The European Commission presents an EU strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in Human Beings for 2012-2016.

Background:

Trafficking in human beings is the slavery of our times and takes many forms, evolving with changing socio-economic circumstances. The European Commission is therefore launching an EU strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings for the period 2012-2016 based on five key priorities, including better identifying and protecting the victims and increasing prosecution of traffickers. Between the many measures and initiatives identified by the strategy, there is the development of child protection systems, the setting up of national law-enforcement units on human trafficking and the creation of Joint investigation teams including national authorities and EU agencies.

The event:

IP and MEMO will be available on the day.

A nine minutes video including interviews to four victims of trafficking will be shown in the press room ahead of the press conference; the interviews will be available to audio-visual and written media in downloadable version.

Experts and representatives of NGOs working with victims of trafficking will also be present in the press room and they will be available for contacts with the journalists at the end of the Commissioner's press conference.

Press conference by Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs (time to be confirmed).

Available on EbS

Sources:

Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm

Homepage DG Home Affairs: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/index_en.htm

European Commission anti-trafficking website: http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/index.action

Contacts:

Michele Cercone: +32 229-80963 Michele.Cercone@ec.europa.eu

Tove Ernst: +32 229-86764 Tove.Ernst@ec.europa.eu