I suppose "human trafficking" is the modern term for the slavetrade?
Pretty much. The UN defines human trafficking as the recruitment,transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons - ofteninvolving fraud, coercion or threat - for the purposes of exploitation,whether sexual or forced labour.
But I thought we had laws to deal with human trafficking? We do. The UKhas signed up to the relevant international instruments. Within the UK,the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and Asylum and Immigration (Treatment ofClaimants etc) Act 2004 introduced new offences: the first to deal withtrafficking for sexual exploitation, and the second with labourexploitation.
Both carry a penalty of 14 years in prison. And both are meant toprotect victims of any age, including children and young people.Although children who arrive in the country unaccompanied should receivethe welfare protections available under the Children Act 1989, these areusually inadequate to keep them safe.
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