National Crime Agency (NCA)’s Post

Reports of rape and other sexual violence, exploitations and abuse have skyrocketed since the conflict erupted in #Sudan. And now, there is a documented rise in sexual violence cases in the capital of Khartoum. #HumanRights groups warn that rape is being used a weapon of war and the number of cases may be hugely under-reported because verifying rape requires medical evidence but: ❗️ With 80% of healthcare facilities closed, many incidents likely go unreported. ❗️ Conservative social norms in Sudan often lead mayn to conceal sexual violence due to its association with honor - both for the victim of the crime and their family. It is also important to note several reported instances of men and boys seeking medical assistance for obvious sexual assualt, but the individuals and/or their family refusing to report naming fear of being (falsely or not) labeled as homosexual in a country with #sharia law. 📅 15 April is the anniversary of when the #conflict began in Sudan. 1 year is 1 year too long. We need to show the people in Sudan that they are not forgotten, that we stand #WithSudan. #KeepEyesOnSudan #TalkAboutSudan Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-apaaCF https://lnkd.in/dhVKmvF5

The #VictimsBill has completed its passage through Parliament as part of the ‘wash up’ process ahead of the general election period.  We welcome this legislation finally becoming law. We know many victims have waited years for this moment. However, there is still much more to do to ensure all victims of #DomesticAbuse can access the support they need to become safe and to recover. We are eager to see the lifesaving roles of the #Idva (Independent domestic violence advisor) and #Isva (Independent sexual violence advisor) properly recognised in statutory guidance. We want to see implementation of the Act accompanied by proper investment in community-based services. Whilst this legislation will improve the experiences of many victims, we are disappointed that some survivors have been left behind. We will keep calling for #migrant and #refugee victims to have equal access to life-saving services. We look forward to working with the next Government to ensure we transform the response to domestic abuse, so victims who remain in the home, victims with protected characteristics, victims with insecure immigration status - each and every survivor - has access to dedicated support to help them reach safety, recover and rebuild. https://lnkd.in/emzv_SrC

Only today, I discussed the crucial role of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) in supporting victims and witnesses of serious and complex crime. Consistent investment in this area is essential. Within my teams, I understand the significance of Stalking Advocates (SAs), Victim Engagement Officers (VEOs), and Specially Trained Officers (STOs) and value their contributions. I remain focused on supporting officers and staff investigating crimes while acknowledging the challenges the wider system faces. Ensuring victims and witnesses are supported and their needs are met remains a top priority. #SupportingVictims #CrimePrevention #Teamwork

Useful resource for teaching and more importantly, a superb result!

A must read. "(...) The prosecutors’ innovative use of the TPA to address underlying SGBV crimes was essential because the Rome Statute has not been implemented and thus international crimes could not be charged in Nigeria. Additionally, jurisdictional constraints prevented the use of the penal code or other relevant domestic laws in the federal court. However, by charging these crimes under the TPA, this approach sends a powerful message about the gravity of SGBV within the context of terrorism. It emphasises that such acts are not merely isolated or opportunistic incidents but are deliberate strategies employed by groups like Boko Haram to further their ideological and operational goals.(...) SGBV crimes can be prosecuted by availing different legal frameworks and sometimes in different jurisdictions, but also by applying different modes of liability. The choice depends on the specific context and available legal frameworks. In Nigeria, the first conviction of a member of Boko Haram for explicitly using the act of rape as a terrorist offence is promising. The Nigerian experience of using the TPA to prosecute crimes that are simultaneously atrocity crimes not only recognised the severity of the offences, but also highlighted the systematic and coercive environment in which they occurred"

DOMESTIC ABUSE & STALKING VICTIMS ARE NOT BEING PROTECTED AND PERPETRATORS ARE NOT BEING BROUGHT TO JUSTICE! Mandatory training, sufficient resources, tight policies, effective management, properly vetted police officers, are required to hold perpetrators to account and to protect victims. There is a common theme with Stalking and DA. Many DA perpetrators stalk their victims too!! https://lnkd.in/e2qVVcim Today (27 September), HMICFRCS, IOPC and College of Policing have published their findings into a super-complaint on stalking. The report makes recommendations for policing and wider criminal justice agencies to improve the response to victims of stalking In domestic abuse cases, the police can use a domestic violence protection notice (DVPN) to protect victims and the public without having to apply to a magistrate’s court. DVPNs are time-limited and can only apply prohibitions but they can be put in place directly by police with senior authorisation. The interim-SPO does not provide this same quick-time protection for stalking victims as DVPNs provide to victims of domestic violence. Please see recommendations. https://lnkd.in/efWY5S-E IMHO without sufficient, trained, bespoke, effective Police and CJ resources working on the ground, arresting, charging, prosecuting, convicting and imprisoning DA & Stalking offenders, then nothing will change and many more victims (Women & Children) will be harmed and murdered. GOV.UK House of Commons National Police Chiefs' Council College of Policing His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Independent Office for Police Conduct Crown Prosecution Service

#BreakingNews: Two Ukrainian women who were trafficked, locked up and forced to work for months in Romania without pay, have been supported by IJM and police. For months, they endured constant verbal abuse and threats while doing hard physical labour. Karolina, IJM’s Protection Officer in Romania, was the first to meet the women. “Both women were extremely tired and stressed,” she recalls, “Neither of them knew where they were exactly.” IJM provided the women with much-needed safe accommodation, medical and psychological care. The team also helped the women testify with the Romanian authorities before arranging their return home with the Ukrainian authorities. The perpetrator is being held in a detention centre and could face up to 12 years in prison. Human trafficking is a crime which exploits vulnerable people and persists with impunity. Across Europe, IJM is determined to stop trafficking and protect more women from abuse. IJM Romania, police partners and our teams of lawyers, investigators and social workers won't stop #UntilAllAreFree. Learn more our work to stop trafficking in Europe: IJMUK.org/europe

In a new report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has called on Finland to strengthen the criminal justice response to human trafficking and to provide victims with compensation and specialised assistance. 👉 The report reveals a significant increase in the number of identified trafficking victims, from 229 in 2019 to 367 in 2022. Nearly half of the victims were trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation, followed by sexual exploitation (25%) and forced marriage (21%). Half of the identified victims were exploited in other countries before seeking asylum in Finland. 👉 Since the publication of GRETA’s previous evaluation report in 2019, Finland has made progress in a number of areas, including legislative amendments to the procedure for the identification of victims of trafficking and the permanent establishment of a Government anti-trafficking coordinator. Human trafficking has also been added to the list of offences for which the Occupational Safety and Health Authority has an obligation to notify the police. 👉 However, GRETA’s new report is pointing out several areas where improvement is needed. ↩ https://bit.ly/3VD5S5y

On November 19th, a significant workshop on fighting Trafficking in Human beings (THB) took place in Skopje, bringing together public prosecutors, police officers, and key stakeholders. This workshop focused on enhancing cooperation in victim identification and the investigation of THB-related crimes. The session featured valuable contributions from esteemed representatives of the Center for Social Work in Skopje and Open Gate - La Strada North Macedonia, a state-licensed NGO dedicated to protecting and sheltering identified THB victims. The workshop was initiated by the Head and Deputy-Head of the National Task Force for the Fight Against Migrant Smuggling and THB in North Macedonia. Their expert guidance provided invaluable insights on prosecuting and investigating THB crimes, recognizing them as organized criminal activities. The event was designed for police officers from all eight Sectors for Internal Affairs across the country, particularly those involved in juvenile justice, countering sexual offenses, and managing criminal pursuits. A key takeaway was the emphasis on proactive police work within local jurisdictions, ensuring timely collaboration with specialized prosecutors and police officers in THB investigations. The critical role of involving social services and NGOs for victim protection and evidence gathering was also underscored. The workshop set a clear path forward for a more integrated, responsive, and victim-centered approach to combating THB, laying the groundwork for more successful investigations and prosecutions in the future. *The project EU4FAST is jointly funded by the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Italian Ministry of Interior and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken).