Anti-Slavery International and Human Rights Watch on 7 March issued joint recommendations urging that the European Union make the protection of trafficking victims' human rights a priority in EU legislation.

In December the European Commission proposed two new Council Framework Decisions, one concerning trafficking in person and the other concerning sexual exploitation of children. These are currently being discussed and the 15 European Union countries are likely to adopt a Framework Decision on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings by June 2001.

The proposed Framework Decision would be more binding on Member States than previous measures taken by the EU against trafficking in persons. Specifically, it would require Member States to modify their own legislation and penal codes by 31 December 2002 in order to comply with the provisions of the Framework Decision.