Dear Madam, - It is easy to assume that the problem of slavery was dealt with years ago. When I began looking into the problem of human trafficking and the need to introduce legislation to address the issue, I was horrified by what I discovered. Far from being consigned to the dimmest reaches of history, I discovered that here in Northern Ireland, men and women, boys and girls are still being used as modern day slaves. My Bill (now the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act 2015) stems from my desire to help victims and ensure those who prey on the vulnerable in this morally indefensible way are robustly dealt with.

From the outset, the priority was to put the victim right at the heart of the legislation. Those who suffer the loss of dignity and trauma that comes with being trafficked have often undergone horrific experiences. The provision of victim support is a vital component of this legislation because it means victims are guaranteed a minimum period of at least 45 days help and assistance. This not only ensures victims are provided with a sustained period of support but also gives them the confidence to know that should they escape from trafficking, help is guaranteed.

Another crucial part of the Act is the provision of specialist guardians for child victims. I know that trafficked children have gone missing from local authority care and the provision of independent guardians is designed to limit the likelihood of a child slipping back into the hands of traffickers. The provision of these experts will play a key part in safe guarding these very vulnerable children. The trauma of trafficking is clearly compounded when the victim is a child. I wanted to make sure the most vulnerable had a voice and someone who could speak for them and explain to them what support is available.

Victims of trafficking will also no longer face conviction for any but the most serious of crimes they might have committed while being exploited. Many people who have suffered the ignominy of being trapped in slavery have been made to commit crimes against their will. In order to ensure they are not unfairly criminalised it was crucial to provide this additional protection. To complement this tough penalties are now included in the Act to make sure those guilty of trafficking are properly punished. There is now a minimum sentence for those found guilty of trafficking and this is a necessary step forward in the promotion of justice. The message is simple: if you are guilty of trafficking you will face severe consequences.

On Monday 1 June Section 15 making it illegal to pay for sex will come into effect and I will be addressing fellow MLA’s and invited guests at a special event held at Stormont. This Section is sometimes seen as a controversial measure. Yet polling by Ipsos MORI for the Christian charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) revealed the vast majority of the population in Northern Ireland (78 per cent) support introducing a ban on paying for sex. The evidence also overwhelmingly suggests prostitution and trafficking are intricately linked. Reports from countries such as Norway and Sweden where paying for sex has been banned, show the effectiveness of such a measure in addressing the levels of trafficking and prostitution. It shifts the blame away from the seller and onto the buyer. By addressing this root cause of trafficking, my hope and belief is that this will make a real contribution to eradicating human trafficking here in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s new human trafficking legislation will not solve the problem by itself. Many organisations are involved, from the police to social services and there’s a real need for people to be provided with adequate training so they learn to recognise trafficking victims. I set out to help victims and provide a comprehensive piece of anti-trafficking legislation that would provide much needed relief to victims. I’m immensely pleased that my Bill received such huge support in the Assembly. My hope is it will improve the lives of those trapped in slavery and send a clear signal to those who indulge this disgusting trade that their activities will not be tolerated.

Yours faithfully, Lord Morrow Dear Madam, - It is easy to assume that the problem of slavery was dealt with years ago. When I began looking into the problem of human trafficking and the need to introduce legislation to address the issue, I was horrified by what I discovered. Far from being consigned to the dimmest reaches of history, I discovered that here in Northern Ireland, men and women, boys and girls are still being used as modern day slaves. My Bill (now the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act 2015) stems from my desire to help victims and ensure those who prey on the vulnerable in this morally indefensible way are robustly dealt with.

From the outset, the priority was to put the victim right at the heart of the legislation. Those who suffer the loss of dignity and trauma that comes with being trafficked have often undergone horrific experiences. The provision of victim support is a vital component of this legislation because it means victims are guaranteed a minimum period of at least 45 days help and assistance. This not only ensures victims are provided with a sustained period of support but also gives them the confidence to know that should they escape from trafficking, help is guaranteed.

Another crucial part of the Act is the provision of specialist guardians for child victims. I know that trafficked children have gone missing from local authority care and the provision of independent guardians is designed to limit the likelihood of a child slipping back into the hands of traffickers. The provision of these experts will play a key part in safe guarding these very vulnerable children. The trauma of trafficking is clearly compounded when the victim is a child. I wanted to make sure the most vulnerable had a voice and someone who could speak for them and explain to them what support is available.

Victims of trafficking will also no longer face conviction for any but the most serious of crimes they might have committed while being exploited. Many people who have suffered the ignominy of being trapped in slavery have been made to commit crimes against their will. In order to ensure they are not unfairly criminalised it was crucial to provide this additional protection. To complement this tough penalties are now included in the Act to make sure those guilty of trafficking are properly punished. There is now a minimum sentence for those found guilty of trafficking and this is a necessary step forward in the promotion of justice. The message is simple: if you are guilty of trafficking you will face severe consequences.

On Monday 1 June Section 15 making it illegal to pay for sex will come into effect and I will be addressing fellow MLA’s and invited guests at a special event held at Stormont. This Section is sometimes seen as a controversial measure. Yet polling by Ipsos MORI for the Christian charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) revealed the vast majority of the population in Northern Ireland (78 per cent) support introducing a ban on paying for sex. The evidence also overwhelmingly suggests prostitution and trafficking are intricately linked. Reports from countries such as Norway and Sweden where paying for sex has been banned, show the effectiveness of such a measure in addressing the levels of trafficking and prostitution. It shifts the blame away from the seller and onto the buyer. By addressing this root cause of trafficking, my hope and belief is that this will make a real contribution to eradicating human trafficking here in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s new human trafficking legislation will not solve the problem by itself. Many organisations are involved, from the police to social services and there’s a real need for people to be provided with adequate training so they learn to recognise trafficking victims. I set out to help victims and provide a comprehensive piece of anti-trafficking legislation that would provide much needed relief to victims. I’m immensely pleased that my Bill received such huge support in the Assembly. My hope is it will improve the lives of those trapped in slavery and send a clear signal to those who indulge this disgusting trade that their activities will not be tolerated.

Yours faithfully, Lord Morrow