Action must follow ministerial conference to mark EU Anti-Trafficking Day today, says Midlands MEP (West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats)

West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats <info@westbromwichandwarleylibdems.org.uk>

Action must follow ministerial conference to mark EU Anti-Trafficking Day today, says Midlands MEP

October 18, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

Liz Lynne MEP with Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell and DCI Nick Kinsella launching the EU wide Blue Blindfold campaign to report suspected human traffickers to police.

Liz Lynne MEP with Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell and DCI Nick Kinsella launching the EU wide Blue Blindfold campaign to report suspected traffickers to police. Liz hopes the conference in Brussels this week will lead to similar campaigns in non EU countries

A conference in Brussels called by the Swedish EU Presidency to mark EU Anti Trafficking Day (October 18th 2009) must be more than a talking shop, says UK LibDem MEP Liz Lynne.

The ministerial-level event is being held on Monday and Tuesday this week and will be attended by Ministers from Britain, many EU states, Russia and the USA. But most MEPs will be in Strasbourg for a plenary session.

Liz Lynne, MEP for the West Midlands, has campaigned against human trafficking for many years, as shadow rapporteur for a European Parliament report, the author of written declaration and parliamentary questions on the issue.

Liz said: "I welcome the decision by the Swedish Presidency to hold this conference. I very much hope it will lead to more co-ordinated international action against this evil and an increased focus on helping the victims rebuild their lives.

"The United Nations estimates that between 700,000 and 2 million women and children are trafficked around the world each year and also between 1000 and 4000 are trafficked into the UK alone. Many of these are forced into prostitution and domestic servitude."

"We need EU states and other countries around the world to co-operate to stamp out this scourge of modern society. Victims of trafficking are often extremely vulnerable and we also need to ensure they are not treated as criminals but protected and given time to recover."

"It is vital that all EU Member States sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on trafficking in human beings. I also hope that the EU and Interpol can encourage more international cooperation between police forces to hunt down the criminal gangs responsible, using specialist teams like the Metropolitan Police's Human Trafficking Unit who have achieved so much, and which I am campaigning to retain."

"I worked with senior police officers to launch the Blue Blindfold publicity campaign being rolled out across Europe to encourage the public to report suspicious activity. I do hope we can encourage similar campaigns in non EU countries where many of the victims come from.

"EU members must also implement Directive 2004/81 on residence permits for the victims of trafficking; the UK has still not opted into this.

"The only way this atrocious practice will be stamped out is if we have a common and integrated approach across Europe and beyond, that also establishes minimum standards for the treatment of victims."

ENDS