First International Conference

The UKHTC's first international conference, held poignantly in the year of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, has successfully brought together experts from around the world to share their experiences in combating human trafficking.

The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) has become the global authority and lead in the fight against human trafficking and hosted its first international conference in Leeds on 14th November. Bringing together law enforcement and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from around the world to share experiences and best practice, the delegates from 25 countries made a great deal of progress in establishing closer links and co-operation - factors critical to combat a crime that is largely international and organised in nature.

Speakers from the police, INTERPOL, non‐governmental organisations, border and immigration services and the academic world provided insight and knowledge to help colleagues in other agencies develop their response. The conference also saw the first real exposure of the Blue Blindfold campaign of which there is more below.

The fact that this inaugural conference took place in 2007 was significant in itself as it's the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. The UN has consequently designated this year the year of anti-slavery. This reflects the fact that human trafficking is one aspect of modern slavery and provides vivid evidence that 200 years on from the supposed abolition the problem persists.