Sex trafficking awareness campaign launched

The study was conducted by retail chain The Body Shop, which is partnering Ecpat in the campaign. Findings from the study also revealed that 22 per cent of people in the UK are contributing to child trafficking in a variety of ways, such as purchasing pirate DVDs or cannabis.

Launched today, the campaign – Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People – aims to raise awareness of the issues facing children who are trafficked from abroad for sexual exploitation.

Christine Beddoe, director of Ecpat UK, said: "We will be talking our voice forward when Parliament resumes and holding government to account. What we want to see is a system of guardianship and safe accommodation for trafficked children. We also want to involve young people themselves in driving their own advocacy campaigns."

The Body Shop is also launching a new hand cream, of which the majority of profits from sales will help fund campaigns and prevention projects against child trafficking in the UK.