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  • About us
  1. Who we are
  2. Who we are

About us

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK) is a leading children's rights organisation working to protect children from trafficking and transnational exploitation. We support children everywhere to uphold their rights and to live a life free from abuse and exploitation.

Our vision

Children everywhere are free from exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery

Our mission

To improve legislation, policy to end child trafficking and transnational child exploitation

To improve the child protection response of professionals in the UK and overseas

To ensure that children affected by exploitation are agents of change and part of the solution

Our work

Policy, advocacy and campaigns

We mobilise the public and lobby governments to:

  • improve legislation, policy and practice to protect children
  • prevent child trafficking
  • implement tougher action against those who abuse children. 

Youth work

We directly support children who have been trafficked and provide expertise in children's cases.

Training

We deliver rights-based, practical training to build the capacity of professionals and agencies working with children. 

Research

We monitor the issue and publish cutting-edge research on child trafficking and exploitation, informed by our direct work with trafficked children and the professionals who support them.

Awareness raising

We work in partnership with various organisations to build a common understanding and to enhance expertise on protecting children from commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism. 

Policy development and legal reform

We work with children's rights organisations, anti-trafficking NGOs, child protection agencies, communities and governments to identify strategies to combat child trafficking and the exploitation of children in tourism. 

Published: 23rd January, 2019

Updated: 21st May, 2021

Author: Ryan Mahan

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    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.

  • Our approach

    Our approach

    We take a rights-based approach, centring every child’s fundamental human right to be protected from trafficking and exploitation as outlined in national legislation and the European and international legal framework. Our work is child-centred and guided by the meaningful and ethical participation of the young people we support.

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    Thirty years ago, a campaign to end child sexual exploitation was launched in Thailand by a small group of concerned individuals. Thirty years later, the ECPAT campaign has evolved into a global network of dedicated civil society organisations.

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    Contact us

    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. For all other enquiries related to our work, contact [email protected] or call 020 7607 2136.

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    About us

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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.

ECPAT UK
Family Action
34 Wharf Road 
London N1 7GR

Tel: 020 7607 2136
Email: [email protected]

Charity number: 1104948
Company Ltd by Guarantee: 5061385

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