UK to finally sign up to European Convention on Human Trafficking - Liz Lynne

12.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Jan 2007

On the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the UK, Liz Lynne MEP, a long time campaigner against human trafficking has today welcomed Tony Blair's formal announcement that the government is to sign the European Convention on Human Trafficking.

After Liz called for immediate action last week, when Home Secretary John Reid said that the Convention "remained a priority" for the government, she said today:

"At long last the UK has recognised that Human Trafficking is the modern form of slavery. The women and children that are brought into Britain every year as sex workers have no choice whether they work as prostitutes or not.

"At the moment, these women have no guaranteed protection. They are treated as illegal immigrants and deported and in many cases are re-trafficked again.

"Finally the government has heeded calls from myself and others. We need safe havens so that young women and girls can be protected. We need at least the 30 day breathing period that the European Convention calls for so that these women can decide if they will take part in the prosecution of the traffickers.

"There have been only 30 convictions for trafficking since 2004. I sincerely hope that this long awaited action will mean that this barbaric practice can be ended and more convictions secured."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liz was author of a Policy Motion to Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Human Trafficking which is now Party Policy, and gives a clear message that the Party sees this issue as a grave and immediate concern.

Liz Lynne MEP was the shadow rapporteur for a European Parliament report on Human Trafficking and launched the campaign Business Travellers against Human Trafficking in the European Parliament. In the European Parliament, Liz has tabled a written declaration on the need to end the connection between business travellers and the trafficking of women and children into forced prostitution in October 2005, tabled oral questions in the European Parliament in November 2005 and January 2006 and tabled an oral question to the European Commission on the lack of pressure on member states to implement anti-trafficking legislation. Liz has also made speeches on the human trafficking situation in Cambodia, Asia and Guatemala.