Consultation on proposal for a Human Trafficking (Scotland) Bill

Date: 8th December 2013
Category: General measures of implementation

Scottish Labour's Jenny Marra MSP lodged a consultation on a proposal for new anti-human trafficking legislation for Scotland on 9th September 2013 and the deadline for responses has been extended to 6th January 2014.

The consultation proposes a raft of measures to improve Scotland's anti-trafficking response, based on EU law that came in to force in April this year and recommendations of the EHRC's Inquiry into Human Trafficking in Scotland.

The proposed legislation will define the crime of human trafficking in Scots law for the first time by enshrining the international gold standard definition, the UN's 'Palermo Protocol' into law. It will help stop the criminalisation of victims of trafficking by making it illegal to punish those who have been forced to commit crime as a result of their trafficking. Furthermore, it proposes a new Survivors Service for victims of human trafficking, underpinned by a minimum set of standards for victims of human trafficking for the first time.

The legislation will also compel the Scottish Government to publish an anti-trafficking strategy to be agreed by parliament every three years, which will outline how the Government is working with the police, crown office, private sector and others to stamp out human trafficking in Scotland.

You are invited to respond to this consultation by answering the questions in the document and by adding any other comments that you consider appropriate.

Responses should be submitted by Monday 6th January 2014 and sent to:

Jenny Marra MSP, Room MG.14, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP