本月焦點
活動預告：STOP簡介會
勞動剝削同人口販運問題每日都喺我哋嘅城市發生，而STOP亦非常重視呢個議題。我哋八月舉辦咗第一場STOP簡介會，一共有26位義工參加。除咗更多了解香港嘅情況外，佢哋仲一齊集思廣益，諗吓喺個人層面可以點樣打擊人口販運。
如果你錯過咗今次嘅機會，唔緊要！我哋九月會再次舉辦簡介會。如果你同我哋一樣都有打擊人口販運同終止現代奴役嘅使命，歡迎你參加，了解點樣一齊防止網絡性販運同勞工剝削。
日期：9月20日（星期一）
時間：晚上7時至8時30分
地點：希望枝子（灣仔）
* 簡介會將以英語進行
香港
疫情下的外傭姐姐 撐起國家經濟生命
日期：2021年8月2日 ｜來源：香港01
疫情重創多國經濟，發展中的東南亞所受衝擊更甚，許多在港菲傭肩負着供養家庭的責任，成為了國內失業親人、甚至國家的經濟生命線。這負擔又把許多外傭推向債務陷阱，疫情前已經存在的個人經濟問題進一步惡化，儲夠錢回家的日子，似乎更加遙遠。
+ 全文
亞洲
遠洋漁業的漏洞，權宜船是什麼？為什麼成為強迫勞動的卸責工具？
日期：2021年7月30日 ｜來源：綠色和平
工時過長，被苛扣工資，漁工為了賺取家計，好幾個月待在遠洋工作，卻遭到船長等人暴力對待，這樣的悲劇屢見不鮮，卻常因為漁船是「權宜船」而疏於規管，漁工求助無門。您能想像在現今的文明社會，仍然有奴役般的強迫勞動行為嗎？在您我難以看見的遠洋上，漁工身陷險境，甚至可能回不了家。權宜船是什麼？為什麼可能成為遠洋漁業躲避規範的漏洞？
+ 全文
中國大陸快時尚網站Shein掀旋風 卻未依法揭勞動條件
日期：2021年8月6日 ｜來源：聯合新聞網
路透社報導，業績在全球成長飛快的中國快時尚零售網站Shein，儘管在官網的「社會責任」網頁陳述，「從未，也絕不會」涉及童工或強迫勞動，卻未依英國法律公開揭露供應鏈的勞動條件，且直到最近還在官網謊稱供貨工廠的勞動條件皆獲國際勞動標準組織認證。
+ 全文
塔利班擬獎勵名單 12至45歲女性淪「戰利品」
日期：2021年8月17日 ｜來源：TVBS新聞網
激進組織塔利班攻佔阿富汗首都喀布爾，導致總統加尼（Ashraf Ghani）逃亡海外，政府垮台。阿富汗政權一夕轉變，當地民眾人心惶惶，尤其婦女們更是人人自危。根據外媒《france24》報導，塔利班目前正在調查12至45歲的未婚或喪偶女子，把她們當作「戰利品」強制與婚配給塔利班戰士。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：塔利班佔據首都10天後，來自阿富汗現場的聲音
河北代孕母涉售未滿月嬰予醫療公司被捕 嬰兒人體實驗傳聞不脛而走
日期：2021年8月25日 ｜來源：自由亞洲電台
河北警方本月14日抓捕一名22歲女子，她涉嫌代孕，並將誕下仍未滿月的嬰兒以7萬元賣給山東一家醫療科技公司。事件引起轟動，外界質疑事件涉嬰兒人體實驗，但當局隨後屏蔽官方通報，而涉事的兩地警方均對案情三緘其口。本台記者檢索檔案資料發現，兒童買賣在中國是常態，此前亦多次出現父母販賣親生孩子的案例。社會工作者一直懷疑很多失蹤的孩子遭到殺害，或被用於非法醫療，比如器官買賣，但中國官方對此一直拒絕正面回應。
+ 全文
國際
防堵兒童色情！蘋果下一代作業系統：抓到兒童色情照，馬上鎖帳號報警
日期：2021年8月6日 ｜來源：風傳媒
美國蘋果公司5日宣佈，為了有效防制兒童性剝削，旗下產品最新一代作業系統將加入新功能，運用密碼學和AI技術來偵測並舉報任何兒童色情影像的傳播，經舉報的用戶iCloud帳號將被停用。消息一出，蘋果立刻贏得許多兒童權益人士的讚賞。美國國家兒童失蹤與受虐兒童援助中心主席克拉克說：「有這麼多人在使用蘋果的產品，這項新措施有保護兒童的潛力。」
+ 全文
辛巴威14歲女孩難產身亡，當地使徒教會施壓家屬，聯合國強烈譴責童婚悲劇
日期：2021年8月9日 ｜來源：關鍵評論
儘管《辛巴威憲法》中將最低結婚年齡訂為18歲，童婚案件仍層出不窮。據《自由時報》報導，辛巴威14歲女童瑪查雅，13歲即被迫輟學並結婚。7月15日，更在馬蘭吉的一間教堂內生產，不幸難產死亡。人權觀察非洲南部主任馬文嘉表示，瑪查雅的家屬想為瑪查雅伸張正義，但當地使徒教會一直向他們施壓，要求他們不得聲張瑪查雅之死。教會甚至計畫安排另一位9歲女童給瑪查雅的「丈夫」，作為瑪查雅的「替代品」。
+ 全文
德州將成首個將嫖娼定為重罪的州 專家稱可能起反作用
日期：2021年8月13日 ｜來源：休斯頓華人資訊網
據NBC新聞報導，德州將成為美國首個將「嫖娼」定為重罪的州分，將刑責從性工作者身上轉移，以打擊嫖客。一些專家說，這項法律反映了新一輪的系統性改革，可以通過遏制需求來幫助被販運的性工作者，但另一些專家表示，它沒有擊中要害，反而會進一步將受害者與法律系統捆綁在一起，並將對性販賣產生相反的效果。
+ 全文（簡）
評論及資源
[專題] OnlyFans禁黃風波｜金融之手何以頻頻扼住色情平台咽喉？
日期：2021年8月29日 ｜來源：香港01
近年，在女權主義者和宗教保守團體這平日水火不相容的群體合力下，能扼住色情平台咽喉的金融機構及科技巨頭開始不斷發力，打擊行業內氾濫的兒童色情、偷拍和強姦影片、以及性剝削現象。雖然兩派最終目的不同，但他們瞄準了同一個目標，所形成的合力便推動了各類企業採取更主動的措施。在當今講究「企業責任感」以及「取消文化」盛行的情況下，各色企業無法「在商言商」，需要更多地承擔起社會責任，而這類「左右合力」的議題就成了企業當仁不讓的選擇。不過，在民眾大多為金融機構發揮社會責任感、逼迫Pornhub整改叫好時，各大銀行對OnlyFans的絞殺，則讓大眾不由得思考商界自發規管色情平台的界限究竟在哪。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：被Pornhub毁掉的孩子
STOP. 中文電子報每月出版，旨在向本港打擊販運人口的社區提供最新的新聞和資源。如你有反人口販運的資訊想透過本報發放，請聯絡 NEWS@STOPHK.ORG。本電子報內容並不反映 STOP. 的立場，謝謝您對本組織的支持。STOP. 是 希望枝子有限公司 (BRANCHES OF HOPE) 其中一個項目，旨在對抗人口販運。本組織與其他名稱類同的反人口販運組織並無關連。
THIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY STOP TRAFFICKING OF PEOPLE (STOP), PROVIDING YOU WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FOR DAILY UPDATES, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
A fruitful July
World Day Against Trafficking In Persons is observed every year on 30 July. In anticipation of World Day and to raise awareness on the issue, a charity bazaar and information booth were held at the Vine Church on 25 July. A huge thank you to all who came by on the day for their time, support and generosity; and to our partners Barefoot Love Collective, Alabaster, and illustrator @art_sweetandsour for their help in making this a success.
We also had the pleasure of attending Lonely Paisely‘s Humanity Chat Workshop and IJM Student Board‘s Anti-Trafficking Virtual Summit as an invited speaker this month. It is truly a morale booster and inspiration to meet and share our work experiences with like-minded people who are passionate about justice and human rights. Together we are stronger!
Upcoming event: STOP Info Session
If you wish to learn more about Hong Kong’s modern slavery problem, what STOP is doing to fight it and how to get involved, then our upcoming STOP Info Session in August is not to be missed. Especially, we will talk about STOP’s new cybersex trafficking prevention education project, which needs volunteers. Whether you are new to the topic of human trafficking or already knowledgeable, you are welcome to join!
Date: 15 August 2021 (Sunday)
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Venue: Mini Hall, 1/F, The Vine Centre (29 Burrows Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
*The session will be held in English.+ Register here.
HONG KONG
Hong Kong placed on ‘tier two watch list’ in US human trafficking report
Date: 2 July 2021 | Source: RTHK
Washington had placed Hong Kong on its ‘tier two watch list’ for the second year in a row in the most recent TIP Report – meaning that the SAR does not “fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so”.
Access the article here.
Read STOP’s recommendations here.
ASIA
Bangladesh factory fire: Owner arrested after blaze kills 52
Date: 10 July 2021 | Source: BBC
Police in Bangladesh have arrested the owner of a factory where at least 52 people died in a fire late on 10 July. Authorities said many of those who died were trapped inside the building because a main exit was locked. Children were among the victims and a separate inquiry into the use of child labour has been launched.
Access the article here.
Under Philippine law, 12-year-olds can consent to sex. Activists are trying to change that
Date: 13 July 2021 | Source: CNN
Victims’ advocates argue the low age of consent contributes to what international rights organizations have described as high levels of sex trafficking and teenage pregnancy in the Philippines, compounded by gaps in the enforcement of existing laws. At just 12 years old, it’s the youngest age of consent in Asia — and one of the youngest in the world.
Access the article here.
More hours, less money: Garment workers hit by COVID-19 rights rollback
Date: 14 July 2021 | Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News
Sacked from his job at a Pakistani garment factory in the early days of the pandemic, Abdul Wasid was rehired three months later – for lower pay and longer hours. He now has to borrow money to make ends meet. Wasid’s experience reflects a rollback on labour rights in the global garment industry due to COVID-19, according to two new reports by labour advocacy groups.
Access the article here.
GLOBAL
‘I want them to feel human again’: the woman who escaped slavery in the UK – and fights to free others
Date: 30 June 2021 | Source: The Guardian
Domestic servitude is one of the most prevalent forms of modern slavery in the UK and largely affects foreign domestic workers. “The places we go in London, the streets are full of expensive cars and the houses cost millions of pounds, but inside there are women being treated like slaves and nobody knows,” says Guevarra, one of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association’s most active members.
Access the article here.
Read more: More than 1,000 modern slavery victims in the UK helped to access bank accounts
In Spain’s strawberry fields, migrant women face sexual abuse
Date: 10 July 2021 | Source: Aljazeera
Al Jazeera, in collaboration with the Danish investigative media outlet Danwatch, interviewed 16 female farm workers, all of whom had contracts with the seven largest red fruit producers who sell to well-known supermarkets in the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Most workers recounted daily humiliations, such as penalties for taking toilet breaks, union busting and little or no protection against COVID-19. Several reported sexual harassment and being blackmailed for sex.
Access the article here.
Read more: Experts tackle modern slavery in Greek strawberry fields using satellite technology and new risk model
Congo’s children dodge gangs to sell sex drugs on Kinshasa streets
Date: 14 July 2021 | Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News
Congolese teen Candy has learned the rules of the streets since he started selling aphrodisiacs and illegal opiate-based cigarettes to drinkers in the gang-plagued capital Kinshasa. Candy is among thousands of Congolese children estimated by Florence Boloko, a senior official at the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, to have entered the workforce since the new coronavirus closed schools, markets and businesses last year.
Access the article here.
Welcome to Brazil? Venezuelan workers exploited under aid program
Date: 20 July 2021 | Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News
A Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation analyzed six cases where complaints were raised about or probes were launched into suspected exploitation or slave labor involving Venezuelans hired by companies via Operation Welcome’s resettlement program. Interviews with various officials, workers’ testimonies, and exclusively obtained data and documents reveal how the program is routinely failing to vet hiring businesses, coordinate with local authorities, or monitor the welfare of the Venezuelans.
Access the article here.
RESOURCES
[Report] New UN report reveals impact of COVID on human trafficking
Date: 8 July 2021 | Source:UN News
A new study released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) illustrates the devastating impact of COVID-19 on victims and survivors of human trafficking and highlights the increased targeting and exploitation of children during the course of the pandemic. The study further assesses how frontline organizations responded to the challenges posed and continued to deliver essential services, despite restrictions across and within national borders.
Access the article here.
Read the report here.
[Report] Young members of ethnic minority groups most at risk in Vietnam-China human trafficking trade: report
Date: 8 July 2021 | Source: South China Morning Post
The study by the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a Hanoi-based non-profit that rescues and defends victims of human trafficking, found that groups such as the H’mong and Thai were vulnerable to being caught up in the illicit trade. Between 2012 and 2020, more than 60 per cent of victims and prosecuted traffickers were from these communities, and most of the latter had no prior criminal record.
Access the article here.
Read the report here.
[Opinion] Why we must tackle the scourge of child labour
Date: 15 July 2021 | Source: Financial Times
No parent wants to send their child to work rather than school. To address the scourge of child labour, we must recognise the root causes: the lack of workers rights, lax enforcement, and the lack of family-sustaining wages for parents. Stronger protection for workers create stronger societies and social and economic structures for children. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations is advocating for a global social protection fund that would create a floor for working conditions, and universal social protection for workers and their families.
Access the article here.
STOP ENEWS, PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH, AIMS TO PROVIDE CURRENT NEWS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES TO THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG. IF YOU HAVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING RELATED ACTIVITIES OR RESOURCES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THROUGH OUR ENEWS NETWORK, SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO NEWS@STOPHK.ORG. INCLUSION OF CONTENT IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF OUR ORGANISATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.STOP IS AN INITIATIVE OF BRANCHES OF HOPE BASED IN HONG KONG. IT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANISATION OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR NAME.
本月焦點
七月回顧
為響應7月30日「世界反人口販運日」，STOP 本月25日聯同合作夥伴 Barefoot Love Collective 及 Alabaster，於 葡萄藤教會 舉辦了一場慈善義賣，衷心感謝大家嘅慷慨支持，亦感激插畫家 @art_sweetandsour 為我哋設計教育明信片。
另外，我哋有幸獲邀參與 Lonely Paisely 嘅《人文自修室》工作坊及 國際公義使命團學生會 (IJM Student Board) 嘅《反人口販運線上峰會》 (Anti-Trafficking Virtual Summit)，分享STOP喺香港處理人口販運個案嘅經驗。好開心有機會同各位志同道合嘅朋友一齊探討社會大眾可如何參與遏止現代奴役、解決人口販運問題。Together we are stronger! 😊
活動預告：STOP 資訊日
想了解更多有關香港人口販運問題、STOP嘅工作以及我哋嘅義工機會，就唔好錯過下月嘅STOP 資訊日啦！活動將以英語進行，當日我哋亦會簡介STOP 正在籌畫嘅預防網絡性販運性教育項目。不論你有無接觸過人口販運議題，都歡迎參加！
日期：8月15日（禮拜日）
時間：16:30-18:00
地點：香港灣仔巴路士街29號 葡萄藤教會1樓 Mini Hall
香港
美報告批新疆政府是人口販賣者 香港列第二級別監察名單
日期：2021年7月2日 ｜來源：自由亞洲電台
美國國務院1日發表2021年《美國販運人口報告》，連續第2年將香港評為第二級別監察名單，指未能達到消除人口販賣的最低標準。報告指，香港涉及的人口販運問題包括罪犯以虛假承諾，欺騙中國、菲律賓、南美等地區的受害人賣淫，及利用債務逼使外傭在香港家庭工作等。香港未有全面制定人口販運的刑事法律，未能達到消除人口販賣的最低標準，執法力度下降。
+ 全文
+ 了解更多：STOP的建議
受虐普遍待遇不佳 外傭不應成現代奴隸
日期：2021年7月2日 ｜來源：香港01
近日香港發現多宗外傭懷疑被虐待事件。先是菲律賓女傭Eden舉報被虐打，後有印尼女傭Ina控訴被男僱主用釣魚工具襲擊受傷，早前亞洲移居人士聯盟召開記者會，再有三名外傭控訴被僱主施虐。比起這些已經揭發的虐待事件，更加結構性問題的是相關數據至今缺乏。在過去幾年，當被問及外傭被虐個案的舉報數據時，勞工處、警方及入境處皆回應稱沒有備存相關統計數字。
+ 全文
亞洲
孟加拉勞工部稱調查食品廠大火原因及廠內童工問題
日期：2021年7月10日 ｜來源：香港電台
孟加拉造成多人死傷的工廠大火，最少52人喪生，幾十人受傷，超過40人失蹤。當地傳媒報道，廠內大部分工人都是10至20歲的廉價勞工，而事故初步報告顯示，廠內主要消防通道被鎖上，起火後工人被困在建築物內，未能及時逃生。勞工部說會成立委員會，調查事故原因及廠內童工問題，又向遇難者及傷者家屬提供援助金。
+ 全文
苦尋24年《失孤》原型父子重聚 靠DNA對比跨省尋親 兩拐童疑犯落網
日期：2021年7月14日 ｜來源：明報
公安部13日證實，由明星劉德華主演的電影《失孤》為原型的郭剛堂，已與失散20多年的兒子郭新振團聚。公安部稱，該案是「團圓」行動的項目，利用DNA信息對比技術，在上月確認郭新振身分。當局根據線索抓獲當年拐賣郭新振的兩名疑犯，二人當時為情侶，在山東旅遊期間為圖財犯案。
+ 全文
國際
法查4跨國時裝企業 涉瞞中國新疆反人類罪
日期：2021年7月3日 ｜來源：明報
4月初，兩個非政府組織投訴跨國企業隱瞞中國在新疆的反人類罪行、並從維吾爾族穆斯林強迫勞動中獲利。路透社1日引述消息人士報道，法國反恐檢察部門接到投訴後，已經對4間跨國大型時裝零售商展開調查，包括日本連鎖服裝零售店Uniqlo法國分公司、西班牙連鎖服裝零售店Zara母公司Inditex、法國中高檔服飾零售商集團SMCP及美國鞋類品牌SKECHERS。
+ 全文
澳洲聯邦政府擬推新法嚴懲剝削工人
日期：2021年7月26日 ｜來源：SBS中文
聯邦政府提出制訂一系列措施打擊剝削移民工人的行為，包括將僱主強迫工人從事違反簽證條件工作的行為列為刑事罪行。聯邦移民部長霍克表示，建議中的新法案向僱主傳遞強烈的訊息，指出工資盜竊及其他剝削行為是不可接受的，亦是不可容忍。 他說：「我們知道大部份澳洲企業及僱主都作出正確的事，但仍有一小撮不擇手段的僱主，想盡辦法剝削移民工人。」
+ 全文
評論及資源
[報告] 聯合國新報告揭示新冠大流行對人口販運的影響
日期：2021年7月8日 ｜來源：聯合國新聞
聯合國毒品和犯罪問題辦公室8日發布的一項研究揭示了2019冠狀病毒病大流行對人口販運受害者和倖存者的災難性影響，並進一步評估了前沿組織在存在境內和跨越國界的行動限制的情況下，如何應對挑戰並繼續提供基本服務。人口販運和移民走私問題專家伊利亞斯·查齊斯指出，危機時期犯罪猖獗，人販子迅速適應了“新常態”，侵害和剝削兒童現像有增無減，我們也需要製定戰略，在國家和國際層面繼續打擊人口販運活動。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀報告（英）
[書評] 杜絕網路性剝削與熟人凌辱，別讓孤立毀滅彼此／《您已登入 N 號房》書評
日期：2021年7月12日 ｜來源：Right Plus 多多益善
南韓 N 號房事件至今已過 2 年。在新聞熱度消散的此刻，潛藏於網路的加害者並未消聲匿跡；躲在黑暗中的受害者仍每日每夜獨自承受恐懼。本文為《您已登入 N 號房：韓國史上最大宗數位性暴力犯罪吹哨者「追蹤團火花」直擊實錄》書評，Right Plus 總編葉靜倫以不同視角切入網路性犯罪案件，包括受害者日常生活中的孤立無援，信任、安全感崩解的痛苦；以及，作為事件調查、蒐證者的「火與煓」，原來最初是以一股憤怒的力量，對抗集體的麻木不仁、對抗慣以「客觀」為原則，實則「袖手旁觀」的媒體氛圍。
+ 全文
[電影] 伊朗名導揭露社會困境 關注1.5億兒童受教權
日期：2021年7月23日 ｜來源：自由時報
伊朗名導馬吉德馬吉迪擅長透過孩童視角，揭露伊朗社會的種種困境；他看到目前全球約有1.5億的孩子們，為了維持生計不得不放棄受教機會，於是籌拍新片《淘寶少年》，試圖喚起觀眾對於兒童受教權的關注。該片靈感源於德黑蘭的童工學校，描述12歲的少年阿里家境貧苦，只好在街頭偷拐搶騙，賺取微薄收入養活家人，而主要角色由毫無演出經驗的孩子參與，以自然演技打動觀眾。
+ 全文
STOP. 中文電子報每月出版，旨在向本港打擊販運人口的社區提供最新的新聞和資源。如你有反人口販運的資訊想透過本報發放，請聯絡 NEWS@STOPHK.ORG。本電子報內容並不反映 STOP. 的立場，謝謝您對本組織的支持。STOP. 是 希望枝子有限公司 (BRANCHES OF HOPE) 其中一個項目，旨在對抗人口販運。本組織與其他名稱類同的反人口販運組織並無關連。Branches of Hope eNews July 2021
THIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY STOP TRAFFICKING OF PEOPLE (STOP), PROVIDING YOU WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FOR DAILY UPDATES, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
HONG KONG
HK Unveils Another Case of Domestic Helper Abuse
Date: 11 June 2021 | Source: Standard Hong Kong
Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body received a request for help from a 37-year-old domestic helper. She was physically abused by her female employer during her 14-month contract. The helper had not reached out for help fear that she would lose her job until she took the chance to flee on May 30, filing a report at a police station. The employer was detained for a few hours for investigation and had been released on bail.
HK domestic workers faced wave of sex attacks and physical abuse during pandemic ‘lockdown’
Date: 29 June 2021 | Source: Hong Kong Free Press
One survey has revealed that reports of sexual abuse and harassment suffered by foreign domestic workers at their workplace tripled in 2020, while another found that 40,000 of such workers in Hong Kong were given zero rest days during the pandemic.
ASIA
Thai General Jailed for Trafficking Rohingya Refugees, Died in Prison
Date: 2 June 2021 | Source: SCMP
Manus Kongpan, the former Royal Thai Army lieutenant general who was jailed in 2017 for human trafficking and corruption after the discovery of Rohingya refugees in mass graves, has died in prison.
Vietnamese Being Trafficked by Chinese Nationals to Work in Cambodian Casinos
Date: 18 June 2021 | Source: SCMP
Vietnamese citizens are being lured into migrating to Cambodia, where victims will be brought to hotels and casinos in Sihanoukville and forced to work 16 hours a day. Sihanoukville has received massive Chinese investment in recent years, and its status as one of the primary destinations for labour trafficking has been consolidated by the effects of the pandemic.
GLOBAL
Dozens of Women Sue Pornhub, Alleging It Published Nonconsensual Clips
Date: 9 June 2021 | Source: NBC News
More than 30 women sued Pornhub, accusing it of violating federal sex trafficking laws, distributing non-consensual content. The suit alleges that Pornhub’s parent company, MindGeek, is a criminal enterprise that purchases, launders, and uploads illegal content often obtained through human trafficking and sexual assault.
A Group of Migrant Girls Accused Guards at Libya Detention Centre of Sexual Assault
Date: 20 June 2021 | Source: Aljazeera
A group of teenage migrant girls housed in a government-run detention centre in Libya has accused guards at the facility of sexually assaulting them. A 17-year-old Somali girl told the Associated Press she was rescued by Libyan security forces after she was captured by traffickers, who sexually abused her. Traffickers are notorious for extorting from, torturing, and assaulting migrants and refugees like her trying to reach Europe.
RESOURCES
[Report] How the Pandemic Puts Businesses at Higher Risk of Being Linked to Modern Slavery
Date: June 2021 | Source: Dow Jones Professional
The disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has created the perfect breeding ground for this issue to thrive in corporate supply chains, and many companies could be unwittingly falling foul of anti-slavery laws as a result. Dow Jones partnered with Edelman Data and Intelligence to help businesses understand how modern slavery has evolved with the pandemic, and why they need to be more vigilant to the risks.
[Report] Forced Labour at Sea: The case of Indonesian Migrant Fishers
Date: 31 May 2021 | Source: Greenpeace
Greenpeace Southeast Asia analysed complaints from Indonesian migrant fishers over 13 months (May 2019 to June 2020) to show how forced labour indicators have increased. Greenpeace says 26 firms from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Ivory Coast, and Nauru were cited in scores of forced labour complaints.
[Video] The Nth Room Case: The Making of a Monster (Documentary on Online Sex Crime in Korea)
Date: 3 June 2021 | Source: The Korea Times
This is an hour-long documentary on online sex crime cases involving blackmail, cybersex trafficking, and the spread of sexually exploitative videos via the Telegram app between 2018 and 2020 in South Korea. It will also be looking into how similar cases are being seen in other Asian countries, and how, and which social media platforms have become a central hub for criminals in Korea, China, Japan, and other parts of Asia.
[Event] Asia Region Anti-Trafficking Conference (ARAT)
The Asia Region Anti-Trafficking Conference is happening online on 19-22 July this year. It is a joint partnership from Be Slavery Free, Chab Dai Coalition, and The Freedom Story. The conference aims to:
- Develop multi-sector learning and partnerships to improve our responses to the issues of human trafficking and slavery in Asia.
- Be updated on the trends and changes in the last 3-5 years in the region and its impact for the future to establish the realities of our context
- Learn from each other the best practices in what we do in our contexts
- Identify key industries and contexts for collaborative action
Find out more at https://www.aratconference.com/.
STOP ENEWS, PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH, AIMS TO PROVIDE CURRENT NEWS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES TO THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG. IF YOU HAVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING RELATED ACTIVITIES OR RESOURCES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THROUGH OUR ENEWS NETWORK, SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO NEWS@STOPHK.ORG. INCLUSION OF CONTENT IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF OUR ORGANISATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.STOP IS AN INITIATIVE OF BRANCHES OF HOPE BASED IN HONG KONG. IT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANISATION OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR NAME.
本月焦點
性工作者、外籍勞工或外傭好多時候喺唔知情、冇選擇甚至被要脅嘅情況下觸犯咗法例，但就係怕「原告變被告」而選擇唔出聲。其中一項預防同處理人口販運及剝削個案嘅重要政策係將性工作非刑事化同埋豁免檢控 人口販運嘅受害人，從而鼓勵求助、將真正嘅罪犯繩之於法同埋增加阻嚇人口販運嘅作用。
香港
外傭疑被禁出門長達 14 個月 每周僅 2 小時休息
日期：2021年6月11日 ｜來源：立場新聞
亞洲移居人士聯盟指外傭 Eden 在 14 個月受僱期間，未曾被容許離開僱主家中，每周只有 2 小時休息。據指，僱主經常掌摑、腳踢和抓傷 Eden ，令她身體出現多處傷口及瘀傷。荃灣刑事調查隊翌日拘捕一名 35 歲女子，涉嫌襲擊致造成實際身體傷害，被捕女子已獲准保釋候查，須六月下旬向警方報到。
+ 全文
再有外傭疑被虐 釣竿鞭打 傷腳翌日始縫針 日均休息僅5小時
日期：2021年6月11日 ｜來源：晴報
再有外傭懷疑被虐。有外傭團體接獲一名印傭求助，稱被男僱主多番用腳踢及扯頭髮，更曾被釣竿鞭打、被魚勾刺傷，工作時腳部受傷亦延至翌日才可縫針，並需長期照料近百隻寵物，日均僅休息5小時。警方指上周接獲一名28歲外籍女子報案，指遭男僱主用釣魚工具襲擊致身體多處受傷，本周一拘捕1名47歲男子，涉普通襲擊罪，暫准保釋候查。
印傭控男僱主強姦 懷孕後被女僱主要求墮胎
日期：2021年6月29日 ｜來源：香港01
29歲印尼外傭Putri 2019年9月抵港，為首個僱主工作時，因為疫情流行，因而從未放假。而為第二位家住元朗的僱主工作期間，遭到了性騷擾和性侵犯。一個月後，Putri身體不適，女僱主帶她看醫生後發現她已經懷孕，當知道是自己的丈夫強姦Putri後，竟命令Putri 做終止懷孕的手術，否則會被送回印尼。4月25日，她在放假時，聯繫外勞事務中心求助，並在5月9日向屯門警署報案，案件正在調查中。
+ 全文
亞洲
印度上千孩童因新冠肺炎成為孤兒 疫情後不可忽視的人口販運
日期：2021年6月7日 ｜來源：遠見
印度疫情死亡人數急增，當地不少父母因疫情過身，孤兒數目上升；不少人呼籲收養孤兒，甚至在社交媒體上刊登那些有待領養的兒童消息。不法之徒利用此機會犯案，裝作成有意領養孩子，實則是將那些遺孤販賣。專家強調，「在新冠肺炎封鎖期間，印度的孤兒院沒有得到政府的足夠支持，加上嚴重的資源限制，使他們照顧的兒童面臨更大的風險。」
《海上強迫勞動》調查報告
日期：2021年6月23日 ｜來源：風傳媒
綠色和平公布《海上強迫勞動》調查報告，由台灣人經營管理的權宜船大旺涉及強迫勞動，而大旺已是第二次被漁工投訴。早前大旺船上印尼籍漁工疑遭受台籍幹部肢體暴力後身亡，亦曾被美國海關合理懷疑涉及強迫勞動而發出暫扣令。外籍漁工人權保障聯盟呼籲，行政院應盡快整合相關部會，提出改善措施。
N號房男童版 26歲韓男脅逼65名男童拍近7千段色情片
日期：2021年6月25日 ｜來源：香港01
2019年，韓國曾經爆發大型網絡性奴隸事件「N號房」，令全球嘩然。沒想到2年後，竟然又再發生類似事件。一名26歲的韓國男生，涉嫌在社交媒體上誘使多名未成年男童拍攝裸照，手法與「N號房」相同。目前確認的受害者就有65人，全部都為未成年男童。
+ 全文
+ 觀看N號房紀錄片《The Making of a Monster》
國際
美法院：Facebook或需為拐賣性奴負責
日期：2021年6月29日 ｜來源：明報
美國得州最高法院裁定，Facebook可能要為人口販子透過其平台拐賣性奴負法律責任，並允許被誘拐的受害者對facebook提出3項民事訴訟。此前多名受害者指控facebook，明知其平台存在人口拐賣的違法行為，卻故意縱容。
私密影片遭外流 34女控告網站 Pornhub
日期：2021年6月19日 ｜來源：星島
Pornhub網站近來備受爭議。三十四名女子向美國加州法院提出民事訴訟，控告全球最大成人網站之一的Pornhub及其母公司，在知情及未經當事人同意下，利用上載該網站的強姦或性愛影片，包括未成年性愛影片牟利，向網站索償。
評論及資源
亞洲區反販運會議將於7月19-22日在線上進行
STOP. 中文電子報每月出版，旨在向本港打擊販運人口的社區提供最新的新聞和資源。如你有反人口販運的資訊想透過本報發放，請聯絡 NEWS@STOPHK.ORG。本電子報內容並不反映 STOP. 的立場，謝謝您對本組織的支持。STOP. 是 希望枝子有限公司 (BRANCHES OF HOPE) 其中一個項目，旨在對抗人口販運。本組織與其他名稱類同的反人口販運組織並無關連。
THIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY STOP TRAFFICKING OF PEOPLE (STOP), PROVIDING YOU WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FOR DAILY UPDATES, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Serving up awareness: our brand new “Word of the Week” series
Who are the victims of human trafficking? How do traffickers lure people in? At what degree of exploitation is it considered human trafficking? Stay tuned with us on Instagram and Facebook for our weekly knowledge bite to learn more about human trafficking in Hong Kong!
Knowledge information exchange is essential for effective human trafficking prevention and intervention. On 11 and 14 May, Kara, our Assistant Programme Officer, shared about STOP’s work and Hong Kong’s human trafficking problem with 90 incredible students at Chinese International School. On 23 May, STOP also had the privilege to take part in Justice Conference Asia 2021 as a panelist for the discussion on Resolving the Tensions of Trafficking in Asia, alongside experienced field experts from Hong Kong Dignity Institute, A21 Thailand, International Justice Mission and Mekong Club.
Thank you for having us, CIS and Justice Conference!
Wish to arrange a training workshop with STOP? Email us at info@stophk.org for more information.
HONG KONG
Hong Kong owner of Pacific island casino sued over forced labor, US Court awards $5.43M in damages to ex-workers
Date: 25 May 2021
Source: Pacific Daily News
District Judge Ramona Manglona awarded US$5.43 million in damages to seven Chinese construction workers who had been hired to build the Imperial Palace casino, on Saipan. The workers were, “subjected to over 12- hour workdays without any rest and sometimes 24-hour work shifts, paid below legal minimum wage, crammed into dormitories, yelled at by their supervisors, forced to pay fines for arriving late or not working hard enough, and subjected to extreme, dangerous and inhumane work conditions,” the decision and order states.
ASIA
In this picture taken on December 4, 2020, Allison Lee, secretary general of the Ilan Migrant Fishermen Union (YMFU), points at a picture of missing Indonesian fisherman Tolani during an interview near Suao harbour in Ilan. – Taiwan’s lucrative fishing industry has come under fire for subjecting its migrant workforce to forced labour and other abuses, contrasting with the governments promotion of the democratic island as a regional human rights beacon. – TO GO WITH Taiwan-Indonesia-Philippines-fishing-rights-labour,FOCUS by Amber Wang in Taipei and Ron Lopez in Manila (Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP) / TO GO WITH Taiwan-Indonesia-Philippines-fishing-rights-labour,FOCUS by Amber Wang in Taipei and Ron Lopez in Manila (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
Rampant fishing industry abuses dull Taiwan’s rights record
Date: 14 May 2021
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
Taiwan’s lucrative fishing industry has come under fire for subjecting its migrant workforce to forced labour and other abuses, contrasting with the government’s promotion of the democratic island as a regional human rights beacon. Migrant fishermen interviewed by AFP said they routinely had to work up to 21 hours a day, enduring verbal and physical abuse as well as zero communication with the outside world. When pay finally arrived, it was often lower than agencies promised.
GLOBAL
‘I am not my trauma’: survivors of sexual abuse at a Ugandan girls’ shelter
Date: 29 April 2021
Source: The Guardian
Eve was just eight years old and recently orphaned when she was taken to live at a girls’ shelter in the Ugandan sector of Lake Victoria. Bery’s Place had been set up in 2006 by Bernhard “Bery” Glaser, a German national living in Uganda, as a refuge for traumatised children and victims of sexual violence. Yet Eve and other girls living there at the time say that Glaser was hiding a dark secret – he was using Bery’s Place as a cover for routine and systematic sexual and emotional abuse of the children in his care.
Growth in Burkina Faso gold mining fuels human trafficking
Date: 30 April 2021
Source: Associated Press News
For months, human traffickers beat and drugged Blessing, hauling the 27-year-old from one gold mine encampment to the next, where each night she was forced to sleep with dozens of men for less than $2 a person. The madam who lured Blessing to the landlocked West African nation of Burkina Faso with promises of a hair salon job, threatened to kill her if she tried to run away. “Nobody comes to your rescue,” said Blessing, wiping tears from her cheeks during a recent interview.
Indian workers allege ‘shocking violations’ in building Hindu temple in New Jersey
Date: 12 May 2021
Source: Reuters
The suit, filed by five of the workers, accuses their employer, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, and related entities of recruiting them in India, bringing them to the United States and forcing them to work on the temple for more than 87 hours a week for $450 a month. Workers were allegedly kept under constant watch and were threatened with pay cuts, arrest and return to India if they spoke to outsiders.
Home Office must compensate trafficked women for lack of childcare, UK court rules
Date: 24 May 2021
Source: The Guardian
The Home Office must compensate female victims of sex trafficking whose children had to hear details of their abuse because no childcare was available during appointments, the high court has ruled. In support of the case evidence was gathered from a variety of experts including mental health experts who found it was harmful for children to be present at legal and medical interviews. One psychologist found that cortisol levels of mothers who are breastfeeding increased in this situation, which was harmful for the babies being fed.
RESOURCES
Video: I exposed how child slaves grow weed
Date: 27 April 2021
Source: Vice News
A parallel world of human trafficking exists in plain sight all around us, we just can’t see it. Modern slaves from Vietnam are working in nail bars, in restaurants and in brothels and cannabis farms across the UK. Guardian journalist Annie Kelly worked closely with lawyer and director at Duncan Lewis Ahmed Aydeed to tell the story of Minh and fight for his freedom.
Report: Chinese workers allege forced labor, abuses in Xi’s ‘Belt and Road’ program
Date: 30 April 2021
Source: The Washington Post
China’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to connect Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe through Chinese-funded ports, bridges, 5G networks and other infrastructure, is built on the backs of workers who researchers say face exploitation that is exacerbated by the pandemic. New York-based China Labor Watch asserts in a new report that overseas Chinese workers are victims of human trafficking and forced labor.
Access the article here.
Read the report here.
Report: Global initiative to explore the sexual exploitation of boys – The Thailand report
Date: 14 May 2021
Source: Bangkok Post
A certain boy was unusually skinny for his age. Terrible circumstances forced him out of home and school and sent him to an orphanage. Lacking proper guidance, he was lured into alcohol and drugs, got severely punished, and decided to go to the city all by himself. Now homeless, he had no other choice but to work as a sex worker for survival. This real-life story did not happen in a faraway poverty-stricken land: he’s from Chiang Mai. And he was just 12… New research from ECPAT International carefully talked with 20 young people of ‘diverse SOGIE’ who are exchanging sex, to learn what their life is like.
Access the article here.
Read the report here.
STOP ENEWS, PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH, AIMS TO PROVIDE CURRENT NEWS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES TO THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG. IF YOU HAVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING RELATED ACTIVITIES OR RESOURCES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THROUGH OUR ENEWS NETWORK, SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO NEWS@STOPHK.ORG. INCLUSION OF CONTENT IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF OUR ORGANISATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.STOP IS AN INITIATIVE OF BRANCHES OF HOPE BASED IN HONG KONG. IT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANISATION OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR NAME.
本月焦點
打擊人口販運 從知識開始
咩人最易俾人恰？販運者通常點樣氹人落疊？剝削去到邊個位係人口販運？留意我們最新系列「每周一字」，話俾你知更多有關香港人口販運的問題！
你follow咗未?
* Instagram: @stop.hk
* Facebook: @STOPHK
知識及經驗交流是防制人口販運的重要一環！五月初，我們的助理項目主任 Kara 在漢基國際學校完成了兩場講座，與約90位學生分享了人口販運在香港的情況和STOP的工作。
我們亦有幸受邀出席全球特會2021 (Justice Conference Asia) 於23日舉行的小組研討會，與香港守護尊嚴中心、國際正義使命團、A21 Thailand及Mekong Club討論人口販運在亞洲的情況。
歡迎邀請STOP進行入校講座。想知更多，請電郵至info@stophk.org 查詢。
香港
港公司塞班島建賭場被控虐待工人 須賠7中國工人$4,212萬
日期：2021年5月25日
來源：蘋果日報
美屬塞班島一位法官24日下令，投資發展當地娛樂度假村的香港上市公司博華太平洋（Imperial Pacific International），因強迫7名中國建築工人在興建賭場時長時間在危險環境下工作，工人受傷時又不提供醫療，又以遞解甚至死亡作為恐嚇，要向7人賠償540萬美元（4,212萬港元）。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：赴塞班打工慘變「黑工」 7中國勞工起訴承包商販賣人口強迫勞動
亞洲
越南漁工斷指變黑工 調查揭密台灣漁業「人肉市場」
日期：2021年5月12日
來源：風傳媒
監察委員王美玉、王幼玲、紀惠容發布外籍漁工遭轉「黑市」之調查報告，指出一名黃姓仲介假冒24艘漁船船員申請漁工又轉黑工，藉機撈掉薪資差額、勞健保與就業安定費。而在境內外籍漁工「被失聯」部份，勞動部不僅未確實掌握人數，碰到割斷手指、被扣押護照、被剋扣薪資的越南漁工，地方勞政單位竟也僅以「勞資糾紛」處理，衍然成為助長人肉市場的溫床。
國際
超過40萬名會員 德國破獲全球最大暗網兒童色情平台「男孩鎮」
日期：2021年5月4日
來源：地球圖輯隊
德國檢警3日宣布破獲全球最大暗網兒童色情平台，並且逮捕了四名德國男子。根據德國檢警提供的資料，這個平台叫做「男孩鎮」(Boystown)，至少從 2019年6月就開始營運，至今會員超過 40萬人，裡頭包含多個論壇，專門讓來自世界各地的會員交換性虐兒童的照片和影片，裡頭不乏牙牙學語的幼兒。
時薪1.2美元 新澤西州印度廟遭200工人集體提告
日期：2021年5月12日
來源：世界新聞網
新澤西州莫塞郡Robbinsville的一間印度廟，近200名印度籍工人集體控訴，每天工作超過12小時，僅付時薪1.2美元(約9.3港元)，還常威脅不服從將找移民局來逮捕。他們每天從事12至13小時危險苦工，包含將建築用石材浸泡化學物質，切割、堆砌石材，清垃圾等。原告律師Daniel Werner表示，廟方誘騙勞工來美，在圍牆內剝削勞力，有如奴隸，已進行多年，外界一無所知。
不怕感染怕挨打 疫情下的童工悲哀三部曲
日期：2021年5月25日
來源：中央廣播電臺
國際勞工組織(ILO)表示，全球童工人數在COVID-19疫情爆發前，原本已從2000年的2.46億人降至1.52億人。部份研究更顯示，貧窮每增加1%，童工就會增加0.7%。然而這場致命病毒導致學校停課、就業流失、貧困加劇，讓數百萬孩童面臨未成年勞工或流浪街頭的風險。一場疫情在全球肆虐、掠奪人命的同時，也讓無數兒童走上貧窮、失學、世代難以翻身的悲哀三部曲。
評論及資源
專題：從SWAG被抄，看數位情色產業大躍進下的法律衝撞、直播主的勞動現場
日期：2021年4月26日
來源：報導者
當網路科技不斷創新，數位化的浪潮裡， 台灣情色產業從線下到線上皆快速發展，其神祕面紗下涉入哪些灰色地帶？政府既有做法是否能有效把關、管理網路資訊？《報導者》訪問SWAG平台直播主、情色影片製作團隊以及第一線執法人員，試圖了解這個產業面貌，思考管制違法與保護自由的平衡。
倖存者故事：從「地獄」折返人間 三個逆境自強的女性充權故事
日期：2021年5月1日
來源：香港01
「充權」一詞來自英文名詞「Empowerment」，意指將權力授予特定人士，使他們有能力改變自身狀況，減低其無能與無奈感，廣泛用於對抗社會不公平處境的事件中。有三名有着無比勇氣、信心和力量的女性，在「充權」後，不單單在絕境中重新站起來，更以自己的生命故事影響更多生命。
報告：揭「一帶一路」強迫勞動 海外中國工人慘遭虐待、剝削
日期：2021年5月3日
來源：風傳媒
在習近平大力推動下，從非洲、拉美、中東到歐洲，從鐵路、港口到5G網路總部，無數打著「一帶一路」名號的建設項目在全球開展，也把超過百萬名中國勞工帶向世界各個角落。但在中國致力透過「一帶一路」倡議擴展經濟、外交影響力的目標，卻奠基在對本國工人的剝削甚至虐待之上。
十多名由國有企業或包商聘用的工人受訪時控訴，他們被騙到國外打黑工、護照遭雇主沒收、被強迫過度勞動，抗議工作條件的工人慘遭毆打或接受「思想教育」，而在全球爆發新冠肺炎疫情後，海外中國勞工的處境雪上加霜……
STOP. 中文電子報每月出版，旨在向本港打擊販運人口的社區提供最新的新聞和資源。如你有反人口販運的資訊想透過本報發放，請聯絡 NEWS@STOPHK.ORG。本電子報內容並不反映 STOP. 的立場，謝謝您對本組織的支持。STOP. 是 希望枝子有限公司 (BRANCHES OF HOPE) 其中一個項目，旨在對抗人口販運。本組織與其他名稱類同的反人口販運組織並無關連。Branches of Hope eNews May 2021
THIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY STOP TRAFFICKING OF PEOPLE (STOP), PROVIDING YOU WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FOR DAILY UPDATES, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Survivors Connect at Wellness Workshops
In March & April, with the support of HER Fund, STOP organized three Health & Happiness Workshops and one Pastel Painting Workshop. The Health & Happiness Workshops were focused on breathing and relaxation. The Pastel Painting Workshop was an opportunity for survivors to express their trauma and healing. Through these activities, survivors to connect with each other for mutual support.
Interested in teaching a workshop? Email us at info@stophk.org!
HONG KONG
‘The Price of Justice’ highlights legal hurdles Hong Kong’s domestic workers face in new documentary
Date: 11 April 2021
Source: South China Morning Post
The Price of Justice premiered on April 14 at the University of Hong Kong, where funds were raised for family of the late Baby Jane Allas. The feature-length documentary focuses on the stories of four Filipino domestic workers who faced lengthy court battles against their employers.
Access the article here.
Read more: the story of Baby Jane Allas.
ASIA
‘Pay up’: Indian trafficking victims left destitute by compensation delays
Date: 6 April 2021
Source: Reuters
Hit by COVID-19 delays, some 12,000 survivors of trafficking, sexual assault and acid attacks are waiting for claims to be assessed.
The Philippines: Immigration warns of new human trafficking scam targeting former OFWs
Date: 12 April 2021
Source: Philstar.com
The Bureau of Immigration warned the public on another human trafficking scheme victimizing former Overseas Filipino Workers who wish to work abroad again.
In this latest scam, BI said, “former OFWs whose visas and contracts have expired are given new tourist visas to allow them to depart to work illegally as tourists, using their old [overseas employment certificate] records.”
Malaysia’s Top Glove says it has resolved all indicators of forced labour
Date: 26 April 2021
Source: Reuters
Malaysia’s Top Glove Corporation said it had resolved all indicators of forced labour in its operations, citing a report by independent consultant Impactt Limited.
The world’s largest medical glove maker said it had resolved all eleven indicators of forced labour as determined by the International Labour Organization. The resolution has been verified by Impactt in a report dated April 22, Top Glove added.
GLOBAL
How the pandemic helped gangmasters exploit the invisible agricultural workers of Italy
Date: 2 April 2021
Source: Forbes
They are the estimated 180,000 agricultural workers in Italy that are being exploited for farm work. Often, they are migrant workers, their vulnerable position making them subject to gross exploitation, sexual abuse, and violence according to a report on how Agro-mafia and gangmasters are exploiting workers produced by Placido Rizzoto and FLAI-CGIL, one of Italy’s largest labor unions.
Nearly 17 child migrants a day vanished in Europe since 2018
Date: 21 April 2021
Source: The Guardian
An investigation by the Guardian and the cross-border journalism collective Lost in Europe found that 18,292 unaccompanied child migrants went missing in Europe between January 2018 and December 2020 – equivalent to nearly 17 children a day. In 2020 alone, 5,768 children disappeared in 13 European countries.
Africa’s children need to get back to school to avoid ‘lost generation’
Date: 22 April 2021
Source: Reuters
With school closures, income losses and deepening poverty, children across Africa have been forced into work – in gold mines, cocoa farms and hawking on the streets.
RESOURCES
Report: Fifth of UK victims of criminal exploitation are children
Date: 7 April 2021
Source: UK Modern Slavery Helpline and Resource Centre
At least one in five victims of criminal exploitation by drugs gangs in the UK are children, analysis of calls to a modern slavery and exploitation helpline shows.
Access the report here.
For highlights of the report, access this magazine article here.
Op-ed: Jewellery industry makes slow progress on responsible supply chains
Date: 10 April 2021
Source: Financial Times
Activists remain concerned with human rights and environmental issues as part of the mining process.
There are 40m people working in artisanal and small-scale mining, including 1m children, according to Human Rights Watch. It is a sector where the organisation has catalogued human rights abuses, including child labour, which has increased during the pandemic; trafficked and forced labour; deaths and injuries; and pollution and threatened rights to health, water, food and the environment.
Video: How human trafficking and bonded labor make capitalism possible
Date: 15 April 2021
Source: TEDx HKU
Did capitalism end slavery, or is labour exploitation necessary for capitalism to exist? And why are there so many victims of trafficking and modern slavery today? In this talk, Professor David Bishop from The University of Hong Kong explains how most human trafficking and modern slavery stem from globalization and the desire to chase cheap labour.
STOP ENEWS, PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH, AIMS TO PROVIDE CURRENT NEWS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES TO THE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG. IF YOU HAVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING RELATED ACTIVITIES OR RESOURCES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THROUGH OUR ENEWS NETWORK, SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO NEWS@STOPHK.ORG. INCLUSION OF CONTENT IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF OUR ORGANISATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.STOP IS AN INITIATIVE OF BRANCHES OF HOPE BASED IN HONG KONG. IT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANISATION OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR NAME.