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After Exploitation

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Coordinates: 51°28′6.17″N 0°7′3.09″W / 51.4683806°N 0.1175250°W / 51.4683806; -0.1175250
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After Exploitation is a UK-based non-profit organization using investigative methods to track the unpublished outcomes of modern slavery survivors. The group uses Freedom of Information requests to collate cases of wrongful deportation, detention, and failures by agencies to refer slavery victims for support.[1]

Exploitation's launch report revealed that 507 potential victims of human trafficking were detained in 2018.[2] A follow-up investigation revealed that 1,256 potential victims were detained in 2019, illustrating a two-fold increase in the number of vulnerable people detained since safeguarding functions were introduced to curb unnecessary use of Immigration Powers.[3][4][5]

Background

After Exploitation was founded as a volunteer-led project in July 2019. Its launch report, Supported or Deported?, revealed the wide-spread use of immigration detention on potential survivors of modern slavery.[6] The report led to significant press and Parliamentary coverage, as the Immigration Minister had previously denied the existence of data on the basis that the information was not held by Government.[7][8] In response to the findings, a coalition of more than 20 non-profit organizations - including Amnesty International UK, Anti Slavery International and Freedom United - signed an open letter calling on Government to release hidden data on survivors, and to re-evaluate the Home Office's involvement in delivering support.[9]

After Exploitation is a non-profit company limited by guarantee.[10]

Investigations

After Exploitation has released a number of research briefings, outlining:

  • Detention and deportation of trafficking victims: In two separate briefings, After Exploitation has outlined documented cases of deportation and detention amongst trafficking victims. In 2018, 507 potential victims of trafficking were held in immigration detention,[11][12] compared with 1,256 potential victims in 2019.[3]
  • Voluntary returns of trafficking victims: After Exploitation revealed the growing number of voluntary returns amongst potential victims of trafficking, who are asked to leave the country before potential victims have been able to access full support. Their investigation reveals that more than half (53%) of potential victims leaving the UK before a final decision on their claim were held in prison-like immigration settings beforehand.[13][14]
  • Inconsistent support access: In 2020, research by the group showed that thousands of potential slavery survivors are recognised by first responders such as the police or Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority as trafficked, but never referred for support through the NRM.[15][16] The Human Trafficking Foundation made the case for places of safety for potential survivors, explaining: "People need space to make an informed decision about their future based on an understanding of their rights and options. A referral into the NRM can be a life-changing decision, which does not guarantee long-term stability. A safe place to recover with support to consider options is crucial in allowing people to make the decision that is right for them, which might include a referral to the NRM."[17]

Campaign

Data transparency

After Exploitation's Supported or Deported? campaign calls for the regular reporting of the following outcomes amongst survivors of modern slavery. The campaign notes that information on returns and detention are already held, whilst additional support outcomes will require a commitment to improved monitoring practices:[18]

  • Returns including both voluntary and enforced
  • Safety after return monitored by NGOs commissioned through the UK's Voluntary Returns Scheme
  • Immigration detention, including in cases where potential victims are not recognized as vulnerable in the Detention Gatekeeping stage
  • Support outcomes, including the uptake of entitlements such as safe housing and counselling, enshrined under international law

Nearly 30 non-profit charities and campaigning organizations are signatories to these proposals, including Anti Slavery International, ECPAT, Equality Now, Hope for Justice, Migrant Rights Network, and Women for Refugee Women[19]

References

  1. ^ "After Exploitation: using FOI to understand what happens to victims of modern slavery". mySociety. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  2. ^ Taylor, Diane (2019-07-08). "More than 500 victims of trafficking detained in 2018, UK study finds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  3. ^ a b "After Exploitation data shows 1,256 potential trafficking victims detained last year". After Exploitation. 2020-02-14. Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  4. ^ "Over 1250 victims of trafficking detained last year". ATLEU. 15 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  5. ^ "Spike in detention of slavery victims | Hope for Justice". hopeforjustice.org. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  6. ^ Esslemont, M (2019). Supported or deported?: Understanding the deportation and detention data held on modern slavery (PDF). After Exploitation.
  7. ^ "Home Office accused of covering up plight of hundreds of trafficking victims wrongly detained in immigration centres". The Independent. 2019-07-16. Archived from the original on 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  8. ^ "Immigration Detention: Trafficking and Modern Slavery - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  9. ^ "Letters: The government needs to do more to protect victims of human trafficking". The Independent. 2019-07-17. Archived from the original on 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  10. ^ "After Exploitation - Overview". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  11. ^ "Hundreds of trafficking victims held in immigration detention centres". Sky News. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  12. ^ "More than 500 suspected slaves locked up by Britain last year". Reuters. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  13. ^ "Surge in trafficking victims leaving UK 'voluntarily' after being held in immigration detention". The Independent. 2019-08-22. Archived from the original on 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  14. ^ Joint Submission to the Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (PDF). Anti Slavery International. 2019.
  15. ^ "Thousands of suspected trafficking victims 'slipping through net', figures show". The Independent. 2020-06-24. Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  16. ^ "Thousands of potential trafficking victims 'not given vital support'". the Guardian. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  17. ^ "After Exploitation data shows 1 in 5 potential slavery victims "identified but not referred for support"". After Exploitation. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  18. ^ "About us". After Exploitation. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  19. ^ "Open letter: Government must release data on slavery". After Exploitation. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2020-07-27.

51°28′6.17″N 0°7′3.09″W / 51.4683806°N 0.1175250°W / 51.4683806; -0.1175250

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