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World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Today, 30th July 2024, is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It’s a day to raise awareness, highlight ways to end trafficking, and signpost to specialist support.
Scotland, and Moray, are not immune to human trafficking. It’s easy to think this only happens in larger towns and cities but it happens here. Figures from 2020 suggest there were 387 potential victims of trafficking in Scotland (gov.scot).
Image taken from a presentation on Migration Scotland's Website
Trafficking involves the exploitation of a human being, it is illegal and a violation of a person’s human rights. Trafficking is also a form of gender-based violence. The common types of exploitation experienced by people who are trafficked include forced labour, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation.
If you have experienced trafficking you may be scared or concerned about seeking help. We want to highlight specific services who can provide specialist support for those who have experienced trafficking/are being trafficked:
- Aberdeen Cyrenians (EVAA) The Ending Violence & Abuse Aberdeen service offers one-to-one and group support, advocacy, referrals, and safety planning, including supporting women with no recourse to public funds & LGBTQ+ people of all genders.
- TARA (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance) provide support, advocacy, and financial assistance to women who have been trafficked and exploited.
- Encompass is a network of agencies committed to supporting women who have been involved/are involved in commercial sexual exploitation, including trafficking.
- Project Light (Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland) operate advocacy, prevention and repatriation services (for those who wish to return to their home country) across Scotland.
- Just Right Scotland provide legal advice and outreach, peer support, and policy research. They have published some legal factsheets that you can access here:
- Police Scotland have some helpful information about human trafficking, ways to spot it, and what to do if you suspect someone has been trafficked.
- Scottish Women’s Rights Centre offers legal advice, representation, and advocacy to women in Scotland experiencing any form of gender-based violence.
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