Many of you will have seen the recent shocking special report by ITV news on the trafficking of women and children from Europe into the UK, mainly for use in this country's brothels. The Government estimates that at any one time up to 4,000 trafficked women are being forced into prostitution. This situation is of course unacceptable. However I was recently concerned to read that the Government has yet to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which recommends any individual found to have been trafficked must be given time in safe housing to be assessed by experts. While the covention remains unsigned, its recommendations will not be implemented leading to vulnerable women and children being sent immediately on discovery by UK authorities to immigration detention centres. These people are victims in a hideous cycle of abuse and exploitation and should be treated as such. I hope the Government sees fit to ratify the Convention at its earliest opportunity so that these recommendations can be put into effect.
If you would like to find out more information on this, please take a look at www.ecpat.org.uk and www.eaves4women.co.uk.
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