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Needs of victims
First and foremost any victim of trafficking needs to
be treated as a human being with corresponding rights. It should be
appreciated that they are likely to share many of the needs of other
victims of sexual assault and exploitation, with added concerns
resulting from the coercion and violence they may have been suffering,
being an illegal immigrant, being separated from their support
structures and possibly not speaking the language. The good practice
that has developed in many agencies regarding the treatment of victims
of sexual assault should be employed as far as possible. In addition
it is recommended that they receive support from someone of the same
ethnic background who will be more culturally aware.
The initial concern when a victim is identified
should be with assessing their physical and mental wellbeing, and in
ensuring that they receive appropriate emergency support. Given the
abuse they may have suffered, and the fears they will no doubt be
harbouring, they may not be in a position to make sensible decisions
about their future or to make reliable statements to police and other
authorities. They need to be helped both to start the recovery from
any trauma they are suffering and to develop some trust in the
authorities with whom they are dealing.
They will need to
be provided with safe and appropriate accommodation. (Eaves Housing
and West Sussex Social Services both have experience with the
provision of accommodation for trafficked victims;
see also the work of the Safe Houses Project Group)
There are various
models for shelters in other countries, with some integrating support
for women escaping domestic violence and trafficking, others linking
support for women detected and women returning, and still others
providing services to more delimited groups. There is, in the UK, very
little in the way of specialist service provision for trafficked
victims. Local multi-agency groups will therefore need to assess
whether joint provision (whereby women seeking safety from various
forms of gender based violence are sheltered together) would be an
acceptable solution. They need to assess whether a shelter can serve
the needs both of women recently detected in this country and of those
who are part of return programmes to their country of origin, or
whether separate provision is necessary. Equally, they need to
establish the number of referrals existing shelters are able to
accommodate, and what services, if any, they can provide to those for
whom there is no space. It has to be noted, of course, that these
other existing services for violence against women are themselves
under-funded in terms of meeting existing demand before the support of
trafficked victims is considered. There are also some serious issues
relating to the need for additional security (see safety issues
below). It may well be concluded, therefore, that separate provision
needs to be established.
In other
countries, experience has shown that there are a variety of housing
needs and that these are likely to change over time. Trafficked women
are likely to spend some time initially in a safe house or flight
house (first tier housing). Intensive support may need to be offered
at this stage. During this time it can be argued that these women
should only be placed with other trafficked persons. At the
appropriate time they may be moved to second tier accommodation, and
finally into permanent housing. There is therefore a transition from
high security facilities to less secure accommodation depending on the
particular needs of the individual. Progress towards
rehabilitation/reintegration might be improved by mixing with
non-trafficked women after the initial phase.
Multi-agency groups will need to review the available
potential service providers in order to identify:
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the limitations related to service provision (e.g.
woman’s legal status, ability to pay);
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whether they have legal reporting requirements in cases
of abuse of adults, abuse of children and young people, or illegal
migrants;
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whether they have a supportive attitude towards
migrants, sex workers, or other relevant marginalised populations;
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will they be able to meet various language or
interpreting needs;
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whether they have procedures for monitoring and data
sharing;
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for those that have never worked with trafficked
victims, what level of information training and support they might
want and need.
Where no appropriate service providers exist, it may
be necessary to identify a number of related or appropriate
organisations that are willing to provide different services to women
in need. They will need to be briefed on the nature of the problem and
the probable range of assistance that might be required of them.
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