Euro-MP welcomes renewed interest in ending slavery of human trafficking

5.43.24pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Sep 2005

The problem of human trafficking is beginning to gain more widespread international attention. The director-general of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, met today with the Russian Interior Ministry. This followed yesterday's Interpol meeting on the topic and Friday's sentencing of human trafficker Viktor Larcenko to 10 years in prison by a London court.

Liz Lynne MEP, who has called for Europe and the international community to address the problem for some time, welcomed the latest interest.

"I am so pleased that the international community is taking a serious interest in human trafficking. I have called on leaders to address the issue on a European level and it appears that we have begun to make headway.

"While the problem of human trafficking is an international problem, it has affected the West Midlands as well. There are countless stories of innocent young women being forced into sexual slavery throughout the UK.

"I encourage business leaders in the West Midlands not only to alert their staff, but make them aware of the gravity of the situation. Businesspeople who travel for work need to be especially mindful of the problem. Hotel owners, right here in our constituency, can make a positive impact by recognising suspicious circumstances and alerting the authorities. If we address the problem at home, we have the opportunity to help curtail this terrible trade.

"The most recent meetings of Interpol and now senior UN staff members is a promising start but we must campaign to make the issue of human trafficking a global initiative. It is a global problem; we must find a global solution - and that can begin in the UK and Europe."

ENDS.