"OUTRAGE OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY MUST END"

12.14.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Jun 2007

Liz Lynne, Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, Vice-President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, has urged further action to end modern day slavery.

Having campaigned for many years against human trafficking and slavery, Liz has today called on fellow MEPs to sign her Written Declaration, which expires on the 28th of June. If signed by enough MEPs, the Declaration can force a debate on new European Union action on the subject.

Speaking today from the Parliament in Strasbourg, Liz said:

"I implore my colleagues to sign Written Declaration 0032/2007 which will help to halt this appalling trade."

"It is an outrage that 200 years after the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom, 12.3 million people are categorised as slaves and an estimated 600,000-800,000 people are smuggled across borders each year. Many of these, particularly women and children are forced into prostitution."

"My declaration urges member-states to opt into Council Directive 2004/81/EC as well as sign and ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which together will offer the victims of modern trafficking and slavery more legal support and assistance and help to bring the perpetrators of this evil trade to justice. "

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Written Declaration 0032/2007 reads as follows:

The European Parliament,

• having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas 12.3 million people worldwide are categorised as modern slaves,

B. whereas an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year and many of those are forced into prostitution,

C. whereas only four European Union Member States have ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings,

1. Notes that despite the 200th anniversary of the ­end of the transatlantic slave trade in the United Kingdom action is urgently required to eliminate modern day human trafficking and forced labour in the European Union;

2. Urges all remaining Member States to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings;

3. Urges Member States to opt in to Council Directive 2004/81/EC on residence permits for victims of trafficking and for coordinated schemes to assist victims who want to go back to their home country;

4. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.