UK Report: “Significant” Number of Unaccompanied Foster Children are Trafficked

“More needs to be done to raise awareness about Britons being trafficked abroad with special emphasis on trafficking in children, according to European experts.

The claim is made by GRETA (Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings) in a report on how well British authorities have implemented the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking.

The report is the first assessment of how well the nation has responded to signing up to agreements in 2007 with a British strategy covering the period 2011 to 2015.

GRETA said it welcomed “the awareness-raising measures already taken” and noted “that the measures to discourage demand have so far focused on sexual exploitation”.

But it called for more work to be done to stop people being trafficked for slavery. The experts said they were concerned by reports that “a significant number” of children in care go missing.

More needs to be done to identify child trafficking victims, the group said, and to ensure all unaccompanied minors who are potential victims of trafficking are assigned a legal guardian and are provided with suitable safe accommodation and adequately trained supervisors or foster parents.” [Safe and trained. Yep. That is what we have been saying.]

“A Victim-Centered Approach”

How refreshing!

“The experts also called for the authorities to “step up their efforts to adopt a victim-centred approach” and that potential trafficking victims should not be punished for immigration-related offences.”

Experts warn on child trafficking

[UKPA 9/10/12]

GRETA is the monitoring mechanism of the anti-trafficking component of the Council of Europe. See their website here.

Read the 115-page report  here.

A few highlights:

•  “In the two-year period to 31 March 2011, 1 481 potential victims were referred to the NRM, of whom 1 091 adults and 390 children…Concerning children, 67% of the referrals came from five countries: Vietnam, Nigeria, China, UK and Romania.”
• Pages 83-88 lists GRETA’s 35 proposals.

REFORM Puzzle Piece