Domestic Servitude2022
London, United Kingdom, 2022
United Kingdom
Saudi diplomat's domestic worker held on diplomatic visa. Passport confiscated worked around the clock slept on kitchen floor Accused: Saudi diplomatic family.
1 source
The data
Documented cases
Every case on SlaveryMap, drawn from public sources and shown with its location deliberately generalized to protect survivors.
1,631documented cases
112countries
1981–2025years covered
631 of 1,631 cite a source · Updated
Domestic Servitude
Matching cases
Showing 1–6 of 6
Domestic Servitude2010
Acomb, York, United Kingdom, 2010
United Kingdom GB
Antonia Pearson-Gaballonie, age 36, of New Lane, Acomb, York. She was married to the victim's brother but he was posted to Wiltshire and she refused to move with him. She then hired the victim as a nanny for her children and forced her to clean the house naked, beg for her food as well as beaten. Pearson-Gaballonie later married Neil Pearson, age 35, who was also convicted of aiding and abetting his wife in committing assault. The jury heard Pearson-Gaballonie had been previously married to Miss Sandeman's brother. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_yorkshire/5328158.stm
2 sourcesArchive 2008–2016
Domestic Servitude2009
Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, 2009
United Kingdom GB
The perpetrator was arrested and the victims were released, after one of the victims had escaped and reported to local authorities. In a news report, one of the victims makes a statement that she had previously not known of help in the police, and she now encourages other women who are in similar circumstances for hope in turning to the police.
Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016
Domestic Servitude2009
London, England, United Kingdom, 2009
United Kingdom GB
From an article in the Independent: "A woman who claimed she was beaten and sexually assaulted by a diplomat and his royal wife, who brought her to London, has spoken of her fear of reprisals. The 23-year-old, who has been granted refugee status, is owed more than £20,000 following an employment tribunal order, but has been unable to get justice as the couple have returned home. The woman said she had been treated as little more than a slave after having been promised paid work as a nanny, a room in the couple's magnificent house and days off to enjoy London. Instead, she alleged, they violently beat her, sexually assaulted her and locked her away to work 19-hour days for no pay. The couple, whose identity is known to the IoS, cannot be named as the victim fears reprisals. She said that they had had her followed after she escaped from their home last year, and have subjected her and her family to death threats. Her tale of modern slavery is one that is all too familiar in Britain. There are more than 20,000 migrant domestic workers estimated to be in the UK. Those working for diplomats are particularly vulnerable because visa restrictions prevent them changing employer. Last year 189 visas were issued to domestic workers accompanying diplomats, and every year some of these will be subjected to abuse. Now campaigners are demanding a change in the law. Although the woman reported her allegations to police, they advised her that the couple could not be prosecuted because of their diplomatic status. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contacted their embassy but were told that since they have returned to their home country they cannot be chased for the compensation payments ordered in January. The domestic worker was 21 when she came to Britain. "From the first night I knew something was wrong," she said. "I was made to share a room with the diplomat and he came into my bed and touched me all over. "I was so scared but I spoke no English and had no money and no phone. I was trapped. I was paid nothing, never allowed to leave the house, and only given scraps to eat. "They made me get up at six to cook, clean and care for them and their children; I didn't get to bed until one in the morning. They treated me like dirt, throwing things at me, shouting at me and hitting me ... I hand-washed all their clothes until my hands were inflamed. If I didn't do what they asked they would beat me and smash my head against the wall. Every time I asked to go home they threatened me. They said they would destroy my passport and harm my family. I was terrified because I knew they could; they have power in my country." Kalayaan, a charity dedicated to helping migrant domestic workers, says her case illustrates the terrible abuses that diplomats can get away with in this country. Jenny Moss, a community advocate for the charity, said: "To protect diplomats' domestic workers it is imperative that the UK Government give them the basic right to change employer, so they can flee abuse and access protection and justice without fear of deportation. The power that employers can wield over vulnerable individuals is akin to bonded labour and leads to human trafficking." An FCO spokesman said: "We expect foreign missions and diplomats to meet their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, to respect the laws and regulations of the UK, including employment rules."" The above article was written by reporter Emily Dugan of the Independent in London. Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/diplomats-nanny-lifts-lid-on-modern-slavery-1769711.html
1 sourceArchive 2008–2016
Domestic Servitude2009
London, England, United Kingdom, 2009
United Kingdom GB
A woman approached parents in Africa and told them she would find their daughters a home and a better life in London. She single-handedly escorted the six of them on a flight from Africa to the UK. On arrival in the UK, she loaded them into a waiting van and dropped them off at various locations around the city. The new guardians who received them paid the trafficker some money. One of the victims worked as a household servant to a married couple with a young son. Her duties ran about 12 hours a day, but she was sometimes wakened after hours to do more chores. If she didn’t hear her master’s call, the woman of the household would pour cold water on her face while she was sleeping. She was verbally abused and beaten for very slight offenses, and sent to clean the homes of friends. Her identification papers were confiscated.
1 sourceArchive 2008–2016
Domestic Servitude2003
London, England, United Kingdom, 2003
United Kingdom GB
Arab slave traders raided and destroyed the village of a 12-year old girl in the Nuba mountains of Sudan. She was repeatedly raped, then sold into slavery as a domestic servant in Khartoum. Eventually she was sold to an Arab family in London. She was never paid and was emotionally abused. More information: "Slave" (the book) by Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis, Virago Press, Great Britain, 2004, 2008.
Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016