Euro-MP calls for greater awareness over international human trafficking

5.18.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Oct 2005

A Written Declaration co-sponsored by Liz Lynne MEP calls on fellow Euro-MPs to be more aware of the connection between business travel and the trafficking of women and children into forced prostitution.

Liz Lynne MEP, who has been campaigning for more awareness over the problem of human trafficking in the business community, said in Strasbourg,

"Every year thousands of women and children are sold for business travellers to use as prostitutes. As frequent business travellers ourselves, we MEPs have the opportunity to raise awareness of this terrible abuse and to act against it. I hope many MEPs will sign this Declaration and join the Business Travellers Against Human Trafficking campaign.

"Before we start preaching to the rest of the business community about their responsibilities, we should ensure that those of us working in EU institutions are doing all we can to raise awareness and combat the problem.

"If individual MEPs are involved in the campaign to increase awareness of the problem, they can encourage businesses in their own constituencies to make their employees aware of the situation."

ENDS.

Note to Editors:

Written declaration on the need to end the connection between business travellers and the trafficking of women and children into forced prostitution

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA of 22 December 2003

- having regard to Council Resolution of 20 October 2003 on initiatives to combat

trafficking in human brings, in particular women,

- having regard to Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA of 19 July 2002,

- having regard to the Committee on Development report on tourism and development

(2004/2212(INI)),

- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

- having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in

Human Beings (CETS No. 197),

- having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas more than two million women, children and men are trafficked every year

into forced labour and sexual exploitation,

B. whereas a part of this trade is encouraged by business travellers who use trafficked

women and children as prostitutes while in any State,

C. whereas greater awareness amongst the business travel community, and a chance

to report what they see and also to urge hotels to break all connection with forced

prostitution will reduce the number of women and children being trafficked and

exploited,

1. Stresses the need for greater awareness of the problem of human trafficking in the

business community;

2. Urges MEPs, the Commission and the Council to individually support and become a

part of the Business Travellers against Human Trafficking campaign and to promote

this campaign among businesses in the areas they represent;

3. Urges the Commission and the Council to set in place procedures which offer this

campaign to all employees as they join the institutions;

4. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the

signatories, to the Council and the Commission.