Human Trafficking in Europe – Clear water between Cameron and Labour

By Claude Moraes MEP

This month, a directive introducing for the first time legally binding sanctions and criminal penalties against human trafficking was approved by the European Parliament. I and other Labour MEPs voted for it, containing as it did proposals that have the potential to improve the situation of vulnerable people being exploited by human traffickers.

But the British government has opted out.

When considering this opt out, it’s important to consider everything that’s at stake. Even the most basic facts on human trafficking suffice to show how terrifying and endemic the problem truly is, and how in turn this opt out cannot stand.

First, it’s estimated that several hundred thousand people, mostly vulnerable women and children, are trafficked into or within the EU every year.

That’s several hundred thousand modern day slaves, living, working and being exploited right here in Europe. That’s wrong and it has to end.

Second, the bottom-line is money. Human trafficking is the second most lucrative illegal trade in Europe, after weapons and before drugs. Of the thousands of victims of human trafficking, 43% are exploited for prostitution (mainly women and young girls) and 32% for menial labour. Others are forced into begging, pick-pocketing, drug trafficking. Illegal adoption, forced marriages and the removal of organs. All of these activities make money for organized crime, a source of revenue we must stop.

Third, the vulnerability of victims is clear. Women and children are being funneled into sexual exploitation and illegal labour, something that will always represent a violation of their fundamental human rights and always be a clear degradation of European society. I’m ashamed of the UK government’s refusal to adopt this directive. The above facts are just broad brush strokes, and yet even they paint a picture of an obviously unacceptable situation. Therefore, whilst by no means perfect, the directive is an important and urgent step in the right direction.

The British government is one of only two EU countries, the other being Denmark, that have failed to adopt this directive. To opt out of the directive, passed with 643 votes in favour, 10 against and with 14 abstentions, is simply bizarre. Put another way, every other country agrees that something must be done, whilst only the UK and Denmark do not.

So why has David Cameron refused?

In short, we are reduced to a sad and timeless observation – parliamentary arithmetic. Rather than counting the number of enslaved women and children in Europe, David Cameron has counted the seats behind him, and decided that appeasing eurosceptic backbenchers is his priority. The result? British Conservative fears about EU judicial powers will take priority over improving the lives of innocent and vulnerable people in Britain.

Even Conservative MEPs voted for the directive.

They and other MEPs understood that EU-wide rules are imperative to any serious effort to undermine this terrible crime. Human trafficking shows no respect for international borders and so it is only logical that common rules must be established to protect its victims.

Individual European governments will have two years to implement new rules that will broaden the EU’s definition of exploitation and introduce tough new measures to deal with trafficking. By refusing to adopt this directive, David Cameron not only ignores the suffering experienced by hundreds of thousands of victims. He also risks the UK becoming a safe haven for offenders who will be exempted from tough new punishments.

Human lives are being destroyed. This directive has the potential to punish offenders and prevent further suffering. That’s why I’m on record as saying that if ever there were an example of a policy area where the benefit of international co-operation is clear, human trafficking must be it.