CHILD TRAFFICKING PROBLEM NEEDS MORE EUROPEAN COOPERATION - MEP
June 10, 2008 10:47 AM
A LibDem MEP is calling for urgent action from the EU institutions and Member States to do more to stop child trafficking, a problem which sees an estimated two million minors worldwide illegally transported for forced labour and sexual exploitation each year.
Liz Lynne MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, has signed a Written Declaration (similar to an Early Day Motion at Westminster) calling for EU and its Member States to do their part in stopping child trafficking. If signed by over half of the 785 MEPs, the Declaration will trigger a debate on the subject in the European Parliament.
Speaking today, Liz Lynne, said:
"Trafficking in human beings is worth billions of pounds each year, only arms and drugs trafficking are bigger business for organised crime. The fact that so many of these trafficking victims - two million - are children is a disgrace that we need to fight head on. Children are especially vulnerable to exploitation, whether they are forced into prostitution or work in conditions of slavery and therefore need extra protection.
"We need Member States to ensure that anti-trafficking measures are a high priority in their child protection strategies. Trafficking rings are making use of all the latest technologies to carry out their vile trade and law enforcement needs to do the same to stop it. Our governments and NGOs also need to improve their sharing of information and experience, to ensure there are enough specially trained officers tackling trafficking and enough support for the victims.
"Getting a high profile debate in the European Parliament would help us get this tragic subject further up the agenda and help MEPs push for more action to stop child trafficking in its tracks."
ENDS
Notes:
Liz Lynne has often campaigned on human trafficking issues, recently calling for extra measures to stop surges in trafficking for sexual exploitation to supply increased demand around large sporting events such as Euro 2008, and supporting calls for an EU-wide missing child alert system similar to the US Amber Alert system.
Written declaration on combating the trafficking of children, no 0050/2008, signed by Liz Lynne:
The European Parliament,
- having regard to Articles 34 and 35 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
- having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings,
- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
- having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas child trafficking is still a persistent problem, with more than two million children annually trafficked for forced labour and sexual exploitation,
B. whereas the development of new communication technologies increases the trafficking in children, making the managing of this phenomenon more difficult,
C. whereas national authorities and NGOs in the Member States are still not acting efficiently against child trafficking, due to insufficient cross-border cooperation, lack of specialised training or inadequate implementation of existing legal standards,
1. Calls on the Member States to recognise the fight against child trafficking as a priority objective in their national child protection policies;
2. Calls on the European Parliament and the Council to provide the necessary resources in the framework of the Commission's strategy on promoting and safeguarding children's rights;
3. Calls on the Member States to continue actively cooperating and exchanging knowledge and experience with the relevant EU authorities and NGOs, in order to prevent and combat child trafficking, and provide adequate treatment for victims of such trafficking;
4. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council and the Commission.
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