Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 2000)

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour, and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) had launched its Strategic Threat Assessment on Child Trafficking, and that from March 2007 to February 2008, 325 children from 50 different countries were identified at varying levels of concern for trafficking and exploitation. The Government also indicated that it had awarded a grant of £50,000 to a voluntary organization called Barnardo’s to provide special services for child victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. The Government further indicated that the United Kingdom Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking was updated in 2009, and that the National Referral Mechanism was set up in April 2009 to identify, refer and support child victims of trafficking. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the number of child victims of trafficking who had been provided support through the United Kingdom Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking and by the Barnardo’s organization.

The Committee notes data in the Government’s report from the voluntary organization Barnardo’s indicating that, between June 2009 and March 2011, services were provided to 123 young persons who were known or suspected to be victims of trafficking within the United Kingdom for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and to approximately 55 children who had been trafficked from abroad. These children were provided support through specialized trafficking projects or services for victims of sexual exploitation. The Committee also notes the information in the Government’s report that the CEOP identified 287 children as being potential victims of trafficking between 2009 and 2010. The Government states that this information, combined with the data from 2007–08, indicates that there are approximately 300 child victims of trafficking in the United Kingdom each year. The Government also indicates that, as part of the National Referral Mechanism, 322 potential child trafficking victims were identified by the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre and the United Kingdom Border Agency, between April 2009 and December 2010. The Government indicates that once a child is identified as a victim of trafficking, he or she is referred to a local authority and safeguarded under the existing statutory requirements. The Committee further notes that a Child Trafficking Toolkit was launched in February 2011 to raise awareness among local authorities and better equip them to deal with child victims of trafficking. Lastly, the Committee notes that the new Human Trafficking Strategy was launched in July 2011.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Street children and runaway children. The Committee previously noted the Trades Union Congress’ allegation that, according to Children’s Society Report of 2005, there were 100,000 runaway children aged between 14 and 16 years in Britain (12,000 in London) who are extremely vulnerable. The Committee also noted the Government’s launching of the Young Runaways Action Plan which aims to better coordinate cross-government action on children who run away from home or care homes. The Government also indicated that a United Kingdom Border Agency’s code of practice on keeping children safe from harm had been developed. The Committee requested the Government to provide statistical information on the number of missing and runaway children who have been protected and rehabilitated under the Young Runaways Action Plan and the number of children who have benefited from the United Kingdom Border Agency’s code of practice. Furthermore, noting that in Northern Ireland, funding was provided to Barnardo’s to undertake the Safe Choices (Missing from Care) Project and the Northern Ireland Child Sexual Exploitation Research Project, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the impact of these two projects.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it does not retain data on the number of missing and runaway children who have been protected and rehabilitation through the Young Runaways Action Plan. The Government also indicates that in November 2009, the United Kingdom Border Agency’s Code of Practice was replaced by a statutory duty in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration 2009 Act, which includes a general duty of vigilance on behalf of all children with whom the United Kingdom Border Agency has contact. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that responses taken with regard to safeguarding and the welfare needs of children are based on the specific situation of the child, and statistics are not maintained on the number of children who have benefited from such actions.

The Committee notes that in Northern Ireland, the pilot of Safe Choices (Missing from Care) Project ran until March 2011, and that this project is now funded by the Health and Social Care Board. The Government indicates that an evaluation of the project was undertaken in February 2011, indicating that the training provided to professionals working with young people (including social workers, residential staff and police officers) and foster carers had a positive impact on those trained and the children with whom they worked. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the Northern Ireland Child Sexual Exploitation Research Project was completed in September 2011, and that these research findings will be translated into policy on operation and strategic responses to child sexual exploitation and children missing from care.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the detailed statistical information provided in the Government’s report. In this regard, the Committee notes that seven persons were found guilty of causing or inciting child prostitution in 2008, and eight persons found guilty thereof in 2009. Two persons were found guilty for controlling a child for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or arranging or facilitating this exploitation in 2008, and two persons were found guilty of this offence in 2009. The Government’s report also indicates that 13 persons were convicted for arranging or facilitating travel within the United Kingdom of a person for the purpose of sexual exploitation in 2008, and eight persons were convicted in 2009. Moreover, the Government’s report indicates that 958 persons were found guilty of taking, making, distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children in 2008, and 1024 persons in 2009, while 229 persons were found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of a child in 2008 and 222 persons in 2009. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions applied regarding the involvement of children in the worst forms of child labour. To the extent possible, all information provided should be disaggregated by sex and age.