Albania Tops UK List as Modern Slavery Source

Albania is the main supplier nation of potential victims of modern slavery in the United Kindom, according to data from the National Referral Mechanism, NRM, the UK's framework for referring and supporting victims.

Albania supplies the highest number once the number of adult and children potential victims of modern slavery are combined, the NRM explained.

The term is used by UK institutions as an umbrella to cover diverse offences including human trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

The latest NRM data, from July to September 2016 - the third quarter of last year - show a total of 147 cases in which a majority, 84, concerned cases of potential sexual exploitation.

The second quarter of 2016, from April to June, also put Albania in the top place among the nations when it come to this parameter, with 191 potential victims, followed by Vietnam, with 119.

Over the January to March 2016 timeframe, Albania also supplied the highest number of cases in the UK, numbering 183, of which 131 involved potential sexual exploitation, followed by 39 cases of labour exploitation.

Up to September 2016 there have been a total of 520 cases of Albanians reported as exploited in the UK. The total number for the whole year is expected to be higher once the October - December timeframe is included.

A report from the UK InterDepartmental Ministerial Group on Modern Slavery said Albania had the highest number of cases for 2015 as well.

"In 2015, potential victims of modern slavery were reported to originate from 102 countries. The most common country of origin for adult potential victims was Albania (17%) and for child potential victims it was Vietnam (25%)," the report said.

Referring to NRM data in 2015 for...