This section amends sections 21(4)(a) and 21(11) of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.
Section 21(4) requires the Health and Social Care Board to make arrangements with a registered charity (within the meaning of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008) to provide for an Independent Guardian to be appointed for a child who is a victim, or a potential victim, of human trafficking, or who is determined to be a separated child.
Section 101 substitutes the term “registered charity” in section 21 (4)(a) with “charity” and inserts a new definition of “charity” in section 21(11). The amendment provides that, in addition to charities already registered under the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, charities waiting to be called forward to register under that Act and charities registered in either England and Wales or Scotland are eligible to be considered by the Health and Social Care Board to provide an independent guardian service in Northern Ireland.