STOP. ENEWS
We aim to bring to light the existence of trafficking in our city. Too many believe that trafficking happens in the poorer countries around Hong Kong and not in the city itself. We want to help the public, non-governmental organizations, corporations and government bodies to better understand how trafficking happens here in Hong Kong.
Our team sends out eNews at the end of every month – we put together published news relating to trafficking around the world, with a heavy emphasis on Hong Kong-related news.
29 September 2018
/in News /by Danielle ChanHighlight of the Month
Hong Kong
UN committee against racial discrimination presses Hong Kong for proof of claim city does not have ‘serious problem’
Date: 1 September 2018
Source: South China Morning Post
The UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its its latest Concluding Observations on 30 August and expressed concern that Hong Kong does not have a comprehensive law criminalising all forms of human trafficking.
Access the article here.
Read the response of the HK Government here.
Asia
Indonesian police probe scam that lured women to China
Date: 21 September 2018
Source: Asia Times
Indonesian police are hunting further suspects behind a human trafficking ring that reportedly smuggled at least 12 women and girls into China, a police spokesperson said on Thursday.
Access the article here.
Human-trafficking survivor and UN adviser Rani Hong changed US law – now she wants to end modern slavery
Date: 8 September 2018
Source: South China Morning Post
“Both my husband and I know the pain of being a trafficking victim. We don’t want another child to go through what we went through, which is why today we speak for those without a voice,” said Rani Hong, an Indian-born human rights advocate and a trafficking survivor who changed the US law to criminalize traffickers.
Access the article here.
Global
Female trafficking victims unlawfully held in UK jails due to ‘disturbing’ failure to identify exploitation, finds report
Date: 16 September 2018
Source: The Independent
Female victims of human trafficking are being routinely held in prison in breach of the law because the UK government fails to identify exploitation and prevent prosecution for offences victims were compelled to commit.
Access the article here.
Sudan police save 85 minors from trafficking network
Date: 10 September 2018
Source: Free Malaysia Today
Police in Sudan have rescued nearly 100 people while 85 of them are minors after breaking up a human trafficking network in the northeast African country last month, Interpol said Monday.
Access the article here.
Europe struggling to ‘catch’ bad bosses who enslave migrant workers
Date: 5 September 2018
Source: Reuters
European nations are struggling to stop migrant workers being abused and treated like modern-day slaves, as exploitative bosses in sectors from construction to farming dupe labor inspectors.
Access the article here.
Resources
PRESS RELEASE: Workshop on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2018 commences
Date: 10 September 2018
Source: HKSAR Government
HK Government partnered with the EU Office to HK and Macao in a 2-day Workshop on Preventing and Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2018 which covers a wide-range of useful topics critical in combating trafficking in persons, including recent trends in TIP crimes, identification of victims, criminal and financial investigation etc.
Access the press release here.
OPINION: Ending modern slavery in business is possible. Here’s how
Date: 5 September 2018
Source: South China Morning Post
At a recent board meeting, one of our directors listed the reasons that business should be concerned with modern slavery. These included new legislation related to modern slavery, more stringent government procurement practices, an increasing number of lawsuits against corporations, and greater media and consumer attention.
Access the article here.
OPINION: Why Hong Kong’s reputation as a human trafficking black spot is justified
Date: 4 September 2018
Source: South China Morning Post
HK Government’s refusal to acknowledge the problem does not change the fact that it devotes far fewer resources to tackling the scourge than even NGOs, and consequently lags behind other jurisdictions in enforcement.
Access the article here.