Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking and Child Trafficking
Definitions
What is Human Trafficking?
Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs Elements of human trafficking On the basis of the definition given in the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, it is evident that trafficking in persons has three constituent elements;
The Act (What is done) Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons
The Means (How it is done) threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim
The Purpose (Why it is done) For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.
What is child Trafficking?
The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered 'trafficking in persons'...Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs...'Child' shall mean any person under 18 years of age. (2000 United Nations 'Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children', supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, Article 3)
Public awareness about human trafficking is low, owing to the hidden nature of trafficking. All people engaging with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants should be vigilant and make themselves aware of the indicators of trafficking and the appropriate referral mechanism. A list of indicators of trafficking can be found here:
If there are suspicions that a child may have been trafficked, contact children's services or local police for the area in which the child is currently residing, however, in an emergency, always dial 999.
For more advice about child trafficking and human trafficking, contact the following organisations;
NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line
United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre
End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes
Children's Commissioner for Wales
Stop Human Trafficking Wales
Welsh Context
Welsh ContextPart of the role of the Wales Migration Partnership (WMP) is to link in with and inform regional/national strategies and initiatives related to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, including children. The WMP also carry out an enabling role facilitating multi-agency discussions at operational and strategic levels across Wales. Due to the new trafficking procedures that came into force on 1st April 2009 following the Government's implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking, and the increased evidence of trafficking in Wales highlighted by the recent published high profile reports, the WMP is working in partnership with a range of organisations on this issue to raise awareness, improve co-ordination and facilitate information sharing.
WMP Key areas of work on Human Trafficking
- Human Trafficking/Child Trafficking information and signposting
- Membership of All Wales Child Trafficking Group, administered by the Welsh Government
- Membership of the Gwent Consultation Group on Human Trafficking, administered by Gwent Police For more information about this group please contact:
DCC Jeff Farrar jeff.farrar@gwent.pnn.police.uk - All Wales Lead for Trafficking
For more recent reports and information go to Trafficking Reports and Trafficking Guidance in the information centre.
For more information contact zsanett.shashaty@wmp.org.uk/ kathryn.tucker@wmp.org.uk
Published on: 12 April 2010