Source: Voice of Russia
Feb 6, 2012
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Interview with Aidan McQuade, the director of Anti-Slavery International.
How big of a problem is the slavery and who are the most vulnerable people?
In the world today the International Liberal Organization estimates that there is a minimum of 12.3 million of people in slavery for forced labour. Generally speaking it has been thought that people coming from some of the more developed countries would be relatively safe from this. But the investigation undertaken by the BBC has demonstrated that the British people vulnerable socially and economically are also vulnerable to slavery. So, the point that has been made is that this is not just about nationality\race necessity but also about vulnerability. So, anybody one could imagine could fall into this trap if they make the wrong choice in terms of trying to get a job to provide for themselves or their families.
Who do this? Who makes these people slaves?
They are certainly people from all different blocks of life are involved in this and in the UK at the moment you see some very well free people in a diplomatic community as well as free British people who keep an essentially forced labour – the domestic workers. The particular case which the BBC uncovered suggested that it was Irish people who have been responsible for the enslavement of these vulnerable British people. But right across the world you see all sorts of different groups of people enslaving others and the critical factors are that they are vulnerable and that there is some degree of prejudice against them. And on top of that are the government policies and practices which are inadequate to protect them.
Is there any respond from the Government and what can be done to prevent this?
The Government seems, in its initial reaction to this report, to feel that they are doing enough. I would feel that they are not doing enough. They seem to be responding to the issues of slavery as if it is an immigration question which is something which only affects foreigners and which has to do with them breaking emigration law. The trick of the matter is that this is a problem of vulnerability and exploitation, it affects everybody and the Government’s response should be making sure that everybody on this island, on the island of Britain, whether they are of British nation or people from the other parts of the world are properly protected.
At the moment British policy is inadequate in this regard. Despite the fact that at least in some other law enforcement agencies are taking these issues seriously, the broader policy environment is poor and in that regard they have much in common – the British Government has much in common with many other governments in the world in a way that their responses are poor and uncoordinated. So, there is a need for better coordination at an international level and greater sensitivity to the needs of victims on a national level.
What can de advised to those vulnerable people, for instance not to work abroad or what else?
I think they need to be aware as they can be of the risks that may be involved in something. Many people, I concluded have worked abroad, have worked as migrant workers and part of the way that we have progressed in our careers is because we have taken this work. So, one must understand – people who are getting into these situations are often the best type of people, they wanted better for themselves and for their families. But it is important for them to be aware of the risks that they may fall into, be aware as far as they can of their rights and have some plan about how they may seek help if they find they are getting into a dangerous situation. I think those are the three things which are very important for individuals to be responsible for. But more generally governments need to be serious about this issue and put in place more international systems particularly in the European Union but wider Europe as well that will ensure that people are properly protected.
