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Help…

Human Trafficking!

How Should My Church Respond

CCPAS

setting standards in safeguarding
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Help...Human Trafficking!
How Should My Church Respond

When we hear the term lured or forced by criminals ...it has been
‘human trafficking’, what to work for them or others in difficult to
do we understand by their criminal networks around estimate
it? Illegal immigration the world. Sometimes children the scale of
perhaps, something we living in the UK are targeted and the problem
think the government’s trafficked internally. because,
Border Agency should by its very
be dealing with? Or is it Some children are tricked by an nature,
about twenty-first century offer of what seems to be good trafficking is
slavery that Christians, employment with promises such covert and
as part of their social as the opportunity for the child to secretive.
responsibility, should be enhance their education. Other
seeking to eradicate? children are accompanied into
the UK by a so-called relative
What is Human Trafficking? acting on behalf of the parents.
Put simply, human trafficking is Once in the country they are
when a person is moved from denied wages or any financial
one country to another for the security and forced into a life
purpose of exploitation and/ of domestic servitude. Their
or abuse. It is important not passport (if they have one)
to confuse illegal immigration will be taken from them and
or human smuggling with because of their age and/or
trafficking, though there may illegal status they have no way
be similarities in the enforced of escaping their life of abject
transportation of a person to cruelty. In places of worship,
another country. The distinct legitimate concerns can arise
difference is that whilst some if say a child or young person
people may for economic, family, seems isolated or disconnected
health or political reasons want from other family members.
to live in another country and They may also have assumed
enter illegally, those who are a caring role for the family’s
trafficked are tricked, coerced, biological children.

Despite significant research
and analysis it has been difficult

to estimate the scale of the What are the reasons for
problem because, by its very Trafficking?
nature, trafficking is covert and The main reason individuals
secretive. However, Unicef and gangs become involved in
estimates that 1.2 million trafficking is financial reward.
children are trafficked each year. There is a ready supply of
Other organisations estimate children and adults, a willing
the figure to be far higher. The clientele and high profits to be
UK Action Plan on Tackling made at minimal risk of getting
Human Trafficking identified caught. Traffickers will often
330 cases of child trafficking specialise in different areas or
in the UK during a nine month mix and match depending on
period ; but the issue is not just circumstances. Some trafficking
about numbers. It’s the fact is carried out for personal
it is happening at all, where esteem, power and authority.
children as well as adults are
being traded across the world as The victims of trafficking are
commodities. often forced into:

Children are trafficked • Prostitution and servicing
for a variety of reasons. the sex trade
The International Labour
Organisation defines it as • Domestic servitude
anything that ‘is likely to harm • Labour exploitation
the health, safety or morals • Benefit Fraud
of children’ , and this includes • Begging
compulsory labour, child • Illegal adoption
prostitution, production of • Private Fostering
pornography and the offering of • Forced Marriage
a child for illicit activities. • Organ harvesting
• Criminal activities
‘No one shall be held in • Armed conflicts &
slavery or servitude; slavery
and the slave trade shall be exploitation in the army
prohibited in all their forms.”
(The United Nations Universal As we have already said, money
Declaration of Human Rights plays a major part in trafficking.
Article 4) Individuals and families are
drawn into the trade due to a
UNICEF estimate 1.2 million number of ‘push’ factors such
children trafficked every year. as extreme poverty (parents
(Stop The Traffik)

may hand a child over to a Many of those receiving. Where demand
trafficker for money), greed or the women for sexual services in one
unemployment. Beyond these arrested particular country or continent
issues, lack of education and originated increases, the supply will also
information, peer pressure, from Eastern tend to increase. A number of
naivety and ignorance all have a Europe and Eastern European countries
part to play. a significant have become the supply nations
number had for prostitution in Western
Think of the first time a child been forced Europe, the Middle East and
plays on a slide. They are into the parts of Asia where the demand
often drawn to the top through sex trade. for Caucasian women has made
curiosity, daring and anticipated Although them a valuable commodity.
excitement. When they reach these involved
the top they are beckoned adults, there There have been several recent
down or sometimes a child is evidence instances in the UK where the
behind gives them a nudge. children are police have raided massage
All of a sudden they are away also being parlours, brothels and other
and down they come. In normal trafficked locations where sexual services
circumstances the child will in much the are provided. Many of the
be met, and caught, by a same way and women arrested originated from
loving parent. The child who is for similar Eastern Europe and a significant
trafficked is forced down the purposes. number had been forced
slide into the hands of criminals into the sex trade. Although
who have no compunction about these involved adults, there is
forcibly taking control of their evidence children are also being
lives. trafficked in much the same way
and for similar purposes.
Where does trafficking take
place? In 2009, the charity ‘Save the
Trafficking is a global issue and Children’ reported ‘high numbers
involves the trade of humans not of children trafficked for
only between countries adjacent exploitative purposes in South
to each other but also across Eastern Europe’, identifying
continents. It is dependent on ‘weak child protection systems,
a variety of factors that can lack of financial and technical
be economically, politically, resources, limited understanding
socially and culturally driven. of factors that make children
The numbers involved are exposed to trafficking and failure
generally dictated by supply to address the root causes and
and demand, in other words the structural dimension of the
between source countries and problem .’

Criminal gangs circumvent disclosure of their crimes by
border controls to traffick fellow criminals (traders) and
children into the UK from suppress their victims (slaves).
all over the world including The common element for all
parts of the African continent. those involved is fear for their
There are even allegations own lives or that of relatives and
that church pastors have been friends. These criminal networks
involved in bringing children to also bribe officials, use false
the UK illegally. It is ironic that documentation, and other forms
the very slave trade that was of corruption to achieve their
abolished by the intervention of ends.
Christian philanthropists is being
encouraged and maintained by There have been instances
a minority of rogue individuals recently where West African
who align themselves to children trafficked to the UK,
Christianity. have been lured or forced into
religious ceremonies carried
‘Organised trafficking out by an indigenous traditional
networks are continuing priest or ‘witchdoctor’ that binds
to exploit asylum and the child to their traffickers
accommodation procedures through fear of death by ‘spirit
to traffick or facilitate gods’. This could involve the
unaccompanied children into sacrifice of an animal, sleeping
the UK.’ in a coffin, drinking or washing in
Strategic Threat Assessment blood and the scarification of the
Child Trafficking in the UK, body with sharp implements.
CEOP April 2009
It has also been known for a
How do the traffickers avoid child having to remove their
detection? underwear and take nail
It is obviously in a criminal’s clippings and hair from parts of
interest to avoid detection. their body. These items, together
Criminal networks use all sorts with a photograph of the child
of means to prevent anyone are sealed in a jar that is placed
within their networks betraying in a shrine. The child will then
them. Traffickers are no different be forced to take an oath not to
and won’t hesitate to employ identify their captors to anyone
threats and coercion (physical, or spirits will be released from
mental, financial, spiritual the jar to harm them.
and sociological) to enforce
discipline and loyalty, prevent

From a West European Private Fostering
perspective these ceremonies Another area where child
may seem bizarre and trafficking may be present and
farfetched but such beliefs connected to those who attend
and rituals can be deeply church is private fostering.
embedded within a culture. Although the majority of private
Even when a Christian (or any fostering arrangements are
other) faith is professed by positive and successful, there
those involved, they can still be is growing concern that bogus
tied to, and practise, harmful arrangements can be used as a
cultural traditions. Secret cover for trafficked children.
societies throughout the ages
and within all cultures have used Under the Children (Private
symbolism, oaths, incantations, Arrangements for Fostering)
theatrics, and pseudo religious Regulations 2005 parents must
texts to initiate new members as inform Children’s Services if
a form of control. In the case of they arrange private fostering for
child trafficking, the victims are their child. Also, anyone looking
generally very young, have had after someone else’s child who
limited, if any, formal education, is not a close relative has a legal
and are extremely vulnerable to obligation to notify Children’s
exploitation. Services of the arrangement in
writing at least six weeks before
Forms of controlling a the placement commences. This
trafficked child can include: enables the local authority to
ensure the arrangements are
• Debt bondage safe and that the foster parents
are suitable.
• Isolation by removal of identification and/or
travel documents There is an additional
requirement under these
• Linguistic and social isolation regulations that both paid staff
and volunteers notify Children’s
• Violence and fear Services if they become
aware of private fostering
• Threats of reprisals against the victim’s arrangements. This would
family obviously include workers in
places of worship.
• Psychological including imprisonment and
torture The British Association for
Fostering and Adoption (BAAF)
• Religious beliefs and practices such as identify trafficked children
spells and curses

(particularly from the African • often babysitting for the
Diaspora) as a common family
fostering situation. It is an area
of growing concern because • treated more harshly by the
they are unlikely to be known parents compared to other
to Children’s Services and will members of the family
not therefore be receiving the
services and protection they are • erratic school attendance
entitled to.
• carrying heavy shopping
‘Private Fostering and following the family in a
Arrangements continue to be subservient way
abused by exploiters, who are
not related to the children by • marked differences in
blood, to obtain custody of physical features to other
these children for exploitation, children in the family
such as in benefit fraud or
domestic servitude’. • becoming insular, sad and
Strategic Threat Assessment lonely
Child Trafficking in the UK,
CEOP April 2009 • regular health issues that
sometimes go untreated
How can we recognise and including marks, bruises or
deal with Human Trafficking in other injuries
the Church?
Although it is very difficult to • clothed in less expensive
identify trafficked children, within or inappropriate clothing
a place of worship there are compared to the rest of the
certain pointers that suggest family
a child may be caught up in
domestic servitude, benefit • looking undernourished
fraud, illegal adoption and/or compared to siblings
sexual exploitation. They are:
• scolded or bullied by siblings
• disconnection with siblings
and/or parents • frustration expressed through
outbursts of anger
• a significant age gap
to younger members of • regularly moving church
the family which is quite or home with the family to
apparent prevent detection

• not socialising apart from • being introduced as a new
church on Sunday child within an existing family
in the church

• displaying sexually
precocious or inappropriate
sexual behaviour

• under/early-age pregnancy

(NB This is not an exhaustive
list and there may be other
explanations for some of these

behaviours). helpline on 0845 120 45 50.
If you are worried about giving
It is important for the place of your details you can give
worship to ensure there is an information anonymously to
up to date child and vulnerable Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
adults safeguarding policy
operating that includes dealing Acknowledgements:
with trafficking issues and, as CCPAS would like to thank the
with any suspected abuse, how Metropolitan Police (SCD9 -
to bring concerns to the attention Human Exploitation and Organised
of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator Crime) for their involvement in the
and report them to the police compiling of this booklet.
and/or Children’s Services. AFRUCA “What is Child
Trafficking?” Safeguarding African
It may be helpful for someone Children Series 2 Booklet
within the congregation to attend NAPTIP National Agency for the
dedicated training events to raise Prohibition of Traffic in Persons
awareness of trafficking issues (Nigeria)
and be equipped to deal with any
situations should they arise. It
goes without saying that victims
of trafficking should be offered
pastoral support and although
confidentiality is important, this
must never be at the expense of
a child who may be at risk.

CCPAS has a range of resources
that will help anyone respond
to and deal appropriately with
issues of abuse, especially
the ‘Help’ range of booklets
and in particular, ‘Help, I’m a
Safeguarding Co-ordinator’ and
Help.. how to respond to an
allegation of abuse’, all available
from the CCPAS website.

In the absence of a clear
safeguarding policy or you are
unsure what to do, you can
always contact the CCPAS 24 hr

The following agencies can be CROP (Coalition for the Removal of
contacted for advice and information on Pimping)
trafficking issues: 34 York Road
Leeds
AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against LS9 8TA
Child Abuse) Tel: 0113 240 3040
Unit 3D/F Leroy House Email : info@cropuk.org.uk
436 Essex Road Web: www.cropuk.org.uk
London
N1 3QP ECPAT (End Child Prostitution Child
Tel: 0844 660 8607 Pornography and the Trafficking of
Fax: 0844 660 8661 Children for Sexual Purposes)
Web and email: www.afruca.org Grosvenor Gardens House
35 – 37 Grosvenor Gardens
CHASTE (Churches Alert to Sex London
Trafficking Across Europe) SW1W 0BS
Tel: 0845 456 9335 Tel: 0207 233 9887
Email: admin@chaste.org.uk Fax: 0207 233 9869
Web: www.chaste.org.uk Email: info@ecpat.org.uk
Web: www.ecpat.org.uk
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online
Protection Centre) NSPCC
33 Vauxhall Bridge Road Child Trafficking and Information Line:
London SW1 2WG 0800 107 7057 (9.30am- 4.30pm)
Tel: 0870 000 3344 Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Web: www.ceop.gov.uk Childline: 0800 1111

CCPAS (Churches Child Protection Stop the Traffik
Advisory Service) 75 Westminster Bridge Road
PO Box 133 London
Swanley SE1 7HS
Kent Tel: 0207 921 4258
BR8 7UQ Email: info@stopthetraffik.org
Tel: 0845 120 45 50 Web: www.stopthetraffik.org
Fax: 0845 120 4552
Email: Onfo@ccpas.co.uk UKHTC (The United Kingdom Human
Web: www.ccpas.co.uk Trafficking Centre)
Tel: 0014 252 3891
Web: www.soca.gov.uk

CCPAS
PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ.

Tel: 0845 120 45 50
Fax: 0845 120 45 52
Email: info@ccpas.co.uk
Web: www.ccpas.co.uk

This is one of an expanding series of Help... leaflets published by CCPAS.
See CCPAS website for more details www.ccpas.co.uk

CCPAS

setting standards in safeguarding

© CCPAS 2010 The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.
Charity No: 1004490. Company No: 2646487
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