Time is now for action on human trafficking

Published on Sat 18th Oct 2008

Elspeth Attwooll MEP is calling on all political institutions to work together to combat the multi-billion pound trade in human trafficking, which includes the sale of two million children into slave labour and prostitution each year.

The call comes on the European Union's second annual Anti-trafficking Day - the 18th October 2008.

The Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland said:

"Firstly, all political institutions much give this issue far greater priority on their agendas. Secondly, we must all work together to bring it to an end.

More than two million children are trafficked annually for forced labour and sexual exploitation. We must do everything in our power to stop this - and the time for action is now.

The European Parliament has stepped up its efforts. We adopted a written declaration on combating trafficking, which pushes the issue further the parliament's list of priorities.

Other institutions must follow. The UK Government has already signed but not ratified the Council of Europe's anti-trafficking Convention. Signing it would be a strong statement of intent.

But it is just as crucial that all institutions coordinate their efforts with each other. The traffickers use the latest technologies to organise, so we must all work together to share information and best practice to stop them."

ENDS

1. We can all do our bit to help raise the profile of this debate by signing the petition www.sayNO.eu

2. For more on the of Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings www.coe.int/t/dg2/trafficking/campaign/Flags-sos_en.asp

3. For more on the EU Anti-trafficking day http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/information_dossiers/anti_trafficking_day_07/index_en.htm