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Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings - review of EU rules

Home affairs

As announced in the Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, the revision of the Anti-Trafficking Directive will aim at modernising the EU rules that have been the backbone of the EU’s efforts in combatting human trafficking. Any revision will be based on the outcomes of an evaluation and will specifically look at the possibility of having minimum EU rules that criminalise the use of services of exploited victims of trafficking.

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Public consultation

ID: 13106

Lobbying Activity

16 responses

Red Cross urges EU to prioritize victim support in trafficking rules

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 21 Mar 2023

The organization advocates for a victim-centred approach focusing on support and prevention. They recommend making the non-punishment of victims unconditional and improving access to compensation.
Better coordination through national mechanisms would streamline their delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Undocumented residents remain vulnerable when policies fail to address their social exclusion.

European Women's Lobby demands stricter liability in trafficking directive

European Women's Lobby, 20 Mar 2023

The organization demands broader criminalization without knowledge requirements, recognition of prostitution's link to trafficking, and stronger provisions against online platforms facilitating exploitation. They advocate for an end-demand approach and the Equality Model.
This would strengthen prosecution of exploiters who currently escape justice by claiming ignorance.
Online platforms and search engines lose immunity for advertising sexual exploitation and trafficking.

European Women's Lobby calls for criminalization of sex purchase from trafficking victims

European Women's Lobby, 15 Sept 2021

The organization requests Member States actively criminalize purchasing sexual acts from trafficking victims, removing the requirement that buyers know the victim's status. They call for expanded legislation covering all sexual exploitation through an end-demand approach, and harmonization with the Digital Services Act to end platform immunity for trafficking advertisements.
This would strengthen their advocacy for ending sexual exploitation and prostitution demand across Europe.
Online platforms and search engines lose immunity for hosting advertisements for sexual exploitation.

PICUM urges EU to protect undocumented human trafficking victims

Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, 21 Mar 2023

PICUM calls for unconditional support and residence permits for victims regardless of their migration status. They oppose the mandatory criminalisation of those who use services of trafficked persons.
This would advance their mission by preventing the deportation of undocumented victims.
Immigration authorities would lose access to victim data used for enforcement actions.

Consultation response

Lumos Foundation, 10 Sept 2021

Lumos is an international children’s charity fighting for every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world. An estimated 5.4 million children are trapped in institutions globally including so called orphanages. Research has shown that these institutions can harm a…

Consultation response

European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (Missing Children Europe), 16 Sept 2021

Missing Children Europe (MCE) is the European federation of 31 grassroots organisation working for the prevention, protection, and support of missing children’s cases. Every year an estimated two hundred thousand children go missing in Europe. Due to the lack of comparable official statistics on…

Terre des Hommes seeks accountability for platforms facilitating trafficking

Terre des Hommes International Federation, 13 Feb 2023

The organization calls for holding internet service providers accountable for child exploitation and implementing child safety by design measures. They also recommend including institution-related trafficking and establishing minimum compensation for victims.
Stricter regulations would advance their core mission of preventing violence against children.
Online platforms face increased liability and tighter timeframes for removing illegal content.

Consultation response

Hope and Homes for Children, 21 Mar 2023

Hope and Homes for Children, ECPAT, Terres des Hommes the Netherlands, Save the Children, the European Disability Forum, Eurochild, Missing Children Europe, International Social Service, Child Helpline International, LUMOS, Street Child and Child Identity Protection welcome the European…

Catholic family group urges EU to classify surrogacy as trafficking

Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, 21 Mar 2023

The federation requests that reproductive exploitation through surrogacy be explicitly added to the directive. They claim the practice involves the commercialization of women and the sale of children.
This would advance the federation's advocacy goal of prohibiting commercial surrogacy across Europe.
Fertility clinics and intended parents would face criminalization and restricted access to services.

Consultation response

European Network of Migrant Women, 21 Mar 2023

The European Network of Migrant Women (ENOMW) welcomes the definition of forced marriage as a form of exploitation, and the inclusion of stronger requirements for prosecution, monitoring and data collection in the Directive 2011/36/UE (the Directive). However, we are concerned that some major forms…

Consultation response

Forum réfugiés, 15 Sept 2021

Since 1982, Forum réfugiés-Cosi provides legal and social support to asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, and third country nationals in administrative detention centres. Moreover, the NGO leads advocacy and awareness-raising activities to defend the asylum and fundamental…

Consultation response

European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance, 16 Sept 2021

The European Sex Worker’s Rights Alliance (ESWA) – previously the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) - is a sex worker-led network representing 111 organisations and member groups in 35 countries across Europe and Central Asia. ESWA understands and…

Consultation response

EUROPE INDIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 19 Jan 2023

Human Trafficking exists in every region of the EU and poses a grave danger to individual well-being, public health, public safety, national security, economic development, and prosperity. While EU seems committed to strengthening its approach to preventing human trafficking addressing the cause of…

Consultation response

Child Circle, 21 Mar 2023

Child Circle, a centre of expertise and public interest engagement to protect children from violence and promote their rights in Europe, welcomes the initiative of the EU to strengthen measures to identify, assist and support trafficked persons. Our submission focuses on the proposal to require…

Consultation response

Bundesverband Nordisches Modell - zur Umsetzung des Gleichstellungsmodells in Deutschland e.V., 21 Mar 2023

The Alliance Nordic Model includes over 45 associations, initiatives, numerous individuals from civil society and survivors of prostitution from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Our alliance partners have many years of practical experience in working with prostitutes and outstanding expertise on…

Consultation response

International La Strada Association, 16 Sept 2021

Submission for the ‘combined evaluation roadmap/inception impact assessment “Fighting human trafficking – review of EU rules”. La Strada International - European NGO Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings, comprising 25 members and 5 associate members in 24 European countries, welcomes the…