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The Tablet's webinar included a number of high profile speakers chaired by journalist Julie Etchingham, with panellists Fiona Hill (British political adviser), Sr Imelda Poole (Leader with RENATE), Luke de Pulford (Human Rights campaigner), Fr Mark Odion (Santa Marta Group), Karen Anstiss (Bakhita House) and Peter Hugh Smith (CCLA).
The Pope’s Bakhita day message was quoted, that slavery is “a crime against humanity”. Each spoke on their own area of interest and then questions were taken from attendees. It was a focussed event being just over the hour.
Fiona Hill helped to write the report on organised crime. Looking forward there needs to be more attention to cyber crime and its impact upon exploitation. The number of investigations is a challenge as organised crime is tremendously mobile and elusive. There also needs to be better care of victims.
Sr Imelda Poole highlighted that organised crime is a spider's web. Care of victims is complex - she quoted the case of an Albanian girl currently in the Philippines, that her organisation is seeking to help. Cyber trafficking is on the increase with trade of children anywhere between 7 months and 12 years; 70% of those trafficked are women and girls. The world’s demands for ‘cheap’ goods feeds the crime.
Luke de Pulford said that there was more awareness of the laws surrounding slavery and trafficking and yet slavery continues to flourish. The Uighurs in China are in an area of highest prevalence of slavery, and yet the US and UK continue to trade with the area. China’s human rights record is one of worst and yet world powers continue to trade with them.
Fr Mark Odion stated that many people are trafficked from Nigeria - Fr Mark works in the Archdiocese of Benin. The Governance is poor and unemployment high, which encourages the seeking of routes to a better life. Thus people submit to the traders in the hope of improvement and get caught in a web of exploitation. If employment can be found then they would not submit themselves to this trade of human lives. The problem of travel to some countries being illegal also plays into the criminals’ hands.
Kern Anstiss highlighted that Bakhita House is a refuge for victims - it can be depressing, but the women there gain confidence and grow in sense of community, leading to times of joy.
Peter Hugh Smith - His work with businesses is part of the spiders web of crime and exploitation. The hunger for cheap products feeds the crime. “Practically all businesses have elements of slavery”. Weeding out the exploitation from supply chains is hard and some progress has been made but there is far to go. He is trying to coordinate with investors of companies to apply pressure on their working ethics.
Fiona - Home Office pursuit and attitude to immigrants exacerbates the issue. Criminals are most agile! Complex problem but there needs to be more clarity of purpose in government circles.
Luke - Supply chains need addressing. In China “Uighurs for sale” is bandied around, and there is lot of produce for sale that is supplied from the Uighur region. World trade is to blame and the hunger for cheap goods.
Karen - There is ignorance between trafficking (involuntary) and smuggling (voluntary). Problem of government in pressure on time and money slowing down the system, including the NRM. It takes years to sort victims’ problems.
Luke - Nobody in government is cracking the whip.
Pandemic effect
Fr Mark - There are a greater number of vulnerable people, and borders become porous.
Peter - The media does not help. Firms are vilified and instead need encouraging to look at supply chains and then to be applauded for their efforts.
Sr Imelda - Survivors are the first to be laid off and so quickly return to exploitative situations.
Peter - Consumers in economy downturns seek value for money which encourages cheap goods and so exploitation. Consumers have considerable power in this and there is growing awareness. The CCLA is seeking to work with companies on this.
Fiona - Govt. IT is antiquated. The Gangmaster and Licensing Authority is being effective in the area of seasonal exploitation, but it requires a political will to address the problems. A Supply Chain Bill is needed.
Fr Mark - Young people aware of the risk but have the mentality that once they get to their destination they will be able to change their situation. Naive. Creating meaningful jobs is crucial. Raising awareness in parishes is essential.
Karen - Something in the women coming to Bakhita is NOT broken. There is hope.
At the end Ruth Gledhill, former Church Times journalist summed up - she also said that she had recently become a Catholic.
