The Blue Heart represents the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings. The use of the blue UN colour also demonstrates the commitment of the United Nations to combating this crime against human dignity.
WHAT IS Modern Slavery and HUMAN TRAFFICKING?
The international definition of Human Trafficking is the
Palermo Protocol
Definition of trafficking in human beings from the UN Protocol, 2000
For the purposes of this protocol:
'Trafficking in persons’ shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, or abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or
of the giving or receiving of payments of benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purposes of exploitation.
Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to ensnare men women and children into commercial exploitation. Millions people are trafficked into forced labour situations and into the sex trade worldwide. Many of these victims are lured from their homes with false promises of well-paying jobs; instead, they are forced or coerced into the sex industry in the UK, domestic servitude, or other types of forced labor. Victims are found in legitimate and illegitimate labour situations, including sweatshops, massage parlors, agricultural fields, restaurants, hotels, and domestic service. Trafficking is exploitation of Human Beings and does not require movement across borders UK nationals can and have been Trafficking into within and out of the UK. UK children are being trafficked within the UK for the purposes of child sexual exploitation. Trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Trafficking victims can be men or women, young or old, British or from abroad, with or without immigration status. Traffickers prey on Human Beings. They look for victims, who are vulnerable.
'Around the world today, there are an estimated 35.8 million men, women and children trapped in modern slavery' Global Slavery Index
'We also know that it affects every region of the world and generates tens of billions of dollars in profits for criminals each year.' UNODC
Indicators of Human Trafficking
Passport or identity documents held by the traffickers
• Traffickers speaking for the victim
• Assault injuries
• No days off
• Subdued appearance
• Escorted and collected from sex establishments
• Very limited social contact
• Lack of access to medical assistance
• Threats against victim or family
• Movement of victim controlled
No days off
• No Holidays
• Lack of access to medical care
• Threats of exposure to the authorities
• Debt bonded
• No proper pay slips
• Imposed working conditions
• Lack of ability to quit the work environment
• Lack of ability to negotiate working conditions
• Excessive cash deduction from pay
Not part of the family
• Does not eat with the family
• Does not receive pay
• Does not have own room or personal space
• No identity documents
• Cannot speak the local language
• No access to education
• No access to medical assistance
• Only allowed out of the house under escort