Southampton Itchen Labour MP John Denham is to visit Bitterne Park Secondary School (Copsewood Road) on Friday 18th May.  Mr Denham is going to collect a petition entitled “Stop the Traffik” which has been promoted by Year 10 student, Katie Newport.  John Denham has agreed to present the petition to Parliament.

In her letter to John Denham, asking him to receive the petition, Katie said “The main issue with modern slavery is that not many students, or even teachers, understand that this dreadful practice is still happening so they cannot possibly do anything to stop it.   As students we are taught that slavery stopped decades ago but, in fact, we need to know that it is still going on.  There are people selling other human beings for prostitution, slavery and even for organ donations.”

John Denham said “I am happy to support this campaign and Katie’s initiative.  Our Government is strongly committed to tackling contemporary slavery and human trafficking in all its forms.  Recently the Home Secretary, John Reid, signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Home Office launched an action plan to tackle human trafficking. 

“Students in British schools need to understand the issue and the Department for Education and Skills is consulting on making the study of slavery and the slave trade a compulsory element of the national curriculum.”

Presenting the petition to Parliament means that the Government will have to respond.  It also means that the name of the school and the organisers of the petition will be permanently entered into the House of Commons record (Hansard).