First UK Anti-Slavery Day
Monday 18 October 2010 was the first UK Anti-Slavery Day.
The day was established under legislation agreed just before the end of the last Parliament, following a Private Member's Bill by outgoing MP, Anthony Steen, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking. ECPAT UK worked closely with him on this process.
Charities working to tackle trafficking used the first UK Anti-Slavery Day to call on the Government to reverse its recent decision to opt out of the new EU Directive on human trafficking. If incorporated into British law the Directive would create extra provisions to protect victims of trafficking, including witness protection. It would also make it easier to convict traffickers via the creation of a common EU definition which is broadened to include people forced into begging, alongside enabling EU member states to prosecute perpetrators of trafficking offences carried out in other member states.
The Independent on Sunday is supporting the campaign to change the Government's mind. Campaigners include organisations in our Tackling Modern Day Slavery initiative, such as Anti-Slavery International, ECPAT UK, Eaves, and Kalayaan. The achievements and challenges of the initiative are detailed in our new report.
Read the article in the Independent on Sunday.
Find out more about Trust for London's Tackling Modern Day Slavery special initiative.