The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Alan McDonald, has welcomed the announcement from the Government that it will sign up to the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

This measure, which has already been backed by over 30 countries, will give victims of human trafficking the right to stay in the UK for a 30-day period of "recovery and reflection". This period will give them the opportunity to get over their ordeal and consider the prospect of prosecuting those involved in their trafficking.

The Church of Scotland Guild has "warmly welcomed" this development, having already run a major campaign to pressurise the UK Government into signing the Convention on Action Against Trafficking. The campaign was a prominent part of the guild's report to the 2006 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Rev McDonald said: "This is a very welcome development. The previous situation - where victims of human trafficking and sex slavery faced immediate deportation to their country of origin - was cruel and inhuman.

"Among the most moving moments of the 2006 General Assembly was the speech given by the convener of the guild demanding government action on the plight of human trafficking. I am pleased that - better late than never - the commitments that were asked for have now been given."

Alison Twaddle, general secretary of the Church of Scotland Guild, added: "It is fitting that this development has come now, as the UK marks the 200th anniversary of the scrapping of the Slave Trade Act.

"During his recent visit to Ghana, the Moderator saw the dungeons where slaves used to be kept prior to being taken aboard ships bound for the Americas and the Caribbean. Indeed, the abolition of slavery was a substantial theme of his trip."

The Moderator concluded: "While we celebrate the parliamentary abolition of slavery, it is important that we recognise that slavery continues in the world today - in the form of human trafficking."