News summary 22/10/09

GLOBAL TRAFFICKING CASES

BULGARIAN COUPLE ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING EXPECTED MOTHERS
A husband and wife have been arrested in Sliven, Bulgaria on charges of trafficking pregnant women from Bulgaria to Greece for the alleged purpose of selling their babies. The smuggling operation is thought to have been organised by the couple, who make up to 10,000 euros for each for arranging the babies to be taken and sold. The couple have been formally charged and await hearing. (22/10/09 Source)

CANADIAN FACES HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES
A man from Ontario, Canada, faces charges of trafficking, forcible confinement and assault, following accusations from a 19 year old woman. The victim claims the 24-year-old man forced her to work as a stripper, whilst he took her wages, restricted her freedom and subjected her to violent physical assault. The accused will appear Oct. 23 in Newmarket court. (19/10/09 Source)

SIX ICELANDICS ARRESTED IN RELATION TO SUSPECTED TRAFFICKING
Six men were arrested within the course of a week by the Sudurnes Police in relation to the same case regarding suspicion of human trafficking. The case concerns a Lithuanian woman who arrived in Iceland on fake ID, and was hospitalised after being found near unconsciousness. She told police she was in fear of being forced into prostitution, and the alarm was raised when she was declared missing last week. With the help of a public appeal the Lithuanian lady was found again later. She is a suspected victim of human trafficking, but little more information has been released at this stage due to the sensitivity of the case. (19/10/09 Source)

NAVY RECRUITER IS FIRST TO BE JAILED UNDER US TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT
A Navy recruiter was given 15 years in jail, without parole, for attempting to have sex with an 11-year-old child. Shane Allan Childers, from Kansas, America, paid $60 to have sex with a child adding an additional $20 for intercourse without protection, using the internet and phone calls in his attempt to induce the child to meet. He was caught by an undercover FBI officer working for Operation Guardian Angel – targeting child prostitution demand in Kansas City. The investigation led to the indictment of seven defendants, in America’s first federal prosecution of alleged customers of child prostitution under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. (20/10/09 Source)

 

ADDITIONAL TRAFFICKING NEWS

POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS TO HELP TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN IRELAND
A conference organised by Act to Prevent Trafficking (APT) in Ireland this week heard calls from Becker, a solicitor from the Immigrant Council of Ireland, for the State to compensate victims of human trafficking, when their traffickers cannot be found and made liable. The obligation of the State would be to cover out of pocket expenses, and victims should also be able to sue under employment law – though this issue is complicated by sexual exploitation which the State does not recognise as legitimate employment. Suggestions were raised in light of worries that trafficking victims rarely have enough recovery time or time to engage with the police in preventative action. The conference heard a lot of criticism against the prevalent attitudes of distrust towards trafficked women’s experiences (20/10/09 Source)

THE GUARDIAN INVESTIGATES TRAFFICKING OPERATION
A key British newspaper gained access to a report concerning the UK’s biggest ever operation concerning sex trafficking, and found that the number of prosecutions against people who had forced others into prostitution stood at zero. The newspaper thus declared that the scale of sex trafficking in the UK had been exaggerated, and detailed the various distortions of statistics that have been banded about by different agencies. Far from suggesting that sex trafficking within the UK is non-existent, the newspaper’s investigation really threw light on the problems of relying on statistics as a measure for a crime that is by nature covert. Similarly, the difficulties of prosecuting suspects under trafficking legislation – an argument that is explored here. (20/10/09 Source)

In response to The Guardian report…

Today’s Guardian article reaffirms STOP THE TRAFFIK’s belief that accurate information on trafficking is difficult to find.

There is an urgent need for people within their communities, who see and recognise the signs of trafficking, to gather local information.

STOP THE TRAFFIK set up ACT groups (active communities against trafficking) to equip local volunteers in every community to raise awareness of the issue so that trafficking could be identified and responded to at a local level.

We are currently piloting specific ACT groups which are gathering local information around the issues of trafficking for sexual exploitation, which we believe contributes critically to understanding the scale in the UK.

Every community is affected by trafficking whether by the exploitation through trafficked forced labour, trafficked children and adults for forced street crime, those trafficked for domestic servitude, the use of people trafficked for sexual exploitation, or the consumer buying a chocolate bar that is not traffik free.

STOP THE TRAFFIK is committed to community action against trafficking to stop the traffik here and around the world. 

Thank you to everyone out there, whatever city, whatever country, who supports us in this effort!

NEWS SUMMARY 15/10/09

EIGHTEEN BURMESE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS RESCUED            

Thai police and human rights activists raided two boats and broker houses in a fishing town South East of Bangkok on Tuesday and freed eighteen human trafficking victims. It was revealed that the victims – all Burmese nationals – had been promised jobs in Thai factories but were actually sold as fisherman to Thai boat captains. It is alleged that the victims were sold on three times, and were informed that they would have to work for seven months without pay to cover the travelling costs of 22,000 baht (US$650). The victims were said to have looked exhausted and were overwhelmed about being rescued from their ordeal, retelling of how they were beaten, locked up, not given medicine when sick, and also of how some workers had drowned whilst attempting to escape from the fishing boat. They were sent to government safe houses for trafficking victims. Three people were arrested, and the police are said to be working with the rescue victims to save others. (Source, 13/10/09)

 

CHILD TRAFFICKING IN GUATEMALA ON THE RISE

In Guatemala, despite new human trafficking laws enforced this year, there are only ten agents working for the government against human trafficking across the entire country. Worryingly, evidence suggests that child sex tourism is growing, and activist Leonel Dubón (of the Asociación El Refugio de la Niñez) claims that trafficking of children is significant in border areas, particularly affecting Central American migrants attempting to pass through to the USA. The Guatemalan justice system is notorious for corruption, which can be seen as a factor in the existence of diverse illicit networks – such as the ‘known’ group of taxi drivers who help tourists find, and have sex with, street children. Some link the fact that over 15,000 Guatemalan children under 18 are victims of child sex trafficking to the dire economic situation in the country – the World Bank places Guatemala as one of the poorest in Latin America, with about 75 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The recent US Trafficking in Persons Report put Guatemala on ‘Tier 2 Watch List’, with four other Latin American nations, which represents worries about digression to the lowest Tier 3. Director of ECPAT International in Guatemala relates the lack of state action and prosecution to failure to classify trafficking. Part of the problem is lack of training, but also lack of resources, state interest and funds – evidenced by the recent closure of Casa Alianza, the Latin American branch of the New York-based Covenant House. (Source, 13/10/09)

 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING ON THE AGENDA IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The government in Trinidad and Tobago has approved a nine-month plan to counter human trafficking. This will be enforced with the help of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), various government ministries, NGOs, and faith-based organizations with a focus on prevention and protection of victims, and a move to criminalise and prosecute the perpetrators. The multi-agency approach is hoped to be a successful in establishing a strong long term plan and will include a referral procedure enabling identification of victims and required services, a ‘hotline’ for reporting suspected cases and a nationwide campaign. New legislation is expected to be enacted criminalizing trafficking and preventing the spread of this crime. (Source 14/10/09)

 

SPECIALIST HUMAN TRAFFICKING TEAM ESTABLISHED IN DUBAI

A permanent team of specialists has been established in Dubai to investigate human trafficking, including female public prosecutors, legal researchers, social workers and psychological advisors. The team is thought to be a logical result of the success of the 2006 anti-human trafficking law, which this year alone has seen up to 20 cases referred to the Dubai Court of First Instance. Whilst the two core priorities of the team are said to be victim support and case investigation there will also be an emphasis on the role of ‘enlightening the public’. Chair of the team, Kalifa Bin Deemas, sees this new measure as significant in strengthening the UAE’s role in international judicial cooperation – a seriousness reflected in the sentences for traffickers – possible life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh1 million. (Source 15/10/09)

 

NEW JERSEY CONVICTION

In a previous news summary we mentioned the case of Akouavi Kpade Afolabi, a West African Woman accused of human trafficking, and forced labour in New Jersey, USA. Today after less than five hours deliberation the jury found her guilty on all counts of human trafficking. Read the full story here: Source 15/10/09

SOME INTERESTING THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Hello…just have some interesting bits and pieces to update you on;

Firstly, for all those theatre fans out there we’ve caught news of a new production by Clean Break called ‘It felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now’ by Lucy Kirkwood. The theatre company works with women who have been affected by the criminal justice system, and the play itself is the product of interviews with women who were trafficked into the UK, some into the sex industry, and some of whom experienced periods in the UK prison system. The play takes the audience on a journey which is extremely emotional and insightful and at times very candid – and example of which is Dijana Polančec remark;

“I know exactly how much I am worth. I am worth 1000 Euros because that is how much Babac paid for me. To put this in easy language, that is like two and a half iPhones.”

It is no wonder the play received a five star review from the Evening Standard. If you are interested, check out the website or the e-flyer below.

 

 

Secondly the British Association for Adoption and Fostering have published two new guides which focus on care and support for children and young people who have been trafficked into the UK. The first is ‘the guide for foster carers’ and the second is called ‘the guide for social workers’. The team here have had a look through both and think they provide tons of insightful and practical information for professionals – both for those already familiar with the complexities associated with human trafficking and its victims, and also for those who have not yet explored this important area. The guides cover a range of issues giving recommendations for caring for trafficking children, to the local authority’s legal duty, how to keep children safe, and also how to initially identify trafficking victims. Both guides are also illustrated with real case studies, and quotations from individuals who have experienced trafficking. If you think these guides could be useful for you, or simply because you are interested to find out more, then get in contact with the BAAF who will be able to help.

And to all you out there who thinks the recent UK-focused blogs could benefit from some international enrichment (I know I do!) – please feel free to send us updates of great events in your city, or any information that could be of benefit to readers.

Thanks, and that’s all for now!

Georgia

ART TO FIGHT CRIME

In need of something stimulating to browse through online??

Take a look at this interesting on-line gallery from the United Nations Crime and Justice Institute, which includes materials sourced from STOP THE TRAFFIK, and other organisations. The exhibition illustrates cross-cultural representations of various global crimes including human trafficking, counterfeiting, juvenile delinquency, money laundering, corruption, cybercrimes and environmental crimes. Making art about these kinds of issues raises the profile of the campaigns that exist to combat these crimes. If this helps us to promote anti-human trafficking campaigns, then we definitely approve!

Georgia

T MINUS ZERO DAYS

The much awaited, uber exciting launch of START FREEDOM happened this very morning!!!

You can check out the inspiring new film on our website http://www.startfreedom.org, or watch the video below, and let us know if you think it is as fantastic as we do!

As we speak half the UK team are standing in front of very important (and powerful) people at the UN introducing START FREEDOM and trying to drum up support and interest for this new project.

Meanwhile the other half are brunching in the airport on croissants, muffins, cappuccinos, and…well, maybe oats (they’re mental about oats here…but lets not get started). Later today the global STOP THE TRAFFIK team will be convening in Chicago to talk strategy, direction and establishing ways to build on the achievements we’ve reached so far (so much of which is due to our supporters who do the hard work).

I, on the other hand, am in the office this week all alone, but I’m doing my bit by snacking on a stash of fair trade dairy milk bars, as we speak – it’s never too early!

A big thanks to everyone who has helped with START FREEDOM – the emails are so encouraging, and feedback so far has been great. Keep up the good work everybody….wish the global team good luck in Chicago this week!

Please spread the word about START FREEDOM!!!

Muito amor!

Georgia

 

TAKE ACTION FOR TRAFFICKED WOMEN WITH NO RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS

Another call for direct action from you wonderful people – and a quick thank you for all the letters already written to the MET in response to the news that the special anti-trafficking unit may be disbanded (see the blog URGENT; 2 second UK campaign)

Today, just another quickie but urgent campaign for those of you with UK MPs – please please consider lobbying your member of parliament in order to help abolish the No Recourse to Public Funds Rule. Amnesty International UK is leading this initiative to unite hundreds of activists at the Houses of Commons to urge the UK government to protect all women from violence and abuse in the UK – and what better way than a mass lobby!

‘No recourse to public funds’ is an immigration status in the UK which means that people with this status cannot access public funds such as housing benefits or income support. This is particularly worrying for women who may be fleeing domestic violence and abuse, and also women who have been trafficked into the UK – in order to stay in a refuge women need access to these benefits, but this status excludes them. The result is that these women are left destitute, or are forced to depend on their abusive partners. If you would like to find out more please take a look at the women’s resource centre here and help abolish this rule!

That’s all for now!

Other than a quick GOOD LUCK! to the STOP THE TRAFFIK team who are, as we speak flying to the United States for the much awaited launch of START FREEDOM and the STOP THE TRAFFIK global conference!!! Great things will come from this! For one – the new film goes up onto the START FREEDOM website watch out, 9am UK time!!! Super exciting!!

Ciao ciao!

Georgia

SECRET DIARY WRITER: Rapping Nestles knuckles with wrappers

Hi everybody!
It’s CHOCOLATE WEEK!

We are being encouraged to eat and bath and rub ourselves with chocolate this week.

I say, YEEEHA, sounds like fun. Let’s do it but make sure it’s FAIR TRADE.

I have an idea though that you should save your fair trade wrappers, write a little note on the back and send them to Nestle. You can write about human rights, child trafficking, them not knowing where their beans come from, transparency in supply chains, them not living up to promises, the ICI… you have a heap of things to pick from! For inspiration check out our chocolate pages on the website and this blog post

Please let me know if you post stuff and if you hear anything in repsonse!

Let’s sock it to Nestle!
GRRRRRR.

RAISING MONEY FOR OUR PROJECTS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING!

Good morning!

I’ve just heard of a fantastic way to start raising money for STOP THE TRAFFIK – with absolute minimum effort on everyone’s behalf!

Basically, every time that you search the internet you can help donate to STOP THE TRAFFIK…AT THE SAME TIME!!

By using www.Search2Give.co.uk as your main search engine, or even as your home page, you can help support us without having to pay anything, give out your details, or fill in any forms! All you need to do is log on to the site, and in the top left hand corner type in STOP THE TRAFFIK as your charity of choice, and watch the barometer rise the more we all search!

Search2Give is powered by Yahoo! And so the search results are still brilliant, it just means that you can feel super when you surf! Lots of charities are using this – with Christian Aid currently the leader with its supporters generating lots of great donations to help with projects. We want to be up there, so please help support us!

For all you sceptics, to put this in perspective, with 1,000 people search 4 times a day you can generate £14,600 for STOP THE TRAFFIK.

Now that is fantastic!

Thanks guys

T MINUS 5 DAYS…..

ARRRRRRHHHHHHH!

Lots to do.

We are finishing the translations – the Hindi script has been somewhat complicated (to say the least). Both Phil Lane (STOP THE TRAFFIK Belgium) and the lovely Georgia Brooks (UK intern) almost descended into insanity trying to get it finished on time.

Ruth (CEO) has begun packing her bags and is almost ready to be whisked off to New York for the launch.

We have had rather a lot of interest in these last few days from all over the world. Lots of different states and governments and big cheeses interested in promoting the resources.

Next week we’re putting up a PRESS RELEASE and it would be super swell if you could send it to everybody and anybody.

Ok chaps and chapesses, must get cracking.

Thank you for your emails of support and help in getting this to the masses!

You are changing the world and I am sat at a desk!