Watch TRADE - A film about human trafficking (Hyde Park Picture House, Tuesday 26th October, 6.30pm)

Kidnapped by a gang of sex-traffickers, 13 year old Adriana is estranged from her from life in the barrios of Mexico City and propelled into an underground network of exploitation, misery and despair. Her brother Jorge embarks on a desperate mission to save her.

This story of modern day slavery will be introduced by the Leeds Anti Sex Trafficking Network, a grassroots organisation that seeks to highlight the realities faced by trafficked women worldwide, and empower individuals and groups to take action against trafficking in their local communities. A proportion of the entrance fee will go to the Anneli Project at Leeds Women’s Aid to directly support trafficked women in Leeds. For more information, please visit www.lastnetwork.org.uk.

Check out this report...'Wrong Kind of Victim? One year on: an analysis of UK measures to protect trafficked persons'

In Dec 2008 the UK ratified the Council of Europe on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings - the first international treaty obliging states to adopt minimum standards to assist trafficked persons and protect their rights. In April 2009, the Convention came into force, but what has changed as a result of it?

A recent report published in June 2010 by The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group investigates how our government is addressing trafficking in the UK. Read the summary report.

The Cultural Pass Campaign

As part of our outreach work for the Anneli Project at Leeds Women’s Aid, LAST has been approaching local businesses to see if they can help us support trafficked women in Leeds.

These women have been prostituted for no personal payment, tortured, and psychologically conditioned to believe that they are only worth as much as the money they generate for their pimps and traffickers. They have now found solace at the Anneli Project and are currently
being counselled and cared for by committed professionals.

However, they have no access to positive cultural experiences which can show them that life
in the UK isn’t all about fear and exploitation.

We managed to secure a year's supply of regular passes to local arts programs including:

• Opera North
• Seven Arts Centre
• Hyde Park Picture House
• The Carriageworks
• Lush - free products

We would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for helping us to make this campaign such a success.

SARSVL Launch

On 15th March 2010 LAST attended the launch of the Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL) to show our support for their work in the community. The event was held at the Seven Arts centre in Chapel Allerton and was well attended by both front line providers, such as Leeds Woman’s Aid and Sahara Black Women’s Refuge, and the general public. In addition to heightening the profile of their new support line, SARSVL also aimed to raise funds for their ongoing work; so it was excellent to hear that over £900 was raised that evening. The event included a variety of musical entertainment such as local Leeds band, Madam Laycock & Her Dabeno Pleasures.

SARSVL was brought about in 2009 by a group of volunteers who felt compelled to create change after the End Violence Against Women campaign and the Equality & Human Rights Commission published their report on gaps in services for women who had experienced sexual violence. Leeds has not had a support line for such women for over 7 years and so the creation of SARSVL has filled a much needed gap in service provision. SARSVL seek to compliment and work in partnership with front line services that already exist in Leeds and to you’ll find a link to their website on our Links page.

The confidential Helpline is staffed between 6 - 8 pm on Mondays, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays and can be reached on 0113 202 1844.

SARSVL are currently recruiting for volunteers and an application pack can be requested from info.sarsvl@googlemail.com

Trafficking Exhibition: 'Not Natasha' by Dana Popa in Bradford...

There's a new exhibition in Bradford which is well worth checking out. It's called 'Not Natasha' and was created by award winning photographer Dana Popa to document the realities faced by sex-trafficked women in Moldova.

Dates: From 5th Feb to 18th Apr 2010

Venue: Impressions Gallery, Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1 SD

Opening Times: see website

For more information, check out the Impressions Gallery website at: www.impressions-gallery.com

To launch the exhibition, Impressions are hosting an evening of speakers and short film screenings. It's a free event but booking is advised.

Date: Thurs 4th Mar

Time: 6.15 pm - 8.15 pm

Speakers:

Ruth Beni, Film Director of animated short film 'Two Little Girls' - a powerful cautionary tale about the sex trafficking trade.

Speakers:

• Professor Gary Craig, University of Durham - expert in trafficking and slavery issues.
• Diana Willis MEP Yorkshire and Humberside - the first British women to be elected Vice President of the European Parliament in 20 years.
• Emma Boyd, Autograph ABP - presenting the short film 'Torture by Any Other Name' featuring Emma Thompson

The LAST collective will be attending this event and running a stall so if you end up coming along, be sure to swing by and say hello...

New STOP THE TRAFFIK Campaign: Coming to a Cinema near you

Check out this new campaign from STOP THE TRAFFIK...

LAST Event: Bring and Not Buy Sale

BRING AND NOT BUY SALE
MUSICA EXTRAVAGANZA
In Aid of The Poppy Project for Trafficked Women

Starring:

FANNY DI WANKO

TIN TIN LADY

PETER WRIGHT

& supported by DJ FUZZY JONES

Date: Thurs 18th Feb
Time: Doors 7.30 pm; first act 8.30 pm; close 11.30 pm
Venue: The Brudenell Social Club, Queens Road, Leeds, LS6 1NY

Entry Price = 3 items of women’s clothing or unused toiletries
Or £4

Feel free to bring more than 3 items and please make sure they are clean!

LAST is currently working on behalf of The Poppy Project; a national charity which provides accommodation and support to trafficked women.
Survivors of trafficking often present themselves to the Project wearing nothing but the clothes on their back and funding for clothing and toiletries is extremely limited.
By coming along to the LAST Bring and Not Buy Sale you’ll be directly supporting these women and giving your unwanted items to a good home.


For more information on the Poppy project see:

http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/POPPY_Project/POPPY_Project.php

Anti-Trafficking Theatre: 'In a Thousand Pieces' by The Paper Birds Theatre Company

Our friends the Paper Birds Theatre Company will shortly be performing their renowned show, 'In a Thousand Pieces' - a work of incredible theatre based on the journey of a trafficked woman.

If you're around, you won't want to miss it as it's absolutely fantastic.

If there is a demand for a post-show discussion, The Paper Birds will be chatting about how they researched their piece and what inspired them to speak out about trafficking.

Dates: Tues 2nd and Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Time: 8.00 pm

Venue: The Carriageworks Theatre, Millennium Square

Price: £10 or £8 concession

(The Art Council in partnership with Metro paper are offering under 26's the chance to get free tickets on the website).

For more information on The Paper Birds, check out their website at www.thepaperbirds.com

The LAST collective be attending the Tuesday evening show so maybe see you there...