EU-strategy in the field of prevention and fight against trafficking in human beings

The fight against trafficking in human beings has become increasingly a political priority at the level of the European Union. Initially most attention was drawn to the fight against trafficking in women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Recent developments have, however, highlighted the need also to address the issue of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation.

The European Union has been actively engaged since 1996 in developing a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach towards the prevention of and fight against trafficking in human beings involving all relevant actors – NGOs and social authorities, judicial, law enforcement and migration authorities. Such an approach involves national and international co-operation. It is necessary to address the phenomenon throughout the trafficking chain (recruiters, transporters, exploiters, other intermediaries and clients). A variety of measures, including explicit legal protection to all individuals, and preventive measures, as well as measures to ensure adequate protection of, support for, and assistance to the victims, are required. Since women are in a position of vulnerability to become victims, there is also a clear need to tackle this problem from the angle of promoting gender equality.

The European Parliament has always been very active in requiring further actions at EU-level, both in the field of prevention and in the field of fighting against trafficking in human beings. This is for instance illustrated by several resolutions, including specific resolutions on trafficking in women.

There is a general consensus, in particular as regards the need to develop: preventive measures, penal legislation as well as co-operation involving police and judicial authorities, rotection, assistance and support for victims, appropriate co-operation policies. All these elements require various initiatives depending on the type of trafficking (for labour exploitation or for sexual exploitation) and on the victims. So far the European Union has been more active in taking initiatives on the development of penal legislation and law enforcement and judicial co-operation than on the prevention of trafficking and the protection of victims. In 1996 the European Commission developed a European strategy to prevent and fight against trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Also in 1996, the mandate for Europol was extended in order to enable the organisation to combat trafficking in human beings. Furthermore, in November 1996, the incentive and exchange programme STOP was launched to support actions by the persons responsible (public officials and NGOs) for the fight against and prevention of trafficking in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children.

In February 1997, the Council adopted a Joint Action calling on Member States of the European Union to review their national criminal legislation as regards trafficking in human beings and judicial co-operation as well as to encourage protection of victims in judicial proceedings. Also in 1997, the DAPHNE Initiative to combat violence against children, young people and women was launched. The Initiative was followed by the DAPHNE Programme in December 2000. This programme has a wider scope than the STOP Programme in that it covers the general issue of violence against women and children in which trafficking is included. Although the DAPHNE Programme is open for public entities, it is focusing on the important role of NGOs.

In a second Communication on further actions in the fight against trafficking in women in December 1998, the Commission assessed progress made and recommended a number of new targeted initiatives as well as the deepening of certain existing actions. In particular the objectives are to: - to ensure that the question of trafficking remains high on the political agenda; - to reinforce international and European co-operation, including both governments and NGOs in the countries of origin, transit and destination; - to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach focusing on both prevention, research, law-enforcement and effective sentencing of traffickers, as well as on support for victims; - to make clear to the candidate countries, through the accession process, that they have a responsibility to control trafficking by national measures and co-operation with the EU.

Since May 1999, the European Union’s actions to combat trafficking in human beings are explicitly mentioned under the Title VI in the Amsterdam Treaty. The articles of Title VI cover police and judicial co-operation. The conclusions from the European Council in Tampere of October 1999 also give clear priority to the fight against trafficking in human beings.

The Amsterdam Treaty also introduced under its social provisions the fight against exclusion. Positive synergies can be developed between actions fighting trafficking and actions promoting social inclusion. Subsequently, the Lisbon European Council in March 2000 called for setting common objectives to fight poverty and social exclusion as well as developing priority actions for groups in a vulnerable position according to the situation in each Member State. These common objectives were endorsed by the Nice European Council in December 2000 and the Member States committed themselves to mainstream the promotion of inclusion in their relevant policies (employment, education and training, health and housing). National financial means necessary to implement these commitments shall be complemented, at Community level, by action under the Structural Funds, in particular the European Social Fund.

Combating and preventing trafficking are also taken into account in various ways in the enlargement process. The EU is actively involved in helping the candidate countries to improve their labour markets and their living standards, in particular by seeking to increase women's participation. Candidate countries can also participate in specific Community programmes in partnership with Member States, for example STOP, DAPHNE, EQUAL and the Gender Equality Programme.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 854