Anti Slavery Int

Hey guys!

After having seen 'Fair Trade' with Sue (powerful play about true stories of women and girls being trafficked into the UK, produced by Emma Thompson) it has made me more determined to do what I can to stop this utterly evil form of slavery. A few days ago I received a letter from Anti Slavery Int. which encouraged people to write a letter to Jacqui Smith MP to encourage the Government to enforce the law that gives girls and women compensation after being saved or having escaped from their traffickers. This will help the women and girls towards getting back to a 'normal' life (get therapy, pay for legal costs etc) and more importantly, acts as a deterrent against traffickers. At the moment, these women and girls have very little support, even if they have escaped, as the laws the Government have agreed to aren't acting on them (yet)!!

I wrote a letter and have attached it - you can also send it to Jacqui Smith (and put your own name and address, instead of mine :) if you want to - the more letters the more impact...


Thank you!

Ros x

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(for cut and paste...)

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1 4DP

15th February 2009


Dear Jacqui Smith MP,

I am writing to you regarding Trafficked People and their access to compensation.

I welcome the progress made by the Government so far in tackling human trafficking, particularly the recent ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

I am however concerned that although victims of trafficking have the right to compensation, and various compensation mechanisms are in existence in the UK, it is extremely rare for a trafficked person to receive compensation.

This compensation plays a vital role in the recovery of a trafficked person and also serves as a deterrent for traffickers.

I therefore urge the Government to implement its Council of Europe Convention obligations on compensation for victims of trafficking. This would include mainstreaming compensation into anti-trafficking policy and practice; outlining concrete actions in the updated Action Plan on Trafficking to overcome the obstacles that prevent trafficked people from receiving compensation; and providing training and issuing guidance on compensation to the police; prosecution and judiciary. The Government should also ensure that sufficient support and legal aid assistance is available to trafficked people.

Many thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter and the points raised in this letter.

Yours sincerely,

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