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  1. Latest news
  2. News and press releases

News

Statement following convictions of those involved in the Essex lorry deaths

Statement following convictions of those involved in the Essex lorry deaths

This week, two more men were found guilty of manslaughter following the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children in a lorry in Essex last October. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all the victims. The case highlights the precarious journeys people are compelled to make due to a lack of safe and legal routes, which pushes desperate people into the hands of smugglers and traffickers. Read more

Published: 23rd December, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Festive message from our CEO Patricia Durr

Festive message from our CEO Patricia Durr

As we come to the end of 2020, I want to say a big thank you to for all for your continued support in what has been the most challenging of years for all of us. You’ve stuck with us when we needed it the most and for that we will be endlessly grateful. Read more

Published: 22nd December, 2020

Updated: 18th January, 2021

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
ECPAT elves share festive joy with trafficked young people

ECPAT elves share festive joy with trafficked young people

Following a fantastic response to our winter appeal, the ECPAT UK team is delivering festive hampers to members of our youth groups for young people affected by trafficking. Each hamper contains ‘something to read, something you need and something you want’ along with festive messages from our supporters who are responding generously to our appeal. Here’s a sneak peak at what's inside the hampers and our team of ECPAT elves doing the deliveries! Read more

Published: 22nd December, 2020

Updated: 14th January, 2021

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Government publishes its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation

Government publishes its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation

The government has today published its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation which is expected to be followed by an Online Harms Bill in early 2020. ECPAT UK welcomes this landmark proposal to keep children safe online. ECPAT UK welcomes the cross-party commitment to regulation of tech companies, recognition that this is a global problem requiring close collaboration with international partners and the proposed legal duty of care on tech companies to keep users safe. Read more

Published: 15th December, 2020

Updated: 13th January, 2021

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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

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. Read more

Published: 25th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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

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. Read more

Published: 24th November, 2020

Updated: 13th January, 2021

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
ECPAT UK PACT project helped shine light on ways to reduce child trafficking, says Home Office evaluation

ECPAT UK PACT project helped shine light on ways to reduce child trafficking, says Home Office evaluation

The Home Office has released its evaluation of its Child Trafficking Protection Fund including our Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) project, finding the project provided an “important pathway” to change the ways in which social care can reduce children’s vulnerability to trafficking and re-trafficking and contribute to improving local authority practice. Read more

Published: 19th November, 2020

Updated: 25th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Regional Practice Coordinators have a positive impact on trafficked children, but many still miss out

Regional Practice Coordinators have a positive impact on trafficked children, but many still miss out

A new assessment of the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG) service’s Regional Practice Coordinators (RPC) role has been released. ECPAT UK welcomes the report’s findings, including the positive impact of RPCs on child victims of exploitation and the professionals supporting them. However, we urge the government to immediately roll out the ICTG service across the country so that it is available to all who need this essential support. Read more

Published: 16th November, 2020

Updated: 15th December, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Marking Black History Month with our youth groups

Marking Black History Month with our youth groups

October is Black History Month and this year, our youth group members have led a series of workshops celebrating some of their favourite Black leaders, cultures, traditions and events. Over the past two weeks, members of our youth groups have each presented a part of Black history that is meaningful and inspiring to them, drawing on people and events from their own backgrounds and cultures as well as Black history in the UK and USA. Read more

Published: 30th October, 2020

Updated: 16th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Government failing child victims of trafficking, exclusive data reveals

Government failing child victims of trafficking, exclusive data reveals

The government is failing in its treatment of child victims of trafficking in a hostile immigration system, according to shocking new data obtained by ECPAT UK under the Freedom of Information Act ahead of the 10 year anniversary of the UK's Anti-Slavery Day. The data shows that 4,695 adults and children subject to immigration control were confirmed as victims of trafficking in the four-year period of 2016-2019. However just 28 child victims were granted discretionary leave to remain in the UK. Read more

Published: 17th October, 2020

Updated: 30th October, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
ECPAT UK presents to the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for UK evaluation

ECPAT UK presents to the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for UK evaluation

Today, ECPAT UK gave evidence on the non-punishment principle for child victims of trafficking to the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) at an open session with civil society as part of the group’s evaluation of the UK. Read more

Published: 29th September, 2020

Updated: 30th October, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
More children than adults are identified as potential victims of trafficking for the first time

More children than adults are identified as potential victims of trafficking for the first time

In her annual report laid before Parliament today, the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Dame Sara Thornton, has echoed ECPAT UK’s call for  Independent Child Trafficking Guardians to be immediately rolled out nationally and reaffirmed her support for localised decision making power to determine individuals’ official status as victims of trafficking at a time when more children than adults have been identified as potential victims for the first time. Read more

Published: 17th September, 2020

Updated: 23rd November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
ECPAT UK statement on non-affiliated campaigns against child trafficking

ECPAT UK statement on non-affiliated campaigns against child trafficking

Child trafficking and exploitation are abhorrent crimes against those who are inherently vulnerable due to their age. Our work centres on the rights of the child. We continue to be at the forefront or holding governments, institutions and organisations accountable for children’s rights and protection. ECPAT UK works in coalition with many other organisations in the UK and abroad. However we are not affiliated or associated with recent high profile online campaigns against UK child sex offenders. Read more

Published: 1st September, 2020

Updated: 2nd September, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
ECPAT UK statement on the tragic death of a child in the English Channel

ECPAT UK statement on the tragic death of a child in the English Channel

Statement from Patricia Durr, CEO of ECPAT UK, on the tragic death of a 16 year old Sudanese boy in the English Channel. Read more

Published: 19th August, 2020

Updated: 15th December, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Plans to expand guardianship to more pilot sites, but many children still left behind

Plans to expand guardianship to more pilot sites, but many children still left behind

Last month, the Home Office announced that from January 2021, it plans to expand the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG) service to more parts of England. However, ECPAT UK remains concerned that five years after being enshrined in law, the scheme is yet to be fully rolled out – leaving the majority of child victims of trafficking unable to access this vital support. Read more

Published: 18th August, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and ECPAT UK launch review into multi-agency decision making

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and ECPAT UK launch review into multi-agency decision making

ECPAT UK and The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, have today launched a review examining what works in existing multi-agency decision making frameworks to help inform future thinking on potential pilots for devolved decision making for child victims of trafficking within the UK's National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Read more

Published: 12th August, 2020

Updated: 15th December, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
New free webinar and online training programme

New free webinar and online training programme

ECPAT UK has today re-launched its training programme, with courses adapted into interactive online modules. The new training programme will kick off with a free webinar on focusing practice on the best interests of the child, on Tuesday 14th July. Read more

Published: 7th July, 2020

Updated: 12th August, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
21 charities ask Children's Commissioner to investigate failings to children and young people during Covid-19 pandemic

21 charities ask Children's Commissioner to investigate failings to children and young people during Covid-19 pandemic

ECPAT UK, MiCLU, Shpresa Programme, Young Roots and 17 other organisations have written to the Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, to highlight the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on looked after children and young people seeking asylum, including those who have been trafficked. The letter calls on the Commissioner to use her statutory powers to investigate cases of serious failings in support for this vulnerable group of children and young people. Read more

Published: 8th June, 2020

Updated: 12th August, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
Standing together in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Standing together in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

The murder of George Floyd by police in the USA has shone a light on the racism, injustice and inequality that black and minority ethnic people experience globally and the systemic and global inequality that historic ideas about race have produced. We stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter campaign and all those protesting against racism. Read more

Published: 5th June, 2020

Updated: 27th November, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
The impact of Covid-19 on victims of trafficking, now and beyond

The impact of Covid-19 on victims of trafficking, now and beyond

As lockdown measures begin to ease, many of us across the country are eagerly waiting a return to normality. But for children and young people affected by trafficking, the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic has created a new set of risks and obstacles - deepening inequalities, worsening instability and creating a perfect storm for children to be re-trafficked or harmed. Read more

Published: 29th May, 2020

Updated: 5th June, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

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  • News
In it together: How we’re supporting young victims of trafficking through the lockdown

In it together: How we’re supporting young victims of trafficking through the lockdown

The UK lockdown has brought new challenges to members of our youth programme and has forced us to adapt the support we provide them. But thanks to the dedication and resilience of our youth workers, volunteers and young people, our regular peer support sessions are continuing online and we’re able to respond quickly to emerging needs. Read more

Published: 23rd April, 2020

Updated: 29th May, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
More children than ever identified as potential victims of trafficking

More children than ever identified as potential victims of trafficking

The number of children identified as potential victims of trafficking has risen dramatically according to official statistics released today, raising concerns about the ability of UK authorities to appropriately respond to these children in light of unnecessary delays to decision making in their cases, funding constraints for local authorities and lack of specialist support for child victims. Read more

Published: 2nd April, 2020

Updated: 23rd April, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
Office for National Statistics publishes first report on modern slavery in the UK

Office for National Statistics publishes first report on modern slavery in the UK

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its first publication into modern slavery offences in the UK. While ECPAT UK welcomes the publication of data on these harmful crimes, there is a clear need to ensure children are visible within the current data in order to support effective policy making. Read more

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 2nd April, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
5th anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act: 42 MPs urge Home Secretary to act on promises made to children

5th anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act: 42 MPs urge Home Secretary to act on promises made to children

As the Covid-19 crisis exposes the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, over 42 MPs have written to the Home Secretary demanding that the government meet its promises made to child victims 5 years ago in the Modern Slavery Act. Led by Alex Norris MP, MPs from all the political parties expressed that they are ‘deeply concerned’ that the provisions in the Act had still not been implemented. Read more

Published: 26th March, 2020

Updated: 29th April, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
ECPAT UK launches free learning webinars for professionals home-working due to coronavirus

ECPAT UK launches free learning webinars for professionals home-working due to coronavirus

ECPAT UK is delighted to launch a series of free learning webinars for home-working and self-isolating professionals to build their knowledge and capacity to support children who may be victims of trafficking. From Monday, we will be delivering free 45 minute courses open to professionals across the UK who may come into contact with children who have been trafficked. Read more

Published: 25th March, 2020

Updated: 7th July, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
Trafficked young people face homelessness and harm under UK’s coronavirus response

Trafficked young people face homelessness and harm under UK’s coronavirus response

The uncertainty of coronavirus has seen the UK forced to adapt to new social conditions. But it is having a particularly devastating impact on young victims of trafficking who are losing access to essential services and social contact. With the UK taking unprecedented measures to prevent the spread of the virus, ECPAT UK is concerned for trafficked young people experiencing new extremes of social isolation as well as new risks of homelessness and retraumatisation. Read more

Published: 19th March, 2020

Updated: 26th March, 2020

Author: Sinead Geoghegan

Related topics:
  • News
Load more Back to top

Showing 10 of 167

Latest

  • Statement following convictions of those involved in the Essex lorry deaths

    Statement following convictions of those involved in the Essex lorry deaths

    This week, two more men were found guilty of manslaughter following the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children in a lorry in Essex last October. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all the victims. The case highlights the precarious journeys people are compelled to make due to a lack of safe and legal routes, which pushes desperate people into the hands of smugglers and traffickers.

  • Festive message from our CEO Patricia Durr

    Festive message from our CEO Patricia Durr

    As we come to the end of 2020, I want to say a big thank you to for all for your continued support in what has been the most challenging of years for all of us. You’ve stuck with us when we needed it the most and for that we will be endlessly grateful.

  • ECPAT elves share festive joy with trafficked young people

    ECPAT elves share festive joy with trafficked young people

    Following a fantastic response to our winter appeal, the ECPAT UK team is delivering festive hampers to members of our youth groups for young people affected by trafficking. Each hamper contains ‘something to read, something you need and something you want’ along with festive messages from our supporters who are responding generously to our appeal. Here’s a sneak peak at what's inside the hampers and our team of ECPAT elves doing the deliveries!

  • Government publishes its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation

    Government publishes its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation

    The government has today published its response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation which is expected to be followed by an Online Harms Bill in early 2020. ECPAT UK welcomes this landmark proposal to keep children safe online. ECPAT UK welcomes the cross-party commitment to regulation of tech companies, recognition that this is a global problem requiring close collaboration with international partners and the proposed legal duty of care on tech companies to keep users safe.

Most read

  • 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.

  • The National Referral Mechanism

    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

    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

    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

    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.

  • Child trafficking statistics

    Child trafficking statistics

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • ECPAT UK training

    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.

Latest tweet

  • This year, as we continue to help trafficked young people through the challenges brought about by the pandemic, ple… https://t.co/j2FInkFIiI

    18thJanuary, 2021 @ECPATUK
  • Last year, you helped us support trafficked young people through big challenges and continue campaigning for their… https://t.co/kfQifFkJ3d

    18thJanuary, 2021 @ECPATUK
  • Looking for a new challenge in 2021? Join ECPAT UK as a #trustee and use your skills and experience to make a dif… https://t.co/jMNi9gxc3g

    16thJanuary, 2021 @ECPATUK

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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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