In a debate in the House of Lords last night, the Government took a very welcome and necessary step toward improving care for rescued child victims of trafficking in the UK.

Tabled by Lord McColl of Dulwich and co-signed by peers from across the Chamber, amendment 57A to the Protection of Freedoms Bill sought to provide child victims of trafficking with access to a Legal Advocate – someone who is able to speak for the child in all their interactions with the state (e.g. the police, courts, immigration, education, local authorities etc) and who is committed to their care for as long as is required.

The amendment and the need to improve the situation of rescued child victims of trafficking was unanimously supported by peers during the debate. A number praised Lord McColl for his dogged determination to secure for rescued child victims of trafficking the care they need.

In what represents a significant change of tack for the Government – in previous debates they maintained that the UK currently provides adequate care for rescued child victims of trafficking – the Minister, Lord Henley, said at the beginning of the debate that he would ask the Children’s Commissioner for England ‘to review the current practical arrangements for rescued child victims of trafficking.’ He went on to say that, following the Children’s Commissioner’s review, the Government would ‘be in a position to come back to these matters at a later stage.’

We are delighted that the Government is taking this step to prioritise the care of rescued child victims of trafficking and look forward to reading the Children’s Commissioner’s recommendations whilst we continue to urge the Government to do all it can to make the UK a beacon of best practice for care of victims of trafficking.

Watch a video of Dr Dan Boucher discussing the amendment with CARE Chief Executive Nola Leach below:

Links:

Please do take the time to watch what was a fantastic debate here (click through to 19:03:25).

You can read a transcript of the debate here.

A BBC article on the debate and the Government’s decision can be read here.