Monday, 25th March 2019

After six years, Bharti Patel has announced she is stepping down as CEO of ECPAT UK.
During her tenure as CEO of ECPAT UK the organisation achieved significant successes; the inclusion child protection measures in Modern Slavery Act 2015, the ratification of the - Council of Europe Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) and the powerful evidence to the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse of children outside the UK, which is already showing significant results. 
 
Bharti Patel said “I am incredibly proud of what ECPAT UK has achieved during my tenure.  With a dedicated and highly talented staff and the young people we directly work with, I am confidant ECPAT UK will grow from strength to strength.  I would like to express my appreciation to colleagues, supporters and the many partners around the world with whom I have worked over the past six years and who have supported me in our fight against child trafficking and transnational Child Abuse.   I wish everyone in ECPAT UK the very best for the future”.  
 
Bharti Patel leaves ECPAT UK to pursue her passion and dedication to advocating for child rights and social justice and consultancy work including with ECPAT UK, as it develops its international profile. 
 
The Chair of ECPAT UK, Ian Hanham said: “We are extremely grateful to Bharti for all of her hard work for the organisation over the last six years and wish her good luck in her new ventures”.
ENDS
Press contact
Sinead Geoghegan, Communications and Media Manager, [email protected], 0207 607 2136