Amnesty International

Trafficked Women - Supporting Women in Scotland and Across the Globe

Naomi McAuliffeCampaigner, ScotlandOctober 2007

Amnesty International

• The world’s biggest voluntary organisation, with 2.2 million members worldwide.

Our Mission:• To promote respect for all human rights • To undertake research and action focused on

preventing abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression and freedom from discrimination.

Stop Violence Against Women

• “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth.”

- Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General

• Forms of violence are uniquely used against women: forced pregnancies, forced abortions/sterilisation, bride burning and dowry-related abuses, female genital mutilation. Others are mostly used against women: domestic abuse, rape, rape as a weapon of war, sexual harassment, trafficking

• Violence against women is different in its nature, severity and impact. It is both the cause and effect of inequality.

Trafficking Campaign

• Trafficking of women into sexual exploitation. International and UK work.

• Expanded definition of trafficking to include bonded labour, domestic servitude, child trafficking, forced marriage, organ harvesting.

• Initial aim: UK signing the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking. Viewed as minimum requirements.

• Extent for trafficking in Scotland - most difficult part.

UK Trafficking Research

• Wales report• Welsh Assembly Government commitment, report to be

published shortly• Scotland report• Working with police, Scottish Government, agencies,

charities, TARA etc.

Supporting women in Scotland

• TARA Project, Inter-Agency Trafficking Group• Poppy Project, London• City of Edinburgh Council Protocol• Local authorities, COSLA• Scottish Women’s Aid, Shakti, Hemat Gryffe• Children; Barnardo’s, Save the Children• Charities; Salvation Army, faith-based

organisations• Operation Pentameter 2

Next Steps

• March 2007 - Convention signed, UK Action Plan published.

• Policy led campaigning on ratification and implementation of Convention.o Ratificationo Reflection Periodo Work Permitso Accommodation and Serviceso Identificationo Non-prosecution

• Scottish Government leadership on implementation

Scottish Trafficking Campaign

• Slave Britain exhibition; St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

• Postcard action• Mini exhibition• Gil Paterson MSP

current motion• Research launch

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