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

Hopeful futures photography competition: win an Instax camera!

As part of our 'stable futures' campaign, we’re calling for original photos that capture your vision of a stable, happy and hopeful future. The brief is broad – we want you to reflect on the question ‘what does freedom mean to you?’ Your photos can depict anything that represents your dreams, future potential and life without limits. The winning photo will inspire feelings of warmth, togetherness, hope and fulfilment.
Have your say: impact of new immigration plan on trafficked children

The government’s New Plan for Immigration includes proposals which will impact all child victims of trafficking as well as all children and young people subject to immigration control. We're concerned about a range of measures proposed which, taken together, will affect all child victims of trafficking, including British national children. Have your say — respond to the government's public consultation using our guide.
Take part in 5k May!

This month we're taking part in #5kMay! If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the smallest things can make the biggest impact. That’s why we’re calling on you to take part in a 5k during May and donate £5 to us! We're a small charity achieving big things, and every £1 raised makes a difference.
Government immigration reforms could set back progress in support for child victims of trafficking

The Home Office has published their ‘New Plan for Immigration’ which includes a significant number of proposals to reform modern slavery legislation which will affect survivors of child exploitation. Wider measures relating to asylum policy will also be detrimental to survivors who also apply for asylum, a procedure which is already very challenging for many child victims to navigate.

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.
Child trafficking statistics

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

ECPAT UK offers a comprehensive training programme, in line with National Occupational Standards, delivering courses for more than 20 years to help improve responses to child trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation.