Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy 2025: equality impact assessment

Background

Section 35 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare a trafficking and exploitation strategy.

Scotland’s first Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy was published in 2017^[3]. Section 36 of the 2015 Act sets out that a Strategy prepared under section 35 must be reviewed within a period of 3 years and the most recent review^[4] found strong support for the development of a refreshed strategy.

The National Referral Mechanism is the UK-wide framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. While challenging to fully detect, reports of potential human trafficking relating to Scotland (as submitted to the National Referral Mechanism) have increased over the lifetime of the previous Strategy. This increase in part reflects a greater awareness of human trafficking across Scotland and underpins a clear need for a revised Strategy given the changing nature of the data reported by the National Referral Mechanism.

The purpose of the Strategy is to prevent trafficking and exploitation of adults and children by providing a clear framework, informed by survivor voices and data, through which our anti-trafficking interventions will be delivered.

The Strategy has four long-term outcomes set out below:

• Child and adult victims are identified, protected and supported to safety and long-term recovery;
• Perpetrators are identified, their activities are disrupted, and they are prosecuted;
• Improved use of data, evidence and research informs strategy implementation; and
• Conditions that expose children, adults and communities in Scotland to increased risks of trafficking and re-trafficking are addressed.

It contributes to the following national outcomes:

• We respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination.
• We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe.
• We grow up loved, safe and respected so that we realise our full potential.

The Strategy will affect victims and potential victims of trafficking and exploitation, both adults and children. This includes people who are targeted for and have experienced forms of criminal, sexual and labour exploitation, domestic servitude or other forms of exploitation. It will also affect various organisations that provide support to victims of trafficking and law enforcement who investigate and prosecute offenders.

The framework provided by the Strategy will also impact those bodies and organisations who carry out preventative work. While these activities may not always be directly related to human trafficking, organisations and their staff who support vulnerable members of society will be relevant. Organisations may also be involved in providing data, evidence and information relevant to trafficking and exploitation.