Branches of Hope eNews July 2020
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
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.”
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
【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。
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+ 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。
+ 全文
+ 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
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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
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
Hungry and indebted: Kenyan domestic worker falls victim to forced labour in Hong Kong
Date: 6 April 2020
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
When Mary saw a job advertisement recruiting foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong on Facebook three years ago, her face lit up. The 29-year-old Kenyan thought the monthly wage of HK$4,410, way higher than her income at home in Nairobi, would contribute towards paying for the education of her six siblings whilst supporting her retired parents. She never foresaw that her “dream job” would turn into one of her worst nightmares.
Serial sex offender jailed for seven years in Hong Kong over rape of 15-year-old girl
Date: 22 April 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
A Hong Kong serial sex offender with 38 prior convictions was jailed for seven years and three months for raping an underage girl and threatening to take recordings of their sexual encounter to her school. Justice Joseph Yau said the court did not lose sight of the fact that Chan Wing-jim’s victim was a part-time girlfriend engaging in compensated dating. “This, however, does not give the defendant the licence to do what he had done,” the judge said.
Access the article here.
Read more: Bought and sold – helping young people escape from commercial sexual exploitation
ASIA
Singapore’s cramped migrant worker dorms a ‘perfect storm’ for rising coronavirus infections
Date: 6 April 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
As Singapore sees a rise in coronavirus infections among its migrant worker population, rights groups are calling on the authorities to improve the living conditions of these workers, pointing to how they are housed in dormitories that are too cramped for them to practise physical distancing. “I hope the Covid-19 episode demonstrates to the employers and wider public that raising standards at worker dormitories is not only the right thing to do, but also in our own interests.” Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said in a late-night Facebook post.
China cracks down on illegal online adoptions
Date: 17 April 2020
Source: China News
Chinese internet giants, including Tencent and Q&A platform Zhihu vowed to investigate and shut down chatrooms and messages on baby trafficking through illegal adoptions. The move comes after a foster father was accused of raping his adopted daughter. Global Times learned that some online baby trafficking chatrooms were disguised as charitable organizations, for example, those that helped lost children find their homes or agencies providing nurses or babysitters.
Access the article here.
Read more: Anger erupts in China after teen says guardian repeatedly raped her
Japan is offering sex workers financial aid. But they say it’s not enough to survive the coronavirus pandemic
Date: 20 April 2020
Source: CNN
Sex workers across Japan have been hit hard by closures and restrictions due to the pandemic. The entire country is under a state of emergency, with many businesses ordered to shutter and people advised not to go out. To soften the economic blow, the central government has launched a massive stimulus package worth 108 trillion Japanese yen. After some controversy, sex workers are eligible to apply for aid, but for many, the package offers little reassurance – and its rules for eligibility seem opaque and restrictive.
Access the article here.
Read more: ‘I don’t want to infect my children,’ says Hong Kong sex worker
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.
GLOBAL
Revealed: Vietnamese children vanish from Dutch shelters to be trafficked into Britain
Date: 30 March 2020
Source: The Guardian
An investigation by the Observer and Argos Radio of the Netherlands has revealed that, in the past five years, at least 60 Vietnamese children have disappeared from protected shelters. The findings of the investigation raise serious questions about the efforts of EU states to prevent the trafficking of vulnerable children, and highlight the failings of the British and Dutch authorities to care for unaccompanied minors properly.
AI is helping us combat the economic problem of human trafficking
Date: 14 April 2020
Source: Forbes
In 2012, a student, Emily Kennedy from Carnegie Mellon University found that AI technology can be used to leverage the retail component of the Human Trafficking business to uncover human trafficking operations. She started Marinus Analytics, a company that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning in their software Traffic Jam to comb through publicly available data all over the internet to help to identify patterns of human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies in several countries use Traffic Jam to follow up on leads generated and conduct rescue operations.
Fruit labourers: ‘If you don’t want to work like a slave, you’re out’
Date: 20 April 2020
Source: BBC News
Spain is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world. The southern region of Almeria is known for what the Spanish call the sea of plastic. Cheap plastic greenhouses cover tens of thousands of hectares and migrant workers pick the fruits and vegetables that are sold in European supermarkets. The BBC has spent several months investigating allegations of exploitation there.
Coders who survived human trafficking rewrite their identities
Date: 21 April 2020
Source: Wired
At a family centre in downtown Oakland, 11 students are training with two lecturers and two teaching assistants. Toys are strewn on the floor; the school, called AnnieCannons, offers childcare onsite. Coding is about identifying problems and finding solutions, says Jessica Hubley, one of the founders of AnnieCannons, a nonprofit that teaches coding to survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, and that is something these students have had a lot of experience doing. A photographer and an artist weave together their stories…
RESOURCES
A guide for survivors of sex trafficking during COVID-19
Date: 27 March 2020
Source: Sanctuary for Families
The purpose of this is to empower survivors and service providers with psychoeducation on how COVID-19 might be particularly triggering for survivors of human trafficking. It is written for survivors of sex trafficking who are no longer being trafficked. This guide was written by a survivor of sex and labour trafficking and a licensed mental health clinician.
COVID-19: Guidance for employers and business to enhance migrant worker protection during the current health crisis
Date: 7 April 2020
Source: IRIS
Employers and business play a vital role in protecting migrant workers and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many provide essential care, services and goods and, in doing so, rely heavily on their migrant workforce. This resource is designed to help employers more effectively respond to the impact of COVID-19 and to enhance protections for migrant workers in their operations and supply chains.
Access the article here.
Access the employers guidance here.
Opinion: The sham of ‘rehabilitation’ – many child sex trafficking victims are pushed back into abuse
Date: 10 April 2020
Source: The News Minute
Priya was just a child when she was trafficked for sex from her home in West Bengal. After years of abuse, Priya thought her woes would end when she was rescued. But as the assault of the pimps and customers ended, the assault of the system began. All Priya wanted was some support from the government to find herself a home, and start afresh. But that didn’t happen. Soon, the organisation that was helping her found out that she had gone back into sex work.
Report: Top fashion brands found making little progress in transparency index
Date: 21 April 2020
Source: Reuters
The annual index by advocacy group Fashion Revolution – now in its fifth year – ranked 250 of the world’s biggest brands according to how much information they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices and outcomes. H&M, C&A, Adidas, Reebok and Esprit topped the index, which was published ahead of the seventh anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, which killed about 1,135 garment workers and injured more than 2,000.
Access the article here.
Read the full report here.
Review our #GoBeyondTheLabel series 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.
香港
反勒索達人青躍創辦人林寶儀 網絡催化性暴力 難有終結
日期：2020年3月29日
來源：明報
南韓Ｎ號房事件曝光不久後，有人迅速將事情來由翻譯成中文，林寶儀埋頭看，單看文字敘述已覺心寒。她想到了幾年前香港其實也發生過類似的事，有幾個成員達數千人的Telegram群組，成員間互相分享在不同場所偷拍女生走光照片，討論偷拍技巧。性暴力行為在香港時有發生，在當今網絡的催化下，傷害的力度加大。受傷的女孩子，在水深火熱裏的她們，其實需要什麼？為什麼會被勒索？
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：方念萱／網路性霸凌──那些受害於數位性別暴力裡的人們，尤其是女人
積犯強姦恐嚇15歲「兼職女友」 判囚7年3月
日期：2020年4月22日
來源：明報
過去曾干犯多項性罪行的男倉務員，兩年前在網上邀約15歲「兼職女友」到元朗一間酒店開房，趁機強姦少女，事後要脅跟他再性交，否則將其私密照傳到網上。男倉務員早前在高院經審訊後被裁定各一項強姦和刑事恐嚇罪成。法官指斥，被告雖沒有射精，也沒有令女事主懷孕或染病，但被告無疑是機會主義者，精心策劃事件，事後又以影片恐嚇，並考慮被告過去持續干犯性罪行，決定判處被告共入獄7年3個月。
亞洲
防疫不分本外，新加坡總理李顯龍：我們會盡全力照顧外籍移工
日期：2020年4月10日
來源：關鍵評論
人力有限的新加坡相當仰賴外來勞動力的輸入，以支撐國內的建築、清潔等行業，因此在新加坡有許多外籍移工宿舍。《中央社》報導，新加坡官方公布的外勞宿舍感染群，共有近2萬名的移工要執行14天隔離令。為減緩外籍移工族群發生武漢肺炎群聚感染的機會，在新加坡國家發展部的要求下，新加坡國防部已將鮮少使用的勿洛第二營區、裕廊第二營區，改作為暫時安置外籍移工的緊急住房設施。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：新冠肺炎病例暴增，凸顯新加坡「階級制度」 外籍移工處境艱難、宿舍淪病毒溫床
性侵幼妻養女的「鮑毓明事件」？中國販售兒童的送養黑色產業鍊
日期：2020年4月15日
來源：轉角國際
近期中國引發社會輿論的「鮑毓明事件」，不僅讓鮑毓明幾乎身敗名裂，也迫使曾被撤銷的養女性侵案重啟調查。然而鮑的「幼妻養成計畫」，背後牽連著長期隱藏在中國社會的「兒童送養網路黑產業」。這套送出養流程，是由出養人將孩子透過中介方，在網路上私自尋找有意收養的「客戶」，媒合成功後會收取一定的費用。根據部分已知的送養網路群組討論，有些還是在孕婦懷胎時就可以「下訂」，價格從4萬到10萬人民幣以上都有。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：高管涉嫌性侵「養女」，鮑毓明案在中國引發憤怒
CNN專訪日本風俗孃：當政府將性工作者納入紓困對象，她們真能得到幫助嗎？
日期：2020年4月20日
來源：風傳媒
日本的新冠肺炎疫情讓全國進入「緊急事態」，疫情下的經濟衰退，風俗業自然也是受害者之一。在幾經爭論後，日本的性工作者確定也能申請安倍晉三於7日宣布的108兆日元緊急紓困補助。不過CNN近日實地走訪日本的風俗孃，發現政府畫的大餅對她們來說有些不切實際，而不透明及不清晰的申請資格與補助項目更令許多風俗從業人員不知該如何辦領申請。
《封鎖悲歌》就快到家了……印度12歲失業童工返鄉，徒步跋涉70公里、脫水而死
日期：2020年4月22日
來源：風傳媒
印度為應對新冠肺炎危機，自3月24日起全國封城，使各地支撐起城市經濟基礎的數百萬民工被迫丟掉工作、失去在城內的棲身之處，一夕之間淪為難民。但全國交通停擺，使他們還必須徒步跋涉數百公里回家。21日，南部一家農場的12歲童工瑪德坎姆，在徒步約70公里後累到脫水而死。印度人權運動家林加指出：「小女孩命不該絕的，她只是個孩子，不該是民工。」
國際
消失的孩子！大批越南兒童被指從荷蘭賣到英國制毒，荷政府稱胡扯
日期：2020年3月31日
來源：壹讀
《觀察家報》和荷蘭Argos電台的一項調查顯示，過去五年里，至少有60名越南兒童從荷蘭的庇護所里失蹤。荷蘭警方和移民官員懷疑，這些孩子是被人口販子拐到英國的大麻製造廠和美甲沙龍工作了。這次的調查結果不但令外界對歐盟國家防止拐賣弱勢兒童的工作提出了嚴重質疑，更反映出英國和荷蘭當局並未有妥善照顧這些在異地舉目無親的未成年人。
歐洲移民勞工討薪難：「如果你不願意像奴隸一樣工作，你就出局了。」
日期：2020年4月22日
來源：BBC News 中文
西班牙是世界上最大的水果和蔬菜生產國之一，而當地阿爾梅裏亞省南部地區更有數萬公頃的蔬果溫室大棚，甚至被西班牙人稱為「塑料海洋」。廉價的塑料溫室內，移民勞工正在採摘將運往歐洲，在超市出售的水果和蔬菜。BBC歷時幾個月，調查那裏移民勞工遭到剝削的指控。
評論及資源
評論：想飛卻不能飛，從短片Sitara看14歲女孩的悲歌
日期：2020年4月10日
來源：Hokk Fabrica
與相愛的人攜手步入婚姻，或許是不少人再普通不過的人生選擇之一；然而在某些國家裡，自由戀愛卻像是遙不可及的夢想。童婚直到今日仍持續發生中，而為了早日終結童婚，有許多單位高聲呼籲社會停止這項惡習。曾獲兩次奧斯卡金像獎最佳紀錄短片獎的巴基斯坦籍導演Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy，便以1970年代的巴基斯坦為背景，製作出短片《Sitara: Let Girls Dream》，希望能藉此引起大眾多關注她的家鄉，以及其他仍有童婚現象的國家，並正視此項議題。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：「我八歲，有一個小孩」童婚小新娘的悲歌
報告：Fashion Revolution 2020《時尚透明度指數》排名最高是 H&M 集團和 Gucci、最低是 Tom Ford
日期：2020年4月23日
來源：Vogue Hong Kong
公司向消費者提供公司透明度是實現可持續性發展時裝的重要一步，如此他們才能知道 #WhoMadeMyClothes ，產品的誕生又是否來血汗工廠、或是在甚麼情況下搜羅材料。Fashion Revolution 組織發表2020 《The Fashion Transparency Index 2020》報告，對全球最大的250個時裝品牌和零售商做出調查，根據品牌們所分享有關其供應鏈、環境實踐和社會承諾的信息作出排名。報告中，透明度最高的排名，由 H&M 集團位居榜首擁有 73% 的透明度。
評論：性剝削之下的責任歸屬 –– N號房事件中「只觀看沒施暴」的人有罪嗎？
日期：2020年4月23日
來源：關鍵評論
N號房殘酷的犯罪手法不僅震驚各界，也引發如何究責的論戰。部分會員主張他們並未參與施暴、不必為影片中的性暴力負責，但韓國社會顯然不認為會員們毫無責任、怒指他們也是共犯，更有逾200萬人在青瓦臺網站上連署要求政府公布會員身分。輿論也指出，如此大規模的性犯罪反映的不僅是少數人的惡行、更是結構性的性別壓迫，而支持或默許這種文化的社會大眾是否也應對N號房事件負部分責任？
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：網路兒童性誘騙 –– 隱藏在數位空間的犯罪行為
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
Spread the Word
STOP is partnering with Rights Exposure to conduct a research study on the exploitation and trafficking of youth sex workers in Hong Kong. If you know someone who may be interested to participate in the study, feel free to share this message with them. Thank you!
International Visitor Leadership Program
In February, our staff Kara joined the International Visitors Leadership Program hosted by the US Department of State. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange views and share knowledge with various anti-trafficking agencies and organizations in the USA, as well as with other participants of the program from all over the world. Kara looks forward to applying the inspiration and experience she gained to the ongoing fight against human trafficking in Hong Kong.
HONG KONG
Hong Kong students take a stand against modern-day slavery on CNN’s #MyFreedomDay
Date: 11 March 2020
Source: CNN
During the coronavirus outbreak, students in Hong Kong take a break from home learning to discuss the value of freedom and raise awareness to end slavery with CNN news anchor Kristie Lu Stout.
Watch the interview here.
View more: My Freedom Day 2020 submissions
Hong Kong’s ‘live-in’ rule for domestic workers leads to working on rest day, appeal of government policy argues
Date: 17 March 2020
Source: South China Morning Post
Hong Kong’s domestic helpers are routinely subject to exploitation on their legally mandated rest day because of a policy that requires them to live with their employers, an appeal against the government policy argued. Barrister Paul Shieh SC told the Court of Appeal the so-called live-in rule, “unacceptably heightened the risk of domestic workers being forced to work while they were supposed to be having their rest day”.
Access the article here.
Read more: Hong Kong employers called ‘irresponsible’ as survey reveals 50,000 domestic helpers not given masks, sanitiser
Two held over jobs scam targeting migrant workers
Date: 17 March 2020
Source: RTHK
Customs officers have cracked down on a purported employment agency, which allegedly preyed on foreign domestic helpers by falsely claiming they could help their friends and family find work in Hong Kong as construction workers, cleaners, and waiters, with salaries supposedly ranging from HK$7,000 to HK$13,000. Officers have identified eight victims so far, and are calling on others to come forward.
ASIA
‘It’s not that I want to sell my kid. I just need money’: The Philippine mothers who sell their babies
Date: 8 March 2020
Source: CNA
Commercial adoption of children is qualified as child trafficking under Philippine law. But despite the severe penalties, law-enforcement officers continue to receive reports on the illicit trade. For Jasmine, paid adoption is a guarantee for her child’s well-being. She believes whoever could pay US$200 to adopt him would be able to give him a better life. “We stood outside the gate and I looked at them. They were dancing around with the baby. We were both crying,” she said.
Trafficked ‘brides’ stuck in China due to coronavirus after fleeing abuse
Date: 12 March 2020
Source: Reuters
Coronavirus travel restrictions have forced anti-trafficking groups to suspend rescue operations of Vietnamese and Cambodian “brides” from China, with some now in hiding having escaped the homes of men holding them against their will. Chab Dai program manager Chan Saron said in early January, one women reported being transferred to “government-controlled detention” and held “under very strict conditions” before contact was lost.
GLOBAL
Niger police rescue 232 victims of sex trafficking, forced labour
Date: 27 February 2020
Source: Reuters
Police in Niger have rescued 232 victims of sex trafficking and forced labor, including girls as young as 10, in a major operation in the capital Niamey, Interpol said. “It’s bad enough when you have transportation of illicit goods, but these are real people with real ambitions,” said Stephen Kavanagh, Interpol’s executive director of police services.
Access the article here.
Read more: The Nigerian human trafficking mafia in Europe
In her own words: An inside look into sex trafficking from Canadian survivors
Date: 9 March 2020
Source: Global News
Wearing cozy clothing, they quietly walk through the door and squeeze onto a floral couch. They wipe their palms on their thighs — you can feel their nerves — you can also feel their bravery. They are survivors of the unimaginable. From different cities and backgrounds, there is a common thread in each woman’s narrative. They were all vulnerable in some way and ended up in the arms of someone they thought they could trust before things started to spiral.
Samoan chief guilty of enslaving countrymen in New Zealand for 25 years
Date: 17 March 2020
Source: The Telegraph
Joseph Auga Matamata, a New Zealand-based Samoan chief was found guilty of human trafficking and using 13 Samoans as slaves in New Zealand over a quarter of a century. He promised paid work or schooling in New Zealand and paid for flights, visas and passports, but upon arrival his victims worked long hours for no pay. It is the first time anyone in New Zealand had been charged with both human trafficking and slavery simultaneously.
RESOURCES
Opinion: Child sex trafficking survivors deserve to be protected, not criminalized
Date: 28 February 2020
Source: Crosscut
Sexual abuse during childhood is frequently one of the key indicators that girls will enter the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Often, they are condemned for crimes related to their own sexual abuse and reactions to traumatic events. This includes substance abuse, truancy, running away and retaliating against their abusers. These crimes are loud cries for help and therapeutic intervention, and should not be met with traditional detention and punishment.
Report: China transferred detained Uighurs to factories used by global brands
Date: 1 March 2020
Source: The Guardian
At least 80,000 Uighurs have been transferred from Xinjiang province, some of them directly from detention centres, to factories across China that make goods for dozens of global brands, according to a report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). The report from the ASPI adds to growing evidence that even after being released from the camps, former detainees are still subject to severe controls and in some cases forced labour.
Access the article here.
Read the summary report here.
Documentary Photography: ‘Spirit me away’ – The women and girls lost to trafficking in Nepal
Date: 8 March 2020
Source: Aljazeera
A human trafficking crisis in Nepal is leaving a trail of trauma and lost youth in its wake. ‘Spirit me away’ shines a light on the origins and the toll of the thriving human trafficking business, worth $150 billion a year worldwide, where women and girls comprise 71% of all modern slavery victims, Nepal being one of its most lucrative motherlodes. From Nepal alone, at least 54 girls and women are trafficked every day to India.
Access the article here.
View the full album here.
Report: Taiwan’s major global tuna supplier shows “blind spots” to illegal fishing practices and modern slavery
Date: 19 March 2020
Source: Greenpeace East Asia
This report is based on a 2019 investigation conducted by Greenpeace East Asia, involving interviews with migrant fishers from three fishing vessels that were either flagged or linked to Taiwan. It was found that IUU fishing and forced labour, allegedly, still continue to happen aboard Taiwanese fishing vessels operating in the Atlantic Ocean, where over 20,000 migrant workers are employed.
Access the article here.
Read the full 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.STOP 電子報：2020年03月
本月焦點
招募研究受訪者
STOP和Rights Exposure 現正進行一項有關香港年青女性性工作者被剝削的研究，旨在了解性工作者的經歷和需要，並就有關法例、支援服務以及社會政策提出改善建議。如果你有認識嘅朋友符合以上條件，請將這個post PM與他們分享。
美國交流計劃
今年二月，STOP的同工Kara參加了由美國國務院舉辦的交流計劃，有幸能與美國不同的政府部門和志願組織交流反人口販運的心得，以及認識來自世界各地的參加者。很多有心人多年來在美國建立起對抗人口販運的完善制度。他們的經驗分享，讓Kara深受啟發，希望能有助於香港的反人口販運工作。
香港
外傭團體調查 1 成僱主無為外傭提供口罩 有外傭被禁外出連續工作 9 星期
日期：2020年3月16日
來源：立場新聞
武漢肺炎疫情持續，外傭組織問卷調查顯示，本港僱主向外傭提供的防疫保護並不足夠，有逾一成人的僱主根本沒有提供口罩或搓手液，更有近半人在過去一個月無休假，被迫持續留家工作。外傭團體呼籲，外傭是照顧港人家庭重要部份，特區政府應該將他們納入抗疫計劃當中，提供足夠防疫物資和保護措施，向外傭及僱主提供防疫教育資訊，以及廢除帶歧視性的「強制同住規定」等。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：日洗廁所 15 次 留家「放假」變相返工 印傭：希望港人待我哋公平啲
菲傭上訴挑戰禁外宿規定 稱增休息日工作風險
日期：2020年3月18日
來源：明報
代表上訴人的資深大律師石永泰表示，外傭受《僱傭條例》保障，享有休息日的權利，惟須與僱主同住的規定，增加外傭受剝削的風險，例如要求外傭周日完成部分家務才可外出休假，形容情况導致外傭受《基本法》第39條保障的權利受損。石形容外傭議價能力低，只能接受僱主的不當要求，建議如僱傭雙方已達成批准外傭外出居住的協議，便毋須受法例規管。
無牌中介騙八外傭18萬血汗錢
日期：2020年3月18日
來源：星島日報
海關首破無牌僱傭中介公司以不良營商手法經營，調查發現有無良中介向在港工作的菲傭，訛稱可安排她們在家鄉的親友到港澳工作，甚至可獲高薪及居留權，介紹費由一萬二千至二萬四千元不等，有菲傭付出五倍月薪「血汗錢」，惟一直未獲相關服務，至少八人中招，涉款十八萬元。海關指不排除有更多受害人，呼籲她們向海關提供資料。
釋囚指控監獄廚房強逼每天工作 偽造休假記錄 申司法覆核追究
日期：2020年3月20日
來源：立場新聞
陳先生在 2017 年於白沙灣懲教所服刑期間，被分派至廚房工作，期間完全無休假，假日工作亦沒有獲發額外薪金，有違《監獄條例》規定。不過，在「所員休息簿」上，他卻「被放假」，他質疑有懲教職員偽造文件。事隔近兩年，懲教署在去年中裁定其投訴「沒有充足證據證明或否定相關指稱」。陳不滿結果，繼續要求署方出示「所員休息簿」，但署方聲稱院所並無持有相關資料。陳在17 日入稟申請司法覆核，要求推翻懲教署與事實不符的說法。
亞洲
梅姨拐童案 尋子15年的悲與喜
日期：2020年3月11日
來源：世界日報
2005年1月4日，申軍良將滿周歲的兒子申聰在出租屋裡被人搶走。妻子于曉莉永遠記得，那天申軍良像往常一樣出去上班，自己正在做飯，家裡突然闖入兩個男人，摀住了她的眼睛和嘴巴。一股類似藥酒的味道頓時在鼻尖瀰散開來，她睜不開眼，也說不出話。等到掙脫時，孩子不見了。過去15年，申軍良來回奔波在全程1800餘公里的尋子路上。在警方通知他找到兒子的那一刻，除了說不出的喜悅，還有那麼一點點擔憂：「孩子會不會嫌棄我？」
N號房：韓國Telegram群組性虐案 涉74人受害 26萬會員付費收看
日期：2020年3月22日
來源：香港01
首爾警方透露，綽號「博士」的團伙主腦趙某會在社交平台以「兼職」利誘，哄騙受害者拍攝露臉的裸照，藉此要脅對方拍攝淫穢影片或照片。綜合韓媒報道，案件前後牽涉最少74名受害人，包括最年幼的11歲小學生，疑犯更會以「奴隸」稱呼她們。
+ 全文
+ 延伸閱讀：台灣教育部「兒少性剝削及校園復仇式色情事件防治工作宣導方案」
國際
【科技．未來】擺脫電池界「血鑽」 可靠無鈷電池？
日期：2020年2月27日
來源：香港01
近年，各車廠和電池生產商已不斷降低電池的鈷含量。除了降低電池成本和改善電池效能，還有沒有甚麼更重要的原因？剛果的鈷開採長年涉及剝削和童工問題，被視為電池界的「血鑽」。有行業研究公司指出，鈷主要由大型工業採挖而得，但估算仍有大約17％的鈷由剛果東南部地區的數千名礦工以手工挖出，賣給中介。哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院公共政策講師Siddharth Kara表示，剛果每年有高達2,000名非法或手工礦工死亡，但很多時都沒被記錄為因挖礦致死。
尼日利亞警破「嬰兒工廠」 女子慘遭綁架充生仔機器
日期：2020年3月12日
來源：星島日報
尼日利亞人口販賣猖獗，西南部奧貢州警方發言人宣佈，近日成功破獲一個位於南部石油城市哈科特港的「嬰兒工廠」，並拯救當中被困的24名1至2歲嬰幼兒，還有4名孕婦。有不法份子涉嫌綁架並威逼多名年齡介乎20至25歲的女子進行性行為，因姦成孕產子後，犯罪集團會將嬰兒出售。被禁錮的受害人當中，有女孩年僅10多歲。
東非故事：好不容易從皮條客手上逃離的女孩，為何又再甘願「送羊入虎口」？
日期：2020年3月18日
來源：換日線
故事通常都有相似的開頭：陌生人來到偏遠的村莊，向未見過世面的女孩描繪城鎮的繁華，並承諾在那裡她將可以獲得一份優渥的工作。如果表現良好，工作幾年後也許雇主還會資助女孩回學校受教。這樣的大好機會，如何不讓困於貧窮的女孩和她的家人心動？她們懷抱著夢想前往城市，卻不曉得陌生人所說的好工作，原來是在酒吧當侍應，美其名擔任「服務生」，實際上卻是被迫賣身給尋芳客，而賺的錢都落入酒吧老闆口袋裡。
評論及資源
報告：8萬新疆維吾爾人遭「移轉」到Nike、蘋果等代工廠工作
日期：2020年3月2日
來源：關鍵評論
澳洲戰略政策研究所發表報告指出，在2017年至2019年間，有超過8萬名維吾爾族人被調離新疆，到中國各地的工廠工作，當中有部分人，是直接從新疆的拘留營中被送走。研究所指出，他們發現的證據顯示，中國的維吾爾人遭到剝削，且中國和外國企業可能無意間涉及侵犯人權，當中包括生產蘋果、BMW、華為、三星、Sony、Nike等知名企業的產品。
報告：綠色和平「公諸漁事」遠洋漁業報告，血汗海鮮可能透過豐群水產行銷國際
日期：2020年3月19日
來源：綠色和平
綠色和平早在2016年《臺灣製造》與2018年《浩劫漁生》報告就曾反映臺灣漁業署對於非法漁業與侵犯人權行為大多抱以放任態度與消極處理，以及豐群水產具有改正漁業產業陋習的高度影響力。2019年，綠色和平再度訪查在大西洋作業的遠洋漁船，以及在這些遠洋漁船上工作的十多位印尼籍漁工，並深入調查其中四位，發現漁獲供應鏈中仍有血汗漁工遭受強迫勞動。而這些血汗海鮮很有可能已經透過豐群水產廣大的全球供應鏈，行銷到全世界。
評論：武漢肺炎下的「血汗工廠」— 港、美動員囚犯趕製口罩、乾洗手 擁擠監獄恐成防疫破口
日期：2020年3月13日
來源：風傳媒
新冠肺炎（武漢肺炎、COVID-19）疫情肆虐全球，口罩、乾洗手等物資也成為人人瘋搶的「奢侈品」。香港及美國紐約州等地，動員監所內的囚犯趕工填補缺口，但人權工作者警告，獄中衛生條件惡劣且人滿為患，這群在擁擠環境為大眾生產防疫物資的受刑人，反而暴露於傳染的高度風險之中。
評論：葉靜倫／南韓「N號房事件」－ 如何防範網路未成年性剝削？
日期：2020年3月24日
來源：Right Plus 多多益善
線上未成年／孩童性影像犯罪已是全球關注的網路世代新興議題。2019年，英國網路觀察基金會IWF報告指出，光是在2018年，他們就刪除了超過10.5萬個未成年性虐網站，平均每5分鐘會發現一張有害照片或影片，創下史上最高紀錄。值得注意的是，犯罪年齡正逐漸下滑。此次南韓N號房事件中，建立並經營聊天室、目前已知的嫌犯皆為20多歲的青年。
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