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EU anti-trafficking action 2012-2016 at a glance

21 June 2017
by Catherine MALLET

At the end of May, The EU Affairs Office attended for the second time the Civil Society Platform against human trafficking organised by the European Commission. The event gathered a large number of national and European NGOs working in the field.

The EU human trafficking coordinator Myria Vassilliadou opened the event explaining that the  EU’s post-2016 anti-human trafficking strategy/ policy is still being discussed, but it would focus on better regulation and would be ready for autumn 2017. She explained that migration is increasing the challenge of identification of victims in particular in hot spots where traffickers are exploiting the situation. They are also aware that children are disappearing from reception centres. She stressed that they want to equally protect all – regardless of status, age, or whether victims are EU citizens or not – although the majority of victims are EU citizens. Their job, she said is to promote international standards of the UN protocol and EU Directive. She also reminded participants that there are three SGDs which deal with trafficking.

The Commission then presented the EU legal and policy framework around human trafficking and recommended their latest publication which gives an overview of the work carried out in the past five years on the basis of the EU comprehensive legal and policy framework to address trafficking in human beings, including a number of progress reports, guidelines and handbooks etc.

  • See the 'At a glance' document here.

EU Funding

The "Navigating EU Funding" session highlighted how several departments of the Commission could fund anti-human trafficking work. See the relevant presentations below.

They reminded however that national programmes under shared management (AMIF, ISF-Police and ISF-Borders) are available on the national website of the Responsible Authority).

For the "Commission's year of focussed actions to combat violence against women", you can find the presentation attached as well as relevant information concerning available funding at this link (Daphne calls)

In particular two calls under AMIF and the ISF police fund should be published in September. The Commission highlighted that the 2nd progress report is underway and that they will consult with civil society organisation before end of year and will inform us and ask us to contribute.

Workshop on access to assistance, support and protection

Conclusions

  • Wording is important: ‘potential or presumed OR identified  victims  - you can also be de-identified
  • Funding for the work mostly comes from NGOs , but if the victim cooperates the state funds it
  • Identification of victims if mostly done by police, sometimes border controls  however most victims  don’t want to talk to police so should be enough to talk to NGOs
  • Lack of trust in victim – police, abusing system to get residents permit therefore police training is crucial – needs to know signs of all forms of human trafficking

Often two 2 systems for trafficking and asylum – difficult to connect – usually have to choose – not enough expertise on trafficking in asylum system therefore there is tension between the two

  • Forced begging, fraud etc. - new forms of trafficking – no means to identify them ready in place
  • More attention to children of victims needed – need assistance and help – intergenerational trauma – more protection needed
  • Need for protection across member states  -  (because of Dublin) they should still be protected if identified in another MS – an official form would be solution
  • Male victims have different needs – identification of status more difficult – are there enough services? Shame of victimisation
  • More attention for aftercare – risk of re-victimisation
  • Return procedures

Presumption of childhood

  • NGOs can’ contest age if can’t stay for sure - some countries you presume child some you presume adult until proved otherwise
  • Sweden and NL: authorities wait till 18 to make decision – get lost hidden – lack of follow up after 18 services
  • Forced begging and criminal exploitation crime - Roma – not aware of signs of trafficking – plus other groups – picked up at police station by traffickers not parents?
     
  • Strong link between institutionalisation and trafficking – different from small residential centres
  • Good practice in France – send victim to another city to break links with traffickers or peers
  • Peer to peer support – good practice – level of trust from someone of same community
  • Need for international/ regional cooperation – cross-border aspects – multidisciplinary approach – in best interest of the child – such as police, business partners – tourism -  hotels- taxis – help detect victims and apply child protection policies etc.

Access to legal assistance and special needs

  • Integrated services need to be looked at
  • Cultural mediators good practice
  • Lack of trust – blaming victim
  • Psychological diagnosis need in legal proceedings – early on – and residence proceedings
Tags: Europe
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