What is Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation The Palermo Protocol which is the United Nations response to support the Convention Against Organised Crime, in 2003 describes trafficking in persons to mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. This at a minimum includes the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude of the removal of organs.

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What is the scale of trafficking for sexual exploitation world wide?

There are estimates that world- wide over 500,000 people are traded across international borders for the purposes of sexual exploitation. There are trafficked people within the swelling numbers of those who migrate across international borders to seek legitimate work, opportunities, safety and education. Source countries include the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (the former Soviet Union), West African, North African and Central African countries, India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South American countries and the Balkans. It is now estimated that trafficking in persons in general revenues more for international crime than the drugs industry, and it is certainly perceived as an easier crime to evade detection and prosecution. As the internet, mobile phones, the leisure pound, and sexual leisure industries of the West continue to expand so this abusive trade in flesh will continue to develop unless a concerted sense of community responsibility and criminal justice accountability kicks into play.

How big a problem is it in the UK Trafficking for sexual exploitation into the UK has increased over the last few years. In 2000 a Home Office research paper estimated that up to 1,420 women were trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation. More recent research has found that trafficked women, from countries including Albania, Moldova, Romania, Thailand and Nigeria have been forced to work as prostitutes in every London borough. The forced sexual labour is typically carried out in massage parlours, brothels and in people’s homes, organised by a network of semi-independent pimps and profiteers who can sell on their victims several times, to maximise profitability and deter escape attempts. This form of modern day slavery is in all probability taking place in a city near you. The difficulty is it is so subterranean, violent and protected, that little is known of the real extent of this scourge to politicians, police or indeed parish priests.

What does the Bible have to say?

The pages of the bible are replete with tales of people being moved across national borders to be sold into slavery, either as concubines for the victorious Kings’ harem, (as in Esther) or as builders of pyramids (as in Exodus) or as clerical officers for trusted ministers of state (as in the case of Joseph). Rahab, who was instrumental in the downfall of Jericho, was more than likely a woman whose family were migrant people, hence her willingness to help the Israelite spies in their hour of need as they plotted the City’s downfall. Jesus honoured the homage of a ‘woman of ill-repute’ who came and poured a costly, richly-scented perfume over his body, saying that her action of love and thanks would earn her a place in remembrance, ‘wherever the gospel is preached’ (Luke 7:36ff; Mark 14:3ff). The God of Justice recorded in the actions of Scripture, is one who intervenes on behalf of the enforced suffering of people – declares vociferously ‘Let my people go’ and gets involved in the lives of those who are disregarded, living in the shadowy margins of society.

How can I get involved to resist the problem?

The United Kingdom is starting to become more involved with resisting the criminality associated with trafficking for Sexual Exploitation. There are 25 beds in safe house locations across the UK paid for by the Home Office. We urgently need more places of safety and recovery and encourage the Home Office to have this funded. 25 beds is only a tiny drop in the ocean of what is needed in order to provide safety and victim protection for those who escape enslavement, and seek the protection of the State.

CHASTE – Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe, the interdenominational UK based Charity is working towards a goal of doubling the provision of the UK government adding in the resources of the churches in buildings and commitment over the next two years. CHASTE is also moving forward creative ways with the co-operation of churches nationwide to assist in addressing the demand cycle in our country. It is demand which fuels the market supply of foreign nationals being brought into Britain – some in conditions of extreme duress which is the manner of sex-trafficking - to supply paid sex for UK men. CHASTE is also actively involved in training and supplying first stage support and care in counselling and accompanying of those caught in the trade. CHASTE is also stimulating the practical provision of housing – with a network of religious orders, parishes, and denominational initiatives exploring their capacity to lease or donate a house to develop as a house of safety and recovery. To find out more about CHASTE’s sanctuary project log onto CHASTE’s web site.

The need is urgent, and the time is ripe for action. With two years to go before the celebration of 200 years since the Abolition of the Slave Trade, now is the time for decisive action against this modern permutation of international abuse, echoing the abusive, humiliating, violent, degrading and psychologically traumatising enslavements resisted by Clarkson, Wilberforce, Cugoano and Equiano.

CHASTE like Clarkson over 200 years ago, is building its network of friends, supporters and activists to be part of this current of change. Will you be a part of the challenge and network of resistance, support and challenge. Log onto www.CHASTE.org.uk and add your voice to the call to ‘Let my people go’.

Prepared by CHASTE – Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking across Europe