The Abolition of Slavery - Case Study Example

Child Trafficking in the UK: Critically Assess the Effectiveness of Contemporary Approaches Introduction Trafficking of children is d as modern day slavery where children are transported and shifted for the purpose of exploitation. Targets of trafficking are forced and intimidated into prostitution and other forms of sexual and labour exploitation. Victims of trafficking are young children and woman who are living in poverty. It has been assessed by International Labour Organization that statistically the procurement of child trafficking is tough but more than 1.2 million children are the victims of trafficking every year. According to Maggy Lee, trafficking is highly contested term which has become subject of concern and academic debate in recent years (Lee, 2013). The complex problem of child trafficking has been a historical phenomenon. According to Bales and Ould, the conceptual form of children and human trafficking is slavery. But the latest estimation provided by National Referral mechanism suggests that number of trafficking people is escalating. The worth of 7 billion dollars is estimated as profit due to trafficking. This is the sad reality of trafficking which goes unnoticed due to lack of information and ignorance. Trafficking in UK Despite the abolition of slavery, the insidious form of human and child trafficking has become serious job of UK Government to undertake any initiative to combat the issue. Trafficking is regarded as hidden crime. The estimation of the number of people can vary widely. But most reliable source for determining the scale of trafficking in UK is National Referral mechanism. In 2011, the UK National Referral mechanism has reported that total number of victims of trafficking is 438 child victims and 712 adult victims (Mishra, 2013). Although estimated information gathered for victims of trafficking are not statistically exact numbers. National Referral mechanism is decision making device which enable to estimate the character and scale of trafficking. Children that are suspected of being trafficking are made up to 438 referrals. 26% of all referrals are suspected to be children. It is solely considered that UK is the destination country for trafficking. National Referral mechanism also stated that UK can be regarded as the transit and source country. Type and scale of child trafficking in UK In UK, child trafficking is due to many reasons such as domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, benefit fraud, cannabis cultivation and forced in to application of criminal activities. According to England commissioner for children the estimation number of children that are being exploited is 10,000. These numbers of estimation are in the UK. In 2007, it has been found by ECPAT that 60% of the children that are gone missing from locals are the victims of trafficking. From March 2009 to February 2010, total number of children estimated by Online Protection Centre and Child Exploitation is 325. There is gradual intensification in percentage of children that are being trafficking. The figure of trafficking for sexual exploitation has been estimated by the Home Office. The numbers of victims are up to 4,000. The association of Chief Police has also estimated the number of women in sexual exploitation in the year 2010. In England and Wales, the number of women involved in off-street prostitution is 30,000. Out of total 30,000 estimated numbers of women, 17,000 are migrants. According to National Crime Agency, the percentage of sexual exploitation of UK-born children is doubled. In 2013, the percentage of children sexual exploitation has raised to 155%. Recent data suggested that number of trafficking for children is 202 (Owen, 2009). This number of data is from 1 January to 15 September 2011. The victims of this form of exploitation and movement of children originate all over the world. In UK, it has been estimated by ECPAT that between the year 1999 and 2003 the number of children that are rescued from trafficking are 250. According to the joined report presented by ECPAT and UNICEF states that, the report and figures that are estimated are largely unknown. UK is also victims of child trafficking. One example provided by UNICEF campaigners to reveal the reality of child trafficking is about child named Sarah. Sarah is the victim of child trafficking and was trafficked to UK from Eastern Europe. Sarah was sold to UK for Sexual exploitation. This story of Sarah is not unique, as it happen every part of the world. In UK, every week 10 children are trafficked for exploitation. According to writer Lorinda Norris, trafficking for child is multi-faced, concealed and criminal activity which is organized and makes it difficult to avert and identify. Legislation by Government and Reactions The problem of children trafficking has become recent phenomena in UK. Several efforts have been initiated by Government of UK to tackle the issue for the betterment of the country. Children are the pivotal part for the society of every country. In June 2007, the scoping project done in UK on child trafficking was the first step to deliver knowledge about the drastic effect of the cause. The scoping project initiated by UK helped to reveal the nature and scale of child trafficking. Child Trafficking Unit was setup by CEOP. This unit used to understand and build the knowledge of child trafficking. Other unit such as UKBA, Home Office and UKHTC supported the initiative to tackle the issue and bring the perspective of child protection. David Bull also determined the issue. According to the David Bull who is the Executive director of United Nations Children Fund, the problem of child trafficking is global phenomenon which causes victims 1.2 children victims every year. The emerging of the issue has been from ages. First case of children trafficking was verified in the year 1995. West Sussex social services found out the 60 children disappeared from asylum. New legislation has been introduced by government. In the year 2002, Asylum, Nationality and Immigration Act have been introduced by Government of UK to replace the offence of prostitution and sexual exploitation. According to CEOP, trafficking is done by highly developed individuals who are well organized. One of the reasons behind the trafficking process is financial gain. Traffickers can receive payment for other underground people who want to exploit the child. Another reason is sexual exploitation. Traffickers use child by selling them to other individuals or can exploit them to work as a prostitute. Some of the reports suggested by Somerset revels that boyfriend of young girls force and provoke them to work as a prostitute. Sexual Offence Act was introduced in the year 2003. Health guidance department of UK stated that children should be suitable care and provide safe accommodation (Shelley, 2010). One of the pivotal developments towards the restriction of child trafficking has occurred in the year 2006. Human Trafficking Centre was opened in UK. The programmer director of Human Trafficking Centre has notified that the introduction of the centre is to increase awareness among people. Three objectives of Human Trafficking Centre is to prevent children trafficking, co-ordinate to raise awareness and promote non-governmental organization to look after the issues. In October 2007, Government of UK attempted to abolish any kind of slavery and sexual exploitation by launching Operation Pentameter 2. The success of Pentameter 1 was the key reason behind the introduction of Pentameter 2. In 2004, children act was also launched. Various children trust initiated by agencies to identify and nullify child trafficking. The trafficking of children is global issue of human rights. Conclusion The most vulnerable member in the society is children. This is due to the fact that children hold the maximum number of victims in Trafficking. Some broad ranges of crimes that are covered by child trafficking are drug trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labour, illegal adaptation and prostitution. These severe causes of child trafficking needed to be nullified by application of efficient strategy and campaign. The initiative taken by Council of Europe Convention against child trafficking is to ensure the protection of children in UK. Over the past few years the response to trafficking has increased rapidly. The reality of child trafficking is devastating. References Lee, M. (2013). Human Trafficking. London: Routledge. Mishra, V. (2013). Human Trafficking: The Stakeholders’ Perspective. London: Sage. Owen, H. (2009). Good Practice in Safeguarding Children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Shelley, L. (2010). Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective. London: Cambridge University Press. Read More