Access to Compensation — ATLEU

Access to compensation

Compensation is crucial; for recovery and sustainable freedom for survivors, and to punish and deter traffickers. Yet, the number of survivors who are able to obtain compensation, either from their trafficker or the state, is woeful.

We are working for changes to law and policy so that survivors are compensated for the crimes committed against them.

Consultations

Briefings

Reports

While the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was amended in 2012 to explicitly include survivors of trafficking, few survivors are able to access it and fewer still are able to obtain an award.
Thirteen civil society organisations and legal aid providers working to end trafficking and modern slavery have called for the removal of the ‘unspent conviction rule’ from the Criminal Injuries Scheme.

Trafficking and modern slavery is a criminal offence but there is no corresponding civil offence. A civil remedy of trafficking and modern slavery should be introduced into law to allow victims to recover compensation from their trafficker more easily.

Trafficking survivors have died before receiving a single penny of compensation because of the length of time it takes to successfully get through the government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) process.