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  • Definitions and Guidelines

    Definitions and Guidelines

    Read more

  1. What we do
  2. Projects

Projects

ECPAT UK works with a variety of partners and funders in the UK and abroad on projects to improve global responses to child trafficking and child sexual exploitation. 

Global Call for Evidence

Global Call for Evidence

This Global Call for Evidence is part of our study being conducted jointly with the University of Bedfordshire funded through the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC). The study seeks to identify ways to improve outcomes for young people who have experienced human trafficking and/or modern slavery. Read more

Published: 10th December, 2021

Updated: 20th July, 2024

Author: Anonymised User

Pathways project

Pathways project

The Pathways project aims to build the capacity of social workers and child protection professionals to support children and young people who are potential victims of trafficking. It comprises partners from European NGOs including the Red Cross, Save the Children and ECPAT UK. Read more

Published: 5th December, 2019

Author: Anonymised User

Safeguarding Migrant Children Across Europe (AMINA) project

Safeguarding Migrant Children Across Europe (AMINA) project

The AMINA project is a cross-border cooperative project that aims to safeguard children migrating in Europe. ECPAT UK is one of a number of partners from civil society, law enforcement and government departments working collaboratively on the project with our lead partner Missing Children Europe. Read more

Published: 9th October, 2018

Author: Anonymised User

Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Project

Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Project

The Partnership Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Project is an innovative project aimed at improving local responses to child trafficking and all forms of modern slavery and exploitation. ECPAT UK was selected by the Government to deliver the project in partnership with Cordis Bright and Missing People. The project is funded by the Home Office’s Child Trafficking Protection Fund. Read more

Published: 6th March, 2018

Updated: 20th May, 2021

Author: Anonymised User

End-to-End Vulnerability Mapping

End-to-End Vulnerability Mapping

The End-to-End Vulnerability Mapping project examines the vulnerabilities of Vietnamese migrants who transit to the UK via Europe. ECPAT UK is conducting end-to-end mapping that aims to expand evidence on migratory routes and reduce Vietnamese migrants' vulnerability to exploitation on these routes Read more

Published: 26th January, 2018

Updated: 29th January, 2018

Author: Anonymised User

Definitions and Guidelines

Definitions and Guidelines

Read more

Published: 10th December, 2016

Updated: 16th December, 2021

Author: Anonymised User

Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG)

Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG)

The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group is a coalition established in 2009 to monitor the UK Government’s compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (the Convention), which entered into force in the UK on 1 April 2009. Read more

Published: 21st November, 2016

Updated: 20th May, 2021

Author:

Reinforcing Assistance to Child Victims of Trafficking in Europe (ReACT)

Reinforcing Assistance to Child Victims of Trafficking in Europe (ReACT)

ReACT is a partnership project aiming to increase the capacity of representatives (guardians and lawyers) of child victims of trafficking to provide appropriate support and uphold the rights of trafficked children during legal proceedings in key trafficking destination countries. Read more

Published: 21st November, 2016

Updated: 20th May, 2021

Author:

RACE in Europe

RACE in Europe

The RACE in Europe project was a two-year (2012-2014) initiative led by Anti-Slavery International, ECPAT UK and partners to improve knowledge and responses to human trafficking for the purposes of forced criminal exploitation and forced begging in Europe. Read more

Published: 21st November, 2014

Updated: 20th May, 2021

Author:

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking (PAHT)

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking (PAHT)

Parliamentarians against Human Trafficking was a two-year (2011-2013) European project to establish a network of parliamentarians working to prevent human trafficking. Read more

Published: 21st November, 2013

Updated: 20th May, 2021

Author:

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Latest

  • Joint response to the King's Speech announcement of reforms to the modern slavery framework

    Joint response to the King's Speech announcement of reforms to the modern slavery framework

    Following the announcement In the King's Speech that the new Immigration and Asylum Bill will include reforms to the modern slavery legislative framework, leading organisations and experts warn the government that it cannot end human trafficking and modern slavery without a safeguarding-first response to all victims and survivors that shifts the balance of risk decisively onto traffickers

  • Child Trafficking Survivors Warn: Government Proposals Will Put Vulnerable Children at Risk

    Child Trafficking Survivors Warn: Government Proposals Will Put Vulnerable Children at Risk

    The ECPAT UK Youth Advisory Group has issued a strong response to the King’s Speech with the announcement of a new Immigration and Asylum Bill as part of the government’s ongoing plans to reform the asylum and immigration system. The group raises the alarm about the impact on child victims of trafficking of major changes which will make identification and protection of victims harder.

  • An Overview of Child Trafficking, Modern Slavery & Exploitation

    An Overview of Child Trafficking, Modern Slavery & Exploitation

    This online course provides a detailed overview of child trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation in the UK, supporting practitioners to identify and effectively safeguard child victims.

  • ECPAT UK welcomes GRETA’s Fourth Evaluation Report and urges Government to act on urgent child‑specific recommendations

    ECPAT UK welcomes GRETA’s Fourth Evaluation Report and urges Government to act on urgent child‑specific recommendations

    ECPAT UK welcomes the publication of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) Fourth Evaluation Round report on the United Kingdom, which delivers urgent and detailed child‑focused recommendations for the United Kingdom. GRETA’s report draws significantly on ECPAT UK’s research, reflecting our long‑standing evidence of systemic failures in the UK’s response to child trafficking and exploitation.

Most read

  • What is child trafficking?

  • Child trafficking statistics

    Child trafficking statistics

    The latest data on the number of victims of trafficking in the UK and worldwide.

  • National Referral Mechanism

    National Referral Mechanism

    The National Referral Mechanism is a process set up by the Government to identify and support victims of trafficking in the UK. It was born out of the Government's obligation to identify victims under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking, which came into force on 1 February 2008.

  • Volunteer

    Volunteer

    ECPAT UK relies on committed volunteers to support the work that we do. Without their help, we would not be able to campaign as effectively against child exploitation.

  • The Secret Gardeners: New film on child trafficking from Vietnam

    The Secret Gardeners: New film on child trafficking from Vietnam

    The Secret Gardeners aims to inform professionals about the plight of children who are forced by organised crime gangs to grow drugs in houses across the UK but who often face criminalisation and prison.

  • Our team

    Our team

    ECPAT UK's team has more than 30 years' experience working on issues of child trafficking, child protection, child sexual exploitation, unaccompanied children, modern slavery and more.

  • About us

    About us

    ECPAT UK is a leading children's rights organisation working to protect children from child trafficking and transnational child exploitation. We support children everywhere to uphold their rights and to live a life free from abuse and exploitation.

  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

    United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

    The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty that grants all children and young people (aged 17 and under) a comprehensive set of rights. The UK signed the Convention on 19 April 1990, ratified it on 16 December 1991 and it came into force on 15 January 1992.

  • Contact us

    Contact us

    If you have an immediate concern about a child's welfare, please contact your local council's social care department, who are available 24 hours a day. For all other enquiries related to our work, contact [email protected] or call 020 7607 2136.

  • United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto (including the Palermo Protocol)

    United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto (including the Palermo Protocol)

    The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto is the main international legal instrument in the fight against transnational organised crime, including human trafficking.

More than Words: how definitions impact on the UK’s response to child trafficking and exploitation

More than Words: how definitions impact on the UK’s response to child trafficking and exploitation

This report highlights how overlaps and gaps in terminology, and how they have created confusion and definitional instabilitythat hinders effective identification and intervention. These inconsistencies impact frontline practice, from safeguarding to policing and prosecution, resulting in missed opportunities to protect children from harm. Read more

Published: 22nd July, 2025

Updated: 5th March, 2026

Author: Laura Duran

ECPAT UK welcomes GRETA’s Fourth Evaluation Report and urges Government to act on urgent child‑specific recommendations

ECPAT UK welcomes GRETA’s Fourth Evaluation Report and urges Government to act on urgent child‑specific recommendations

ECPAT UK welcomes the publication of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) Fourth Evaluation Round report on the United Kingdom, which delivers urgent and detailed child‑focused recommendations for the United Kingdom. GRETA’s report draws significantly on ECPAT UK’s research, reflecting our long‑standing evidence of systemic failures in the UK’s response to child trafficking and exploitation. Read more

Published: 5th May, 2026

Updated: 13th May, 2026

Author: Laura Duran

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Report immediate concerns about a child's welfare

If you have an immediate concern about a child's welfare, please contact your local council's social care department, who are available 24 hours a day. You can find their contact details on the Directgov website or in the phone book.

You can also contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If your concern is urgent, please call the police in your area or 999.

ECPAT UK
Family Action
34 Wharf Road 
London N1 7GR

Tel: 020 7607 2136
Email: [email protected]

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