Three Smalls Steps Campaign event in Parliament © ECPAT UK, Julie Morgan MP, Sandra Gidley MP, Darren Bennett, Anthony Steen MP
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £20,000 towards ECPAT UK’s general funds in 2007/08 to contribute to their advocacy work to safeguard trafficked children in the UK. ECPAT UK stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.
ECPAT UK has achieved great success over the past year with its 3 Small Steps campaign. Events in Parliament with the star of Strictly Come Dancing, Darren Bennett, and public events such as petitioning in Trafalgar Square increased the profile of the campaign. The 3 campaign calls include the removal of the UK Reservation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This ‘immigration control’ Reservation has long been criticised as discriminatory against migrant children, including trafficked children, reducing the UK obligation to these children on basic rights. It has been in place since 1991 but as a result of mounting pressure of the 3 Small Steps campaign the Government recently announced it would review its Reservation and will report in July. ECPAT UK advises the All Party Parliamentary group on Trafficking and they have assisted MPs and Peers throughout the year with understanding the often complex policy, legislative and practical support needed to protect trafficked children. ECPAT UK has also engaged with schools and a vast array of voluntary sector and statutory agencies. They have developed an on-line campaign presence through the ‘Face Book’ social networking Internet site and by developing on-line petitions through Advocacy On-Line.
Visit the ECPAT UK website.