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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Today, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the case of MS (Pakistan) v the Secretary of State for the Home Department – a decision which will impact trafficked children’s ability to lead stable lives in the long term. The Court’s decision includes a number of important considerations submitted by ECPAT UK, an intervening party in the appeal. Read more
The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children has today released her report to the Human Rights Council, which includes a number of submissions provided by ECPAT UK. The Special Rapporteur’s annual report provides an overview of the main issues of concern, their root causes and emerging trends related to the sale and sexual exploitation of children. Read more
The UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, has called for decision making power to determine whether individuals are officially recognised as a victim of trafficking to be taken out of the Home Office and given to local authorities across the UK – something ECPAT UK has long campaigned for in our calls for better support for children. Read more
Following the release of the government’s approach to the UK’s future relationship with the EU, ECPAT UK is extremely concerned about the government’s intention to withdraw from key European mechanisms for combating serious organised crime and the impact this will have on vulnerable children. Read more
Young people affected by child trafficking have formed a new group to steer the work of ECPAT UK and advocate for the voices, views and experiences of survivors to lead anti-trafficking work. Comprised of former members of ECPAT UK’s youth programme for victims of child trafficking, the new youth advisory group will play a strategic role in the organisation’s work; setting their priorities for the organisation’s activities and direction. Read more
ECPAT UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Durr as its new Chief Executive, who will lead the organisation from April 2020. With over 25 years’ experience in the social justice and child rights sector, Patricia is very well placed to lead ECPAT UK and address the critical issues facing victims of trafficking. Read more
A young victim of trafficking who faces removal from the UK will visit the Home Office to demand a stable future with the support of an incredible 266,600 people. Campaigners from Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK) will join youth advocates and supporters marching on the Home Office this Thursday to secure a reversal of its decision to remove him from the UK. Read more
Following a landmark Inquiry into the sexual abuse of children abroad by UK nationals, which revealed systemic and procedural failures to prevent UK nationals from sexually exploiting children abroad, ECPAT UK is pleased that the Inquiry’s report includes our key recommendations. ECPAT UK now calls on the government to urgently implement these measures to ensure children abroad are protected from exploitation and abuse. Read more