Human Rights Measure

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic “intensified” the work of the Modern Slavery Unit of the Home Office, steps were taken “to ensure that victims continue to have access to essential support.” Towards this end, efforts that were undertaken included the following: “grant funding [was] allocated by the Home Office through the Police Transformation Fund . . . with the aim of building capability in the police response to modern slavery across England and Wales;” “[t]o help ensure vulnerable children, including child victims of trafficking, received appropriate support and protection during the pandemic in Scotland the Scottish Government published the COVID-19 National Child Protection Guidance;” “significant progress” was made “to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic” including by ”ensuring that victims of modern slavery are protected and those exploiting the vulnerable are brought to justice;” and funding was provided to the “Independent Child Trafficking Guardian (ICTG) service, which provides an independent source of support and advice for trafficked children” so that they could change their practices to “continue to support child victims of modern slavery remotely.”