Unchosen...

A few weeks ago I went to a film night put on by Unchosen, an anti-trafficking charity. We watched an episode of Dispatches on 'Britain's secret slaves'.

This programme's shocking exposure of the cruel conditions and victimisation of domestic care workers made me feel aghast. The awful conditions and treatment that many domestic workers endure is outraging. There were numerous examples of individuals being paid less than 10p an hour for their labour and in even more extreme cases, the emotional and physical abuse they suffered at the hands of their 'employer'. I caption the word 'employer' because in these cases it really acquaints to slave master. Many of these individuals were emotionally bullied, threatened and actually physically harmed on an individual basis but also extended to their family and persons they care for.

An awful fact about these situations is that many of these 'employers' are actually 'good citizens' of society, such as doctors, and most terrifyingly of all are the instances in which diplomats are at the hands of such abhorrent acts. Diplomatic immunity within the law prevents any protection on behalf of the domestic workers and allows this injustice to continue.

The other major obstacle to the prevention and awareness of abusive domestic work scenarios is that they are so hidden and therefore makes identification almost unobtainable, on behalf of those seeking to stop this form of slavery and also in the case of the individual themselves, they are unlikely to realise that the form of treatment they are receiving is illegal. It is also very difficult to reach out to these individuals because of the high chance that there will be a language barrier because of international recruitment and also because of fear. Fear that they won't have anywhere to go, that they will be treated badly by the police and that they will be sent back to their original country. And the sad thing is this fear is justified. Many of those who are brave enough to face the UKs judicial system are likely to be treated as an illegal immigrant and then have 45 days to prove themselves, otherwise they are deported.

I'm not sure how this will be overcome with so many barriers to reaching those involved. There is some hope though. Charities such as Unchosen, Anti-slavery, Kalayaan and Afruca are all fighting against this injustice.
We all need to do our bit too though and increased awareness of this situation on the part of those outside of the situation can help those trapped inside, behind closed doors.

To see exactly what I am talking about, the episode of dispatches is online:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#3129534