In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the United Kingdom to improve the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking, expressing particular concern about children going missing from local authority care.
“Despite many positive developments in recent years, estimates suggest that up 60% of children who have potentially been trafficked are still going missing from local authority care in the UK, usually within 48 hours of being placed in care and before being formally recognised as victims,” said GRETA President Nicolas Le Coz. “Children who go missing in one part of the UK can also end up being trafficked and exploited in another part of the country, without any connection being made”.
The report assesses developments since the publication of GRETA’s 1st evaluation report in 2012 as regards the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the UK. The report says that progress has been made in a number of areas, notably including the adoption of dedicated, comprehensive legislation on human trafficking/modern slavery.
It also welcomes the UK’s efforts to set up specialised structures for combating human trafficking, the multi-agency approach promoted by the authorities, including when it comes to identifying victims, and their engagement with civil society. Another positive development is the creation of the post of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to encourage good practice in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking as well as identification of trafficked victims.
However, GRETA is concerned that child trafficking remains underreported and there is a continuing lack of safe accommodation for children who are suspected or known to have been trafficked. GRETA calls on the authorities to take steps to improve the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking, to address the problem of children going missing from local authority care and to improve the exchange of information on missing unaccompanied children between police forces and local authorities. Moreover, the report urges the UK to step up efforts to ensure that victims of trafficking are provided with adequate support and assistance, according to their individual needs, beyond the period of 45 days, with a view to facilitating their recovery and guaranteeing their protection.
GRETA also considers that the UK authorities should strengthen their efforts to ensure that human trafficking cases are investigated proactively, prosecuted successfully, and lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.
