Issues for today

In addition to reflecting on this country’s diverse past, 2007 is also a chance to make a collective commitment that in another 200 hundred year’s time, no-one should feel the need to express regret on our behalf for our actions today.

 

 

There are clear links between the concerns for justice that were present 200 years ago, and our ongoing concerns to tackle present-day discrimination in Britain and forms of slavery - such as people trafficking, recruitment of child soldiers and bonded labour -  which persist in many parts of the world.  Although many Black and Minority Ethnic communities are thriving in Britain today, inequalities in terms of racism and discrimination, social exclusion and lack of opportunities, still exist.  Poverty and inequality in the African continent, the Caribbean and elsewhere continue to make people vulnerable to slavery and exploitation.  There is a strong connection to building respect running through these themes: our ability to respect each other as Britons stems largely from the respect we have for each other and our own related histories.

 

 

We are committed to ensuring that every individual, whatever their racial or ethnic origin is able to fulfil their potential through the enjoyment of equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities.  The United Kingdom was for example one of the first countries to introduce legislation against race discrimination and we now have one of the most progressive systems in the world.  However legislation shouldn’t (and hasn’t been), the only way in which to tackle injustice and discrimination.

 

 

‘Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society’ is the Government’s three year strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion.  It brings together practical measures across Government to improve opportunities for all in Britain – helping to ensure that persons’ ethnicity or race is not a barrier to their success.  It signals the Government’s intention to give greater emphasis to the importance of helping people from different backgrounds come together, supporting people who contribute to society and taking a stand against racists and extremists.

 

 

Children are particularly vulnerable to abuses of their human rights  The Government are very concerned by the continued recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, as front-line soldiers , as well as in support roles (e.g. porters, cooks, slaves/’wives’).  Britain is very active within UN bodies in supporting international efforts to end the practice of using children in conflict situations. Through the Department for International Development (DFID), the Government provides direct support to UN agencies and Non-Government Organisations tackling this problem, including £750,000 for UNICEF programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate children and £500,000 for its programme in Sudan.

 

 

Education is a fundamental step to empower people to escape poverty and exploitation.  The UK has made a commitment to spend over £8.5 billion to support Education for All over the next 10 years.  DFID’s Global School Partnership promotes links between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America with funding of £7.5 million over three years.

 

 

Debt bondage or bonded labour is the most common form of contemporary slavery. Poor, landless workers become indebted to landlords or employers for loans taken out to meet basic survival needs. 

 

The whole family may be required to work, debts pass from parents to children and the debt may be sold from one employer to another. A striking feature of debt bondage is its relationship with social exclusion and caste discrimination . The UK development programme is addressing these issues. For example in India DFID is providing £27 million over nine years to the Poor Area Civil Society Programme which provides funding to civil society organisations in the 100 poorest districts. This programme is addressing discrimination and exploitation of people from tribal groups, Dalits (members of the lower castes) and children. In Nepal the Government are supporting  the national Poverty Reduction Strategy which includes measures to address issues of discrimination on the basis of caste, ethnicity and gender.

 

 

 

The Government is already doing a great deal to tackle human trafficking and has a comprehensive and multi faceted approach that includes legislation, international co- operation, enforcement and support for victims of the trade.

A new UK Human Trafficking Centre was established on the 3rd October 2006 which will carry on the successful work of Pentameter (a UK wide police operation which aimed to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation) and the intention is that it will support, develop, co-ordinate and deliver the UK policing response to trafficking in human beings. The aim of the centre is also to provide a step-change in delivery of the victim-centred human rights approach.

The Government are currently developing proposals for a UK Action Plan on Human Trafficking which will give us an end to end strategy to combat all forms of human trafficking, a modern form of slavery.  The Government plan to launch the action plan in the next few months.