OSCE Special Representative visits the United Kingdom, calls for strong leadership to reaffirm commitment to combat human trafficking

LONDON/EDINBURGH, 11 November 2022 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his five-day visit to the United Kingdom today. While highlighting the UK’s rich history at the vanguard of global anti-trafficking effort, including its pioneering Modern Slavery Act, he expressed concern that a stalled anti-slavery agenda risked undermining past achievements.

Richey positively noted the UK’s expansive system of “first responders” that has led to a steep increase in number of victim referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). He also welcomed the innovative efforts to identify victims and raise awareness at borders, a promising victim assistance pilot program for children, and measures to tackle labour exploitation in supply chains and public procurement. Richey also commended Scotland’s regularly updated strategy, multi-agency coordination, and victim navigator program.

However, he stressed that a growing number of UK flagship initiatives and commitments – such as an updated strategy, important amendments to the Modern Slavery Act, appointment of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, establishment of a single enforcement body, and adoption of the proposed Online Safety Bill – have stalled or gone unfulfilled. A burgeoning backlog of NRM cases that await a decision is also an area of acute concern, leaving thousands of victims in limbo and at greater risk of re-victimization.

“The failure to advance these critical measures threatens to undermine the UK’s position as a global anti-trafficking leader,” the Special Representative stressed. “The proposals and commitments are sound, but the critical missing ingredient is a lack of champions in government to move the agenda forward.”

The Special Representative also noted with concern that heavy emphasis on illegal immigration and potential abuse of the NRM system – as exemplified by the Nationality and Borders Bill - threatens to overshadow critical efforts to identify victims within migration flows and overlooks the high percentage of domestic victims of trafficking. “Efforts to address human trafficking should have a strong and unconditional safeguarding focus independent of the immigration system,” Richey stated.

During the visit, Richey met with parliamentarians, including from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and Lady Theresa May. He also met with the Home Office Anti-Slavery Unit; UK Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy Anti-Slavery Special Envoy Andrew Patrick; Crown Prosecution Service; National Crime Agency, and other key anti-trafficking stakeholders, including numerous civil society charities.

In Scotland, interlocutors included the Scottish Government, the Police Service, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Scottish Guardianship Service, and Scottish Refugee Council, and Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance.

The Special Representative conducts multiple country visits each year to help keep human trafficking high on the political agenda of OSCE participating States as well as to enhance capacities, share recommendations for further action, and collect best practices for fighting this heinous crime.