WUNRN
SCOTLAND'S SLAVES - Amnesty
International Briefing
on Trafficking in Scotland
Direct Link to Document:
____________________________________________________________________
Scotland:
New Amnesty Research Suggests Modern-Day
Slave
Trade Extends Across Scotland
20
August 2008
New research published today (20 August) suggests that people trafficking -
the modern-day equivalent of the slave trade - is occurring around Scotland.
The "Scotland's Slaves" briefing paper, launched today by Amnesty
International, The brings information from the police, local authorities,
support services and voluntary organisations for the first time and presents
the most comprehensive picture to date of the extent of people trafficking in
Scotland.
"Scotland's Slaves" was launched by Amnesty International UK
Director Kate Allen at an event in the Scottish Parliament, as part of the 2008
Festival of Politics. Findings include:
· During 'Operation Pentameter 2', Scottish police forces
raided over 50 premises in Scotland: 59 people were dealt with as victims of
trafficking and 35 suspects were arrested
· The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland
(ACPOS) estimate that Scotland has 13.5% of the UK's trade in human beings
(despite having less than 10% of the population)
· Cases of trafficking have been found in Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Dumfries and Galloway, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Stirling and Tayside
· Victims from Lithuania, Slovakia, Nigeria, China, Estonia,
Somalia, Thailand, Guinea and Russia have been found in Scotland
Launching the report, Kate Allen said:
"To date most attention has been given to the plight of women trafficked
into the sex trade, but we have also found evidence of trafficking into
Scotland for domestic and agricultural labour.
"The case information we have been given also shows that there are
different methods of trafficking and different routes into Scotland. We have
come across an example of marriage being used as a mechanism of trafficking
women into Scotland for sexual exploitation. And we have seen cases of
trafficked persons being recovered at the port of Stranraer.
"Amnesty is concerned that victims of trafficking in Scotland are not
being properly identified and without acceptance of their status they cannot
access appropriate services or help police with their enquiries. The fight
against trafficking has been very much police-led in the UK but we know that
many victims of trafficking will never disclose their situation to a police
officer because they fear shame, deportation or reprisals from their
traffickers.
"This is why Amnesty recommends a multi-agency approach to identification
and the care and treatment of trafficked persons. Scotland is in a particularly
good position to apply this approach and the Scottish Government has an
opportunity before the ratification of the European Convention Against
Trafficking, to take a lead on implementing the Convention to the highest standard."
The Amnesty report makes a series of recommendations to the Scottish
Government, including that support provided to women trafficked into sexual
exploitation should be extended to the victims of other forms of trafficking
and that the Scottish Government should work with the Crown Office to ensure
that trafficking victims are not prosecuted for crimes (such as using false
travel documents) committed as part of their ordeals.
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