On 17 July 2017 Markella Papadouli, AIRE Centre Registered European Lawyer and Legal Project Manager was invited to lecture at the Cambridge Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT) Summer Symposium, which took place in St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. The focus of this year’s symposium was on trafficked children.

Markella’s contribution was threefold; first, she provided thorough training on European law and jurisprudence (ECtHR and CJEU) concerning unaccompanied or separated migrant children that are victims of human trafficking. Second, Markella introduced the Early Identification toolkit for potential victims of human trafficking, which was compiled by the AIRE Centre in the framework of the EU funded Upholding Rights! Early Legal Intervention project. The third part of Markella’s contribution focused on the impact that Brexit is likely to have on asylum seeking children and children victims of human trafficking, following a very interesting intervention by Member of European Parliament, Ms. Mary Honeyball.

AIRE Lawyer Markella Papadouli with MEP Mary Honeyball and CCARHT Director Dr. Carrie Pemberton Ford

Markella’s contribution highlighted the gaps in UK legislation related to asylum and trafficking that, unless addressed in the months leading to Brexit, will cause a great loss to migrant and trafficked children. Markella will address again the issue of migrant and trafficked separated children in the context of the AIRE Centre led EU Project Separated Children in Judicial Proceedings next event which will take place in Brussels, Belgium on 19-20/10/2017. Further information as well as the registration form for this event can be found here.  

The Summer Symposium excellently organised and chaired by CCARHT Director Dr. Carrie Pemberton Ford, brought together participants from many disciplines, including academia, law, politics, civil society and front line responders. The Symposium will last until 27/07/2017 and after its completion an accessible learning package will be created based on the contributions for Continued Professional Development purposes.  

Lecturers and participants of the 2017 CCARHT Summer Symposium