UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO TACKLE CHILD TRAFFICKING AT ROOT

11.31.41am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Aug 2006

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP and member of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, today welcomed a report released by UNICEF calling for a new approach in the fight against human trafficking.

Liz also welcomed proposed new measures from the Government to tackle the problem, but echoed criticism from representatives of UNICEF of the UK's continued failure to sign up to the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking.

Speaking in Brussels today Ms Lynne commented,

"Women and children come to this country every day only to face a life of forced prostitution and forced labour. This report will hopefully raise awareness of this abhorrent practice. But as well as raising awareness, we need to take practical steps to help trafficking victims."

"The Government is quite right to consider new proposals to tackle child trafficking, but it is sending out mixed messages by continuing to refuse to sign up to the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking"

"32 states, from Albania to the Ukraine, have now signed this convention, while the UK government has spent more than 15 months "considering its position" and has still not signed the convention. It's time for the UK government to stop dragging its feet.

"The only way we will stamp out this evil trade is through a common and integrated approach across Europe that provides strong preventative measures and minimum standards for the treatment of victims"

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

1. A long-time campaigner on the issue, Liz Lynne MEP will be presenting a major new Policy Motion on human trafficking at the Liberal Democrat Conference on Wednesday the 20th September from 17:45 - 18:30, to give a clear message that the party considers this a grave and immediate concern.

2. The report by the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, has said European countries are not doing enough to protect children from being exploited by human traffickers. The report criticises efforts in south eastern Europe to combat the trafficking of children in that region. It says that between 6,000-14,000 children are taken across borders each year, many to be sold into the sex trade.The report also warns that up to 1.2 million children worldwide could be exploited and there is little co-ordination to prevent the problem. It says existing programmes rely too heavily on awareness raising campaigns often aimed at adults rather than children.

3. The report was launched at a week-long World Congress of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates. Held every four years, this is only the second time the Congress has been held in the UK or Ireland. A total of 500 delegates from 50 countries in all five continents in the world will be discussing the protection of children's rights.

4.The Council of Europe's Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which guarantees a "recovery and reflection period" of at least 30 days for people who have been trafficked, has now been signed by 32 of the 46 council members. The UK government has spent more than 15 months "considering its position" and has still not signed the convention. Of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, 20 have still to sign the Convention (including the UK and France).

5. Liz Lynne and her Liberal Democrat colleagues have long led the call for tougher laws to deal with the problem of human trafficking, as well as specific measures to help victims. The Business Travellers Against Human Trafficking campaign was launched last November in the European Parliament, and Liz Lynne authored a Written Declaration on the issue.