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Do they number 120 000, 180 000, even 500 000? It is very
difficult to know exactly how many people have been subjected to trafficking
in Europe. Police forces, NGOs and international organisations all
agree that the statistics are not accurate. On the other hand, two
facts are quite clear to all: the first is that women and children
are the main victims of this dreadful trade, and the second is that
trafficking is constantly increasing.
The fall of the communist governments, the wars in the Balkans,
the impoverishment of populations subjected to the "shock therapy"
of market economics and the major developments of the past 15 years
in central and eastern Europe have given a great boost to the trafficking
of human beings. Lydie Err, in her report to the Parliamentary Assembly,
said that 78% of women victims of trafficking were from central
or eastern Europe, and that the opening up of borders and the rise
in unemployment, together with the disruption of governmental structures,
had led to an increase in human trafficking.
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«The same weapons must be used to combat human trafficking in Europe as are used against drug trafficking and money laundering»
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Then the tightening up of immigration policies in the countries
of the Union had aggravated the situation of the most vulnerable
people. In Mrs Err’s opinion, these restrictions encourage
the setting up of trafficking channels which deceive women who wish
to emigrate. She says that, in eastern Europe, trafficking is linked
to organised crime, which uses the proceeds to fund arms or drug
trafficking.
The Council of Europe has been sounding the alarm for over 10 years,
drawing the attention of member states and other international organisations
to the vital need for co-operation to combat trafficking. It is
now taking the path of a new European convention, because the time
has come to put an end to the dual persecution suffered by the victims
of trafficking, who are both exploited by their tormentors and treated
as offenders in the countries where they live in veritable slavery.
Trafficking is very closely linked to organised crime, and the
same weapons must be used to combat it in Europe as are used against
drug trafficking and money laundering. Experience in this field
has shown that the use of legal instruments at regional level is
a useful way of reinforcing the action taken globally.
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FOCUS |
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©Gamma |
In Europe trafficking in human beings is above all synonymous with
prostitution. At any rate, that is the most visible, best known aspect
of it. However, the trade in human beings does not have a single face,
but utilises all the forms of exploitation that may bring in money.
(more…)
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©AFP |
According to Europol, the women who are victims of trafficking in
Europe are in every case trapped by poverty and violence. Exploited,
deceived, kidnapped, they by no means imagined the degrading conditions
in which they would have to live. (more…)
Map: Slaves in Kosovo
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Slave markets still exist in 21st century Europe. They are
no longer held on public squares, but, as in
days of old, people who trade in human beings, particularly in women,
make huge profits…(more…)
Map: the path of human trafficking
in Europe
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| REFERENCE
SITES |
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Action
against trafficking in human beings
Legal Affairs
Project
LARA
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