Follow up action: EU initiatives addressing Child Trafficking.

At the Committee’s meeting on 1 December Lynne Neagle AM asked for information on any initiatives in relation to tackling child trafficking on a pan-European basis.

Human Trafficking

Child trafficking is addressed as part of a wider policy aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking.

Details on work in this area can be found on the European Commission’s web-pages Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings (in particular the section ‘EU actions explained’).

In December 2011 the first EU Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator was appointed Myria Vassiliadou, aimed at providing an overall strategic and policy co-ordination for actions being taken in the EU addressing trafficking in human beings.

In April 2011 a new Directive on preventing and combating trafficking and protecting victims was adopted, which replaces the 2002 Framework Directive. The new Directive aims to further reduce discrepancies between national laws on prevention, victim protection and prosecution of traffickers. See web-link for more details.

The UK Government decided to ‘opt-in’ to this Directive (in July 2011) and the European Commission published decision in September 2011 confirming this[1]. This means the provisions of this Directive will apply within the UK.

In addition to these the EU published an Action Plan to tackle human trafficking in 2005, and in 2007 launched an EU Anti-Trafficking Day, which takes place on 18 October each year.

Finally, there are a number of EU funding programmes which prioritise actions against trafficking in human beings:

¡  Daphne III (2007-2013)

¡  Prevention of and Fight against Crime (2007-2013)

Organisations active in this field, including voluntary sector, public authorities, universities etc. would be eligible to participate in these programmes, and develop transnational projects with partner organisations from other EU countries.

Fight against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children

In addition to the above actions, the EU is also taking co-ordinated action to combat sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children.

In September 2011 a new Directive on sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography was adopted, which replaces (and updates) a 2004 Framework Decision in this area.

The new Directive covers prosecution of offenders, protection of victims and prevention of the crime, and includes measures to tackle grooming of victims on the internet.

The European Commission also supports other co-ordinated actions across the EU, including specialist police operations tackling child pornography and support for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in this area, e.g. through the Safer Internet Programme.

More information on this can be found on the dedicated pages of the DG Home Affairs web-site of the European Commission.

The lead European Commissioner within this area is Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Wales specific information

In terms of child trafficking in Wales, the All Wales Protocol on Child Trafficking was launched in September 2011by the All Wales Child Protection Procedures Review Group (AWCPPRG). The AWCPPRG is tasked with producing and keeping up to date the All Wales Child Protection Procedures. The group has a mandate and representation from all of Wales’ Local Safeguarding Children Boards and partner agencies. The group also produces other protocols, which are appropriate to an All Wales basis and is a platform for sharing good practice across Wales. The Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services, welcomed the publication of the protocol. Further information can be found here.

In March 2009, the office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales published a report: Bordering on Concern which used research undertaken on their behalf by End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT). The report details evidence from across Wales of children and young people being trafficked into and within Wales for forced labour, sexual exploitation, cannabis production, begging and domestic servitude.

In May 2010, the National Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Human Trafficking published a report: Knowing No Boundaries Knowing No Boundaries which highlighted the issue of human trafficking and includes information about child trafficking.

Further information and a list of research relevant to child trafficking in Wales can be found on the website of the Wales Strategic Migration Partnership.