UNICEF Criticism on Child Trafficking in the UK

UNICEF, along with a national network of children rights advocates, released a report this week on child slavery in the UK. According to BBC News, UNICEF is concerned about the number of children that are being trafficked into the UK from South-Eastern Europe, and are urging the government to step up its efforts to end it. The report noted a need for more thorough border checks and specialized training to help border patrols identify trafficked children.

Additional changes that UNICEF officials are lobbying for are counseling and rehabilitation services for trafficked children once they are identified. Under the current system the children are either sent to detention centers or placed in the foster care system, often exposing them to further neglect or abuse.