The EU and UNODC call for renewed efforts to end child trafficking
Today, on the 10th World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator call to increase efforts in fighting and eradicating child trafficking. Worldwide, more than one in three victims of trafficking detected is a child, while in the EU every fifth victim is a child, the majority of which are girls. A joint statement from the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and the UNODC is available here, calling for the urgent need to protect every child and tackle new forms of trafficking.
The Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025 describes the EU’s commitment and efforts to protect children and tackle trafficking in its various forms, including the challenges created by the digital age. New EU rules entered into force on 14 July 2024, reaching a new milestone in the fight against this heinous crime. The revised rules will provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those that take place online. For instance, national law will have to qualify the exploitation of surrogacy, of forced marriage and of illegal adoption as trafficking. Knowingly using services provided by victims of trafficking will become a criminal offence.
Through its funding, the Commission supports projects that aim to strengthen identification, assistance, support and integration of non-EU nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings. A call for proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund with a budget of €6 million is currently open until 21 August 2024.
For more information on EU anti-trafficking actions, see also the awareness campaign to help end the trafficking of human beings.
