Taking action against trafficking in human beings

MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee recommend that "human trafficking should be converted from a "low risk (high reward enterprise for organised crime") into a high risk (low reward one). Law enforcement must use all the resources and capacity available to enforce the prohibition of human trafficking to deprive it of any economic advantage. They also add that "the investigation of human trafficking should be afforded the same priority as other areas of organised crime in that specialist investigative techniques and disruption strategies should be employed".

 

As to judicial and police cooperation, the report recommends that "Member States should ensure the necessary organizational structures, specialised personnel and adequate financial resources for their law enforcement authorities to be able effectively to combat human trafficking". MEPs add that: "Member States should ensure that national law enforcement agencies regularly involve Europol in the exchange of information (etc...)".

 

MEPs recommend that "Member States and the Commission should strengthen political dialogue third countries bilaterally and multilaterally on the human rights dimensions of anti-trafficking policies and continue to raise the issue in relevant regional and multilateral forums". The EU "recognises the importance of taking forward a human rights and victims-centred approach. Member States should ensure that the human rights of victims of trafficking are protected fully at all stages (etc...)".

 

Finally, MEPs recommend that "regional solutions to prevent trafficking in human beings and to ensure the safe return and reintegration of victims are essential. Member States and the Commission should continue to promote regional initiatives that complement and inspire EU-wide cooperation".

 

 

The Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State Office estimated 600 000 to 800 000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80% of those are women and girls of which up to 50% are minors. The majority of transnational victims are trafficked with the aim of commercial sexual exploitation.

 

As the decisive part of trafficking in human beings has an international character, it is necessary to strengthen the international cooperation in the field of investigation, exchange of information, identification of victims, law-enforcement and reintegration. In this cooperation Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and Police Chiefs Task Force have to play a more significant role.

 

International documents stress the human rights based approach, mainly focusing on victims protection. Since seriousness of human rights abuse is not always transposed into prosecution, some doubts might occur, mainly in labour exploitation as if trafficking is considered primarily as a human rights abuse, the prosecution will weaken.