Strategies to Prevent Trafficking in Women and Children

According to this article, trafficking in women and children is a growing world-wide problem. The European Parliament adopted a report with 622 votes in favour, 12 against and 19 abstentions, proposing strategies to tackle this problem, including measures to deal with the supply and demand sides as well as the traffickers.

According to the article, successful strategies are needed to deal with the main causes of trafficking. Members of the Parliament suggest that holistic and integrated multidisciplinary approach at the European Union (EU) and international levels is needed. The European Parliament also calls for research, at national and European level, into the underlying causes, particularly of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation, i.e. what factors place people at risk and what factors affect demand for sexual services and sexual exploitation of women and children.

Prevention will mean examining the 'triangle of trafficking': victim, trafficker and client. The report suggests practical action, such as awareness raising campaigns to inform of the dangers and educate the vulnerable members of society in the countries of origin, to alert and sensitise the public about the problem and reduce demand in the countries of destination. Another measure envisaged is national and international telephone help-lines and the need to tackle the tendency to use the internet for sexual exploitation.