Moves to end the immediate
deportation of sex trafficking victims have been welcomed by John Battle
MP (Lab, Leeds West).
The Government has said that it will sign up to an international agreement
giving victims the right to stay temporarily. Under the European Convention
on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, victims of trafficking will
have a minimum of 30 days to recover and escape from the influence of criminal
gangs, providing them with a breathing space when they can decide whether
to co-operate with the authorities.
Mr Battle said: “I am pleased that the Government has finally decided
to sign up to the Convention. Many constituents have contacted me on the
issue and I had been pressing ministers for some time to sign up to the
Convention. It is absolutely right that we should recognise women trafficked
for prostitution through deception, fear and violence, as victims of serious
crime and not immigration offenders or criminals themselves.
“Human trafficking, often for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced
labour, is an appalling crime and amounts to modern day slavery. It causes
great harm, not just to the victims, but to our society as a whole.
“While it’s clear that sex trafficking is a major problem
in the UK, there have been very few convictions for trafficking in recent
years. I believe that allowing victims a time to recover will encourage
them to come forward and give evidence against the traffickers. Hopefully
this change in the rules will result in more convictions.”
©John Battle MP 22 January 2007 |