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Postponed: Human Trafficking Foundation report launch: “Taking back control of our borders?” The impact on modern-day slavery

This event originally scheduled for 2 December to launch our report has been postponed until the New Year. We will share details of the report and rescheduled date, along with joining instructions, through our newsletter as soon as possible.

Letter: New Home Office policy on rough sleeping and the increased risks of modern slavery

Together with Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), Doughty Street Chambers and Hope for Justice, Anti-Slavery International and The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group have compiled a letter to ministers urging them to revoke a new policy that will make rough sleeping grounds for removal from the UK. They have brought together a coalition of 150 charities, trade unions, lawyers and local authorities to warn that these new rules will have severe consequences for victims of modern slavery – and will put the wider homeless population at significant risk of exploitation. Download the letter here and read the article here.

ATLEU’s new referral system is live

ATLEU’s new online system is now ready for you to make and receive referrals. Just log in and enter your case details to find legal advisors in England and Wales.

There’s still time to sign up if you work with survivors of trafficking or slavery and need to make referrals or if you’re a legal advisor who wants to find clients in the areas of immigration, compensation, housing and support or public law.

The system will help survivors find advice and help ATLEU to identify areas and issues where survivors can’t get the help they need when they need it. Register and make a referral here.

British Red Cross research launch event: First Steps to Safety? Early support for people leaving exploitation

The British Red Cross is launching their new research First Steps to Safety? at an online event tomorrow 2 December at 10am.

The research explores the role of reception centres in supporting people out of exploitation. The event will be an opportunity to hear about the research directly and to engage with a variety of speakers including survivor activists, law enforcement, local government and the voluntary sector to discuss early support for people leaving exploitation, including proposals for government-funded ‘places of safety’.

Register here.

Hibiscus report launch: Closed Doors

Join Hibiscus Initiatives for a presentation and discussion of the Closed Doors report on 2 December 12.30-1.30pm. Closed Doors is an investigation into the inequalities in housing provision for female victims of trafficking who are also seeking asylum. Register here.

Alliance HR webinar: The new UK immigration system

This webinar on 3 December 11.30am-12.30pm explores where the risks lie for migrant workers and the companies who recruit and employ them in the new immigration system that will come into effect in the UK on 1 January 2021. Speakers will discuss how the UK’s future immigration system opens up new opportunities for traffickers, criminals and profiteers to exploit migrant workers. Register here.

Online conference: Together against human trafficking – Human trafficking in Europe and its challenges for Romania

The European Parliament, in partnership with the Romanian Network of NGOs against Trafficking in Persons (RoTIP), the European Center for Legal Education and Research (ECLER) and Freedom House Romania (FHR) invite you to this online conference on 10 December 9.30am.

The conference aims to address the main challenges we face in preventing and combating human trafficking or protecting survivors, especially children, underlining the need for effective international cooperation and inter-institutional involvement. Register here before 5 December.

Update: NRM referrals now digital-only

All designated first responders now need to use the digital referral system to make National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify referrals. Guidance on this is available on the Home Office website here. If you think this will be a problem for you, or if you want to provide any feedback on the online referral process, you can email [email protected].

Guidance for working with adults at risk of exploitation: Cuckooing

The Policy Partners Project has published this updated resource, providing frontline professionals with a multi-agency framework to facilitate effective working with adults who are at risk due to cuckooing. It explains who might be at risk of cuckooing and the signs, how to tackle cuckooing, and mapping a multi-agency planning meeting. View here.

Breaking the Chains – helping the Albanian community

Breaking the Chains was created in 2018 in response to consultation with Albanian children and young people, and the grassroots agencies supporting them. It is designed to meet the specific needs of Albanian-speaking asylum-seeking children and young people by providing a holistic legal representation and advice service which is child-centred and child-friendly. The project seeks to advise, educate, empower and engage children and young people in the asylum process alongside professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors. aiming to improve their outcomes (both legally and socially).

Migrant & Refugee Children’s Legal Unit (MiCLU) have formally partnered with Shpresa Programme, a user-led organisation working with the Albanian community, to work with Albanian asylum-seeking children. You can access the training and resources they have developed here.

Report: Modern slavery helpline during the pandemic

This report from Unseen provides an overview of the nature and scale of contacts to the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline for the six-month period between 23 March 2020 and 23 September 2020. The report highlights people being forced to work during the peak of the pandemic without social distancing or PPE. Read here.

Report: Invisible Pain – Sexual and gender-based violence in Xinjiang

The Rights Practice has produced this report to put the spotlight on the situation of Uyghur women in Xinjiang, China. It draws on their work on human rights in China and information in the public domain. It highlights the treatment of women and concerns at the use of sexual and gender-based violence. It urges everyone researching and speaking out on the human rights crisis in this region to be gender sensitive in their investigations, analysis and advocacy. It also includes recommendations for the international community, including civil society, UN Member States and businesses. Read here.

Three-year MSHT data and campaign contract opportunity, Greater Manchester

From 1st December, organisations are invited to tender for the opportunity to support Greater Manchester to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking. They are seeking a provider who can help them to collect data to better understand what modern slavery looks like, and deliver awareness raising campaigns across the city region. To view the full documentation, register on this portal here, then sign in to register interest for this opportunity.

Hestia training on Modern Slavery and Homelessness

Hestia Housing and Support are offering a CPD-certified training on Modern Slavery and Homelessness. The training is aimed at a wide range of professionals that work with vulnerable individuals, such as local authorities, NHS, ex-offender services, police, homelessness, domestic abuse, and mental health charities. Please email [email protected] for more information or find full details here.

Vacancies: A21

A21 are recruiting two full-time roles based in London:

UK Reach Coordinator – to coordinate A21’s ‘Reach’ programmes across the UK, involving programmes related to prevention, awareness and education. (Details here)

UK Rescue Coordinator – to coordinate A21’s ‘Rescue’ programmes across the UK, including frontline victim identification, assistance and safeguarding responsibilities. (Details here)

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

The Human Trafficking Foundation established the fund with a grant from the Vandervell Foundation. We supplement this with funding from other supporters.

The fund is available to help survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery with small one-off grants to meet their immediate needs when no other sources of funding are available. Further information including how to apply is available on our website.

HTF: Mapping Survivor Support Services

Our map of UK survivor support services aims to be a useful tool for people working with survivors to see what services are available in their area. View the map here.

If your organisation provides support of any kind to survivors of trafficking and would like to be added to the map, please complete the surveys which relate to your organisation’s work: Accommodation, Post-Identification Casework, Outreach Support and/or Individual Advocacy, Drop-in Services, Legal Advice – Legal Aid, Legal Advice – Non-Legal Aid, Specialist Psychological or Therapeutic Support, and Vocational Training or Education.

Please email [email protected] for further information.

London Modern Slavery SPOC Directory 2019-2020

The Human Trafficking Foundation has been working with local authorities in the Greater London area to support the development of their response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

As part of this, we produce an annual directory of modern slavery Single Points of Contact/Champions in statutory authorities across London including representatives within the NHS, police and local authorities. The updated 2019-2020 directory is now available. Please contact rachel@humantraffickingfoundation.org to request a copy of the directory.