Public Procurement and Property

Human Trafficking is happening closer than you think

August 30, 2017 by Sarah McLeod No Comments | Category Human Trafficking, National Procurement Conference

Human trafficking is happening in Scotland. A public awareness campaign across TV and social media launched on Tuesday, aiming to bring the hidden crime out in the open.

Latest figures show there were 150 potential victims of trafficking identified in Scotland in 2016 – a 52 per cent increase since 2013, however the Home Office estimate this is a tip of the iceberg with around 10-13,000 victims in the UK.

Human trafficking is a complex crime which involves adults and children being traded and exploited for personal benefit. It is an abuse of human rights which causes victims lasting physical and psychological damage.

Trafficking can involve victims being forced into the role of a servant, being sexually exploited or trapped in forced labour, with nail bars, car washes and fishing amongst the industries where potential cases in Scotland have been reported.

Work is underway to implement the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy which was published in May 2017. The Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s approach and commitment to tackling human trafficking by supporting and protecting victims, disrupting the activities of perpetrators and addressing the conditions which foster trafficking, both in Scotland and elsewhere.

Tackling human trafficking through public procurement

Through our procurement processes, we can help tackle this important issue. There will be a breakout session at this years’ National Procurement Conference on ‘Tackling human trafficking and exploitation in supply chains’ that will help you think through how you can mitigate the risks, including in procurement processes.

For more information on the signs of human trafficking and to report concerns visit www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/Scotland.

Tags: human trafficking, national Procurement Conference, Public procurement, Scottish Government procurement, Scottish Procurement

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