Liz Lynne encourages MEPs to join the 'Business Travellers against Human Trafficking' campaign

3.26.15pm GMT Wed 9th Nov 2005

Speaking ahead of this evening's launch of the Business Travellers against Human Trafficking campaign in the European Parliament, Liz Lynne MEP, who tabled a Written Declaration in support of this campaign in Strasbourg in October, said,

"The trafficking of women and children into forced prostitution is a form of modern day slavery. With over 800,000 young women, children and men being trafficked and sold into prostitution and forced labour every year, how can we stand idly by and do nothing?

"Here is a practical initiative that representatives from across Europe can join to help combat this gross abuse of human rights. By reporting incidents of child prostitution and trafficking and by raising awareness, we MEPs, as frequent business travellers, can lead by example.

"The Business Travellers against Human Trafficking campaign is a very important project and I hope all MEPs and EU officials sign up to it.

"The Commission has recently issued a Communication on fighting trafficking, so it is the perfect time to launch this campaign in the European Parliament.

"However MEPs should also put pressure on their Governments to sign up to the European Council Convention on Human Trafficking, which is now open for signing. If the UK Government, which holds the EU Presidency, wants to show to the rest of Europe its commitment to human rights, it should sign the Convention now."

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

By joining the Business Travellers against Human Trafficking campaign, business travellers can help by:

1) Putting pressure on hotels which allow their premises and their immediate area to be used for child prostitution and trafficking.

2) Asking hotels and airlines to adopt the code of conduct endorsed by the UN against the exploitation of children.

3) Supporting local projects which benefit children.

Please see www.businesstravellers.org for more information about the campaign and to register with it.