Thousands of children from a growing number of countries are being imported into Britain against their will as cheap labour, according to a new report published today.
The study, by child charity UNICEF, said thousands of youngsters are trafficked into to the EU each year, mainly from West Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Child trafficking involves the transportation and exploitation of unwilling or unknowing victims, often for sex work.
The report, Stop The Traffic!, has been released as part of UNICEF UK's End Child Exploitation campaign. The charity is urging the British government to introduce a law to prohibit any form of child trafficking.
The British government's Sexual Offences Bill, currently in the House of Commons, makes it illegal to traffic people into the UK for sexual exploitation, but children imported for other forms of work remain unprotected.
Mr David Bull, executive director of Unicef UK, said: "Trafficking is a serious abuse of child rights and is seen as less risky than trafficking drugs.
"The Government must criminalise trafficking for all purposes and should introduce central funding for specialist care and protection for the victims."
UNICEF is also lobbying the British government to introduce central funding for specialist care, including training for immigration officers and social workers, counselling and safe houses.