Significant Support for a Slavery-Free London

On Anti-Slavery Day, Russell Squre was lively with music, talks and performance. The event was well attended, and people have let me know that they had a great time. Our events throughout the day also facilitated a show of solidarity from some high profile figures who stood alongside our campaign to end slavery and trafficking in the capital.

Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor for Policing, came along to the festivities at Russell Square and signed our Slavery-Free London campaign petition.

Rushnara Ali MP spoke out in support of our Slavery-Free London campaign and encouraged students to sign the petition at our inaugural young people’s conference.

Read more about the campaign here. Sign the petition here.

The risk of increased trafficking for the 2012 games

EU officials have raised concerns that the London Olympics and Euro 2012 could cause a “spike” in prostitution and human trafficking.

Myria Vassiliadou, the EU’s anti-trafficking coordinator, said this week that “sporting events are a hub for criminal gangs.”

It appears that, in the past, major sporting events have contributed to issues of human trafficking. In 2010, before the World Cup staged in South Africa, the Daily Telegraph reported that “40,000 prostitutes bound for South Africa”. Similarly, in 2006, Polish nuns in Berlin were handing out leaflets warning that “100,000” Central and Eastern European women were being trafficked to Germany.

The industries that typically use forced labourers are those that rely on temporary, low-paid, low-skilled work like construction, cleaning, hospitality, food processing and packaging. These are all industries that will likely see demand rise on the run up to and during the London Olympic Games and the Euro 2012, and may turn to trafficked workers to meet and profit from this.

The EU has stated that although combating trafficking largely rests with the individual nations, as Brussels is left with little power to crack down on it, it seeks to raise awareness of the problem. In light of this, we must encourage the UK government to do more to deal with trafficking issues now, during the Olympics and in the future. You can sign our pledge for a Slavery-Free London and read more about the campaign.

http://www.thenews.pl/1/5/Artykul/57073,Euro-2012-to-attract-human-traffickers

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGSTAD0XcvoqOUKZn3Ytd9Wq7wsw?docId=6e5849e3f203426a87ffd0aa9be24394

Students shout for a Slavery-Free London on Anti-Slavery Day

Oaks Park High support Slavery Free London

Tuesday (the 18^th October) marked the second Anti-Slavery day in the United Kingdom. Created last year through a parliamentary bill championed by former MP and now chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation, Anthony Steen, the day provides a focal point for raising awareness around issues of slavery and trafficking. We hosted events around the country, and I had the pleasure of being present at our Inaugural Young People’s Conference.

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey answers student's questions

 

As the morning sun shone, students from Oaks Park High School, Woodhouse College and Cherwell School shuffled into the Museum of London Docklands to spend the day learning about and discussing issues of slavery, as well as techniques for campaigning and other ways that they can take action. I was both pleased and inspired by the interest those attending demonstrated. They were engaging with and challenging the speakers, asking critical questions and getting actively involved with our campaigns. 

Oaks Park High student takes centre stage

The reality of slavery in our capital is an issue that they took very seriously. Some already knew about trafficking, and in a witty but saddening answer to the Human Trafficking Centre’s James Behan’s question, ‘Where are people trafficked from?’, one of the year nine children from Oak’s Park High School accurately replied ‘everywhere.’ Toward the end of the conference, all of the attendees got together to write a personal message on and sign our A3 pledge for a Slavery Free London.

The Slavery Free London A3 pledge

Elsewhere on Anti-Slavery Day, others were also getting involved. Russell Square was alive with music, performance and talks to mark the day between 11am and 3pm. People that came along had a great time and many of them were keen to act, taking time to sign our Slavery Free London petition.

You can get involved, too: learn about slavery in London today, read the personal stories of two victims and sign our pledge.