Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-11-Speech-2-187"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20011211.10.2-187"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
". – The Commission confirms that it is aware of the phenomenon of child trafficking. As regards the situation in the European Union, a study has been finalised with support from the Stop programme. The title of the report is 'Trafficking in unaccompanied minors for sexual exploitation in the European Union'. It was carried out by the International Organisation for Migration and is available on the IOM's website.
The report includes figures from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The Commission is also shortly expecting a report from Defence for Children International in the Netherlands. They have carried out a study on the extent to which children are trafficked for sexual purposes into the European Union, how they get here, what happens to them next and what can be done to help them. Furthermore, for 2002 the Stop II programme will support a follow-up and extension of the IOM report through a seminar on trafficking in unaccompanied minors in EU Member States. Additional research on the situation in France, Greece and Spain will form part of the preparations of this seminar.
As regards action against trafficking in human beings, the Commission has been developing a comprehensive policy to fight and prevent such trafficking in human beings over the past few years. The most recent example is the agreement reached on 28 September 2001 on the Commission's proposal for a framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings. The framework decision essentially concerns approximation of criminal laws and penalties to improve and facilitate law enforcement and judicial cooperation.
The Commission confirms that the political dialogue under the Cotonou Agreement and EU support for good governance in ACP countries have given real opportunities to address the human and social aspects of this practice, as well as the corruption elements that may be linked to it. Moreover, as poverty and lack of local opportunities are amongst the main reasons for children being trafficked, the poverty-reduction approach of our development cooperation is a meaningful basis for attacking the problem. It gives a priority to equitable growth and better access to education.
The Commission is also implementing actions and coordination with UNICEF and a large number of NGOs in several African countries where this problem is most acute. In June 2000, in Cotonou, in Benin I had the strange experience of visiting two projects we were funding from the Commission. One project was helping abandoned children, the other helping abducted children. In the same city we had two groups of beneficiaries: one project was for street children or orphans or simply abandoned children, and the other was for children who had been freed by the project from being enslaved. It was very strange to experience. We went from one project to another and were told about two different ways in which children find themselves in very serious situations. We are pleased with our cooperation with NGOs in many countries in trying to do something meaningful here.
Finally, it is not envisaged that the Community as such will ratify the OECD Convention on Bribery and Corruption which is mentioned in the question, as its Member States are ratifying this convention. At present all Member States, except Ireland, have ratified the convention and it is expected that Ireland will ratify it very shortly."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples