UK presidency must sign up to Convention on Human Trafficking - Liz Lynne

12.00.00am GMT Fri 2nd Dec 2005

Today is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, which recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the

Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317 (IV), 2nd December 1949).

However, Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands and Member of the

Subcommittee on Human Rights, today spoke out about the continued human

trafficking that goes on across the world:

"Despite thinking that this abhorrent practice is a thing of the past,

there is still a great deal of human trafficking going on.

"Women and children are being forced into prostitution in many countries, and although things are being done to address the problem, such as yesterday's conviction of a gang of Albanian sex traffickers, there is still a lot more which needs to be done, starting with an integrated approach across Europe."

A Council of Europe Convention was drawn up last month, and an EU action Plan outlining steps that must be taken by EU Member States in order to

prevent the trafficking of humans has followed. Of the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe, there are still 23 left to sign the Convention, (including the UK and France) and all, including those already signed up,are yet to be ratified.

"As holders of the EU presidency, we should be setting an example for others in this fundamental area of human rights. Instead, we still have

not yet signed up to the Convention."

ENDS.