Human Rights Lawyer for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery - Standing Up for Your Rights

Forced labour is one of the most common forms of enslavement used around the globe.

The International Labour Organisation says that 4.5 million people are compelled to work against their will worldwide, and trafficking is happening in loads of different places and sectors.

Key International and UK Legal Frameworks – the Tools we Use to Fight Modern Slavery

Modern slavery and trafficking law is underpinned by a load of domestic and international rules and regulations, including:

• The Modern Slavery Act 2015, which is all about making sure companies are open regarding their supply chains, and stop exploiting people
• The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings from 2005
• The US Trafficking Victims Protection Act from 2000
• Guidance from the United Nations and other international organisations who are working hard to stop trafficking

These laws all aim to stop human trafficking, make it easier to catch and convict the people doing it, and keep victims safe all around the world.

National Referral Mechanism – How the UK Identifies Victims of Modern Slavery

In the UK we have a system called the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which is used to recognise individuals who have been trafficked and modern slavery victims, and get them the support they need.

A number of key facts about the NRM are:

• The Home Office took over the NRM in 2019
• There were 7,936 modern slavery referrals in the UK in 2022 – that’s up 10.3% on the previous year
• Public authorities have got to let the NRM know if they think someone might be a victim in England and Wales
• The NRM is also responsible for helping children who might have been trafficked – often they’re forced into labour or sex work

The NRM is a vital part of spotting potential victims, especially children who are often used for forced labour and sex work.

Victims, Vulnerability and Exploitation Patterns – What We See

People who are trafficked often come from really tough backgrounds where they’ve been made vulnerable by poverty, exclusion and constrained opportunities.

Common things that make people vulnerable include:

• Not being able to get a passport or ID
• Being on their own and struggling financially
• Being in a country with a dodgy immigration status
• Being in a country where they’re not safe due to something like the COVID-19 pandemic

Traffickers often play on these circumstances, using:

• Threats of violence
• Coercion
• Making people think they’re dependent on them
• Exploiting people via social media and other digital communication channels
• Pretending to be a legitimate business or charity
• Exploiting people in loads of different ways

Victims often get stuck with:

• Trauma from being abused for so long
• PTSD and other long-term mental health problems
• Feeling really isolated after they escape
• Chronic stress that impacts their physical and mental health
• Loads of barriers to getting the help and justice they are entitled to

Research shows that one in three people who are trafficked are under 18, which is just shocking.

Police Investigations and Enforcement – the Complexities of Making it Stick

Loads of human trafficking cases are uncovered during police raids or investigations.

However, the law enforcement environment can be pretty tricky:

• Victims might be too scared to report it to the police
• Raids can end up intimidating victims instead of helping them
• Traffickers are always adapting their tactics to stay one step ahead of the law
• Corruption can be a major problem in some places

Police investigations often involve:

• Search warrants and seizing assets
• Freezing bank accounts and stopping people from selling off assets
• Allegations of money laundering and other financial crimes
• Working with other countries to track down traffickers and get them behind bars

We make sure that everything is done properly and that the law is being used in the right way.

Legal Defence Strategy in Modern Slavery Cases – Standing Up for Your Rights

Our team of human rights lawyers defend people who are accused of:

• Being compelled to work against their will
• Sex trafficking
• Exploiting people for sex
• Sexual slavery
• Forced prostitution
• Domestic servitude
• Being in debt to someone
• Child trafficking
• Having an organ removed against their will

Each case needs to be looked at carefully to make sure that people are not being unfairly accused or misunderstood.

We also take on complex cases involving:

• Money laundering
• Companies and businesses that might be doing something dodgy
• Supply chains and tracking down where goods have come from
• Trafficking that involves loads of different countries

A Human Rights Lawyer Works Across Multiple Areas of Law

Including but not limited to:

• Enforcing human rights under both national and international law
• Defending against unlawful detention and police misconduct
• Asylum and immigration rights – protecting those fleeing persecution or looking for a new start
• Combating discrimination and public law, making sure no one gets unfairly treated by the system

Human Rights Lawyers

• Help keep people safe by enforcing those legal protections under both national and international law
• Provide legal representation and advocacy to challenge injustice – fighting for what’s right
• Have to be a professional who fights for individuals whose fundamental freedoms have been knocked sideways (already reflected in original structure; no further change needed)
• Typically have a qualifying law degree and in some cases a Master’s in International Human Rights Law may be beneficial; experience in NGOs or charities can also be a real bonus

Common cases also involve people being wrongly treated by police or being held in detention unfairly.

We’re always looking to help people get justice.

Helping to Combat Human Trafficking

It’s good to see that more and more people are working together to stop human trafficking and raise awareness – this includes governments, international organisations, law enforcement, and of course legal and advocacy groups.

Our campaigns aim to:

• Improve how we identify victims and make sure they get the help they need
• Make sure we can keep people safe from exploitation – in all aspects of life
• Reduce how exploitation happens in supply chains
• Get more people talking about this so we can all do more to stop it

Speak to a Human Rights Lawyer

If you’re under investigation or accused of any human trafficking, modern slavery or related crimes, our specialist human rights team can help with immediate advice and representation.

We deal with all sorts of cases, including:

• Helping people who have been trafficked for sex and making sure they get the right kind of safeguarding
• Allegations of people being forced into labour or exploited in some other way – we’re always on the side of the people being exploited
• Helping people through the National Referral Mechanism – a really important process that can make a big difference to people’s lives
• Complex cases involving people who are vulnerable in some way
• Allegations involving money laundering, supply chains or even fairly large-scale businesses – and if things have gone wrong across several countries – we can handle that too

Getting help early on is really, really important – it means we can protect people’s rights and make sure everything gets handled properly under UK law and international standards.