Human Trafficking

Damian Green
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on introducing conditionality changes related to anti-trafficking measures into the UK's bilateral development and assistance programmes.

Mr. Malik
Where the Department for International Development (DFID) gives money to partner governments, it comes with conditions. We assess whether partner governments show commitment to tackling poverty, upholding human rights and managing public money wisely. We may, and do, interrupt or stop aid if a partner government breaches these commitments. All our conditions relate to these three partnership commitments. DFID has no plans to introduce conditionality changes specifically related to anti-trafficking measures.

Poverty and social exclusion make people vulnerable to human trafficking. DFID is supporting long-term programmes to help eliminate the underlying causes of poverty. Our programmes help improve the livelihood opportunities and security of poor people so that they are less susceptible to traffickers. DFID also supports the anti-trafficking work of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) through its Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour and its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. Over £14 million is currently committed to ILO and civil society anti-trafficking programmes in south-east Asia.