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
A newborn was found auctioned online
Date: 31 July 2020
Source: Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights
The recent case of a 1-month-old newborn being auctioned online hits hard on the collective conscience of the entire community. This particular case has reflected Hong Kong’s need for a proactive legal and social protection framework which covers hidden and new areas of harm towards children. While there are laws covering child abduction, child pornography and other crimes in Hong Kong, there is no comprehensive anti-trafficking law that covers all forms of trafficking, including child trafficking.
Access the article here.
Read more: 1-month-old baby offered for sale on Carousell at HK$10,000.
ASIA
Survivors of trafficking will receive health insurance cards free
Date: 3 August 2020
Source: VietnamPlus
“Victims of human trafficking who are uninsured will be granted health insurance cards free of charge. In case they are seriously ill, the cost of medical examination and treatment at the medical facilities will be exercised in line with health insurance regulations.” These proposals are part of a draft decree initiated by Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), which details the execution of some articles of the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat. Deputy Minister of MOLISA said the compiling of the decree was necessary to ensure that human trafficking victims receive comprehensive support and can reintegrate into the community in a sustainable manner.
South Korean authorities encourage men to marry foreign women. But their brides often become victims of abuse
Date: 5 August 2020
Source: CNN
Trinh was 29 years old and her future husband was in his 50s. She only spoke Vietnamese, he spoke Korean. Despite the communication barrier, the union went ahead and she moved to South Korea to be with her husband. Three months after that, she was dead. Trinh is one of the thousands of Vietnamese women to marry South Korean men through matchmakers who set up brides with grooms. Some couples have happy marriages. But many foreign brides who meet men this way have become victims of discrimination, domestic violence and even murder at the hands of their husbands.
India faces lost generation as virus pushes children to work
Date: 10 August 2020
Source: Bloomberg
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing India’s children out of school and into farms and factories to work, worsening a child-labor problem that was already one of the most dire in the world. 16 year old Maheshwari Munkalapally and her 15 year old sister stopped attending lessons when the economy was brought to a halt during the world’s biggest lockdown. Munkalapally’s mother and older sister lost their jobs as housemaids in Hyderabad. The younger girls, who had been living with their grandmother in a nearby village, were forced to become farmhands along with their mother, in order to survive.
GLOBAL
How the Kenyan consulate in Lebanon became feared by the women it was meant to help
Date: 28 July 2020
Source: CNN
Gloria, an undocumented migrant worker, is one of seven women who say they were exploited or physically assaulted by Kenya’s Honorary Consul in Lebanon, Sayed Chalouhi, and his assistant Kassem Jaber, both Lebanese nationals. Another domestic worker, Linda, told CNN that Chalouhi suggested she do sex work to save up for her repatriation fees — and that when she instead turned to cleaning his office for money, he refused to pay her…
No pay, no freedom: Brazil struggles to rescue maids from slavery
Date: 13 August 2020
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
Whenever Elisa goes out in her small town in northeastern Brazil, she fears seeing the family she once considered her own. After almost three decades of domestic work with no pay and little freedom, Elisa realized she was a slave and plotted to escape the household where she had lived since the age of seven. The 38-year-old was rescued in 2018 after alerting the authorities and has started to build a new life. But a reminder of her captivity, fear and exploitation is never too far away.
Magnum reviewing archive as concerns raised about images of child sexual exploitation
Date: 14 August 2020
Source: The Guardian
Magnum Photos, one of the world’s most celebrated photographic agencies, is to re-examine the content of its archive of more than 1 million images after accusations it made available photographs that critics said may show the sexual exploitation of minors. Issues were raised by two articles on the Fstoppers photography website, amplified on social media, which accused Magnum of promoting sexually explicit images of children, featuring nudity, and encounters with clients that the website suggested constituted a record of acts of child sexual abuse.
Access the article here.
Read more: Reporting guidelines to protect children.
RESOURCES
Opinion: Sustainable funds must work harder to vet their investments
Date: 4 August 2020
Source: Financial Times
It should have been a vindication for the sustainable investment industry. Shares in fast fashion retailer Boohoo lost a third of their value last month after allegations that workers in its UK supply chain were paid £3.50 an hour. Here was the proof that by avoiding companies exposed to environmental, social and governance risks you could also avoid losing money.
Access the article here.
Read more: Sanctions on China’s top cotton supplier weave a tangled web for fashion brands.
Documentary: Japan’s schoolgirl pin-ups
Date: 9 August 2020
Source: Unreported World
These schoolgirls are trying to make it as pop stars, performing in front of audiences who are older and very male. But is it a quirk of Japanese culture or something more sinister? Reporter Marcel Theroux and Director Liam Nolan meet 11-year-old Yune as she broadcasts live from her home to her fans and performs with other idols at live shows. They also meet some of her fans, many of whom are middle-aged men.
Opinion: Garment workers cannot foot the bill for the pandemic
Date: 19 August 2020
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
With shops closing and people staying at home, the pandemic has changed how we shop but also how garment workers live. The order cancellations and lockdowns that followed the pandemic caused workers to be underpaid for their labour, or not be paid at all for months. During this crisis, major high street brands sourcing from Pakistan such as H&M, Primark, Walmart, C&A, and Bestseller have failed to protect their workers. Their billionaire owners have made fortunes from these workers’ low-paid labour, but are now leaving workers in the cold.
Documentary: Italy’s Sikh slaves
Date: 20 August 2020
Source: Aljazeera
The vast agricultural plains of the Agro-Pontino in central Italy is now one of the country’s main areas of food production. Yet it was not always the case. This 100 mile-long stretch of land facing the Tyrrhenian Sea was marshland until a century ago when fascist dictator Benito Mussolini organised a mass migration from northern Italy to drain the swamps and turn them into fertile farmland. But many of those who live there today are not Italian. Mostly Sikhs from Punjab in northern India, they are economic migrants who have come here to work in local farms and send money home to give their families a better life. Some manage to do just that. But for many others, their dreams are crushed.
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.
香港
初生嬰網上拍賣 索價萬元 帖文指「不想要」 警稱跟進
日期：2020年7月31日
來源：明報
網上流傳截圖，顯示有人疑於網上拍賣平台出售初生嬰兒，並標明「剛出生1個月，未有名」、「不想要，$20000即買（賣）」，事件引起網民關注。有大律師表示，現時香港法例只針對涉及色情及奴隸的人口販賣，未見有專門法例打擊販賣兒童。警方表示留意到相關帖文，正了解事件。
90後女大狀不忍父母出賣孩子當性奴 赴菲律賓做義務律師拯救黑暗中兒童
日期：2020年8月21日
來源：香港經濟日報
20多歲的鄺希彤（Rachel）是一名大律師，她曾參與國際法律會議，從而認識人口販運問題，「（我發現）原來世界上還有奴隸，甚至很多性奴只是小孩子，我很希望能為這些人爭取權益。」她又曾在菲律賓加入了國際公義組織International Justice Mission 當義工，她表示，近年除了妓寨，原來很多小朋友是被父母出賣，例如應戀童癖的客人要求，在網絡上拍攝或直播不雅影片。
粵港聯合打擊人口販運行動 搗跨境人蛇集團拘包括港主腦共104人
日期：2020年8月25日
來源：香港01
本港警方與入境處聯同廣東省公安廳、海警局和珠海市等執法部門，過去兩個月展開代號「箭雲（Dartshower）」打擊跨境販運人口集團行動，並以涉嫌「安排未獲授權進境者前來香港的旅程」和「依靠他人賣淫的收入維生」等罪拘捕集團香港主腦、14名骨幹成員、26名助手及63名非法入境者及黑工，合共104人。警方相信已經瓦解一個活躍於中港兩地的販運人口集團，他們安排人蛇來港賣淫，或到地盤、回收場工作，甚至被黑幫招攬犯案。
亞洲
【仲介婚姻黑暗面】種族性別雙重歧視 南韓4成外配曾被家暴
日期：2020年8月6日
來源：上報
南韓鼓勵跨國婚姻，有成千上萬的越南女性，透過仲介認識南韓男子而成婚，許多聯姻甚至能申請地方政府補貼。但與此同時，女性外籍配偶被家暴的案例卻層出不窮。報導指出，部分「女性外配」是由於經濟上的考量而與南韓男性結婚，甚至被「強迫結婚」。南韓首爾的移民中心之友的律師律師李振惠說，外籍新娘來韓的主要原因，多數是為了寄錢回家中，而非因自己的個人利益。
貧窮、失學、強迫勞動釀惡性循環 印度面臨「失落的一代」危機
日期：2020年8月11日
來源：蘋果日報
在全球童工問題最嚴重的國家之一印度，武漢肺炎（COVID-19）大流行正迫使更多兒童離開學校、轉入農田和工廠工作，在貧困中掙扎求生，貧窮、失學、強迫勞動種種惡劣情況，可能催生印度「失落的一代」。
女童遭網友逼拍裸照 拉不知情同學自拍不雅照
日期：2020年8月21日
來源：自由時報
新北市一名11歲女童A女遭臉書網友陳男逼迫拍裸照，後因不堪陳男索求無度，轉而拜託學姊B女拍不露臉裸照。A女事後拿著B女的裸照，假裝是自己所拍，傳給陳男以滿足其需求。兩名受害人最後決定報警處理，新北地檢署今依違反兒少性剝削防制條例起訴陳男。檢方指出，A女請學姊拍裸照並傳給陳男行為，也可能干犯兒少性剝削防制條例列明的罪行，案件由新北地院少年法庭調查中。
台遠洋漁船「大旺號」遭控虐待漁工 美下令禁止靠岸、進口漁獲
日期：2020年8月21日
來源：蘋果日報
美聯社報導，美國海關及邊際保護局下令「大旺」遠洋漁船停靠所有美國港口，而這也是川普政府自5月來的第二次抵制台灣遠洋漁業船艦的行動。綠色和平組織日前公布調查報告指出，全球規模僅次於中國的台灣遠洋漁業屢傳虐待漁工事件，包括毆打或苛扣薪資等。為了遏止該類惡行，美國國會2016年時前便授予行政機關更多權限予以抵制。
國際
被騙到英國賣淫 下機當晚呆站街角拉客
日期：2020年7月27日
來源：ETtoday新聞雲
英國一對來自羅馬尼亞的兄弟以提供正當工作機會的名義，將一名20歲同為羅馬尼亞籍的女性騙到英國倫敦賣淫。據了解，兩兄弟逼迫該女子每天至少接客10到15次，只要受害女性稍有不從，便對她拳打腳踢。這名年輕女性一度懷上嫖客的孩子，而兩兄弟為了讓她接客，竟還試圖強迫墮胎。
Magnum 相庫售賣兒童性剝削 照片惹爭議
日期：2020年8月15日
來源：立場新聞
馬格蘭攝影通訊社赫赫有名的攝影記者David Alan Harvey，近日因為他於1989在泰國拍攝未成年性工作者的照片，於網上掀起軒然大波。攝影師及人權組織Rights Exposure 創辦人Robert Godden 指：「他們不是『雛妓 』，兒童不能授權同意成為性工作者，在道德上和許多地方的法律層面上，這些照片都絕不應該被拍下。」
評論及資源
觀點：網路性影像受害者超過 6 成未成年 展翅協會籲陪伴孩子正確使用網路、營造安心訴說的環境
日期：2020年7月28日
來源：Right Plus 多多益善
近期國內外多起誘騙拍攝私密照威脅事件，如南韓 N 號房事件、臺南遊戲點數誘騙兒少裸照等。在與網路密不可分的時代下，性勒索已成為一種不可忽視的新型危機，也是新的性暴力形式。性勒索案件樣態變得更多，受害者的年齡也趨年幼。台灣展翅協會長期協助性剝削及性勒索被害人，認為家長應該多關注孩子使用網路的狀況，並教導孩子勇敢拒絕網友不合理的要求。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：預防孩子掉入誘騙陷阱 專家的六大網路安全提醒
資訊圖表：人口販賣，其實離我們並不遙遠
日期：2020年8月25日
來源：HOKKfabrica
人口販賣是如今世界上僅次於毒品、武器走私的第三大非法貿易。即使如今世界上許多國家都有法律禁止並懲處人口販賣，但是相關部門執法不力、管制寬鬆，加上互聯網和通訊科技發達，人販子有更多渠道接觸、聯絡並運送受害人，最終加劇了人口販賣；氣候變化、戰爭和貧窮令越來越多人流離失所，也讓人販子有機可乘。
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
Take The Stage for World Day Against Trafficking In Persons 2020
STOP firmly believes that the key to putting a stop to Hong Kong’s “hidden epidemic” of human trafficking, is by listening with humility to the diverse voices in our community, and by encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to actively engage in discussion about these issues.
In preparation for this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, STOP invited a group of our volunteers and Jacqueline, our Research and Policy Officer, to take the stage and share with us their thoughts & knowledge about human trafficking, through a series of five articles and a short film (Cantonese).
View the full series here.
Read our feature on the SCMP here.
HONG KONG
Why is Hong Kong rewarding employment agencies when the industry is complicit in human trafficking?
Date: 5 July 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong government recently endorsed a subsidy scheme that will give up to HK$117.28 million (US$15.3 million) to the employment agency industry. While it is true that employment agencies have been severely hit by the pandemic, the scheme does not acknowledge that a large subset of that industry has been criticised for facilitating labour trafficking through debt-based coercion. What should a government do when it is called out for complicity in relation to human trafficking and modern slavery?
Hong Kong textile firm Esquel to keep its Xinjiang factories open despite US sanctions threat over ‘forced labour’ accusations
Date: 13 July 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
Esquel, the Hong Kong textile maker that began operations in Xinjiang in the mid-1990s, was one of six companies singled out for potential sanctions in draft legislation unveiled by US lawmakers in March, accusing it of using forced labour in the Xinjiang region of western China. If passed, the law would tightly restrict imports to the United States from Xinjiang, the toughest response yet to accusations of Beijing’s massive detention of Uygur Muslims and forced labour practices.
Access the article here.
Read more: US seizes ‘forced labour’ Xinjiang hair imports
ASIA
Filipino children abandoned to internet sex abusers during coronavirus
Date: 7 July 2020
Source: The Fuller Project
The boy is 16 years old, and law enforcement officers believe he’s being sexually exploited by foreigners over the internet – abuse that seems to have been going on for years. He lives in the Philippines, and they know exactly where. They have a pretty clear picture of what his abusers are doing to him, and they are worried about what is likely to happen if they don’t get him out fast. This would normally be the part of the story where a rescue occurs. But the National Bureau of Investigation says it is unable to act.
Malaysia’s Sime Darby accused of forced and child labour by anti-trafficking group
Date: 8 July 2020
Source: SAYS
Liberty Shared, a Hong Kong-based anti-trafficking group, has petitioned the US Customs and Borders Protection concerning alleged conditions of forced labour and child labour at Sime Darby Plantation. “Workers described the imposition of arbitrary penalties, threat of and actual sexual harassment, physical threats and abuse, various and inconsistent deductions in pay, varying conditions of accommodation, and fees charged for basic facilities,” the Liberty Shared managing director said.
Women abducted for marriage, and often raped, in Indonesia – it’s the custom, villagers say
Date: 20 July 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
The island of Sumba in eastern Indonesia has abundant natural charms and ancient cultural traditions. Yet Sumba’s many attractions conceal a sinister practice that has allowed men to uproot women from their families, erase their dreams and ambitions, and force them into marriage. This has been going on for many years on the island of more than 750,000 people, but a recent 29-second video of a young woman desperately crying while she is carried away by five men has captured the attention of Indonesians everywhere.
GLOBAL
Sex traffickers left thousands of women to starve during Italy lockdown
Date: 10 July 2020
Source: The Guardian
According to the UN’s International Office for Migration, more than 80% of Nigerian women who arrived in Italy from Libya in recent years were victims of highly organised sex trafficking gangs. The women are forced into prostitution to pay off predatory debts and controlled through violence and fear of “juju” black magic rituals they are made to undergo before their journey to Europe. During the prolonged and strict three-month Covid-19 lockdown in Italy, these women and their children were left alone and cashless to starve by their exploiters.
Access the article here.
Watch more: Nigeria’s sex trafficking curse
German ministers push for supply chain law against exploitation
Date: 15 July 2020
Source: DW
A typical bar of chocolate costs a mere €0.80 at a German supermarket. Many of these sweets, however, are produced using child labour. Two decades ago, the University of Chicago launched a research project looking into how many child labourers are employed on the West African cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast and Ghana. According to the scholars’ latest report, 2.26 million children are currently toiling away in the industry — a tragic new record. Yet few German companies are ensuring basic labour and human rights standards are respected in the supply chain. That’s why two German ministers are now planning a law obliging companies to take responsibility.
Adult used kids to snatch, exploit other children in Mexico
Date: 22 July 2020
Source: The Washington Post
A scandal involving the abduction and exploitation of young children in a colonial Mexican city popular with tourists widened when prosecutors released additional evidence that an adult apparently used other children to help kidnap a missing 2-year-old boy. The search for Dylan Esaú Gómez Pérez led prosecutors to a house in San Cristobal de las Casas where 23 abducted children were being kept at a house in deplorable conditions and forced to sell trinkets and handicrafts in the street. But Dylan, who turns 3 in November, was not among them.
RESOURCES
Opinion: Storm clouds on the horizon for U.S. human trafficking rankings
Date: 29 June 2020
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
Each June, the United States releases the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, setting forth each country’s response to forced labor and sex trafficking. Assembled by a dedicated team under the challenges of COVID-19 lockdowns, this year’s Report, though it commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the modern anti-trafficking movement, should be read not as a triumphalist document but as a warning of storm clouds on the horizon.
Access the article here.
Read more: STOP’s response to Hong Kong’s downgrade in the 2020 TIP Report.
Opinion: Will Boohoo’s young customers overlook the modern slavery scandal?
Date: 16 July 2020
Source: Retail Gazette
A Sunday Times investigation earlier this month saw the online fashion giant embroiled in controversy over allegations that its Leicester factory was paying garment workers as little as £3.50 an hour. The factory in question was also accused of reportedly “forcing” workers to come into work even while sick with Covid-19. Is the online retail giant’s reputation hanging by a thread or will its young customers continue to shop with it? How can other retailers learn from the damage?
Access the article here.
Read more: Boohoo supplier modern slavery reports – How UK workers are ‘earning as little as £3.50 per hour’
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
素人力量打擊人口販運
作為世界公民，思考、討論同捍衛人權、為無聲者發聲、關注弱勢社群的福祉，你我有責。STOP 堅信，唯有虛心聆聽社會中不同持分者的聲音、鼓勵大眾積極關注、討論社會公義議題，才能逐步瓦解不公景況、打擊人口販運。
為迎接「世界反人口販運日」，我們推行了Take The Stage/有請系列，邀請十位來自不同範疇和年齡層的素人倡議者分享他/她們對人口販運議題的觀點和知識。有興趣的人士可按此閱覽作品。
香港
美第三輪制裁名單首現港商溢達 共11企被指涉參與新疆強迫勞動
日期：2020年7月22日
來源：明報
中美緊張關係升級，波及本港企業。棉紡織品企業溢達集團位於新疆的昌吉溢達紡織公司，21日被美國商務部以涉及在新疆強迫勞動為由，與另外10間中國企業同列實體黑名單，美國政府將限制技術或產品出口予黑名單企業。這是首次有香港企業捲入新疆的制裁風波。溢達透過官網表示，對事件深感憤慨，重申集團由始至終都不會「強迫勞動」。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：勞工人權團體呼籲品牌服飾 「別用新疆維人強迫勞動鏈原料」
亞洲
遭控勞動剝削 大馬棕櫚巨頭展開調查
日期：2020年7月8日
來源：中央廣播電臺
總部位於香港的反人口販運組織「自由共享」(Liberty Shared) 月初公開遞交美國海關與邊境保護局的請願書，指在對馬來西亞棕櫚油生產巨擘森那美公司 (Sime Darby) 僱員和公民團體進行訪問，並詳細審視公共揭露資訊、審計報告和永續目標後，發現該公司的種植園存在虐待勞工問題。森那美公司8日表示將對其種植園中強迫勞動和使用童工的相關「嚴重指控」進行調查。在此之前，倡議組織向美國海關請願，要求禁止進口該公司的棕櫚油。
韓國「N號房」事件：如何讓網絡性犯罪受害人走出陰霾
日期：2020年7月18日
來源：BBC 中文
被稱為「博士」的N號房主謀趙主彬，早前被揭經營網絡聊天室性販運年輕女性，受害者中有16人未成年。趙被捕後，各界聚焦在這位疑犯身上；因他而受害的少女，卻孤獨掙扎。韓國社會傾向保守，幾十名受害者走出創傷的路，漫長崎嶇。李孝琳決定幫助她們。她接受BBC訪問時說，「有時候我覺得休息是罪。我睡覺時會有更多性侵影片流出，二度傷害受害者。」
搶新娘：印尼政府誓言要終結的地方習俗
日期：2020年7月21日
來源：BBC 中文
早有婦女和人權團體，長期以來要求印尼禁止搶新娘的習俗。但在印尼偏遠的松巴島上，當地 居民仍延續這個傳統，年輕女子會被男方的家人或朋友強行帶走，強迫結婚。近日網絡流傳兩段婦女被綁架逼迫結婚的視頻，引起人們的憤怒和人權團體的關注。印尼官員誓言要終結此等人權侵害，當地社區領袖也聯署抵制這侵害婦女的行為。
國際
【疫情●專題】封城下馬伕捨棄被迫賣淫偷渡女 意大利數以萬人斷糧自生自滅
日期：2020年7月13日
來源：蘋果日報
聯合國國際移民組織資料顯示，上萬名近年由利比亞抵達意大利的尼日利亞婦女，超過80%是有組織性販運組織的受害者。這些婦女被組織以暴力控制，並要出賣身體償還高達4萬歐元（約35萬港元）債務，而在出發前往歐洲前也被迫接受黑巫術施法恐嚇，確保她們會好好工作不會逃跑。義工、社工和非政府機構表示，意大利政府實施三個月封城期間，人口販賣集團捨棄偷渡婦女及她們的孩子。由於沒錢及沒食物，不少人要到慈善組織乞求米或麵包，有人亦因沒法交租金而被趕出街頭露宿。
23名兒童在墨西哥被綁架獲救 最小的才三個月大
日期：2020年7月23日
來源：NewTalk 新聞
根據《CNN》報導，南墨西哥檢察署於22日救出23名遭綁架的兒童。這些被綁架的兒童年齡介乎三個月大至15歲。犯人把他們從家人身邊誘拐走，並強迫他們勞動、販賣手工藝品，飽受暴力威脅。目前有三名女性已遭墨西哥檢調單位逮捕，她們涉嫌人口販賣與強迫勞動。
可可農場童工困境受疫情影響更險峻 象牙海岸童工比例增加3%
日期：2020年7月25日
來源：食力foodNEXT
全球有60%的可可產量都來自西非國家象牙海岸與迦納，然而當地卻一直存在嚴重的童工奴隸現象，粗估有210萬名兒童在不人道的工作環境中受苦。儘管持續有許多團體或巧克力廠努力以在當地設置健全的「童工監測和補救系統」、增加兒童教育機會等管道嘗試解決，但問題仍難以根絕。更令人難過的是，「國際可可協會」發現，新冠肺炎疫情爆發期間，象牙海岸的童工現象急遽上升，2020年3月17日至5月15日短短2個月，從事勞動工作的兒童比例從16%升至19.4%。
評論及資源
觀點：「港版N號房」的二度傷害 慢必透露童年被性侵：不要嘲笑和責備
日期：2020年6月30日
來源：蘋果日報
近日被揭發的「AB號房」事件，被喻為是「港版N號房」，事件中逾300名男性疑似被性侵，還被主謀威逼利誘下進行性交易，拍攝成人影像。然而令人意外的地方是，在該條新聞底下有許多人留言，不約而同地指出「竟然係男人被性侵？」，似乎覺得男性被性侵，是一件不可思議的事，或最起碼不是生活中尋常可見的案例。這次果籽請來了慢必，立法會議員陳志全，為我們拆解「男性被性侵」的種種迷思。
+ 觀看專訪
+ 閱讀更多：【港版 N 號房】商台節目被斥嘲笑受害人經歷 林海峰等主持公開道歉
報告：全球數百萬女孩遭受童婚、生殖器殘割等有害做法
日期：2020年6月30日
來源：聯合國
聯合國人口基金上月30日發佈的《2020年世界人口狀況》報告指出，每年有數百萬女孩在其家人、朋友和社區充分知情和同意的情況下，遭到了身體和情感上的傷害。該報告主要關注最普遍的三種人權侵害：切割女性生殖器、童婚和極端的重男輕女現象，並揭露了19項傷害女童的有害做法，包括熨燙胸部、貞操測試、疏忽照顧導致童年夭亡等。
報告：英10萬「現代奴隸」遭毒品控制
日期：2020年7月14日
來源：蘋果日報
由「社會公義中心智庫」和反奴隸組織「公義與關懷」合作進行的研究指，英國現有最少10萬名現代奴隸受害者，情況比內政部六年前評估嚴重十倍；當中有些受害者被迫在妓院和洗車場強制勞動，或遭犯罪集團或人口販賣者以酒精和毒品控制，有的則遭到家庭奴役。報告撰寫人指這種地下罪案的實際數字，有可能比報告所列更高，促請首相約翰遜重啟現代奴隸制工作小組遏止問題。
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 2020
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HONG KONG
Hong Kong downgraded in US trafficking study
Date: 26 June 2020
Source: RTHK English News
The US State Department’s annual report on human trafficking has placed Hong Kong on a “watch list” of territories that are not doing enough to tackle the problem. The report said the SAR government “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so”. However the SAR was downgraded to Tier 2 (watch list) status, the second lowest rank in the four-level ranking system, because the government has not criminalised all forms of trafficking.
Access the article here.
Read the ‘2020 Trafficking in Persons Report’ here.
Read Hong Kong government’s response here.
ASIA
Webcam child sex abuse: Philippine court sentences US man David Timothy Deakin to life in prison
Date: 27 May 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
A Philippine court has sentenced an American to life in prison on charges of sexually exploiting Filipino children using webcams to sell videos, photos and live-streams to buyers abroad. National Bureau of Investigation official said the conviction of David Timothy Deakin is a strong warning to offenders that “they could not hide even if they commit sexual exploitation crimes in cyberspace, because law enforcers are collaborating worldwide to catch them”.
Indonesia urged to impose tighter rules for Chinese fishing vessel recruitment after seamen’s deaths
Date: 6 June 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
The deaths of four Indonesian workers on the Long Xing 629 fishing vessel – which came to light last month after footage of one of their bodies being dumped into the sea emerged – has sparked calls in Indonesia for tighter rules on the recruitment of seafarers. Moh Abdi Suhufan, representative of activist group Destructive Fishing Watch Indonesia said it had been indicated that the number of Indonesians facing such abuse was “more than what is currently known”, and if Jakarta continued to allow Chinese fishing companies to recruit in the country, “means the government would let more victims be trapped in this abuse”.
Pakistan: 8 year old Zohra Shah, a caged soul killed for setting birds free
Date: 12 June 2020
Source: The Wire
On May 31, eight-year-old Zohra Shah was brought to Begum Akhter Rukhsana Memorial Hospital in a critical condition. The child was unconscious and had cut marks on her arms and legs, scratch marks and bruises on her torso and most disturbingly, torture marks on her genitals, thighs and calves, potentially pointing towards the likelihood that she was raped. It was discovered that Zohra’s injuries came at the hands of her employers, Hassan Siddique and his wife Umme Kulsoom, who had beat her after she reportedly freed some valuable parrots from their cages.
Laid off due to virus, Cambodian garment workers compete for factory shifts
Date: 18 June 2020
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
Cambodia’s textile industry has been pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic with major Western retailers cancelling orders or demanding discounts from their suppliers. About a third of its 600 garment factories are shut, which has cost tens of thousands of workers their jobs and left them struggling to survive. Mostly women, many of them have recently joined the pre-dawn gatherings where factories send brokers to find women for off-the-books daily shifts to augment their regular labour force. “Why is my fate is in the hands of these despicable brokers?” one seamstress said, having lost her job in March after two decades of consistent factory work.
GLOBAL
Essex lorry deaths: 26 arrested in France and Belgium
Date: 27 May 2020
Source: The Guardian
Judicial authorities said a series of early morning raids took place simultaneously in Belgium and France on Tuesday as part of two legal investigations. Police in Belgium and France announced the arrests of 26 people suspected of human trafficking in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants who were found dead inside a refrigerated truck in Britain last year, from a combination of a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space.
Women picking fruit for UK supermarkets ‘facing new forms of exploitation’
Date: 3 June 2020
Source: The Guardian
Women picking strawberries in Spain for UK supermarkets are facing new forms of exploitation, unions and lawyers warn, as the industry is hit by labour shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Spain’s strawberry industry has been plagued by allegations that some Moroccan women working in its export fruit industry have suffered sexual violence, exploitation and assault while working on farms in Huelva.
Access the article here.
Read more: Are your tinned tomatoes picked by slave labour?
Brazil enlists rappers for national campaign against child labor
Date: 4 June 2020
Source: Reuters
A song written by famous Brazilian rappers Emicida and Drik Barbosa in Portuguese spearheads the campaign, with a weekly podcast and 12 social media videos about child slavery also set for release. The campaign, with the slogan “Covid-19: now more than ever, protect children and adolescents from child labor”, aims to curb child labor in Brazil. “The pandemic … pushes a series of families to the margins of society. Under pressure, these families have to put children in an inhumane situation,” Emicida said in a statement.
Access the article here.
Listen to Sementes here.
Number of missing vulnerable children soars as safeguarding is cut during pandemic
Date: 6 June 2020
Source: The Guardian
Trafficked and unaccompanied children are going missing in “significant” numbers from the UK’s care system. Three charities have documented an “alarming” series of cases since the beginning of lockdown and following legislation introduced in April that stripped most legal safeguards for vulnerable children during the coronavirus pandemic. Evidence has also emerged that younger children are being targeted by criminals, leaving them at risk of becoming destitute and exploited or retrafficked.
RESOURCES
Opinion: Is transparency in fashion a dead end?
Date: 28 May 2020
Source: Vogue Business
When H&M topped Fashion Revolution’s Transparency Index last month, sustainability advocates pounced. All the ranking showed, they claimed, was that H&M is transparently unsustainable. Transparency is considered a necessary first step to hold brands accountable for more sustainable and ethical practices. But often lost in the push for transparency is the end goal of better wages, safer working conditions and cleaner manufacturing. Years into fashion’s transparency movement, critics say it hasn’t led to meaningful change.
Report: ‘Easy to Borrow, Hard to Repay’ ── Credit and debt in Ho Chi Minh City’s sex industry
Date: 2 June 2020
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
This study examines indebtedness and money-lending in the lives of sex workers. It locates indebtedness in broader issues such as internal migration, financial exclusion and the reliance on informal finance to get by, the grip of money-lending practices in labor sectors, moral narratives on ‘evil’ usurers, and rapidly rising household debt in Vietnam.
Opinion: As South Korea cracks down on sexual exploitation online, more must be done to fight human trafficking
Date: 17 June 2020
Source: The Heritage Foundation
The Nth-room scandal left South Korea in shock, when information about the nature of these underground crimes became public after an investigative report by two university students broke the story. Nth rooms are chat rooms that illegally produce and sell sexually dehumanizing content in Korea. Those exploited in the Nth rooms may be considered victims of sex trafficking because many were conscripted into the Nth room abuses through force, fraud, or coercion. All 103 victims, including 26 minors, were referred to as “slaves.”
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香港
【港版N號房】氹上酒店玩成人直播 300受害人捲最大性侵案
日期：2020年6月15日
來源：蘋果日報
香港近日發生手法類似南韓「N號房」事件的性侵案。有人在多個交友平台哄騙受害人拍下自慰片段，然後以時薪1,000元威逼利誘對方到五星級酒店玩派對直播，聲稱影片只供一名幕後富商觀看及收藏，不會流出。怎料，有受害人在抵達現場後，先在「A房」遭凌辱，及後還被迫到「B房」與觀眾性交。而性虐片更成為受害人的「死穴」－－他們被迫無止境拍片，否則片段將被公開。《蘋果》追蹤後揭發部分影片已在網上流出，估計捲入該性侵案人數多達300人，至15日有兩名受害人曾報警求助。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：共感、同理、陪他哭泣也行：五個陪伴性侵倖存者的方法
回應美國販運人口報告 特區稱香港評級基於嚴重偏見
日期：2020年6月26日
來源：香港電台
美國國務院發表的《2020年美國販運人口報告》，指香港政府消除人口販運的工作上，未達最低標準，在打擊人口販運工作的執法力度亦見減少等，並將香港評為第二級別(監察名單)。特區政府發言人對報告表示強烈反對，指出報告內提述的指控，是由不具名人士或團體提出，沒有提供任何具體個案細節，報告中不少分析似乎僅基於傳聞，結論基礎薄弱，對香港的評級明顯是基於嚴重偏見及欠缺實據支持，特區政府堅拒接受以草率及偏頗方式達致的結論和評級。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀《2020 販運人口報告》(英)
+ 閱讀港府回應
亞洲
巴基斯坦8歲女傭放走僱主鸚鵡被打死，送到醫院時渾身是傷流著血
日期：2020年6月4日
來源：國際人物誌
8歲的卓哈拉·尚（Zohra Shah）來自巴基斯坦拉瓦爾品第市一個貧窮家庭，於四個月前被父母送到富裕的哈桑·辛迪奇（Hassan Siddiqui）夫婦的家中做傭工，幫忙照顧他們1歲的孩子以及做其他家務活。上月31日，卓哈拉在打開寵物籠子餵食時，不小心放走了幾隻鸚鵡，因而遭到了哈桑夫婦的暴打。她被送到醫院時渾身是傷，最後於6月1日因傷重去世，而哈桑夫婦於同一天被捕。
兩名印尼船員稱在中國漁船上遭受虐待，跳入馬六甲海峽逃生
日期：2020年6月16日
來源：關鍵評論
根據比通漁民中心的報告，印尼船員雷納爾菲（Reynalfi）和安德里・朱尼安斯耶（Andri Juniansyah）從一艘正在馬六甲海峽航行的中國漁船「魯青遠漁901」上跳下。印尼破壞性捕魚觀察組織8日對美國之音說，兩名印尼船員的遭遇是欺騙性招募行動的結果。他們在受僱期間經常遭受中國船員和船長的「恐嚇、身體暴力和其他形式的虐待。他們工作了5個月，但工資從未到賬。最終在漁船穿越馬六甲海峽時，決定跳船。」
N號房博士房遭認定犯罪組織 韓檢起訴8人
日期：2020年6月22日
來源：中央社
韓國N號房事件中的博士房主嫌趙主彬（譯音）涉嫌脅迫被害女性拍攝性剝削影片，在通訊軟體販賣、散布，韓國檢方今天以組織及加入犯罪組織罪嫌，追加起訴趙主彬及共犯等8人。檢方指出，博士房參與者有組織地進行犯罪活動，內部曾有規則及利益分配的討論，犯罪期間長約6個月，並有為組織團結進行活動等，因此判定博士房並非一般分享色情影片的聚會，而是犯罪組織。
肢體暴力、苛扣薪水、反鎖冷凍櫃，調告查報曝台灣剝削外籍漁工現況
日期：2020年6月25日
來源：關鍵評論
2018年8月至2019年11月期間，環境正義基金會訪談來自62艘漁船的71名漁工。訪談中，有接近四分之一的漁船被舉報有肢體暴力的問題，多數為踢與打。在所有漁工工作的漁船中，92%受指控有苛扣薪水的狀況，構成抵債勞動的主要條件。82%的漁船受舉報有嚴重的超時工作，漁工表示常會需要工作長達20小時，幾乎沒有時間休息。除了人權剝削以外，漁工訪談也揭露嚴重的非法漁撈作業。
國際
豪捐千萬、保障3成就業名額…國際品牌群起挺黑人 上游卻使用新疆維人奴工
日期：2020年6月11日
來源：信傳媒
美國示威「黑人的命也是命」（BLM）蔓延全球，多家跨國企業跟進響應，然而面對新疆維人遭到強迫勞動，它們似乎並沒有那麼積極。根據澳洲智庫「澳洲戰略政策研究所」（Australian Strategic Policy Institute），至少83個國際品牌的供應鏈使用「新疆奴工」，包括Nike和Adidas。
「美食不美」：義大利的現代農奴與黑手黨
日期：2020年6月19日
來源：換日線
和歐洲旅遊區那些「富有人文格調和藝術氣息」的街道大不相同：這裡僅有泥土、土石路，路旁充斥著野狗野貓與垃圾，房間沒有飲用水、電力和現代廁所，看起來反而像是印度北境的貧民窟──這裏是義大利的「高級食材盛產地」之一，簡陋的棚屋裡卻擠滿了上千名弱勢移工，與負責「管理」他們的、與黑手黨勾結的工頭。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：受困西班牙農田的摩洛哥婦女：為了溫飽，我只能讓雇主性侵
肺炎疫情：被僱主「丟棄」的非洲傭工
日期：2020年6月24日
來源：BBC 中文
新冠疫情下，許多黎巴嫩僱主因經濟危機付不出薪水，將來自埃塞俄比亞的女傭「丟棄」在貝魯特大使館外，引發人道危機。現場志願者說：「這些女傭都想回家，但機場已經關閉。而大使館就在這裡，他們有庇護所，為何不願意開放？太不應該了。」目前沒有雇主因為任意「丟棄」女傭被起訴，但有關調查仍在進行中。
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+ 閱讀更多：菲律賓駐黎巴嫩大使館：菲傭庇護所內自殺身亡
評論及資源
資源：黑心朱古力
日期：2020年6月3日
來源：港台電視｜31 看世界
朱古力市場每年總值千億美元，業界一直承諾終止可可種植場的童工及濫伐林木問題，但二十年來問題依舊。在全球最大可可生產國科特迪瓦，來自鄰近地區的非法童工，甚至要無償工作以求飽腹，如同被囚禁於森林深處。可可豆一旦經過輸出和加工，成為貨架上的精緻朱古力，背後由土地、奴隸和童工付出的血汗就再無跡可尋。
影評：《傑佛瑞艾普斯坦：上流濁水》 我就像被連根拔起的花，丟到地上踐踏
日期：2020年6月12日
來源：女人迷
如果你也和我一樣，對於越是殘忍的故事，越不願細看，我希望你也能勇敢一次。《傑佛瑞艾普斯坦：上流濁水》是 Netflix 推出的紀錄片影集，共有四集，每級長度約一小時，揭露美國億萬富豪傑佛瑞艾普斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein）引誘、性侵害及性販賣未成女少女的惡行。導演麗莎布萊恩（Lisa Bryant）運用穿插的方式，結合九位願意站出來指認的被害者，試圖拼湊出長久以來的性犯罪全貌。
影評：選擇的條件──談電視劇《無主之子》
日期：2020年6月23日
來源：苦勞網
以移工作為故事主角的文化生產，近年來算是邊緣議題裡的主流。從劇情片、紀錄片、小劇場甚至主流廣告，都大幅使用移工作為主題，但電視劇《無主之子》提出了不同的觀看視角：一個移工「看」台灣的視角。一年前該劇編劇在前期資料收集及田野調查時，曾到台灣國際勞工協會做過訪問，一年後看到成品其實很感動的，感動的點在於，該劇貼近事實，不煽情不說教，也未給出一個美好的答案。
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
Join Hands to Safeguard Children
At Branches of Hope we are committed to keeping children safe. Together with other partners in HK, we recently signed up to the Child Safeguarding Charter launched by the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights. To find out more, visit the official website of the charter and give our Child Protection Policy a read!
Self-care for Survivors
We had our first ever ‘Self-care’ Workshop with STOP clients on 20 May. In this workshop, we explored ways of processing emotions like anxiety and depression, as well as practical coping strategies to equip us during stressful times like the COVID-19 season. Our deepest gratitude to Oasis for designing and delivering this very thoughtful and informative session!
Run the FringeBacker Hong Kong Virtual Marathon for STOP
Register for this self-documented race and join a wider community who are running, swimming, hiking for a good cause! Choose Branches of Hope as the charity partner to support STOP’s anti-trafficking work and get 50% off with our promo code DISBHetzw. That’s only HKD60 to enter the 10KM race, and comes with lots of coupons plus a medal. Your donation 100% comes to us.
Click here for more information.
HONG KONG
How coronavirus pushes Hong Kong domestic workers into debt traps
Date: 3 May 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
The coronavirus crisis has brought additional financial hurdles and further pushed foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong like Rose into debt traps. While some are unable to pay back their loans, others have been forced to borrow more money from friends, licensed money lenders and loan sharks. About 10 domestic workers interviewed by This Week in Asia cited reasons that included losing their jobs and being unable to leave their employers’ home to make payments on time.
Access the article here.
Read more: Should I not hire a domestic helper who has taken out a loan or is in debt?
Man arrested over Hong Kong sex scam targeting teen schoolgirl
Date: 4 May 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
Police said the secondary school student had received a message via Telegram, offering her a job that could earn thousands of Hong Kong dollars in an hour or two.
She was invited to send her personal details and intimate photographs to the Telegram user who sent the message, which she did. But in response, the student was threatened and told she had to have sex with the recruiter or the photographs would be made public.
ASIA
Illegal fishing and severe labour exploitation of Indonesian crew on Chinese tuna longliner reported, four died after allegedly being denied treatment
Date: 6 May 2020
Source: Environmental Justice Foundation
The four men all started work on the vessel Long Xing 629 in early 2019. Survivors from the vessel report that the deceased victims had all been suffering from swelling, chest pain, and breathing difficulties for weeks, yet were denied medical care by the vessel Captain who allegedly refused to return to port. Survivors also speculate that the crewmen’s deaths are connected to the salty water Indonesian members were made to drink while on the vessel. No autopsies were conducted in any of the cases, though the victim who died in Korea was tested and found not to have Covid-19.
British grocer Tesco’s slavery review reports abuses in Malaysia
Date: 16 May 2020
Source: Reuters
U.K.-based multinational groceries chain Tesco PLC has found abuses against migrant workers at its stores and distribution centres in Malaysia and Thailand, it said in its annual modern slavery statement. The company listed allegations based on interviews with 168 migrant workers in Malaysia and 187 in Thailand that included passport retention, unexplained and illegal wage reductions, heavy indebtedness to labour brokers and excessive overtime work.
China abduction: Parents find son snatched in hotel 32 years ago
Date: 19 May 2020
Source: BBC News
Mao Yin was snatched aged two. On 17 October 1988, his father, Mao Zhenjing, was bringing him home from nursery in the city of Xian in Shaanxi province. The boy asked for a drink of water, so they stopped in the entrance of a hotel. As the father cooled down some hot water, he looked away briefly, and the boy was taken…
Access the article here.
Watch more: Kidnapped－The Chinese parents desperately searching for missing children
GLOBAL
COVID-19 and Modern Slavery－Challenges, opportunities, and the future of the fight
Date: 28 April 2020
Source: Council on Foreign Relations
As the economic fallout of the pandemic deepens and further exacerbates vulnerabilities, the global community should anticipate that millions more may fall into labor and sex trafficking in the aftermath of the crisis. While urgent humanitarian needs are being addressed in the short-term, the global community must also rethink social protections and evaluate supply chains to ensure ethical production and responsible global trade in the medium and long-term.
Being forced into sex trade as a teenager was devastating. But being shamed for it made it worse.
Date: 6 May 2020
Source: Vice
For thousands of young girls forced into modern slavery in brothels or dance bars in India, being rescued doesn’t always mean getting their lives back, because of the impunity the men enjoy, and the stigma of forced sex trade that women continue to bear. One survivor, Trishna, who is currently fighting to formulate a law that protects people from all forms of modern slavery, spoke about her life in confinement, and beyond.
Access the article here.
Read more: How assigning or assuming blame impacts sex trafficking survivors
Call for credit card freeze on porn sites.
Date: 8 May 2020
Source: BBC News
A letter signed by more than 10 campaigners and campaign groups, says porn sites “eroticise sexual violence, incest, and racism” and stream content that features child sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Mastercard told the BBC they were investigating claims made in the letter on pornography sites and would “terminate their connection to our network” if illegal activity by a cardholder was confirmed.
Girls at risk of child marriage as half of local authorities fail to keep records
Date: 18 May 2020
Source: The Guardian
Responses reveal that between 2018 and 2019, the latest data available, there were 165 children in England and Wales at risk of child marriage. Yet 56% of departments responsible for children’s social care in the two countries were found not recording how many minors were at risk of child marriage. It has written to local authorities amid concerns that some social workers were not fully trained or aware of the complexities around “honour”-based abuse including child marriage.
RESOURCES
Short Film: Chosen Few
Date: 21 April 2020
Source: TVF Spotlight
Underground prostitution rackets, a special police officer and trapped, voiceless children. Special Police Officer Abhay Joshi digs up Mumbai’s most disgusting criminal networks even though it risks a few lives.
Report: Protecting people in a pandemic－Urgent collaboration needed to protect vulnerable workers and prevent exploitation
Date: 14 May 2020
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
COVID-19 travel and movement restrictions are not stopping the movement of people fleeing conflict, human rights abuses, violence and dangerous living conditions, while the economic consequences of the pandemic are likely to lead to an increase in smuggling of migrants and trafficking in person flows from the most affected countries to more affluent destinations, according to a report launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime this month.
Access the article here.
Read more: Migrant smugglers and human traffickers to become more ruthless and clandestine says new Europol report
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
攜手守護兒童
STOP 所屬機構希望枝子致力維護兒童權益。我們聯同香港多間學校、公司及機構，簽署由香港兒童權利委員會發起的「守護兒童約章」，承諾設立符合國際標準的守護兒童政策，為兒童建構一個健康、安心的成長環境。欲瞭解更多，請參閱守護兒童約章網頁及我們的守護兒童政策。
創傷後的「自我照顧」
我們有幸於20日邀請到Oasis的心理諮詢師，為三位倖存者分享「自我照顧」的概念和高壓環境下的情緒管理技巧。此次工作坊能得講者與參加者的支持和信任，我們滿懷感恩！
慈善馬拉松
不受時間、地點、運動方式拘束的雲端馬拉松開放報名了！凡報名並於今年6月30號前完成所選項目，即可獲得完成獎牌、證書以及電子現金卷。如果你想支持STOP的反人口販運工作，或我們姊妹組織ROAD的難民支援工作，請揀選希望枝子 Branches of Hope 為受惠機構，你的善款會全數撥捐我們。
報名時，記得用希望枝子的五折優惠碼 DISBHetzw。參與十公里挑戰，只需港幣60元！
香港
TG短訊威脅少女性交 28歲男文員落網
日期：2020年5月4日
來源：蘋果日報
一名17歲中學生少女報案，指較早前透過Telegram收到私人短訊，內容與「搵快錢」有關。少女其後將個人資料及照片傳送給對方，對方要求少女會面但被拒絕，對方隨後便威脅少女與他性交，否則會公開少女個人資料及該些照片。警方3日在旺角一間賓館拘捕一名28歲姓蔡、報稱文員的本地男子，涉嫌「以威脅或恐嚇手段促使他人進行非法性行為」。
操控少女賣淫 3女被控
日期：2020年5月23日
來源：明報
3名年輕女子涉安排一名任兼職女友的16歲少女賣淫，高峰期間兩天內接客8次。少女一度因腹痛拒絕接客，被勒索3萬元，最終報警求助，送院檢驗後證實染上性病。3名涉案女子被控依靠他人賣淫為生，其中兩人另被控勒索罪。控方表示，3人或會改控更嚴重的「控制他人賣淫」罪。
亞洲
中國漁船涉嫌非法捕魚及人權剝削，四名印尼籍漁工死亡
日期：2020年5月5日
來源：環境正義基金會
過世的四名漁工自2019年年初登上「Long Xing 629」漁船工作。他們在去世前數週都有出現身體腫脹、胸口痛、呼吸困難的狀況，但船長拒絕回港給于治療。倖存的漁工表示，這段期間他們喝的水都是帶有鹽分的水，懷疑此與死者們喪命原因有關，然而相關單位並沒有驗屍確認。有人更揭露，船長曾對至少兩名印尼籍船員施暴；而漁工一天工作時間常長達18小時，有時甚至兩天都無法休息。
【打工囚虐】少年截肢住院還遭恐嚇「不要亂說話」
日期：2020年5月6日
來源：蘋果日報
彰化一名17歲少年為幫補家計，去年外出到桃園做鐵工，未料被惡老闆非法扣減薪金，年底想離職時和另一名林姓員工一同被囚虐三個月。二人被綁在座椅當活靶，被 BB彈空氣長槍掃射上百發、被電擊、甚至被餵狗糞、菸蒂、狗飼料和強逼吸毒。他們上月獲救送醫，全身傷痕累累，有三隻腳趾截肢，詹姓男主嫌還致電恐嚇「你不要亂說話」。
承認大馬分行剝削移工 特易購報告承諾改善
日期：2020年5月16日
來源：當今大馬
跨國連鎖超市特易購（Tesco）五月發布《現代奴役》研究報告，坦承馬來西亞分行有剝削移工的問題。隨著這項發現，特易購表示，該集團將與外部的人權專家，制定全面方案來解決奴役問題。根據報告，特易購訪問了馬來西亞的168名員工，並鑑定了多項嚴重的指控，包括扣押護照、無故非法減薪、欠中介龐大債務和過度加班等。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：Tesco聖誕卡疑案 中國否認強制外籍罪犯勞動
等了32年，61歲的李靜芝終於抱到了苦苦期盼的兒子
日期：2020年5月18日
來源：每日頭條
「孩子被拐有多痛苦？做父母的人根本是連想像都沒膽量去想。丟孩子的父母嘗遍了人生的悲哀苦痛！」尋兒32年，李靜芝從未放棄過，終在今年母親節得與兒子重聚。1988年10月17日，李靜芝的丈夫毛振平帶著兒子嘉嘉在西安西大街的金陵酒店附近玩耍。當時年僅2歲半的嘉嘉口渴想要喝水，毛振平便帶著孩子走進酒店，向服務員要了一杯水。只是前後不到兩分鐘的時間，孩子便不見了……
國際
人權團體聯名呼籲信用卡公司，斷絕 Pornhub 在內各大色情網站金流
日期：2020年5月8日
來源：科技新報
一個月前，南韓的「N 號房」事件揭露了網絡色情全球性侵害、虐待兒童與歧視的犯罪惡行。十個來自不同國家的人權團體認為，要阻斷這些罪行，必須從金流著手，因此寄發公開信請求各大信用卡公司即刻禁止色情網站的請款申請。信用卡龍頭 MasterCard 發言人表示，他們正在積極調查公開信內的指控內容，「如果商家或消費者有違規行為，我們將會中止相關支付服務，正如同我們以往配合打擊國際兒童人蛇集團一樣。」
+ 全文
+ 閱讀更多：「再怎麼檢舉，換了網址還是會繼續」N號房在各地以不同形式上演
聯合國毒品和犯罪問題辦公室：新冠疫情或導致人口販運行為增加
日期：2020年5月14日
來源：聯合國毒品和犯罪問題辦公室
聯合國毒品和犯罪問題辦公室14日發布的一份報告指出，因2019冠狀病毒而實施的旅行和行動限制並未阻止人口逃離衝突、侵犯人權、暴力和危險的生活條件，疾病大流行可能導致更多人從疫情最嚴重的國家被販運至富裕國家。但若在窘迫的經濟條件下施加更嚴格的行動監管措施，又可能會使問題更嚴重……
評論及資源
報告：透過「外國人技能實習生計劃」輸入日本的移民工權利被剝削
日期：2020年4月27日
來源：企業責任資源中心
日本政府在1993年開始輸入移民工，解決人口老化造成的勞工短缺問題。計劃原意，是從外地聘請實習生，讓他們在日本接受日語及技術培訓，再將所學的知識帶回自己國家。然而，日本官方美其名指計劃是「分享日本的知識和技術予鄰近國家」，現實卻是輸入廉價外勞。日本勞動省的數據顯示，有近七成參與計劃的日本企業違反了法規，數字驚人並持續高企。
+ 全文
+ 閱讀 《日本製造：實習生變奴隸工》報告（英）
+ 觀看短片：中國研修生的遭遇──我們如何在日本「遭剝削」
觀點：「你們、我們」思維的代價──新加坡疫情，為何因移工宿舍感染失控？
日期：2020年4月30日
來源：報導者
新加坡自1月21日出現第一起COVID-19確診案例後，在沒有封鎖邊境、持續各類經濟活動的狀態下，維持了2個多月的低確診案例狀態，直到當地稱為「客工」的外籍移工宿舍一處接著一處爆發群聚感染事件，累積確診案例突破16,000例，也把新加坡從防疫優等生的寶座拉了下來。防疫如作戰，新加坡在「移工」這一役上，也許早就埋下了失守的種子。
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。Branches of Hope eNews May 2020
