Support Our Work Mailing list About / Contact
  • Home /
  • News /
  • 2016 /
  • May /
  • EU: Human trafficking: European Parliament says Member States not supporting victims

EU: Human trafficking: European Parliament says Member States not supporting victims

13 May 2016

Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

"EU member states should do more to protect victims of human trafficking, especially women, and take gender-specific prevention, assistance and support measures to help them, say MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday. The text points out that EU legislation to protect victims of trafficking is not being properly enforced.

"Progress has been made in the fight against international trafficking gangs, but all too often victims are not being given the help they are entitled to under EU law, said rapporteur Catherine Bearder (ALDE, UK)."EU-wide measures to tackle this vile trade must be fully implemented by national governments, including the proper collection of statistics and identification of victims to give us a clearer view of the real picture", she added.

The resolution, approved by 391 votes to 43, with 53 abstentions, underlines that the European Commission has failed to keep to the timetable of assessment reporting required by the directive."

See: European Parliament press release: Human trafficking: MEPs call on EU member states to protect victims better (pdf)

The resolution: European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2016 on implementation of the Directive 2011/36/EU of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims from a gender perspective (2015/2118(INI)) (pdf)

According to Article 23 of the Directive (EUR-Lex, link), the Commission should have issued one report by 6 April 2015 on "the extent to which the Member States have taken the necessary measures in order to comply with this Directive," and another by 6 April 2016 on "the impact of existing national law, establishing as a criminal offence the use of services which are the objects of exploitation of trafficking in human beings, on the prevention of trafficking in human beings, accompanied, if necessary, by adequate proposals."

National laws implementing the Directive ('National Implementing Measures') can be viewed here (EUR-Lex, link).

Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

 Previous article

UK: Birmingham pub bombings coroner has 'significant' new information

Next article 

EU: Legal aid in European Arrest Warrant proceedings: Council report on latest trilogue with Parliament

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error

Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy