Thank you, Mr. Vice President. 

We thank the Special Rapporteur for bringing the important issue of trafficking faced by migrant domestic workers to the Council’s attention. 

Migrant domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation and abuse in destination countries. We must recognise the gendered risks of exploitation for migrant domestic workers and ensure these are considered in our prevention, assistance and protection efforts.

In the UK, protections are in place for Overseas Domestic Workers to help minimise the risk of exploitation. However, we remain concerned about the links between visa arrangements for private domestic staff and instances of modern slavery. We are reviewing how the Overseas Domestic Worker route operates, and can share more information in due course. 

Internationally, the UK’s Work in Freedom programme has played a crucial role in preventing the trafficking of women and girls along migration routes in South Asia and the Gulf. The programme has supported over 770,000 individuals in local communities. It has worked with governments to shape more than 27 laws and policies aimed at protecting vulnerable migrant workers.

Special Rapporteur, 

What more can be done to strengthen reintegration for migrant domestic workers who are victims of trafficking?