Slavery in the 21 st Century October 4, 2007
Keele University, England ST5 5BG
by Aidan McQuade, Director of Anti-Slavery Movement
Official Website: http://www.antislavery.org
Added by santanupal on May 3, 2007
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santanupal
I sent the petition on the www.antislavery.org website and the got the following reply:
_________________________________________________________
1O DOWNING STREET
LONDON SW1A 2AA
www.pm.gov.uk
From the Direct Communications Unit
8 October 2007
Dear Mr Pal
I am writing on behalf of the Prime Minister to thank you for your e-mail about the position of the United Kingdom (UK) in relation to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
On the 23rd March the United Kingdom became a signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (“the Convention”). Signature of the Convention is more than a symbolic gesture, it marks a real commitment to implement the obligations it imposes and will provide a framework for the minimum rights and protection of all identified victims of trafficking.
It will inevitably take some time to move from signature to ratification of the Convention. Unlike the approach adopted by some of our Council of Europe colleagues the UK will not ratify the Convention until all changes to domestic legislation, processes and guidance are in place to ensure that we fully comply with its terms. The details on how implementation will be taken forward are currently being developed. The Government will work to implement the Convention and will look to draw on the expertise from non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in how to do so. The Convention will build on our strategy to combat human trafficking by providing minimum standards of protection and support for victims. It will also provide a platform upon which the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, which the Government published on the 23rd March can build. The UK Action Plan can be found on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/human-traffick-action-plan.
The Action Plan pulls together all the work that is currently underway across Government to tackle human trafficking and sets out what else
we plan to do. The Plan was developed following an extensive consultation exercise, which started in January 2006. It applies to all forms of human trafficking, including trafficking for forced labour and child trafficking. It sets out proposals for action in the four key areas of prevention, enforcement and prosecution, protection and assistance to adult victims and child trafficking.
The Plan will build on the work that we have already done to tackle this horrendous crime. To date our strategy has been multi-faceted. We have introduced comprehensive anti-trafficking laws resulting in a number of successful convictions. We have established the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which has tackling human trafficking as one of its top priorities and is now also supported by a new police led, national UK Human Trafficking Centre. We have also funded the Poppy Project, which provides secure accommodation and support for adult female victims of trafficking.
I hope I have been able to reassure you that the Government is taking this issue extremely seriously and are making real progress. The UK Action Plan and the Council of Europe Convention will provide the platform on which the UK can further develop both its domestic and international work to help liberate more victims and tackle those that seek to profit from the enslavement of others.
Thank your for taking the time and trouble to write to the Prime Minister on this issue.
Yours sincerely
R Smith
Mr Santanu Pal
santanupal
Good Lecture