On 26th June 2018, an NWG representative attended ‘Society of Advocates’ in Aberdeen, for a Human Trafficking event.

The event aimed to raise awareness among key stakeholders in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire of human trafficking and agencies’ respective roles in assisting survivors. The multi-agency and expert panel discussed topics including: what human trafficking is, the victim identification process and legal framework, support needs of adult and child survivors, and where survivors together with those supporting them can go to for help.

There were opportunities for delegates to network and identify opportunities for collaborative working on this important issue.

The Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Human Trafficking Project aims to improve outcomes for survivors of trafficking located within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire by ensuring victims are identified, protected and supported at the earliest opportunity. The Project is working hard to develop partnerships and referral mechanisms with local authorities, third sector, public and private organisations to achieve this.

The Project was established by the Civil Legal Assistance Office Aberdeen in 2017 in response to the Scottish Government’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy 2017. The Project is focused on the Scottish Government’s Action Area 1 of identifying victims and supporting them to safety and recovery. Human trafficking is a complex crime and often hidden crime that can take place in any community