Human trafficking and outcomes for children and young people in the UK

Human trafficking, ‘modern slavery’ and exploitation have risen up policy agendas as social issues of major global and public concern. In the UK, awareness about the human trafficking of children and young people has grown significantly over the past decade with children making up 44% of all referrals into the UK’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2023. The views of these children are missing from policy, as is any focus on outcomes. This paper draws on research that scoped international evidence on outcomes and undertook 20 participatory workshops with 31 young people in three locations across England and Scotland. A stark contrast was found between negative outcomes, negative sequalae and negative consequences of human trafficking and the capabilities, strengths and focus on creating positive outcomes when working with young people. Outcomes were ultimately detailed through a Positive Outcomes Framework, anchored in the lives and rights of young people. It is suggested this contrast offers a key insight into a relatively unexplored aspect of human trafficking; that evidence currently misses a focus on positive outcomes in the post-trafficking experience. This risks defining young people solely through their past traumatic experiences, denies their agency and abilities to move forward with their lives.