Source: phys.org
Tackling human trafficking in Europe requires a more in-depth knowledge of its causes. Well aware of this knowledge gap, the European Commission is funding the FP7 project TRACE, a two-year initiative which kicked off in May 2014 and aims to better understand the perpetrator and the victims as well as investigating how the recruitment process takes place.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-07-economics-human-trafficking.html#jCp
Showing posts with label European Commission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label European Commission. Show all posts
Monday, July 28, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Human trafficking: The EU's dirty secret | Globalization | DW.DE | 11.02.2014
Source: DW.DE
"We often think that the victims of human trafficking are from somewhere far away, but the majority are EU citizens," says Myria Vassiliadou, the EU's Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. "They are bought and sold inside the EU by criminal networks. The clients that use these services are often EU citizens."
Read the full story here:
http://www.dw.de/human-trafficking-the-eus-dirty-secret/a-17412036
"We often think that the victims of human trafficking are from somewhere far away, but the majority are EU citizens," says Myria Vassiliadou, the EU's Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. "They are bought and sold inside the EU by criminal networks. The clients that use these services are often EU citizens."
Read the full story here:
http://www.dw.de/human-trafficking-the-eus-dirty-secret/a-17412036
Saturday, June 1, 2013
WHO | WHO ethical and safety recommendations for interviewing trafficked women
http://www.who.int/gender/documents/women_and_girls/9789242595499/en/
Source: World Health Organization
Source: World Health Organization
WHO ethical and safety recommendations for
interviewing trafficked women
OVERVIEW
Intended mainly for researchers, media persons and service providers unfamiliar with the situation of trafficked women, this document aims to build a sound understanding of the risks, ethical considerations, and practical realities related to trafficking of women.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Human Trafficking Devastating The Sinai - Analysis Eurasia Review
http://www.eurasiareview.com/29092012-human-trafficking-devastating-the-sinai-analysis/
Source: Analysis Eurasia Review
September 29, 2012
By Mirjam van Reisen
A new report titled ‘Human Trafficking in the Sinai. Refugees between Life and Death’ sheds new light on the devastation caused by the trafficking in the Sinai. Hostages are killed unless they collect exorbitant ransoms from relatives, which can go up to USD 35,000 or even more. These ransoms are collected from family members in home countries and from relatives in the diaspora.
Source: Analysis Eurasia Review
By: IDN
September 29, 2012
By Mirjam van Reisen
A new report titled ‘Human Trafficking in the Sinai. Refugees between Life and Death’ sheds new light on the devastation caused by the trafficking in the Sinai. Hostages are killed unless they collect exorbitant ransoms from relatives, which can go up to USD 35,000 or even more. These ransoms are collected from family members in home countries and from relatives in the diaspora.
A network of financial laundering supports the ransom collection. The report is authored by this writer, Meron Estefanos and Dr Conny Rijken, from Tilburg University and European External Policy Advisors (EEPA).
The victims endure unspeakable torture, and increasingly women and children are included, tortured and raped. Hostages are repeatedly electrocuted, hanged upside down, beaten with iron rods and burnt with dripping plastic. Pregnant women are tortured and the interviews even identify beating of a one year old baby. Family members held in captivity are made to choose who will live, if not sufficient ransom can be collected to release both. Many hostages die in captivity due to the cruelty endured.
Once ransoms have been paid, there is no certainty that victims are released. They are often sold on to other traffickers. If they are released they are often too weak to make it to a safe place, being undernourished and weakened by the torture endured. Once released there is the danger of being shot by Egyptian police.
The places where hostages are held are in walking distance from the Israeli border, which has recently been fenced and the Israeli military have orders to not allow the released hostages through. Without food and water many collapse. NGOs are not permitted to visit.
Deported Back
Those hostages that make it to safety either in Israel or in Cairo are detained in detention centres from where they are deported back to their country of origin. For most hostages this is Eritrea. In this country the hostages are in danger of being imprisoned. Most refugees escape the national service which is in place for adults and therefore cannot safely return.
Speaking against the Eritrean regime is dangerous and even those who are outside of the country endanger family members if they do not speak openly in support of the regime. There are strong indications that officials themselves are involved in selection for trafficking and Eritreans are involved in the organisation of the human trafficking and the collection of the ransoms.
During a hearing in the European Parliament on September 26, 2012 in Brussels activists and humanitarian workers expressed solidarity with the hostages and called on authorities to fulfil obligations to prevent the trafficking and protect the victims. For Eritreans push-back to their country of origin must be stopped given the political repression in this country. This push-back should be stopped from involved countries such as Egypt, Italy, Libya and Israel, they said.
The European Commission was called upon to start infringement procedures against Italy to stop push-back of Eritreans. More humanitarian and medical facilities were urged, especially also urgent access to gynaecological services for the women. Europol was asked to begin a phenomenon report.
The report asks the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR to organise the protection of the refugees it takes responsibility for, so that they are secure in the camps and do not risk kidnapping. The new Government of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was called upon to take control over the lawless Sinai and make sure that police are targeting the traffickers instead of shooting the victims from the trafficking.
In a recent documentary CNN suggests that trafficking in the Sinai is decreasing but the new report disputes this. The figures do not show a decrease in numbers. However the number of women and children in captivity seems to be increasing. Also the number of people that have disappeared is increasing.
The report is based on 104 recorded interviews with people in captivity. The hostages have mobile phones with pay and go carts to phone relatives to collect the ransom. Through these direct interviews, the report voices the devastation of the hostages and their plea to make an end the torture houses in the Sinai.
Mirjam van Reisen is professor International Social Responsibility at the Tilburg University, founding director of the Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA) in Brussels and member of the International Commission on Eritrean Refugees (ICER). IDN Viewpoints reflect opinions of respective writers, which are not necessarily shared by the InDepthNews editorial board.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/author/idn/
IDN-InDepthNews offers news analyses and viewpoints on topics that impact the world and its peoples. IDN-InDepthNews serves as flagship of GlobalNewsHub - the media network of the Globalom Media Group and Global Cooperation Council.
Related articles
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Press Association: Gangs trafficking 'modern slaves'
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j46R03ZNhXpIPPZIKkAb27hH83wQ?docId=N0285331328172271693A
Criminal gangs from the British and Irish travelling community have been transporting vulnerable men abroad to work in an operation described as "modern slavery".
The victims are often homeless people picked off the street with drink or drug problems. An investigation by the BBC Ten O'Clock News and Radio 5 Live Breakfast found at least 32 victims.
According to the BBC, there have been confirmed cases in six European countries, including Sweden, Norway and Belgium, but the European Commission believes the problem is more widespread.
One man, who did not want to be named, said he arrived at the Swedish port of Malmo with two other homeless Britons. They worked 14-hour days for little pay and had to live in poor conditions. The man said they were too afraid of violence until the Swedish police offered them support.
"I've seen people threatened with pickaxes. I've seen people kicked, punched. I've nearly been pushed off a moving vehicle. It's very tense. You're waiting for the next thing to happen," he said.
Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, told the BBC: "It's a horrible crime and it's modern slavery. They are using very vulnerable people and especially in hard economic times, people have lost work, nowhere to live, thrown out from families. We must act much stronger than we have done."
A Swedish report into human trafficking, published in 2010, found 26 incidents of non-sexual trafficking. It stated: "The victims do not usually report personally that they have been the subject of human trafficking because they often have no confidence in the authorities that administer justice and are afraid of acts of reprisal."
In December, seven people appeared at Luton Crown Court over slavery offences following a raid at a traveller site in Bedfordshire. They are charged with conspiring to hold a person in servitude and conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, after a police operation at the Green Acres caravan site near Leighton Buzzard.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is committed to tackling human trafficking and preventing the harm it causes to vulnerable members of our society.
"Our human trafficking strategy sets out how we are working with partners both at home and across Europe to enhance our intelligence and law enforcement capabilities so that we can prevent vulnerable people from becoming victims in the first place."
Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
Trafficking monitor: Also check out this URL
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Human trafficking is intolerable in a civilized world, says OSCE Special Representative on Anti-Trafficking Day
Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, speaks to the 11th High-level Alliance against Trafficking in Persons conference. Vienna, 20 June 2011. (OSCE/Susanna Lööf)
VIENNA, 18 October 2011 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, called on governments to intensify the fight against modern-day slavery and prioritize victims’ rights on the occasion of the European Union Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October.
“My thoughts go to the many people who have lost their freedom and control over their lives, to those people – mainly women and girls – who are forced into prostitution; to those who are trapped in debt bondage, and compelled to work long hours without receiving a salary in agriculture, construction, domestic servitude; to those children who are obliged to beg or to steal for the advantage of their exploiters,” said Giammarinaro. “The rights and interests of these people must always take first place. This is the human rights-based approach the OSCE has always adopted in combating human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking has no place in a civilized society. And yet trafficking is growing and has become a regular component of certain areas of the labour market, and a huge business for organized crime.”
“The significance of EU Anti-Trafficking Day goes far beyond the European Union, whose countries are a destination for many trafficking victims from beyond the EU’s borders.”
Giammarinaro called on governments to improve anti-trafficking action and policy, and show consistency in effectively implementing a human rights-based approach and the adoption of a political agenda in which anti-trafficking action is a real priority. Border, immigration and law enforcement agencies should fully comply with protective obligations as soon as there is an indication that a person might have been trafficked. She stressed that governments should co-operate with NGOs and trade unions to support trafficked persons in recovery and social inclusion. The private sector should take responsibility to clean their supply chain and finally the international community should step up co-operation, especially in the field of prevention.
The Special Representative and her Office are contributing to a number of events to mark EU Anti-Trafficking Day including: an event at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna co-ordinated by the Austrian Government in co-operation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM); an international seminar in Madrid organized by IOM and the Spanish Government; the 5th EU Anti-Trafficking Day in Warsaw organized by the Polish EU Presidency, the European Commission, the EU Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator and seven EU Agencies; as well as the UK Prime Minister’s Anti-Slavery Day celebration.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Euroalert.net - EC launches dedicated website to fight human trafficking - News about the European Union
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The EU Anti Trafficking Website should become a one stop shop at EU level for practitioners and the public interested in knowing more about trafficking and how it is being addressed within the EU. The website will include national information pages of all EU Member States with factual information on legislation, action plans, coordination, prevention, assistance and support to victims, investigation and prosecution and international coordination.
This new website will help raising awareness about human trafficking, while also contributing to the cooperation and mutual understanding among law enforcement agencies, national authorities and others.
At the official launch of the website Commissioner Malmström reminded that the fight against trafficking in human beings is one of Commission's top priorities. The European Union has made a decisive step forward in the harmonisation of policies in this field, thanks to the recent vote made by the European Parliament which endorsed the proposal for a Directive on trafficking in human beings put forward by the European Commission in March 2010.
This Directive will oblige EU Member States to act on three fronts: prosecuting criminals responsible for trafficking human beings, protecting the victims and preventing the offences. Once the text is formally adopted by the Council, Member States will have up to two years to comply with the new rules, which will replace current EU legislation dating from 2002 and will apply to all EU Member States except Denmark and the United Kingdom.
The EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Myria Vassiliadou, who will get a central role in the coordination of EU policies within this field, also welcomed the initiative highlighting that she will do her best to ensure coherence and efficiency of both policies and efforts of those involved in the fight against human trafficking within the EU.
Source: Euroalert.net
Euroalert.net - EC launches dedicated website to fight human trafficking - News about the European Union
On 21 December, Commissioner Malmström officially launched the new website dedicated to the fight against trafficking in human beings, a tool which aims at supporting actions in this field. Commissioner Malström was backed by Myria Vassiliadou, the new Anti Trafficking Coordinator, who will act in order to strengthen EU action against human trafficking
The EU Anti Trafficking Website should become a one stop shop at EU level for practitioners and the public interested in knowing more about trafficking and how it is being addressed within the EU. The website will include national information pages of all EU Member States with factual information on legislation, action plans, coordination, prevention, assistance and support to victims, investigation and prosecution and international coordination.
This new website will help raising awareness about human trafficking, while also contributing to the cooperation and mutual understanding among law enforcement agencies, national authorities and others.
At the official launch of the website Commissioner Malmström reminded that the fight against trafficking in human beings is one of Commission's top priorities. The European Union has made a decisive step forward in the harmonisation of policies in this field, thanks to the recent vote made by the European Parliament which endorsed the proposal for a Directive on trafficking in human beings put forward by the European Commission in March 2010.
This Directive will oblige EU Member States to act on three fronts: prosecuting criminals responsible for trafficking human beings, protecting the victims and preventing the offences. Once the text is formally adopted by the Council, Member States will have up to two years to comply with the new rules, which will replace current EU legislation dating from 2002 and will apply to all EU Member States except Denmark and the United Kingdom.
The EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Myria Vassiliadou, who will get a central role in the coordination of EU policies within this field, also welcomed the initiative highlighting that she will do her best to ensure coherence and efficiency of both policies and efforts of those involved in the fight against human trafficking within the EU.
Euroalert.net - EC launches dedicated website to fight human trafficking - News about the European Union
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Commission appoints an EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator
Image via Wikipedia
Mariah Jen
14 December 2010
The European Commission has today decided to appoint Ms Myria Vassiliadou to the position of European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. At the same time, the European Parliament has voted in favour of the Directive against trafficking in human beings that the Commission proposed in March.
“Today is an important day for the EU’s fight against this modern day slavery”, emphasises EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström. “The political agreement today in the European Parliament is most welcome. This shows a broad ambition within the EU that we want to step up our efforts to build a comprehensive European anti-trafficking policy. One important step towards that target is today’s appointment of Myria Vassiliadou as European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. She will have a central role in coordinating all aspects of our policies against this horrific crime. I am very glad that Ms Vassiliadou has accepted to take up the job and I look forward to working with her”.
Myria Vassiliadou, from Cyprus, is currently Secretary General for the European Women’s Lobby, EWL, based in Brussels. She holds a PhD in Sociology and has an extensive experience in areas such as fundamental rights, trafficking, migration and women’s rights through her work in academia, European institutions and non-governmental organisations.
The Anti-Trafficking Coordinator will improve coordination and coherence between EU institutions, EU agencies, Member States, third countries and international actors. She will help elaborate existing and new EU policies relevant to the fight against trafficking and provide overall strategic policy orientation for the EU’s external policy in this field. The coordinator will report directly to the Director-General of DG Home Affairs.
An effective EU policy on the fight against trafficking will need to draw from many different policy fields, such as police and judicial cooperation, protection of human rights, external relations, migration policies and social and labour law. It will be the task of the anti-trafficking coordinator to ensure coherence between all these policy fields.
Background
The fight against trafficking in human beings is an overarching priority for the Commission and the EU. In March 2010, the Commission proposed legislation obliging EU Member States to act on three fronts: prosecuting criminals responsible for trafficking human beings, protecting the victims and preventing the offences (IP/10/380).
Now that the Directive has been endorsed by the European Parliament, it will have to be formally adopted by the Council before it can enter into force. The new Directive will replace current EU legislation dating from 2002 (Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA) and will apply to all Member States except Denmark and the United Kingdom. Member States will then have to comply with the new rules within two years.
For more information
Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm
Source: IEWY News
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
ConservativeHome's Platform: Peter Bone MP: Can the Big Society Help Fight Modern Day Slavery?
Peter Bone is MP for Wellingborough and co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking.
Anthony Steen, when Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking which he founded in 2006, not only raised awareness of the scale and effects of human trafficking into the UK and the EU, but also put forward practical solutions to reduce supply and demand, and to improve welfare provisions for victims.
The European Commission estimates that a minimum of 100,000 people are trafficked into and around the EU each year, with at least 5,000 victims arriving in the UK.
Unfortunately, the UK statistics are inconsistent and unreliable; the Metropolitan Police believe that as far as sex trafficking in London alone is concerned, there are some 4,000 women trafficked annually into brothels, massage parlours, and the like. Human trafficking is now the second most profitable criminal activity in the world, netting $32 billion per year to traffickers.
Despite its relative youth, the Group has garnered widespread recognition and praise across Government for its commitment to its cause and far-reaching work. Immigration Minister Damian Green MP described the APPG as “an absolute model of how one can use an all-party group to shift public policy forward an inch or two.” Reconvened in July 2010 under the joint chairmanship of myself and Baroness Butler-Sloss, it now boasts 12 officers representing in both the Commons and the Lords and is one of the largest all party groups in parliament.
ECPAT UK (coordinating Anti-Slavery International, Jubilee Campaign, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, The Children’s Society, UNICEF UK, and World Vision UK), a leading charity dedicated to combating child trafficking, provides information to the Parliamentary Group members, whilst Anthony Steen (now chairing the Human Trafficking Foundation) is the Group’s Special Adviser.
Through its pan-European campaign, the APPG has established similar cross party parliamentary groups in Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, and Estonia. Creating a network right across European parliaments is the aim.
The group’s biggest challenge now is how to guide the new government on how best to address this hidden and growing scourge which presents itself in many different guises and how better to help victims cope with their situation. There are a number of issues which need urgent consideration. Should the scope of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Authority be extended to include the hospitality, tourism and agriculture industries, and so better tackle the growth of labour exploitation?
In an answer to me on July 22nd, Home Secretary, Theresa May, said: “Tackling human trafficking is a coalition priority, and the Government are currently considering how to improve our response to this terrible crime, including through the creation of a border police”.
Questions need to be asked regarding the closure of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre and the loss of some fifty staff as well as the consequences of the demise of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
What will happen to the National Referral Mechanism, by which those who have been trafficked are formally identified? Who will coordinate that and what skills will the interrogators have? What effect will these two closures have on human trafficking? Should we continue to turn a blind eye to this?
Perhaps the Government need look no further and enlist some of the top-class Non-Governmental Organisations willing and able to give practical help in solving some of these problems. They are certainly up to it. Isn’t this part of David Cameron’s “Big Society”, and shouldn’t the NGOs whom the previous administration ignored, be more involved? We recently heard the excellent announcement of locally-elected Police Commissioners – could they be required to report annually of Human Trafficking in the area?
If savings are to be made (e.g. £1.8m for the UKHTC), why not enlist NGOs like ECPAT UK to help with the National Referral Mechanism? Government could do no better than to bring in Kalayaan, whose sterling work fighting domestic slavery is well known. Poppy is a professionally run housing association caring for fifty or more abused women in at any one time in London alone: shouldn’t their ten years of experience be spread to other metropolitan areas? As Chairman of the All-Party Group, with the help of the Human Trafficking Foundation, I want to encourage government to take a lead in promoting the growth of networks of parliamentarians right across the EU, both to deter traffickers and to develop a more caring strategy towards victims.
William Wilberforce banished overt slavery 200 years ago yet today new slavery is even more widespread and an even more daunting challenge because it is ingrained in our society yet hidden from view.
ConservativeHome's Platform: Peter Bone MP: Can the Big Society Help Fight Modern Day Slavery?
The European Commission estimates that a minimum of 100,000 people are trafficked into and around the EU each year, with at least 5,000 victims arriving in the UK.
Unfortunately, the UK statistics are inconsistent and unreliable; the Metropolitan Police believe that as far as sex trafficking in London alone is concerned, there are some 4,000 women trafficked annually into brothels, massage parlours, and the like. Human trafficking is now the second most profitable criminal activity in the world, netting $32 billion per year to traffickers.
Despite its relative youth, the Group has garnered widespread recognition and praise across Government for its commitment to its cause and far-reaching work. Immigration Minister Damian Green MP described the APPG as “an absolute model of how one can use an all-party group to shift public policy forward an inch or two.” Reconvened in July 2010 under the joint chairmanship of myself and Baroness Butler-Sloss, it now boasts 12 officers representing in both the Commons and the Lords and is one of the largest all party groups in parliament.
ECPAT UK (coordinating Anti-Slavery International, Jubilee Campaign, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, The Children’s Society, UNICEF UK, and World Vision UK), a leading charity dedicated to combating child trafficking, provides information to the Parliamentary Group members, whilst Anthony Steen (now chairing the Human Trafficking Foundation) is the Group’s Special Adviser.
Through its pan-European campaign, the APPG has established similar cross party parliamentary groups in Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, and Estonia. Creating a network right across European parliaments is the aim.
The group’s biggest challenge now is how to guide the new government on how best to address this hidden and growing scourge which presents itself in many different guises and how better to help victims cope with their situation. There are a number of issues which need urgent consideration. Should the scope of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Authority be extended to include the hospitality, tourism and agriculture industries, and so better tackle the growth of labour exploitation?
In an answer to me on July 22nd, Home Secretary, Theresa May, said: “Tackling human trafficking is a coalition priority, and the Government are currently considering how to improve our response to this terrible crime, including through the creation of a border police”.
Questions need to be asked regarding the closure of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre and the loss of some fifty staff as well as the consequences of the demise of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
What will happen to the National Referral Mechanism, by which those who have been trafficked are formally identified? Who will coordinate that and what skills will the interrogators have? What effect will these two closures have on human trafficking? Should we continue to turn a blind eye to this?
Perhaps the Government need look no further and enlist some of the top-class Non-Governmental Organisations willing and able to give practical help in solving some of these problems. They are certainly up to it. Isn’t this part of David Cameron’s “Big Society”, and shouldn’t the NGOs whom the previous administration ignored, be more involved? We recently heard the excellent announcement of locally-elected Police Commissioners – could they be required to report annually of Human Trafficking in the area?
If savings are to be made (e.g. £1.8m for the UKHTC), why not enlist NGOs like ECPAT UK to help with the National Referral Mechanism? Government could do no better than to bring in Kalayaan, whose sterling work fighting domestic slavery is well known. Poppy is a professionally run housing association caring for fifty or more abused women in at any one time in London alone: shouldn’t their ten years of experience be spread to other metropolitan areas? As Chairman of the All-Party Group, with the help of the Human Trafficking Foundation, I want to encourage government to take a lead in promoting the growth of networks of parliamentarians right across the EU, both to deter traffickers and to develop a more caring strategy towards victims.
William Wilberforce banished overt slavery 200 years ago yet today new slavery is even more widespread and an even more daunting challenge because it is ingrained in our society yet hidden from view.
ConservativeHome's Platform: Peter Bone MP: Can the Big Society Help Fight Modern Day Slavery?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Human Trafficking In Europe Priority For EU Spanish Presidency | Gov Monitor
Image via Wikipedia
In modern Europe there exists a new type of slavery that involves the trafficking of people for sexual and labour slavery. Europol have said the problem did not decrease last year and that 80% of its victims are women.
Last Tuesday (19 January), Swedish Socialist MEP Anna Hedh and Conservative MEP Edit Bauer from Slovakia raised the issue in Parliament.
They will ask questions to the Council of Ministers and the European Commission to try and get anti-trafficking high on Europe’s agenda.
Why are you raising this issue now?
Trafficking is constantly increasing. Slavery was abolished over 200 years ago in Europe but thousands of people are being sold today. Trafficking includes sexual and labour exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and other forms of exploitation including the removal of organs. It is considered to be one of the most serious crimes worldwide. More than 80% of the victims are women.
Last year the Commission suggested a framework for legislation against trafficking in human beings. But since the Lisbon Treaty was ratified, Parliament now has an equal say with ministers over this issue and we want the Commission to use a different legal framework. And this is why we are asking a question and handing in a resolution.
What has to be done to deal with the problem?
The Commission likes to talk about a different penalty rate but we also need a holistic approach in all policy making. For example, it involves migration. There must be harsh penalties. But we also need prevention and to get all EU members to deal with the question of demand. If there was no demand there would be no problem.
I would like to sell the Swedish model on the purchase of sexual services (under which the purchaser gets punished). It is sensitive but Sweden has fewer problems with trafficking than the rest of the EU.
What sanctions do you want for those involved in human trafficking?
There must be harsh penalties in order for it to work. The Commission has suggested three different levels and I think that the highest level they propose (12 years) should be the lowest. I think there must be a penalty of at least 10 years in prison. We are talking about a person who has bought and sold a human being.
Trafficking is one of the priorities of the EU Spanish presidency…
Yes, and this makes me happy. I hope that they will succeed with the discussions in the council because previously there have been different views, amongst other things about the levels of penalties. I hope the Spanish presidency will unite the council so that we get good legislation.
While we are talking people are being exploited and people are exploiting. Is there a risk that this will be only another directive and that nothing will change?
Yes. This is a big problem and it is very important to make sure that this is legislation that will allow us to put pressure on the member states.
We also need to educate the police and court personnel across the EU. In addition, victims must know that they are entitled to support when they have been exploited, so that they ask for help from the national authorities.
Legal texts are often difficult to read and therefore it is important that the member states produce information campaigns to disseminate information for all citizens and victims.
Human Trafficking In Europe Priority For EU Spanish Presidency | Gov Monitor
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=6891aca7-5596-4f77-8b49-01d3d2d74fd0)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
