EMBRACE would like to thank all who have made donations to the Emergency Fund following the racist attacks on Roma people in S Belfast in June 2009.

In the past this fund has been used to support a variety of needs where there was no recourse to public funds. These have included providing short-term hostel accommodation and flights home for destitute migrant workers, and food and accommodation for people seeking asylum. In every case there was no recourse to public funds and support was given through partner organisations.

During the crisis in June the Emergency Fund served as a channel of support for the Roma people. Much of the finance required to provide shelter and fund the return of those Roma who chose to go back to Romania, was given through the local Housing Executive, however further much needed support came from churches, church groups and individuals. We are grateful to all who have made it possible for us to help by donating to the Emergency Fund. The Fund continues to support Roma people where there is need and no other means of funding. At present we are assisting school pupils with provision of bus passes and uniforms.

If you would like to help, please download, complete and return the donation form here [PDF].

‘Trafficking involves transporting people away from the communities in which they live and forcing them to work against their will using violence, deception, or coercion. When children are trafficked, no violence, deception or coercion needs to be involved: simply transporting them into exploitative conditions constitutes trafficking. People are trafficked both between countries and within the borders of a state.’

Definition by Anti-Slavery
Read in full

‘Smuggling’ or ‘trafficking’ both usually involve crossing international borders in an unauthorised way. The difference is that people who are smuggled are assumed to have given their consent, and people who are trafficked are moved against their will. Those who are controlled by others in their own country are also trafficked people. 

Families and individuals may have to move because of poverty or fear, and for some travelling with legal documents is just not an option. Others may travel legally, thinking that they are going to proper jobs in a new country, only to find they are in the power of gangsters, or have been deceived about the work or remuneration. Often, in either trafficking or smuggling, people end up with a large financial debts, owed to the people who smuggled or trafficked them. There can also be subtle ways in which they are ’bound’ to the people or gangs back home, who arranged their transport and employment. To assert one’s rights would seem to be breaking a debt of honour, and family at home may be at physical risk.

Stricter border controls and entry requirements create an underground economy where money is made in providing fraudulent documents, help with transport, guided border crossings, and the facilitation of jobs and accommodation.

The difficulty in getting successful prosecutions has led to suspected traffickers being charged with other offences such as failure to pay tax or living off immoral earnings.

It is often assumed that people trafficking only refers to the movement of women for sexual exploitation but the economic exploitation of people is also common - a modern form of slavery, which is rarely prosecuted. The arrival of unaccompanied minors is another increasing cause for concern. Children may end up in domestic or sexual servitude, or be used to facilitate benefit fraud.

For a discussion of the definitions, read the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime paper, Distinguishing between Human trafficking and People Smuggling [pdf]