Ahead of the publication later this year of the EU Anti-Trafficking Strategy (2026-2030), the European Disability Forum (EDF) called on the European Commission on Tuesday 3 February to incorporate the rights of people with disabilities.
In its press release, the organisation points out that, although they remain invisible in public policies, disabled people are among the victims most at risk of being trafficked.
Dependency, social isolation, poverty and institutionalisation are all conditions exploited by trafficking networks. Disabled women and girls are even more exposed to sexual violence and practices such as forced sterilisation.
EDF urges the Commission to work in line with the new strategy on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
It also calls for accessible victim support services, specific training for professionals, better data collection and an explicit ban on forced sterilisation in the EU.
EDF’s contribution to the call for evidence on the EU Anti-Trafficking Strategy 2026-2030: https://aeur.eu/f/kkb (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)