(Vatican Radio) On Monday February 8th the Church marks the 2nd International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, an initiative promoted particularly by women religious committed to the struggle against this modern form of slavery.
Two years ago an alliance of religious congregations, bishops and international police chiefs met with Pope Francis in the Vatican and set up a network, known as the Santa Marta group, to better coordinate their work of prevention, protection of victims and prosecution of the trafficking gangs.
Kevin Hyland is the UK’s first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and former head of the London Metropolitan Police Service’s Human Trafficking Unit. He was responsible for the convictions of numerous international crime groups and now works closely with the Santa Marta network.
Hyland was in Rome this week to talk about the UK’s experience, including a new Modern Slavery Act and his own strategic plan stressing the potential for working in partnership, putting the needs of the victims centre-stage.
Listen to Kevin Hyland in conversation with Philippa Hitchen:
Hyland notes the Modern Slavery Act 2015 became effective last August and is still being rolled out but has already seen a significant rise in numbers of victims identified for referral and of traffickers being prosecuted and convicted.
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Beyond acting as a deterrent to traffickers, he says the new legislation – especially requiring companies to ensure transparency of their supply chains – will change the culture and way people do business, “demanding they look after their staff, no matter where they are in the world”.
Fishing industry implements new system
“When we’re talking about putting peoples’ lives at risk”, Hyland says, “nothing is too hard” in trying to change the way industries work. He cites the fishing industry, which has been badly tainted, but is now starting to implement a responsible fishing programme where vessels are kite-marked to show that people working on board are being paid properly and treated with dignity.
Santa Marta group implementing partnerships in countries worldwide
Pope Francis was clear in his instructions to the Santa Marta group, Hyland says, and police forces are now working more closely with Churches and civil society groups in many countries around the world - he cites Lithuania, Poland, Nigeria, Argentina, the U.S. and the Philippines - to offer better protection to victims and implement prevention programmes in countries of origin.
Individual suffering behind statistics
In the UK, statistics speak of up to 13.000 victims of human trafficking, while the global figure is estimated at between 26 and 31 million men, women and children. Hyland says it’s vital to keep in mind the individuals behind those figures: he talks of a 7-year-old Romanian girl kept in a North London flat and forced to work up to 18 hours a day until police and charitable organisations intervened.
He also shares the story of a 14 year old Nigerian girl, trafficked into the UK and raped repeatedly but then arrested on charges of possessing false documents, a victim of both the traffickers and the legal system, yet she is now studying to be a lawyer and talking to others about her experience.
Don't be afraid to act on concerns
Hyland encourages everyone to be aware of “what slavery look(s) like in your neighbourhood”. He notes there is a UK help line (0800 0121 700) and says people shouldn’t be afraid of calling if they see signs of people living or working in slave like conditions. “That little piece of information could help in rescuing someone from modern slavery”, he says.
