Liz Lynne backs report to stamp out human trafficking

12.00.00am GMT Tue 17th Jan 2006

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands and member of the Human Rights Subcommittee, called again today for the UK government to sign up to the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking.

The European Parliament voted today on a report into human trafficking, and passed three amendments from Liz Lynne, one of which highlighted the UK's failure to sign up. Speaking after the vote, Liz said:

"Human trafficking means women and children being forced into prostitution in many countries, including within Europe. The only way this abhorrent practice will be stamped out is if we have a common and integrated approach across Europe that establishes minimum standards for the treatment of trafficking victims. The UK must stop dragging its feet and sign up to the Convention at once."

Liz Lynne also expressed concern that this year's World Cup could create a surge in the numbers of women and children being trafficked and forced into prostitution and is currently waiting for the European Commission to reply to a written question asking what steps are being taken to avoid this.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Ms Lynne tabled three amendments to the Prets Report through the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, all of which were passed.

Amendment 2, Paragraph 28

Calls on the Member States to establish and/or strengthen awareness-raising campaigns targeted at providing information about the dangers and educating vulnerable members of society in the countries of origin and to alert and raise the awareness of the public about the problem and reduce demand in the countries of destination; in this regard, calls on Member States to recognise that business travellers can be a part of the solution to trafficking if they are actively engaged in the awareness-raising process and are encouraged to report what they see; calls on the Member States, especially on Germany, to take appropriate measures in the course of the World Cup football tournament in 2006 to prevent trafficking of women and forced prostitution;

Amendment 3, Paragraph 41

Calls on the Commission and the Member States to intensify their contacts with the hotel and tourist industry, so as to establish better cooperation on the industry's social responsibility and encourage the industry to adopt a code of ethics covering trafficking and prostitution where no such code exists; considers that good examples of ethical codes, such as the UNICEF-funded ECPAT code on the sexual exploitation of children, should be highlighted and recorded;

Amendment 4, Paragraph 44a (new)

Calls on the Member States to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings;

2. Liz Lynne MEP tabled the following Parliamentary Question:

According to the International Labour Organisation study "Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Germany", 360,000 of the 12.3 million people worldwide categorised as modern slaves live in industrialised countries, and an estimated 15,000 of them in Germany. As Germany is hosting the World Cup in 2006, there is a real concern that the number of women trafficked into this country for the purposes of forced prostitution will rise significantly. What initiatives can and will the Commission take to prevent this gross human rights abuse?

3. The Convention states that a so called 'breathing' period of 30 days would allow the victims of trafficking time to stay in the member state to consider whether they wish to co-operate in the prosecution of the trafficker. During that time, they would be given access to counselling and other assistance. They would also be allowed to apply for residence if they would be in danger on returning to their home country or if indeed they agree to give evidence.