Thread by @stand_for_all

Thread: Conflicts are one of the main drivers of child trafficking. For years the UK government has conflated "trafficking", which can lead to long-term exploitation and "smuggling", which is predominantly transactional. 1/
bbc.co.uk/news/world-eur…

If the Government rejects amendments made by the House of Lords, the #nationalityandbordersbill will make it harder for trafficking survivors to come forward, by placing time limits on how long they have to present evidence and reveal the level of trauma they've been through. 2/

As the #Ukraine️ war continues we will see the tragic and inevitable rise of trafficking in the area, particularly with children. As it stands the UK government's proposed legislation would see them risk being treated as adults, disbelieved, and criminalised. 3/

The failure of the government to waive visas and ensure refugees can reach the UK safely risks forcing people to use smugglers. The deliberate attempt to deny survivors the ability to seek help WILL, however, embolden traffickers who prey on and exploit the most vulnerable. 4/

As reports saying that "every eighth child in Moldova is a refugee" highlight the scale of the situation, it is essential authorities watch out for signs of trafficking, do not conflate it with smuggling, and do absolutely everything to protect and believe survivors. 5/ #r4today

I highly recommend following my awesome colleagues at @Love146UK for more information about child trafficking, causes and what can be done to help tackle it, by the way. They work on the ground with survivors. 6/

https://twitter.com/Love146UK/status/1502552102824030210?t=QftxWJPGAKB8FgzcMTMRqw&s=19