CARE has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s new human trafficking strategy released this week.

The long-awaited strategy pledges tougher penalties for traffickers and more powers to seize their profits.

It also commits the UK to working with foreign law enforcement agencies to prevent vulnerable people from being trafficked into the country in the first place.

The publication of the strategy comes not long after the Government signed up to an EU Directive on Human Trafficking, which broadens powers to prosecute and commits the Government to greater care of victims.

CARE’s director of parliamentary affairs, Dan Boucher, said he was pleased with the strategy’s focus on tackling the demand side of trafficking, although he added that more could be done.

“It is impossible to understate the importance of addressing this challenge," he said.

"If there was no demand there would be no trafficking and thus more emphasis and resources should be placed on cutting off demand at source.

"Some progress has been made here but there is huge scope for improvement.

"The latest statistics show that demand for paid sexual services increased dramatically in the early 2000s, turning the UK into a destination country for traffickers.

“Our own laws must reflect their commitment to ‘make human trafficking a priority’ as written in the Coalition Agreement and strict policies on demand must be reflected through robust legislation.”

CARE’s human trafficking policy officer, Lydia Bowden, welcomed the publication of the strategy but admitted she was disappointed that only two out of the 24 pages were dedicated to the care and protection of victims.

She expressed particular concern in light of the Government’s own recent admission that more than 300 rescued trafficked children in the care of local authorities were “lost” between 2007 and 2010.

“We know that thousands of men, women and children are trafficked into the UK every year, and as a result, the Government has a responsibility to safeguard their welfare and provide appropriate services to meet all of their needs,” she said.

Ms Bowden said the organisation would continue to advocate for stronger legislation on the demand side of human trafficking.

She continued: “We know that without demand for cheap labour and paid sexual services in the UK, trafficking would not take place here.

“However the brief mention on demand within the Strategy does not suggest that tackling demand in the UK is a priority, with the focus instead being on prevention abroad in source countries. We must face up to our trafficking responsibilities in this country.”



CORRECTION: In an article entitled "Anger over human trafficking strategy", dated 15/07/2011, Christian Today incorrectly reported that the Stop the Traffik Coalition was angry with the Government's human rights strategy and that the strategy had already been released at the time of the article's publication. The Government's strategy was in fact released on 19/07/2011 and comments cited in the article by Steve Chalke, head of Stop the Traffik, were not intended for publication prior to the strategy's release. Christian Today apologises for any confusion caused.