Recommendation 12

More must be done to ensure that victims of slavery or human trafficking are not prosecuted due to conduct they were compelled to undertake as part of their exploitation. Prosecuting trafficking victims is wrong because it wrongly punishes them for doing something they may have been compelled to do as victims. Moreover, this is of concern in light of clause 62, since, if convicted, a victim may then also lose their protection and support (which itself can have ramifications for the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators). It is not compatible with ECAT or Article 4 ECHR to remove protection from victims of slavery or human trafficking, other than for those posing a current threat, and for the most serious offending. Protection should not be removed from victims for activities caused by being a victim of slavery or human trafficking.