HTF Advisory Forum Newsletter 8th November

Posted on 8 November 2023

Advisory Forum Newsletter   This newsletter is an opportunity for Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) Forum members to publicise events, projects, research, campaigns and job opportunities. You can see recordings or download minutes of our previous online events here.  This fortnightly newsletter goes out to over 1,500 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]     Announcements National Referral Mechanism Statistics Released for Q3 The Government has published the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) statistics for the third quarter of 2023, covering July-September. For the first time, reconsideration request details have been published with the statistics, as has an analysis of the devolved decision making pilot for children. Read the statistics here. Survivor Care Standards Request The Human Trafficking Foundation and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab are keen to hear how your organisation uses the Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards. Is it used as a handbook for your frontline staff? Has it helped shape your policies or staff training? Do you have any examples of how the Standards have been successfully used to strengthen care for survivors? If so, we’d love to hear from you, so please contact Louisa. Wilberforce Institute Subedi Prize: Call for Entries The Wilberforce Institute has opened this year’s call for entries for the Subedi Prize. This annual prize is for the best original essay in English on the abolition of modern forms of slavery or the protection of human dignity anywhere in the world. The winner will receive £500 in recognition of their success. The closing date is 31st December 2023, with the winner to be announced in March 2024. See more details here. Social Media Facilitated Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and Young People: Research Survey Liverpool John Moores University, Rights Lab, International Justice Mission and Brunel University are conducting a study that aims to advance the empirical understanding of Social Media-Facilitated Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and Young People. They are looking for professionals and practitioners who respond to trafficking and exploitation of children and young people to complete a 15 minute survey. Findings will help inform the development of responses to detect, deter and disrupt social-media facilitated trafficking of children and young people. Complete the survey here. UK BME Anti-Slavery Network (BASNET) Request for Update on Race Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Progress BASNET is requesting an update on the progress and actions taken in relation to race equality, diversity, and inclusion within the UK Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking sector. This request is aimed at providing valuable insights and ensuring accountability for the commitments made in the BASNET Race Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan. They request progress reports outlining specific updates and initiatives that your organisation has undertaken in line with the BASNET action plan by 10th November. Email Naeema your updates or requests for additional information. Nottingham Rights Lab Cognitive Impairment and Exploitation Study: Call for Participants Nottingham Rights Lab are undergoing a two-year study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, to explore links between different types of cognitive impairment and exploitation in England. They are seeking frontline practitioners, and adults who have lived experience of cognitive impairment or care for someone with a cognitive impairment, for interviews. Frontline practitioners can participate online, and lived experience participants either online or at a place and time convenient to them. A £30 voucher and any travel expenses will be provided. Contact Alison if you wish to take part. Unseen Modern Slavery App Relaunch The Unseen app provides a simple guide to recognising the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking, and reporting concerns in confidence. There is also a guide to types of modern slavery, an outline of key legislation, and an explanation of how to contact the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline in 27 languages.The app is recommended by senior police officers and anti-slavery experts for frontline practitioners. Download the app here or by searching “UnseenUK” on your app provider or browser.     Reports and Publications Council of Europe Report: Non-Punishment of Victims/Survivors of Human Trafficking in Practice: A Case Study of the United Kingdom A new Council of Europe/GRETA study on the operationalisation of the non-punishment principle provides a comprehensive analysis of this decision and considers how the UK Government sought to comply with the principle in domestic law and policy, following the ECHR judgment in VCL vs UK. It also considers the potential implications of these developments for the interpretation and application of the non-punishment principle in other states. Read the full study here.   New ATLEU Briefings on Access to Compensation Access to compensation is crucial for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery. A compensation award can give survivors a genuine opportunity to rebuild their lives and reduce vulnerability to further exploitation. Yet, the avenues for compensation are not fit for purpose. Two new briefings from ATLEU detail the current obstacles in access to compensation and the changes needed to remedy these: “Compensating survivors, punishing traffickers: the need for a civil remedy of trafficking and modern slavery” and “Submission to a review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme: Scheme continues to fail survivors of trafficking and modern slavery”. Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC) Briefing: Global Sanctions: Can They Fight Transnational Organised Crimes Fuelled by Human Trafficking? In this briefing, HRC shares its analysis of the implementation of sanctions as tools by nations to target individuals or entities involved in transnational organised crime. The briefing introduces and advocates for different sanctions with good potential, and evaluates their effectiveness by analysing the categories of criminals. HRC also provides a series of tips for civil society organisations (CSOs) on a practical level. Read the briefing in full here.     Events & Training Human Trafficking Foundation Online Forum: Modern Slavery and Exploitation in the Care Sector HTF is hosting an online forum to bring together a range of speakers to explore the recent increase in reported cases of modern slavery and exploitation in the care sector. Topics will include an overview of workers’ rights on the Health and Care visa, issues of debt bondage and repayment clauses, recruitment methods used by exploitative agencies, issues of both underworking and overworking, and recommendations to regulate the sector. Thursday 7th December, 2pm-3.30pm, online. Register for your place here. Anti-Slavery Sector Knowledge Share: Introduction to FOIs for Modern Slavery Practitioners with After Exploitation The Human Trafficking Foundation is organising a series of workshops aimed at building the capacity of the modern slavery sector. The first in the series is being led by After Exploitation to inform organisations on how to use Freedom of Information requests (FOI) to uncover modern slavery outcomes. FOI is a powerful tool anyone can use to better understand the world around us. When it comes to modern slavery research and campaigns, this tool has proved vital. Through FOI requests, After Exploitation has uncovered the widespread detention of trafficking survivors, flaws in decision making, and many more barriers to justice facing people after exploitation. Monday 11th December, 1-3pm, online. Sign up here. For suggestions of other topics to be included in the series, or if you have knowledge or skills to share, please contact Louisa. Maternity Action NHS Charging Training Maternity Action is presenting a series of seminars, taking A deeper dive into how different groups (including refugees and asylum seekers, survivors of modern slavery and EU nationals) are affected by NHS charging. The 4 online sessions will be held on Thursdays throughout November. They are aimed at lawyers and advisers working with clients subject to the NHS Charging regime, those working on immigration and health policy and frontline migration organisations and NGOs. Read more and register here. Garden Court Chambers Conference: Children and Detention The Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights Team are hosting a half-day in-person conference on children and detention. Topics of discussion will include children in police detention, children in the immigration and asylum system and use of Deprivation of Liberty Orders in family cases and Section 25 orders. Wednesday 22nd November, 1.30-6.30pm, London. Register for your place here. Launch of Research Report: The Role of Prisons in Securing the Rights of Modern Slavery Survivors An event is taking place to launch a new research report by Essex University, International Organization for Migration and Hibiscus Initiatives. The key findings and recommendations of the research report ‘Tackling the Blind Spot of the UK Anti-Slavery Regime: The Role of Prisons in Securing the Rights of Modern Slavery Survivors’ will be presented during a panel discussion bringing together academics, practitioners and policy makers in this area. Tuesday 28th November, 11.45am-1.15pm, hybrid. Register here to attend virtually, or contact [email protected] if you would be interested in attending in-person.       Vacancies Medaille Trust Vacancies The Medaille Trust provides frontline support to survivors of modern slavery through safe housing, community awareness projects and partnerships with local authorities and law enforcement. They are looking for a part-time Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistant and a Modern Slavery Support worker, both based in Thanet. They are also looking for two part-time Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistants based in Swindon, and a full-time Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistant in Hillingdon. More information and apply to all roles here.     HTF Resources   Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Consultancy The Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) was established to ensure the expertise of those with lived-experience is embedded in the work of the anti-trafficking sector and is made up of independent consultants who co-work with HTF. LEAP can offer the development and delivery of training (online, pre-recorded and in person), work with organisations to create or redesign training packages, provide expert advice on policy documents, research and guidance on supporting survivors of trafficking, join round tables on specific areas of modern slavery, sit on interview panels, undertake group focus groups and partake in 1 on 1 interviews. Find out more here and submit a request for LEAP consultancy.  HTF’s Survivor Hub  Survivor advocates and HTF have created an online Survivor Hub, a place for survivors to find opportunities for work and paid research participation, to find resources on education, housing support, the NRM, mental health support and includes directories of support providers and legal advisors across the country. Please share this widely in your networks. If your organisation has resources or opportunities that you would like included please email [email protected]. HTF’s Emergency Support Fund The Human Trafficking Foundation’s Trafficking Emergency Support Fund is available to help victims of human trafficking and modern slavery with small one-off grants to meet their immediate needs when no other sources of funding are available. If you are a support worker, you can see guidelines and complete an application form here on behalf of your client and email it to [email protected]. Updated London Modern Slavery SPOC Directory  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. Please contact [email protected] to request access to the directory or for any amendments. London Directory of Services  HTF has created a Directory of Services, bringing together details of support agencies for survivors of modern slavery across London. The Directory is a live document, with more organisations added all the time. Access it now on our website under resources. If there is an organisation you think should be included, or to amend any information please email [email protected]. 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 email [email protected].