|PIC1|The Salvation Army has greeted the publication of a new consultation paper that has sought to propose that victims of human trafficking should be allowed automatic permission to remain in Britain rather than being deported.

The Salvation Army has continued to voice its opposition to current legislation regarding the victims of human trafficking. Currently those who are forced into prostitution against their will are only looked upon on a case-by-case basis, and have no specific rights to remain in Britain once the authorities find them.

However, the latest proposals released by the Home Office has suggested that victims may be given special residence permits.

Government ministers are currently negotiating about offering an automatic ‘reflection period’ that would allow victims to stay in the UK temporarily until they decide whether or not to offer help to the authorities to prosecute the workers in the trafficking rings.

|QUOTE|Although the Salvation Army has increased its efforts to pressurise the government in Britain to help victims of human trafficking, the Christian organisation has also been fighting against the issue on a worldwide level also.

Commissioner Helen Clifton, The Salvation Army’s UK President of Women’s Ministries, said, “We have been looking forward to the publication of this consultation document and The Salvation Army will be making a full response to this. We see the proposal for automatic permission for trafficked women to stay in Britain as a positive step which could help prevent women from being re-trafficked and may support those women who chose to give evidence in order to make convictions.

“We remain particularly concerned about the welfare of children and vulnerable women who are trafficked into this country for sexual exploitation and we are exploring ways in which we can support them.”

|TOP|The issue of human trafficking has come to the forefront of international issues over recent years, as it is now known to be the second largest illegal industry in the world behind only the drugs trade, according to the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has expressed that it will continue its efforts to fight the problem across the globe. For example in the Philippines more than 50,000 children have been forced into prostitution, and to fight this huge crisis the Salvation Army is running an education and awareness programme. In addition, the organisation is operating safe homes for children that have been rescued from the illegal industry.

The Salvation Army comments that it is also already operating similar projects to this in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe as well as the South Pacific and East Asia.