RENATE attendance at Symposium on ‘’Combating Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: Developing a Stronger, Multi-Agency Response for the Identification and Support for Victims of Trafficking.’’

Sister Pat Kenny RSC, RENATE member, attended the symposium which was organised by the Public Policy Exchange, in the United Kingdom.
Delegates attending the symposium, heard from a panel of speakers which included Fiona Mactaggart, MP and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking/Modern Day Slavery; Anne Read, Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern , Slavery, The Salvation Army; Phil Brewer, Detective Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police-Organised Crime Command; representatives from the Human Trafficking Foundation UK and from the Helen Bamber Foundation UK and the international legal practice, Eversheds.
The presentations covered definitions of human trafficking, statistical data and changing trends in human trafficking in the UK,  which see an increasing number of male victims being identified in the UK and more victims of labour exploitation (including domestic servitude), over sexual exploitation.  Of particular concern is the greater use of social media as a means of recruitment and the increase in the number of victims being forced into various forms of criminality.
The Helen Bamber Foundation, working with survivors of human cruelty and human trafficking, shared practical experiences of working in support of survivors. The Foundation called for both a standardised provision of multi-agency training for those working in support of survivors and a Multi-Agency response.
Informed by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Eversheds offered a practical, step-by-step approach to help fulfil legal duties and best practices in relation to reporting and due diligence processes.
Improving intelligence-sharing and the impact of Brexit, formed the bulk of the presentation by T/DCI Phil Brewer, from the Tracking and Kidnap Unit of the Metropolitan Police. Emphasis was placed on the value of clear pathways of inter-agency contacts both nationally and internationally, amongst both NGOs and UK and EU police forces.
On a positive note, the increasing number of convictions being secured and the use of new legislation and powers to respond, was acknowledged as welcome progress in the fight against human trafficking.
For more, the Symposium pdf. Containing authorised PowerPoint presentations is available below.
Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.