What will the government approach to human trafficking be in 2009?

In November 2008, the announcement that London’s Metropolitan Police’s Human Trafficking team would have its Home Office funding cut from April 2009 represented a major setback to official efforts to fight human trafficking in the UK. The Human Trafficking Team was young, set up as recently as March 2007 and the news of its closure came soon after the team helped secure a major conviction (please see blog post 25 November 2008 ) in which six young men were given heavy sentences in connection to the trafficking of a sixteen year old Lithuanian girl in 2006. With funding slashed (the Team was fully funded by the Home Office Reflex Project) the Human Trafficking Team could not hope to continue its vital work. How could we take seriously the government’s promise to crack down on human trafficking?

Thanks to agitation and pressure from a number of organisations including STOP THE TRAFFIK, the Home Office have agreed to delay the ending of funding until 2010. Meanwhile, they have increased funding for the UK Human Trafficking Centre in Sheffield, which coordinates intelligence nationwide, and are providing funding for further supported accommodation for human trafficking victims.

Many thanks to those who helped bring pressure to bear, and STOP THE TRAFFIK eagerly awaits further news of progress in this area.

We The People’s Film Festival, UK

 

On 24 November 2008, STOP THE TRAFFIK is pleased to announce the opening of the ‘We The Peoples’ Film Festival, taking place at selected venues around London.

The festival will be promoting the work of the United Nations, and other international development agencies, focussing on the three pillars of freedom: freedom from want, freedom from fear, and freedom to live in dignity.

Victims of human trafficking are sometimes deprived of all three of these freedoms. In particular, two films that will be screened during the festival will explore the deprivation of freedom undergone by victims of human trafficking. The House of Sharing, from Hein Seok tells the story of Korean women sold into slavery by the Japanese army during the Second World War; and Kidnapped Childhood, by Claes Herrlander discusses the plight of children running from kidnappers in Uganda.

Come along to the ‘We The Peoples’ Film Festival to raise awareness about international human rights, and celebrate your freedom!

Isn’t it FREEZING!?

 

Are you going to be in central London on Sunday 16 November?

Join hundreds of Londoners in THE FREEZE PROJECT! This is a fun, non-intrusive way for you as a member of the public to draw attention to the really important issues of human trafficking and slavery, and help people get informed by handing out flyers afterwards.

So how can you participate?

• Show up at the right place at the right time
• You will be directed to the ‘Freeze Space’ and blend into the crowdAt the cue, stop what you’re doing and stay frozen for the next 5 minutes until the next cue tells you the freeze is over
• Afterwards, hand out some print material to those nearby or who were watching you

Where will this FREEZE PROJECT happen?

Location: London Eye (corner of Jubilee Garden on the side of Belevedere St. There will be FREEZE PROJECT signs)

Time: 2pm for a 2.30pm freeze

Contact: duggyhj@gmail.com (Stephen – Co-ordinator)

See you there!