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Holyrood summit to tackle human trafficking | Holyrood summit to tackle human trafficking |
(35 minutes later) | |
A UK-wide summit aimed at tackling human trafficking is due to be held at the Scottish Parliament. | A UK-wide summit aimed at tackling human trafficking is due to be held at the Scottish Parliament. |
The meeting will be chaired by the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, who is Scotland's top prosecutor. | The meeting will be chaired by the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, who is Scotland's top prosecutor. |
It will also be attended by the heads of the prosecution services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. | It will also be attended by the heads of the prosecution services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. |
They will set out their commitment to work together across boundaries to disrupt the trade. | They will set out their commitment to work together across boundaries to disrupt the trade. |
A report published by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in September found that the number of potential victims of human trafficking in the UK increased by 22% between 2012 and 2013, with 55 cases identified in Scotland. | A report published by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in September found that the number of potential victims of human trafficking in the UK increased by 22% between 2012 and 2013, with 55 cases identified in Scotland. |
Across the UK, it is estimated that 2,744 people, including 602 children, were potential victims of trafficking last year. | Across the UK, it is estimated that 2,744 people, including 602 children, were potential victims of trafficking last year. |
Almost a third of the victims in Scotland suffered sexual exploitation, while others experienced labour exploitation and criminal exploitation. | Almost a third of the victims in Scotland suffered sexual exploitation, while others experienced labour exploitation and criminal exploitation. |
The NCA said victims came from countries including Poland, Slovakia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana and Nigeria. Romania was the most common country of origin, with nine cases in Scotland. | The NCA said victims came from countries including Poland, Slovakia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana and Nigeria. Romania was the most common country of origin, with nine cases in Scotland. |
Speaking ahead of Friday's summit, Mr Mulholland described human trafficking as "the slavery of our times". | Speaking ahead of Friday's summit, Mr Mulholland described human trafficking as "the slavery of our times". |
'Serious violation' | 'Serious violation' |
He added: "It is a serious violation of human rights and causes lasting harm to its victims. | He added: "It is a serious violation of human rights and causes lasting harm to its victims. |
"Every year thousands of men, women and children are trafficked across the globe, including within the United Kingdom. | "Every year thousands of men, women and children are trafficked across the globe, including within the United Kingdom. |
"It is a serious and complex crime which happens in the shadows of our society and it is very difficult for investigators and prosecutors to penetrate that veil." | "It is a serious and complex crime which happens in the shadows of our society and it is very difficult for investigators and prosecutors to penetrate that veil." |
Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Mulholland said: "One of the difficulties is that often victims don't recognise that they are indeed victims and there is a bond which is built up between them and the trafficker - an emotional bond, an economic bond. | Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Mulholland said: "One of the difficulties is that often victims don't recognise that they are indeed victims and there is a bond which is built up between them and the trafficker - an emotional bond, an economic bond. |
"That is part of today's conference - to try to understand that." | "That is part of today's conference - to try to understand that." |
One victim's story | One victim's story |
"I believed I was going to be safe and have a good life here but when I came this was not the case. I was treated very, very badly. | "I believed I was going to be safe and have a good life here but when I came this was not the case. I was treated very, very badly. |
"I was locked in a room and made to have sex with many men. They would come every day and make me do things I did not want to do. | "I was locked in a room and made to have sex with many men. They would come every day and make me do things I did not want to do. |
"They never cared if I cried. They just carried on. | "They never cared if I cried. They just carried on. |
"The traffickers prostituted me for three months before I managed to run away and I still feel the pain now. | "The traffickers prostituted me for three months before I managed to run away and I still feel the pain now. |
"It is in my heart and in my head." | "It is in my heart and in my head." |
Baroness Helena Kennedy, who led the Equality and Human Rights Commission's inquiry into Human Trafficking in Scotland, told the programme: "Too often we are left to the vagaries of the system. | |
"Sometimes they [victims] are deported back to places where they will be re-trafficked, where they will suffer punishment for prosecuting the people who have done this to them." | |
Baroness Kennedy said there were three things that needed to happen - a duty to make sure trafficking was properly understood, mandating the system to prosecute relentlessly and creating a guarantee that victims would be helped to recover. | |
Hostile environment | |
In Scotland, trafficking for the purposes of prostitution carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. | In Scotland, trafficking for the purposes of prostitution carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. |
Trafficking for labour and other forms of exploitation, holding someone in slavery or servitude, or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour are also offences with a maximum penalty of 14 years. | Trafficking for labour and other forms of exploitation, holding someone in slavery or servitude, or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour are also offences with a maximum penalty of 14 years. |
The UK is bound by the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which involves signing up to a set of minimum standards on the identification, protection and support of trafficking victims | The UK is bound by the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which involves signing up to a set of minimum standards on the identification, protection and support of trafficking victims |
In March Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced that the Scottish government planned to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Bill for Scotland, which was intended to make Scotland a "hostile environment for human traffickers". | In March Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced that the Scottish government planned to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Bill for Scotland, which was intended to make Scotland a "hostile environment for human traffickers". |
The legislation will build on the work done by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who had proposed her own bill. | The legislation will build on the work done by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who had proposed her own bill. |