- Conference
- 2009 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 21 October 2008
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises that there is a considerable problem with trafficking of women for use as prostitutes throughout the United Kingdom. This is an issue, which may be predominant in the big cities but has permeated into all areas of the country. However conference recognises that trafficking is not just an issue for women being brought from abroad. From the Barnardo’s Scotland 2007 report, trafficking of female children for money or drugs is used as a way of parents being able to feed their own drug habit.
Conference reaffirms its belief that trafficking is morally wrong and everything should be done to stop this illegal trade in women. However, it is recognised that there are considerable barriers to identifying women and girls who are being trafficked, let alone providing them with the necessary protection.
Conference recognises that public service workers are the professionals who are most likely to come into contact with women who have been trafficked through day to day activities such as contact with a GP, the reading of of the electricity meter etc. Therefore these workers need to be able to recognise potential signs of trafficking and employers need to be equipped to take action in appropriate ways.
Voluntary organisations such as the Poppy Project and Barnardo’s, along with many Ending Violence against Women partnerships, have developed considerable expertise in working with trafficked women and we should utilise these skills further.
Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to work with Service Groups and the appropriate voluntary organisations to develop workplace policies on identifying and reporting potential issues of trafficking of women and girls.