Evidence gathering to advocate for change

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking13-14 September 2012, Lisnon

Klara Skrivankova, Anti-Slavery International, UK

What do we want to address?

Trafficking and exploitation

by addressing the root causes

to achieve far-reaching

impacts in the long-term

What is the problem?

FIRST STEP: Research

“Without good quality data and reporting very little can be achieved in stopping trafficking”

Nicolas Le Coz, President of GRETA

Research

In-depth, outcome-oriented local research into root causes

Examination of inter-relatedness with other phenomena

Using information from trafficked persons

! Principles of sensibility avoiding secondary victimisation to be applied

Effective response/policy

Specific – what works in one country or community might not be replicable elsewhere

Locally oriented – reaching also people outside of bigger towns

Part of a chain – anchored within NRM, linked with different actors, two-end in countries of origin and destination

Case of Patience

Young woman from Nigeria Brought to the UK under false

promises Exploited as domestic servant Spent years in forced labour Those who brought her over were

not linked to those who enslaved her Police refused to investigate forced

labour – no legal basis

Advocating for change

Case of Patience one of many ASI and partners documented

similar scenarios over several years Metropolitan police gave statement Briefing presented to members of

the House of Lords Agreement that there was a gap Baroness Young tabled an

amendment of a law debated in the Parliament

Advocating for change

Hearings and meetings held Patience gave account of her

experience to Lords The amendment supported by the

House of Lords and House of Commons

Criminal offence of forced labour passed in law in 2009

Chronology of success Evidence gathering and

documenting Presenting of robust evidence base Legislators accept that gap needs to

be plugged – law tabled Patience gives evidence April (July in Scotland) 2010 law

enters into force July 2012 – first convictions for 11

and 4 years

QUESTIONS

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