ACTION NEEDED – Amendment 57 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill: Rescheduled for 15 February

Last week’s Impact Direct noted an important vote in the House of Lords on the provision of a legal advocate for child victims of trafficking.  It was expected that the vote would be reached on Monday, 6 February.  Unfortunately progress was significantly slower than anyone anticipated and amendment 57 was not debated.  A third and final day of Report has now been added during which amendment 57 will be debated. It is anticipated that it will be reached by early evening.

It is still of vital importance that peers attend the debate and vote for the amendment.  Please click here (PDF) to find out what you can do to help.

Prayer: Please thank God for this opportunity to improve the care of trafficked children in England and Wales.  Please pray that there would be strong support for the amendment on Wednesday, that the Government would respond positively and that the amendment would be passed.

Westminster Hall Debate – National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings

On Wednesday, Peter Bone MP secured a Westminster Hall debate on human trafficking and the need for a National Rapporteur.  In his speech, Mr Bone highlighted the importance of having an independent watchdog – or National Rapporteur – to monitor the effectiveness of Government policies aimed to tackle human trafficking.  Supporters will recall that the provision of a National Rapporteur was called for in the EU Directive on Human Trafficking and also emphasised in Lord McColl’s Private Members’ Bill in November.

CARE has been advocating for the creation of a National Rapporteur since the introduction of the EU Directive, and is pleased to see debate continuing on this issue.

A full text of the debate can be read in Hansard here.

Prayer: Praise God for the growing recognition of the need to do more to provide assistance and support to victims of human trafficking.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day took place on Tuesday this week, highlighting the importance of staying safe online.  CARE was glad to support this initiative of the UK Safer Internet Centre which takes place every February.

The UK Safer Internet Centre was formed by Childnet International, the Southwest Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation.  Through various activities and resources available on their website, they actively promote safe and responsible use of technology as well as running a helpline for adults and young people concerned about online safety.

The importance of Safer Internet Day was highlighted by a new report which showed that one in six parents do not know how to use the gadgets their children use and 40% of parents let their children see films above their recommended age classification.  To read more about this report, please click here.

If you would like to learn more about what CARE is doing to promote family safety online please go here.  You can also read an article on our website about Safer Internet Day here as well as an article by CARE consultant Lauri Moyle on the Christian Today website here.

To learn more about what you can do to keep safe online why not visit the UK Safer Internet Centre website and take their Internet Safety IQ Test here.

Prayer: Thank God for initiatives such as Safer Internet Day.  Pray that adults and young people would take advantage of the resources and help available and that awareness of the need for caution online would increase.

Northern Ireland sex industry ‘fastest growing in UK’

A debate on human trafficking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday saw the announcement of a plan to introduce two new human trafficking offences to meet the requirements of the EU Directive on Human Trafficking.

Caitríona Ruane MLA, who challenged the Justice Minister over the lack of prosecutions, said recent investigations on human trafficking had shown that £500,000 was spent every week on prostitution in Northern Ireland, and that 88 brothels are in operation across the province.  26 victims of trafficking have been identified since April 2011.

Additionally, Lord Morrow, whose speech focused on two women who were trafficked to Northern Ireland for the purposes of both labour and sexual exploitation, called on the Minister to meet the obligations set out in the EU Directive on Human Trafficking.  He also briefly outlined his proposals for a Bill which would introduce a new offence of paying for sex with any individual – regardless of whether they have been subject to force.  The proposed Bill would provide a more robust strategy on prevention that addresses demand for paid sexual services in NI.

You can watch Tuesday’s debate here.  Check out a related BBC news article here.

Prayer: Thank God for the raised profile of the issues of human trafficking and prostitution in Northern Ireland.  Pray that the Government would take action to combat the worrying growth in the Northern Irish sex industry.

CARE’s fiscal policy work featured on the Conservative Home website

To read the latest thoughts from CARE on our current tax system and its impact on families, do read our article on the influential and widely-read Conservative Home website.  The article can also be found on our website here.

Marriage Week

CARE has been centrally involved in the organisation of this year’s Marriage Week, which is being celebrated across the UK until 14 February.  As Chair of Marriage Week, CARE’s Chief Executive, Nola Leach, was one of several notable speakers at the Launch of Marriage Week hosted by Andrew Selous MP in the Houses of Parliament.

Many CARE supporters were amongst the hundreds of local organisers putting on events during the week to celebrate and encourage healthy marriages.  To find out more about Marriage Week and how you can get involved next year visit www.marriage-week.org.uk.

You can also watch a video of CARE’s Chief Executive, Nola Leach, talking about Marriage Week here.

Prayer: Thank God for Marriage Week and pray that couple will have been strengthened and encouraged.

Also in the news this week:

General Medical Council seeks views on guidance for dealing with complaints about assisting suicide
Archbishop of Canterbury: assisted suicide could spell ‘disaster’
Contraceptive implants supplied to girls as young as 13 in schools without parents’ knowledge
Bideford Town Council prayers ruled unlawful
Christians lose appeal in B&B case