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| Beth Herzfeld is Press Officer for Anti- Slavery International which is the only charity in the UK that works exclusively to end all forms of slavery around the world. It is the world’s oldest international human rights organisation. When Natasha* was 15 years old, a family friend offered to help her leave Romania in order to escape her abusive father. Unknown to her, the "friend" was a trafficker. She was taken from Romania to Yugoslavia, and then on to Macedonia and forced into prostitution. After six months, she was sold for US$1,900 (£1,061) and taken to Albania. Her new Albanian traffickers then took her to Italy where she was again, forced into prostitution. After several months, she was sold to another man who trafficked her to London via Rome and Brussels. Through violence, he forced her to work as a prostitute in London's saunas and private flats. Eventually she managed to escape. Natasha’s experience is not unique. Trafficking is the fastest growing form of slavery in the world today. According to the United States Government almost one million people — women, children and men — are trafficked across borders each year. This estimate, however, does not take into account those who are trafficked within their country. This modern-day slave trade involves transporting people away from the communities in which they live by the threat or use of violence, deception, or coercion, so they can be exploited as forced or enslaved workers for sex or labour. The traffickers force their victims to work long hours and in many cases deny them time off, restrict their freedom and often do not pay them. Where children are concerned, they also deprive them of their right to education. No region is free from this abuse. Children as young as five years old are trafficked in West and Central Africa into domestic work, thousands of men are trafficked from impoverished parts of Brazil to Amazonia as forced labour and eastern European women are trafficked into western Europe’s sex industry. Each year, hundreds of women and children are trafficked to the United Kingdom, in some cases, like Natasha, they are forced into prostitution; others are used as domestics. The most recent study of trafficking in the UK was released in May. Launched by End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking UK it examined the situation in London and found that most of the children trafficked to the capital are brought from Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. The average age is 12 years old and most are girls. The majority of those trafficked from Africa are used as domestic servants, whereas those from eastern Europe, are mainly trafficked into prostitution. In both cases they are at risk of violence and sexual abuse. Lucy* was trafficked from Congo to London when she was 16. After both of her parents died a friend of her father’s said he could get her to England where she would have an education and be looked after. Believing him, she agreed to come. Once she arrived, however, she was held against her will. She was forced to be a domestic, made to sleep in the bathroom, was beaten and sexually abused. A neighbour managed to help her escape and contacted social services. Although she is receiving help and counselling, she continues to be plagued by nightmares. Over the past few years, governments have become increasingly aware of the realities of trafficking and are introducing laws making it a crime. In 2003, trafficking for sexual exploitation became an offence in the UK punishable by up to 14 years in prison. And a law against trafficking for labour exploitation is expected next year. Despite this progress, support for victims of trafficking remains limited. In many countries, help is given only if the person trafficked agrees to co-operate in an investigation or prosecution, rather than on the basis of having had a crime committed against them. In some cases, the person is deported for being an illegal immigrant, returning them into the hands of the trafficker only to be retrafficked. Frequently, when identified, trafficked people are not given time to decide how they want to proceed and have to make a decision straight away — whether to co-operate or be deported. Because traffickers control their victims with threats of violence, not just against them but also against their families, it takes time for them to feel safe and to build trust. It is vital that governments provide a period of time where the trafficked person can receive the help necessary to recover from this abuse. Anti-Slavery International recommends six months for children and three months for adults. Currently the UK offers no such breathing period. *Not her real name. There also need to be specialised services to provide this help. In the UK, there is only one safe house for women, which is only available to those trafficked into prostitution, and one safe house for trafficked children, which opened in April. |
