Transnational child exploitation research

Terminology guidelines

The Terminology and Semantics Interagency Working Group, comprised of ECPAT and partners, has produced guidelines on terminology for the protection of chldren from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse Read more

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (SECTT)

ECPAT's recommendations for action help protect children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism (SECTT). Read more

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

As part of its campaign against child sexual exploitation in travel and tourism by British travelling sex offenders, ECPAT UK has written a briefing 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

Offenders on the move: Global study on sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism 2016

More children are at risk of sexual exploitation than ever before, particularly in travel and tourism, a two-year global study by ECPAT has revealed. Read more

Expert Paper: Developments in the UK's response to child trafficking and child sexual exploitation

The UK Government's increased focus on CSE, modern slavery, child trafficking and the hospitality sector has not been fully reflected in the its international responses to transnational CSE and other forms of child trafficking, argues a new expert paper from ECPAT UK. Read more

The Davies Review: Civil Prevention Orders in the Sexual Offences Act 2003

The existing statutory regime presents unnecessary and unreasonable obstruction to the objective of preventing sexual abuse of children, most particularly in vulnerable jurisdictions, according to a new report by ECPAT UK. Read more

Off the Radar: Protecting Children from British Sex Offenders who Travel

Despite improvements to legislation and some notable efforts on the part of individual police forces, British nationals continue to travel abroad to abuse children, according to a report by ECPAT UK. Read more

Return to Sender: British child sex offenders abroad – why more must be done

Despite its international reputation for its robust approach to child protection, the UK compares poorly against other countries with similar legal frameworks such as Australia and the United States, according to the ECPAT UK's report Return to Sender. Read more

Latest

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.

Education Secretary acted unlawfully in removing legal protections for children during the pandemic, Court of Appeal rules

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the Secretary of State for Education unlawfully removed safeguards for children in care during the Coronavirus pandemic. Led by the charity Article 39, ECPAT UK and over 60 other child rights organisations publicly campaigned against the changes, introduced overnight under Statutory Instrument 445 without public consultation or parliamentary debate.

UK child sex offender among “most prolific” ever investigated and brought to justice for online abuse

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has successfully brought one of the most prolific child sexual abuse offenders to justice for crimes committed online against children in the UK and abroad, highlighting the central role of evidence from social media companies and joining a growing number of children’s charities, child rights advocates and public officials calling for Facebook to urgently halt plans to implement end-to-end encryption which leaves children at significant risk.

Responses to questions raised at the launch of our joint review of what works in multi-agency safeguarding

Further to the virtual launch of ECPAT UK and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's joint review, A review of what works in multi-agency decision making and the implications for child victims of trafficking on the 12th August 2020, we're pleased to provide answers to the questions raised during the event.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.