Written by via commission.europa.eu
Trafficking in human beings is a violation of fundamental rights and a serious form of organised crime. On 18 October, EU Anti-Trafficking Day, we raise awareness about this terrible reality which affects around 7 000 victims each year in the EU, 15% of whom are children. In the spirit of raising awareness, let us take a look at what the EU is doing to combat human trafficking.
The EU’s actions against trafficking are centred around the EU Anti-trafficking Directive, a legal act that is victim-centred, gender-specific, child sensitive and anchored in human rights. It establishes
- minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions
- common provisions to strengthen victim’s protection, assistance and support, as well as prevention
- key actors to fight against the crime
This Directive was revised in June 2024 to provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities. To complement this, the EU has a dedicated strategy that seeks to prevent crime and protect and empower victims.
Overseeing the EU’s work in this area is the EU’s Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Diane Schmitt. She is responsible for improving coordination and coherence among EU institutions, EU agencies, EU countries and international actors and for developing existing and new EU policies.