Briefings

ATMG briefing on Brexit and modern slavery in the UK

Read the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group's briefing paper on Brexit and the UK's fight against modern slaveryRead more

Global Forum of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Exploitation: Information Paper 1

In partnership with the Council of Europe, ECPAT International's Global Forum for adult survivors of childhood sexual exploitation is an opportunity for survivors from around the world to shape political and other important agenda by making recommendations to governments and other decision-makers.Read more

Refugee crisis in Europe and the rights of children

ECPAT UK and its global partners issue a statement on child protection in the context of the current refugee crisis in Europe.Read more

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse

As part of its campaign against sexual exploitation and abuse of children in travel and tourism by British travelling sex offenders, ECPAT UK is calling on the UK Government to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention).Read more

Trafficked children and missing

ECPAT UK and Missing People's information sheet highlights the increased risk of child victims of trafficking to go missing from care, where they are highly likely to return to exploitation.Read more

Online child exploitation

A transnational collaborative investigation by UK, US and Australian authorities has revealed the extent of the involvement of UK nationals, among others, in the sexual abuse of young children in the Philippines via web link. This briefing covers the issue of online child exploitation including transnational abuse by British citizens.Read more

Guardianship for child victims of trafficking

As part of its Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign in collaboration with The Body Shop UK to protect child victims of trafficking, ECPAT UK is calling for a system of guardianship for child victims of trafficking.Read more

ATMG Briefing - An Independent Anti-Trafficking Commissioner

As part of its Three Small Steps campaign to protect child victims of trafficking, ECPAT UK is calling for the appointment of an independent Anti-Trafficking Commissioner, the equivalent of a National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking.Read more

RACE Project Briefing - Trafficking for Forced Labour in Cannabis Cultivation

This briefing outlines the issue of children and adults being trafficked across Europe for forced labour in cannabis factories who are frequently criminalised rather than provided with the support they are entitled to as trafficking victims.Read more

Latest

Child trafficking in the UK 2018: A snapshot

ECPAT UK's new snapshot report provides an overview of the state of modern slavery affecting children in the UK, compiling the latest statistics and recent policy developments on this important issue. In this report, we draw on our experience of working with affected young people to flag concerns about the current response to child trafficking, despite progress made in reporting of such cases and the advent of dedicated legislation across the UK.

How to protect children in criminal exploitation - watch our latest videos

Following recent reports on the rise of children exploited for criminality, ECPAT UK’s Head of Training Laura Durán, was recently interviewed by Lynda Gibbs from the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) to discuss the complex nature of criminal exploitation and ECPAT UK's work campaigning against child trafficking.

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.

ECPAT UK’s short film on child trafficking wins gold medal at New York Festival

ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking) is thrilled that its animated short film about child trafficking in cannabis cultivation – The Secret Gardeners, has won the gold medal in the Human Concerns category at the New York Festivals World’s Best TV and Films awards.

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.

The 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.

Current campaign: Demand specialist support for trafficked children

We are working with Care2 to call on the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, to overhaul the current system of identification/support for victims of trafficking – the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

Child trafficking statistics

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.

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.

Stephen's case exposes failings in child trafficking support

‘Stephen’ was identified as a former child victim of trafficking but now faces the threat of removal to Vietnam. His case has rightly received significant public attention, highlighting the urgent need to reform the support system (the National Referral Mechanism) for other children who have been victims of modern slavery in the UK.

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.

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.