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**IMMEDIATE RELEASE** IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
EXPERTS URGE EU TO MAKE PROTECTION FOR MIGRANTS
& TRAFFICKING VICTIMS A PRIORITY
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Recommendations made to the European Union on Wednesday 22 December
by the European Commission's Experts Group on Trafficking in Human
Beings urge the EU to provide protection for migrants, and support
and assistance for victims of trafficking in measures it develops
to combat this modern-day slave trade.
Through deception, coercion or the threat or use of violence, traffickers
force hundreds of thousands of women, children and men throughout
the world into slavery, both as forced labour and into sexual exploitation.
The report draws attention to the fact that efforts taken to prevent
trafficking should include protection for regular and irregular
migrants, recognising migrants' vulnerability to trafficking, forced
labour and other serious forms of exploitation.
States must ensure their immigration policies are equally beneficial
for the migrant and the state. Even though the demand for migrant
labour is increasing*, no major receiving country, including the
UK, has ratified the 1990 United Nations Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families.
"This key convention is the most comprehensive international
standard protecting migrants' rights. Ratifying this is a vital
step in protecting migrants and their families from slavery and
other exploitation," Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery
International and member of the Experts Group said.
The Experts Group also urges the development of mechanisms and practices
that improve identification of trafficked people and ensure recognition
of them as victims of a crime. "This is particularly important
as EU trafficking legislation must provide trafficked people with
support and assistance on the basis of their being victims of a
crime, rather than linking help to co-operation with an investigation,"
Mary Cunneen said.
A key recommendation is that the EU should allow the trafficked
person to stay in the country for at least three months. This 'reflection
delay' is vital as it enables the trafficked person time to assess
his or her situation and receive specialist help and support in
a safe environment. It also interrupts the trafficking network,
disrupting the this criminal trade.
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| NOTES TO EDITORS:
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- To arrange an interview or for further information
contact Beth Herzfeld,
Anti-Slavery International's Press Officer on +44 (0)20
7501 8934 or email b.herzfeld@antislavery.org
For more on trafficking see our trafficking
page
- *According to the International Organization for
Migration, EU countries will need 68 million more foreign
workers by 2050 just to stabilize the existing workforce.
- Anti-Slavery International is the world's oldest
international human rights organisation, founded in 1839,
it is the only UK charity working exclusively to end slavery
throughout the world.
- According to the United States Department of State
Trafficking in Persons Report 2004, an estimated 600,000-800,000
women, children and men are trafficked each year across
borders. This figure does not include people trafficked
within a country.
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| BACKGROUND:
The Experts Group was set up by the Commission in 2003
and comprises 20 independently appointed experts on trafficking
from non-governmental organisations, police, prosecutors,
judges, members of governmental administrations, researchers
and academics.
The report was submitted to Vice President Franco Frattini,
Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security.
In 2005, the EU will issue a Communication which will develop
an EU plan for common standards to combat human trafficking.
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22 December 2004
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NR/18/04 |
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