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
This December, we celebrated 25 years of ECPAT UK. Over the last quarter of a century, we’ve secured major wins for some of the world’s most vulnerable children and ensured trafficked children’s rights remain on the public agenda. Read more
The European Parliament announced the passing of a resolution on children’s rights on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Following a debate, the Parliament voted to pass a new resolution calling on Member States to improve access to children’s rights. Read more
On the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), we look back at our wins for trafficked children's rights as well as the challenges that remain and the work still to be done to protect children everywhere from trafficking and exploitation. Read more
Read a statement from Katherine Mulhern, CEO of ECPAT UK, on the 39 individuals found dead in a lorry in Essex. Read more
At an event in Parliament, young members of ECPAT UK's youth programme for victims of trafficking shared their experiences of living with uncertainty under the current support system and demanded the government provide all trafficked children with stable futures. Read more
ECPAT UK has today announced Garden Court Chambers as the recipient of the 2019 Children’s Champion Award. The award is made in recognition of Garden Court's tireless work advocating for the rights of trafficked children and developing the law to protect child victims for over a decade. Read more
ECPAT UK has been granted permission to intervene in an important appeal before the Supreme Court which will impact trafficked children’s ability to lead stable lives in the long term. ECPAT UK will now draw on its expertise and experience in assisting trafficked young people to act as a third party intervener in the case of MS (Pakistan) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department. Read more
Following open, public nominations, we’re thrilled to announce the names of our shortlisted nominees for this year's Children's Champion Award. Read more
A UK sex offender has been arrested for sexually abusing children overseas after a BBC investigation discovered he was working as a preacher in a Roma community in Bulgaria. Daniel Erickson-Hull was located by BBC Radio 4’s File on 4 programme into the exploitation of children overseas, which featured an interview with ECPAT UK's Director of Programmes. Read more
This week, we joined our partners from across the sector to mark the tenth anniversary of the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group. ECPAT UK has been a proud member of this vital coalition since it was set up in 2009 to advocate for the rights of trafficking victims. Read more
This month, our youth group members enjoyed a residential trip to the coast for four action-packed days of fun, relaxation and skills-building. Taking part in physical activities and challenges such as the big swing, zipwire, kayaking and abseiling, the young people had lots of fun, tried new things, overcame fears and made happy memories. See our highlights! Read more
ECPAT UK has launched a new campaign calling on the UK Government to give trafficked children a stable future. The campaign calls for trafficked children's long term needs and best interests to be prioritised in decisions about their future. Read more
Following the government’s response to recommendations made by the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, ECPAT UK welcomes the implementation of a number of its recommendations to improve support for children. However there has been a missed opportunity for meaningful change that would ensure all potential victims are protected, by bringing the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship service in line with guardianship in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read more