Advisory Forum Newsletter

This newsletter is an opportunity for the Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) Forum members to publicise events, projects, research, campaigns and job opportunities. Our Covid-19 resources webpage will continue to be updated to support organisations in managing the challenges arising from the pandemic.

To share information for the webpage or newsletter, please contact [email protected].

Anti-Slavery Day 2020

As we were unable to host our usual awards ceremony this year, the Human Trafficking Foundation published this short film including clips from many of you thanking individuals from the sector, to celebrate the work being done in the anti-trafficking sector despite the challenging circumstances. If you missed it, you can still watch the film here.

The Prime Minister also sent this letter thanking our Chairman Anthony Steen and the Foundation to mark the tenth anniversary of Anti-Slavery Day.

Sentencing Council: invitation to comment on the draft modern slavery guidelines

The Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on modern slavery offences, open until 15 January 2021. The consultation paper seeks views on the first-ever guideline for offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. In particular, the consultation seeks views on a guideline for two main offences under the Act: offences contrary to section 1 (slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour), and section 2 (human trafficking). Access the consultation here.

IASC review published – The Modern Slavery Act 2015 statutory defence: call for evidence

The Commissioner launched a call for evidence in January 2020 on the use of the statutory defence provided by s.45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. She received over 100 responses and 200 cases, the cases were analysed and a number of experts interviewed and two roundtable discussions were held. Download the review here.

2020 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery

The Home Office has published their latest annual report on modern slavery, available here. The report highlights an increase in law enforcement investigations into modern slavery – increasing from 294 to 349 – and a small increase in convictions, from 65% to 71.9%, and prosecutions. It also discusses the ongoing response to the pandemic and the NRM Transformation Programme.

Report: Stacked Odds

One in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery, and women and girls account for nearly three quarters (71 per cent) of all victims of modern slavery. There is no escaping the fact that females are disproportionately affected. This report from Walk Free examines why women and girls are more vulnerable to modern slavery throughout their lifecycle. Download here.

Review: The UK’s approach to tackling modern slavery through the aid programme

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact has found that the UK’s work to tackle modern slavery in developing countries has had limited long-term impact, although it played a prominent role in raising the profile of the issue globally. Read the review here.

Report launch: Partnerships for Freedom

Join Nottingham Rights Lab for the online launch of their report ‘Partnerships for Freedom: improving multi-agency collaboration on modern slavery’. 3rd November. Details and registration here or download the report here.

International Organization for Migration: Anti-Slavery Day event

To mark this year’s Anti-Slavery Day, IOM UK will host an online panel discussion to explore the impact of COVID-19 on modern slavery in the UK and how the lessons learned during this time can shape future responses. The event will take place on Teams on Wednesday 28th October at 1 pm. You can register for the event here.

The Cost of Trafficking in Human Beings: Report launch

A new report on the Cost of Trafficking in Human Beings conducted by the Violence and Society Centre, City, University of London, was published by the European Commission to mark European Anti-Trafficking Day. This webinar on 29th October will highlight key findings from the report and make the case for why a gender-disaggregated approach that takes account of longer-term harms is key to understanding the full costs associated with trafficking. Details and registration here.

Online event: Migrants reporting crime: building trust and improving police efficiency

In this two-hour event co-hosted by FLEX and LAWRS, speakers will explore practical steps police can take to build trust with migrant communities, access intelligence and increase efficiency. Participants will have the opportunity to dialogue with police officers working on these issues abroad, and to learn more about the strategies they have used to better support migrant victims of crime and improve police efficiency. 29 October. Register here.

‘Breaking the Chains’ online legal seminars

MiCLU and Shpresa Programme are proud to present a series of four online legal seminars centred around representing child and young asylum seekers, with the fourth and final seminar providing an opportunity to learn from the lived experience of young asylum seekers from Albania. Details and registration here.

Emergency supported housing open for referrals in London and Kent

Life Essence Housing Support operates supported accommodation in London and Kent for single women, pregnant women, young families and those fleeing domestic violence and who need a long stay safe home. They are currently accepting referrals, housing benefit claims, social services referrals and supportive services based on the dependent’s level of need and funding. Download the brochure here and email referral requests to [email protected].

COVID-19 Direct Emergency Response for Children and Young People Fund

Buttle UK offer individually tailored grants of up to £2,000 for children and young people who have experienced a recent crisis or significant change in life. Applications must be made by a frontline professional working with the child of a young person. Criteria and application here.

New multi-lingual NRM explanatory document

West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network has produced this document which explains the NRM process in several languages. It can be used by first responders to explain the NRM to survivors at the point of identification so that survivors fully understand the process and are aware of their options. The English document is available here, with Chinese, Bulgarian, Latvian, Slovak, Lithuanian, Romanian, Roma, Polish, Vietnamese and Albanian to follow in the coming weeks.

A21 Christmas hampers campaign

Each year, A21 provides personalised Christmas Hampers, containing special Christmas gifts, for survivors of trafficking. This year they are hoping to expand the campaign to new shelters across the London area and provide hampers for more survivors this festive season. If you work for a shelter that would be interested in receiving these hampers, please contact [email protected].

TRF films: Taking on the Traffickers

Thomson Reuters Foundation has produced a series of three animated films on anti-trafficking advocates. These animated profiles explore the challenges of combating human trafficking and the personal cost that is seldom showcased. View here.

Vacancy: Modern Slavery Support Worker

The Commissioning Team of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner of Hampshire is recruiting a full-time Modern Slavery Support Worker based in Southampton. Details here.

Vacancy: Network Manager, BME Anti-Slavery Network (BASNET)

BASNET (part of Afruca) aims to improve the inclusion and representation of BME communities in the UK anti-trafficking sector. The post-holder will strengthen BASNET’s role and promote opportunities for members to collaborate and build partnerships to tackle modern slavery in BME communities. Apply here by 6th November.

Vacancy: Training Officer at FLEX

FLEX is recruiting a part-time Training Officer to be responsible for the design and delivery of bespoke training and support to frontline organisations supporting at-risk workers. Apply here by 16th November.

Anti-Trafficking Covid-19 Google group

HTF’s email platform to support the anti-trafficking sector’s response to Covid-19 provides a shared forum to ask questions and share examples of best practice, resources, updates, etc. with one another. To access the platform, please subscribe by entering your email address using the following link:
https://groups.google.com/a/humantraffickingfoundation.org/group/covid-19/subscribe  

Survivor Support Emergency Fund

HTF: Mapping Survivor Support Services

London Modern Slavery SPOC Directory 2019-2020