Newham CSM held an open meeting which attracted people we has not met before on the issue of continuing slavery. It was addressed by Gemma Wolfes of Anti Slavery International. In this anniversary year of the ending of the transatlantic slave trade it was salutary to learn that slavery continues throughout the world and in many guises; bonded labourers and children working off the debts of their parents, domestic workers brought in from abroad who have no freedom of movement and are often subject to abuse from their employers, women tricked into the sex trade, people trafficking and historic forms of slavery where adults are ‘owned’ and children are born into servitude.
We agreed that we would seek to support the following Anti Slavery International campaigns:
1.The Council of Europe's Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; Cyprus has unexpectedly ratified the Convention which gives the necessary 10 ratifications to bring it into force. ASI has a link which contains information about the convention. http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/news/latestnews.htm.
Members may wish to write to their MPs urging the UK to ratify the convention. For details on how to write letters and take action on this, please see http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/campaign/uk.htm.
2. Migrant domestic workers in the UK.
Help is needed to help migrant domestic workers in the UK. The British Government has proposed changes to the domestic worker visa, in line with their immigration proposals published earlier this year, which include putting domestic workers on their employers visa, restricting their stay to a maximum of six months, and removing their right to change employers. There is a concern that leave them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and effectively legalise trafficking.
Members might wish to urge their MPs to sign the Early Day Motion 860 which asks for the Government to drop the proposals and retain the current provisions.
3. Campaigns Network
Anti-Slavery International has an 18,000 strong Campaigns Network. This is primarily a letter writing network where members will receive our Action Briefings and campaigns updates. It operates a little like the Amnesty International letter writing campaigns. To join visit http://www.antislavery.org/2007/ and click on ‘Join the Campaign’.