Citation

Bokhari F. Child. Soc. 2008; 22(3): 201-211.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, National Children's Bureau of the United Kingdom, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00151.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An overview of child trafficking in the UK explores the nature and methods of this abuse, as well as the treatment and protection afforded to these particularly vulnerable children. It highlights the shortcomings and inconsistent standards of local authorities, the lack of specialist protection and the uncertainty of a trafficked child's immigration status, combining to make these children vulnerable to further harm and at risk from the influence of their traffickers. A stark consequence of this has been the disappearance without trace of many children from local authority care and the mental health issues of trafficked children going undetected and untreated. For the sake of clarity some of the terms used in this paper are defined as: (i) child: the definition of a child is of someone up to 18-years of age as set down by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 and UK legislation including the Children Act, 1989 and 2004. (ii) separated child: this term is used instead of 'unaccompanied asylum-seeking minor/child'. A separated child is one separated from her/his parents or primary guardian. This definition is more useful because not all trafficked children who seek asylum are unaccompanied on arrival and not all trafficked children apply for asylum.