WG – Human Rights – Human Trafficking a Forgotten Ordeal

Cluj-Napoca, Romania 30 September

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: A FORGOTTEN ORDEAL PRESENTED BY LFYA Lebanon

According to Article 3 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Furthermore, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. Human Trafficking violates and breaches both articles. One of the biggest tragedies the world is not shedding light on is human trafficking. With the rising number of human trafficking cases, countries are trying to adopt and implement policies to prevent these violations.

Human Trafficking is the third-largest criminal activity in the world according to FBI reports.

The cases of human trafficking are numerous and depend on several factors. However, with the increasing number of conflicts in the world, the criminal and terrorist organizations have become specialized in the logistics needed to traffic human beings. A prime example is Turkey.

Groups in the eastern parts of Turkey, especially on the borders with Iraq and Syria, have seen a jump in human trafficking cases. Data from the Organized Crime Smuggling Section of the Turkish National Police reveals that many transnational criminals from different countries are now operating in Turkey, facilitating this trade. Terrorist organizations like the Kurdish National Workers’ Party (PKK), Hezbollah and Al Nusra have all seen their presence and activity increase in Turkey. This is one of the many networks being used by human traffickers. The impact of these cases has many implications. Trafficking victims are not protected by European countries as much as in the United States. These loopholes have many effects on the manner and treatment of the victims when they are finally rescued by the authorities.

On the other hand, the European Union has taken the initiative to combat human trafficking. The European Union has developed a strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings. The strategy is a set of concrete and practical measures to be implemented over the next five years. These include prevention, protection, support of the victims and prosecution of the traffickers as well as the establishment of national law enforcement units specialized in human trafficking and the creation of joint European investigation teams to prosecute cross-border trafficking cases.

However, further issues must be addressed. A successful anti-trafficking strategy must involve consumers, business people, and vulnerable communities. Those who avail themselves of the services of trafficked people, and the businesses that facilitate this trade, must become more central to counter-trafficking policies. Furthermore, more legal protection and rehabilitation programs must be put in place in order to protect the victims and help them adapt following the tragedy they suffered.

We, the European Democrat Students (EDS), the official student organization of the European People’s Party (EPP): • Acknowledging Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; • Acknowledging the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings; • Recognizing the importance of DIRECTIVE 2011/36/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA; • Acceding to Article 5 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibiting human trafficking.

Call upon the European Union, the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport and the Member States to: • Work with local community and business leaders to prevent human trafficking and crack down on this problem; • Monitor the implementation of the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings; • Setting up an independent committee to look into more competent solutions and better means of prevention of human trafficking; • Coordinate between EU member states in order to identify, prosecute, or sanction facilitators, criminal enterprises, and terrorist organizations that are involved in human trafficking.