"Human Trafficking does not belong in Scotland"
The Clewer Initiative
The Clewer gets involved with Commonwealth Games awareness campaign.
Lois and Phoebe were honoured to represent The Clewer Initiative at the launch of It’s a Penalty’s Commonwealth Games 2026 Human Trafficking Prevention campaign.
It’s a Penalty has brought together key partners in transport, travel, tourism, government, law enforcement, business and the third sector to spread the word that “Human Trafficking does not belong in Scotland.”
It aims to use the visibility of the Games to educate the public about human trafficking and exploitation and encourage action. Through impactful campaign materials such as adverts and posters, it hopes to reach people at key travel touchpoints, sharing vital information and equipping people to recognise the signs of modern slavery and exploitation during the Games and beyond.
Our involvement
It’s a Penalty has invited The Clewer Initiative to become an official ‘friend’ of the campaign. This means our logo will appear on the campaign publicity and advertisements alongside leading Scottish NGOs such as SOHTIS and TARA, creating important links to support beyond the summer’s events.
For The Clewer Initiative, this is a brilliant opportunity for us to connect with other modern slavery organisations in Scotland and to increase awareness amongst the general public of the work we do.
Ongoing training
As well as the media campaign, partners in Scotland are working collaboratively to build awareness, vigilance and action around the games. For example, It’s a Penalty is working closely with hotel and transport links, key contact points when women trapped in sexual exploitation are moved around. Similarly, British Transport Police is training its front-line workers to encourage a "culture of vigilance" watching for signs such as paying for tickets in cash or controlling behaviour.
After the Games, It’s a Penalty and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner will release a practical toolkit with learning from the Games for future large events.
The Scottish perspective
This is a very timely moment for anti-slavery work in Scotland as referrals of potential victims to the National Referral Mechanism have tripled over the last five years.
Phil Batty, the CEO of Glasgow 2026, who attended the launch of the Human Trafficking Prevention campaign, described the Games as a "game changing games" where they hope to set a fresh example of the Games, building on the foundational values of creating good impact for the communities which host it, in collaboration with local businesses and charities.
Eleanor Lyons, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, spoke about missed opportunities to safeguard survivors because organisations or businesses didn’t identify signs or were not clear on how to refer.
Sarah de Carvalho MBE, founder of It’s a Penalty, reminded us that “human trafficking thrives on silence” and TARA, a Scottish charity which helps women in sexual exploitation, talked about how it is better to report something that isn't trafficking, than not report for one that is. They said, “it's never a waste of time to call the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.”
Joy Gillespie, the CEO of SOHTIS, felt that the biggest barrier to tackling the issue is a lack of understanding as well as various myths and misconceptions. She said that “awareness is still such a crucial step towards ending slavery in our communities.”
Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram from Police Scotland shared that over the last 10 years, awareness and reporting has improved and there are now dedicated policing teams in place. He explained that cases of sexual exploitation are vastly underreported whereas forced criminality is more commonly addressed.
If you’re visiting Glasgow during the Games, you might spot posters, bathroom mirror clings and billboards from the campaign. Tag us in your stories or email us a photo if you see the Clewer's logo on your travels!
