|
Trafficking in human beings ...
|
Trafficking in human beings constitutes a violation of human rights and an
offence to the dignity and integrity of all human beings. It deprives children of the right to
preserve their identity, to education, health care,
rest and leisure, and to not be subjected to degrading treatment or punishment.
In Europe, trafficking children is usually for sexual exploitation or
forced labour. Because trafficked children are made to believe
that they have no alternatives, they often lack motivation to escape.
|
Selected legal texts |
• The
Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings:
open for signature on 16 May 2005, has now been ratified (10
ratifications, 8 of which must be member states) and will enter into force
on 1 February 2008.
• Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1610 (2003) on migration connected with traficking in women; •
Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons,
especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention
against transnational organised crime: • Declaration on the fight against trafficking, 6 June 2006/the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe •
Recommendation 165 (2005) on the fight against trafficking in human beings
and their sexual exploitation: the role of cities and regions/ the
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. See
also the
Explanatory Memorandum.
• List of texts from other international organisations (see campaign against trafficking below).
|
Activities and other texts |
• The Council of Europe has been fighting trafficking since the late 1980s. See the Council of Europe website devoted to combatting trafficking in human beings. • Council of Europe campaign against trafficking: Human being - not for sale. This campaign, run by the Division on Equality between Women and Men, started in 2006 and will end in 2008. Besides promoting ratification of the convention (see above) the campaign aims to raise awareness of the problem of trafficking as well as possible solutions to it amongst governments, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities, NGOs and civil society.The campaign's very thorough website provides links to all relevant legal texts - both internal and external to other international organisations - background documents, activities and conferences, as well as work going on outside the Council of Europe. • The Lara project: (DG-I/DG-II ) anti-trafficking project for South-East Europe/ DG I - Legal Affairs
|
Points of view |
Interview
with Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of
Europe. This interview took place during preparation of the convention,
before its adoption in May 2006. It highlights the challenges involved in
drafting the convention, such as reconciling victim protection with EU law on illegal
migration, and the need for progress in victim protection and monitoring.
|
Press releases |
24 October 2006: Council of Europe: Italy and other countries committed to ratify the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings |