Trafficked Women Supporting Women in Scotland and Across the Globe Naomi McAuliffe

Trafficked Women - Supporting Women in Scotland and Across the Globe

• Naomi McAuliffe

• Campaigner, Scotland

• October 2007

Amnesty International

• The world’s biggest voluntary organisation, with 2.2 million members worldwide.

• Our Mission:

• To promote respect for all human rights

• To undertake research and action focused on preventing abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression and freedom from discrimination.

Stop Violence Against Women

• “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth.”

• - Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General

• Forms of violence are uniquely used against women: forced pregnancies, forced abortions/sterilisation, bride burning and dowry-related abuses, female genital mutilation. Others are mostly used against women: domestic abuse, rape, rape as a weapon of war, sexual harassment, trafficking

• Violence against women is different in its nature, severity and impact. It is both the cause and effect of inequality.

Trafficking Campaign

• Trafficking of women into sexual exploitation. International and UK work.

• Expanded definition of trafficking to include bonded labour, domestic servitude, child trafficking, forced marriage, organ harvesting.

• Initial aim: UK signing the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking. Viewed as minimum requirements.

• Extent for trafficking in Scotland - most difficult part.

UK Trafficking Research

• Wales report

• Welsh Assembly Government commitment, report to be published shortly

• Scotland report

• Working with police, Scottish Government, agencies, charities, TARA etc.

Supporting women in Scotland

• TARA Project, Inter-Agency Trafficking Group

• Poppy Project, London

• City of Edinburgh Council Protocol

• Local authorities, COSLA

• Scottish Women’s Aid, Shakti, Hemat Gryffe

• Children; Barnardo’s, Save the Children

• Charities; Salvation Army, faith-based organisations

• Operation Pentameter 2

Next Steps

• March 2007 - Convention signed, UK Action Plan published.

• Policy led campaigning on ratification and implementation of Convention.

• Ratification
• Reflection Period
• Work Permits
• Accommodation and Services
• Identification
• Non-prosecution

• Scottish Government leadership on implementation

Scottish Trafficking Campaign

• Slave Britain exhibition; St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

• Postcard action

• Mini exhibition

• Gil Paterson MSP current motion

• Research launch

Join the Modern Day Abolitionists

• Thank you for your support