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For a unique collection of skin care, bath, body and sensory therapy products made from aromatic essential oils and natural plant extracts visit the Body Shop.

New research out today shows one in five British adults still don't believe that children are trafficked to the UK.  In reality, hundreds of children from over 50 countries - some as young as 11 years old - are exploited in the UK every year.

The Petition

To combat this crisis, The Body Shop and ECPAT have partnered in a three year global campaign to stop the trafficking of children and young people, uphold their rights to be protected from exploitation and inspire long-term change to strengthen the protection offered to these children and young people.  Together, they are spearheading an international petition calling on Governments across the globe to put child trafficking on their agenda and banish this modern day slave trade.

In the UK, we are specifically calling on the Government to offer greater care and protection to child victims of trafficking by ensuring every child is provided with a guardian to look after them.

• A system of guardianship would mean that every child victim of trafficking would have someone with parental responsibility to care and support them.
• A guardian would protect each child and prevent them from facing further exploitation and harm from their traffickers.

Christine Beddoe, Director of ECPAT UK said, "Children who have been trafficked will often have faced appalling situations of exploitation and abuse. They desperately need the support of a designated adult who, in the absence of a parent, can take decisions on the child's behalf and ensure they have access to safe accommodation, education and the medical, practical and legal support they need to help rebuild their lives. We are delighted that The Body Shop is joining with ECPAT UK to call for a system of guardianship to be introduced in the UK.'

A petition calling for the UK Government to put the safety and wellbeing of young victims of trafficking at the heart of their plans launches today spearheaded by ECPAT UK and The Body Shop with the support of stars from around the world including Kim Cattrall, Uma Thurman, Rob Lowe, Matt LeBlanc, Yoko Ono, Joanna Lumley, Sienna Miller, Robert Pattinson and Sir Ben Kingsley.

How Can You Help?

• 1. Sign the petition at any The Body Shop store or online at www.thebodyshop.com/stop
• 2. Spread the word - join the Facebook group (Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People), or follow ECPATUK and TheBodyShopUK on twitter and change your profile picture/ Twibbon to your handprint or hand in the 'stop' position to show you've signed the petition and supported the campaign
• 3. Buy the hand cream - all proceeds** from the sales of The Body Shop 'Soft Hands, Kind Hearts' hand cream (50ml/ RRP: £3.50) goes to ECPAT to support their projects in this country