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Ref. DC 157(2016)

UK urged to improve protection of child victims of human trafficking

Strasbourg, 07.10.2016 – 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.

“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” said GRETA President Nicolas Le Coz.

GRETA’s second report on the UK’s implementation of the Council of Europe convention on human trafficking says that progress has been made in a number of areas since 2012, 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.

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.

As well as taking steps to improve the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking, the report calls on the authorities 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.

It also urges the UK to step up efforts to ensure that all victims of trafficking are given adequate support and assistance beyond the current period of 45 days, with a view to facilitating their recovery and guaranteeing their protection.

In addition, GRETA considers that the UK authorities should strengthen their efforts to ensure that human trafficking cases are proactively investigated, successfully prosecuted and lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.

Contact: Andrew Cutting, Spokesperson/Media Officer, tel. +32 485 217 202