Identifying and Supporting Trafficked Persons

1. Identifying and Supporting Trafficked Persons 22 September 2009 Abigail Stepnitz, National Coordinator POPPY Project

2. The POPPY Project • 54 bed spaces—London, Sheffield and Cardiff (‘Acute’ service) • Resettlement and Outreach Services. • Funded by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform • Counselling. • Legal Advice. • Support with Asylum and Immigration process. • Support with Criminal Justice Process • Access to Health Care Services. • Access to education and English classes. • Assistance with voluntary return. • Research and Development Team (NOT GOVERNMENT FUNDED)

3. POPPY Referral Criteria • Women • 18+ years old • Trafficked into the UK • Experienced sexual exploitation OR domestic servitude in the UK

4. POPPY Referral Sources *Cumulative from March 2003 - February 2009

5. Top Countries of Origin

6. 2005 Changes in regions of referrals: 2003 - 2008 2008 2003

7. The Global DefinitionUN “Palermo” ProtocolArticle 3 (a), 2000 “Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or others forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

8. UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Key elements: • Movement of a person - ACTION • With deception, coercion or force - MEANS • Into a situation of exploitation - PURPOSE

9. Victim Identification Flow Chart for Adults (18 and over) Means Facilitation Threat or use of force Purpose Coercion Forced labour or services Recruitment Abduction Slavery or practices similar to slavery Transportation Fraud by means of For the purpose of Transfer Deception Servitude Harbouring Removal of organs Abuse of power Receipt Prostitution or other forms of sexual violence Abuse of a position of vulnerability Giving or receiving payments of benefits to achieve consent of a person having control over another person

10. Types of Trafficking Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation • Commercial sex act induced by force, fraud or coercion. • Victims can be found in massage parlours, saunas, brothels, strip clubs, escort services, private flats, hotels, and other premises used for commercial sex acts. • Increased use of residential homes to avoid detection. Trafficking for Labour Exploitation • Using force, fraud or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, obtain or employ a person for labour or involuntary servitude, debt bondage or slavery. • Victims can be found in domestic situations as nannies or maids, sweatshop factories, construction sites, farm work, restaurants.

11. Trafficking, migration and smuggling • Migration is movement from one country or place to another (legal or illegal). • Smuggling is when a person is moved illegally by a third party across borders for profit. • Trafficking is when a person is movedandexploited by a third party. In the case of adults, via deceptive or coercive means. (It may involve smuggling)

12. Impact on victims – transportation and trauma • Kidnapped • Betrayal by family member or acquaintance • Lack of basics – food, drink, rest, warmth • Life threatening travel routes – crossing borders illegally, dangerous modes of transport • Loss of identity (e.g. Passport taken away) • Long journeys, multiple trafficking • Lack of safe human contact

13. Impact on victims - exploitation • Physical violence • Physical deprivation • Physical illness and injury • Lack of access to health care • Illegal and forced abortions • Forced sex, rape, sexual assault by pimps • Threats, lies, deception • Debt bondage • Drug and alcohol abuse • Isolation – language, culture, family • No freedom of movement.

14. ILO Indicators of Forced Labour The ILO (2007) has suggested six elements which, either individually or together, can indicate forced labour: • Threats or actual physical harm; • Restriction of movement and confinement to the workplace or to a limited area; • debt-bondage; • Withholding of wages or excessive wage reductions, that violate previously made agreements; • Retention of passports and identity documents (the workers can neither leave nor prove their identity and status); • Threat of denunciation to the authorities where the worker is of illegal status.

15. Impact on victimsFear and Reprisals • Fear of punishment • Fear of deportation • Fear of retribution • Fear of authorities • Fear of not being understood • Fear for family safety • Fear of pimp / trafficker

16. PhysicalHealth Sexual / Reproductive Health • Pelvic Pain • Pain on Urination • Vaginal Discharge • Vaginal Pain • Vaginal Bleeding (not menstruation) • Gynaecological Infections • Irregular / Painful Periods • Fatigue • Weight Loss / Loss of Appetite • Headaches • Dizzy Spells • Poor Memory • Back Pain • Joint / Muscle Pain • Fractures / Sprains • Facial Injuries • Dental Problems • Skin Infections

17. Impact- Mental Health • Restless & agitated • Insomnia / lethargy • Substance dependency • Eating disorders • Frequent crying • Impatience & Irritability • Unmotivated • Lack of sexual interest • Poor concentration • Self-blame / guilt • Negative thoughts • Despairing • Feeling hopeless • Loneliness • Pessimism • Suicidal ideation • Self-harming

18. Concurrent physical and mental health symptoms(courtesy of LSHTM)

19. Impact-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Images / dreams / flashbacks • Selective amnesia • Anxiety • Nightmares / disturbed sleep • Social withdrawal /dissociation • Avoidance of trauma triggers • Easily startled

20. Trafficked PersonsUnderstanding Mindset Frequently victims: • Do not speak English and are unfamiliar with UK culture. • Confined to room or small space to work, eat, sleep. • Fear, distrust police, government and health care providers. • Are not aware that they are a victim of crime. • Do not consider themselves victims. • Blame themselves for their situations. • May develop loyalties, positive feelings toward trafficker as coping mechanism (Stockholm Syndrome). • May try to protect trafficker from authorities. • Do not know where they are, because traffickers move them frequently to escape detection. • Fear for safety of family in home country.

21. Obstacles in Disclosure • Shame • Lack of trust • Fear of reprisals • Distress, memory loss • Oath-taking, juju (i.e. Voodoo religion, “witchcraft,” ritual abuse/torture)

22. Victim Identification Key principles • There is no official identification process / toolkit • Humanitarian approach needed • Victims should be treated with respect and recognition • Potential victims should be interviewed by trained staff • Staff should be aware of and sensitised to trafficking issues • Staff should be trained in interviewing victims sensitively • Accounts should be accepted as true until evidence suggests otherwise • Staff should be able to analyse / assess information presented

23. Communicating with Victims of Human Trafficking: Key Messages Gaining victim’s trust is an important first step in providing assistance. Sample messages to convey: • Your safety is our first priority. • We are here to help you. • We can find you a safe place to stay. • We can assist you to access specialist immigration advice, counselling and medical services. • We want to make sure what happened to you doesn’t happen to anyone else. 

24. Communicating with Victims of Human Trafficking • Before talking to potential trafficking victim, isolate individual from person accompanying her/him without raising suspicions. • Individual accompanying person may be trafficker posing as spouse, other family member or employer. • Strict confidentiality is paramount. • Use a qualified, CRB checked interpreter (female only) who understands victim’s cultural needs. • Use indirect questions – ‘trafficking’ victim may have no meaning. They may deny they are a victim of trafficking.

25. Age disputes/minors • Assumption of youth • Treat as a minor until proven otherwise • Query guidance for first responders—”acts like an adult” • Age assessments • Refer to solicitors • Duty of care • Social services • NSPCC (hotline) • ECPAT

26. National Referral Mechanism • Importance of informed consent • Liaising with “First Responders” • Types of decisions and possible outcomes • Reasonable Grounds • Reflection Period • Conclusive Grounds • Residence Permit • Intersection with asylum/immigration processes • Other orgs with expertise in the field • Kalayaan, ECPAT, NSPCC line

28. Recommended Reading • “Stolen Smiles: The Physical & Psychological Health Consequences of Women & Adolescents Trafficked in Europe” (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine et al) • “Protocol & Identification of Trafficked Victims” (Anti-Slavery International et al) • “Prostitution, Trafficking & Traumatic Stress” (Melissa Farley ed.) • Home Office (March 2004) Gender issues in the asylum claim Asylum Policy Instruction (API) http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/asylumpolicyinstructions/apis/genderissuei theasylum.pdf?view=Binary • UK Action Plan on Human Trafficking. Home Office October 2009

29. Contact Details Referral Line 020 7735 2062 24 hours/day, 7 days/week Abigail Stepnitz, National Coordinator abigail.stepnitz@eaveshousing.co.uk Publications: www.eaves4women.co.uk