UK will ratify anti-human trafficking treaty by the end of the year

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, today announced that the UK will ratify an anti-human trafficking treaty by the end of the year and will review its reservations on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Speaking at Home Office questions in the House of Commons, she told MPs that the Government would ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action Against Human Trafficking.

The Home Secretary said: "I am announcing today my intention to accelerate plans to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against trafficking. We will make the necessary legislative and procedural changes before the end of this year as part of our wider strategy to combat trafficking."

The Home Office also announced a review of the Government's reservation on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The review will assess the continuing need for the reservation in the light of the plans to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against trafficking and following a number of child protection developments in the UK, including placing the Border and Immigration Agency's responsibilities to keep children safe from harm on a statutory basis.