, Save the Children and ECPAT UK. Read more

Safeguarding Migrant Children Across Europe (AMINA) project

The AMINA project is a cross-border cooperative project that aims to safeguard children migrating in Europe. ECPAT UK is one of a number of partners from civil society, law enforcement and government departments working collaboratively on the project with our lead partner Missing Children Europe. Read more

Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Project

The Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Project is an innovative project aimed at improving local responses to child trafficking and all forms of modern slavery and exploitation. ECPAT UK was selected by the Government to deliver the project in partnership with Cordis Bright and Missing People. The project is funded by the Home Office’s Child Trafficking Protection Fund. Read more

End-to-End Vulnerability Mapping

The End-to-End Vulnerability Mapping project examines the vulnerabilities of Vietnamese migrants who transit to the UK via Europe. ECPAT UK is conducting end-to-end mapping that aims to expand evidence on migratory routes and reduce Vietnamese migrants' vulnerability to exploitation on these routes Read more

Definitions and Guidelines

Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG)

The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group is a coalition established in 2009 to monitor the UK Government’s compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (the Convention), which entered into force in the UK on 1 April 2009. Read more

Reinforcing Assistance to Child Victims of Trafficking in Europe (ReACT)

ReACT is a partnership project aiming to increase the capacity of representatives (guardians and lawyers) of child victims of trafficking to provide appropriate support and uphold the rights of trafficked children during legal proceedings in key trafficking destination countries. Read more

RACE in Europe

The RACE in Europe project was a two-year (2012-2014) initiative led by Anti-Slavery International, ECPAT UK and partners to improve knowledge and responses to human trafficking for the purposes of forced criminal exploitation and forced begging in Europe. Read more

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking (PAHT)

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking was a two-year (2011-2013) European project to establish a network of parliamentarians working to prevent human trafficking. Read more

Latest

ECPAT UK responds to the King's Speech

In his speech on Wednesday, the King set out the government's plans for the new parliamentary session. We at ECPAT UK applaud the announcement of a Children’s Wellbeing Bill and the introduction of a child criminal exploitation offence in the Crime and Policing Bill and measures for Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill.
Behind Closed Doors: A Storytelling Legal and Empirical Analysis of Human Trafficking Risks in Home Office Hotels Compared to Other Accommodation for Unaccompanied Children and Young People Seeking Asylum in the UK

New report by University of College London (UCL) and ECPAT UK aimed to investigate the risks of trafficking and exploitation in Home Office child hotels among unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK. Researchers interviewed young people themselves as well as professionals such as social workers, policy stakeholders, academics, lawyers, law enforcement, support workers, and NGO staff.
Lone children seeking asylum in the UK placed in Home Office hotels are at increased risk of exploitation suggests new publication by UCL researchers and ECPAT UK

Unaccompanied children went missing by the hundreds when accommodated by the Home Office, yet officials denied reports of the on-going risk of exploitation. A new publication from UCL researchers and ECPAT UK found that housing lone children in Home Office child hotels, as occurred between 2021 and January 2024, increased their risks of trafficking and exploitation.
ECPAT UK calls for a UK wide child exploitation strategy with key priorities for action for the new UK Government to tackle child trafficking

ECPAT UK calls on the new UK Government to take the opportunity to address the on-going failures child victims continue to face and to develop a UK wide child exploitation strategy that respects children's rights to protection and care with ten key priorities for prevention and support.

Child trafficking statistics

The latest data on the number of victims of trafficking in the UK and worldwide.
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.
What is child trafficking?
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.
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.
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.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty that grants all children and young people (aged 17 and under) a comprehensive set of rights. The UK signed the Convention on 19 April 1990, ratified it on 16 December 1991 and it came into force on 15 January 1992.
About us

ECPAT UK is a leading children's rights organisation working to protect children from child trafficking and transnational child exploitation. We support children everywhere to uphold their rights and to live a life free from abuse and exploitation.
Contact us

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. For all other enquiries related to our work, contact [email protected] or call 020 7607 2136.
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