Brussels, 22/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of Antonio Vitorino and in association with Anna Diamantopoulou, the European Commission has forwarded a Communication to the EP and Council setting out a global problem concerning: a) the trafficking in human beings (rackets, networks); b) the sexual exploitation and abuse of under-aged children including pedophile-pornography. To combat these phenomena at European level, the Commissioner responsible for justice and home affairs proposes that a common European definition be given to the crime as such and the ensuing penalties.
These problems are set out in the Commission's Communication and in two draft framework-decisions attached: one on combating trafficking in human beings, the other on combating the sexual exploitation of under-aged children and child pornography. The aim is to secure effective cooperation throughout the EU in the realms of legal procedures and law-enforcement, a press release explains. The Commission believes that common definitions and penalties would provide an important contribution to this goal and allow for a joint approach to criminal legislation and further improvements to law-enforcement and cooperation between Member States.
Among the measures being proposed to combat trafficking in human beings are common definitions for two criminal acts: a) trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation purposes; b) trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The definition of these two criminal acts refers to the UN protocol "aimed at preventing, repressing and punishing the trafficking in persons, especially women and children", which Commissioner Vitorino signed in Palermo at the high-level conference for the Convention against organised crime (see EUROPE of 16 December, p.17).
The proposals aimed at combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography comprises common definitions of three criminal acts: child prostitution, the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography (including child pornography on the Internet).
These two proposals provide for common penalties that are "effective, proportionate and dissuasive, including prison sentences". They also deal with the responsibility of natural persons (including the aspects relating to penalties, jurisdictions and criminal action) and provide for the protection of victims during the legal procedures, and cooperation between Member States. Given the international nature of the infringements targeted by these proposals, it is important that, when someone is suspected of having committed a crime in a third country other than their own, Member States declare themselves competent and engage in prosecutions. This is a crucial aspect for combating sexual tourism involving children.
The Commission has also provided for the interest of the victims being safeguarded during the judicial procedure. It will therefore submit proposals in 2001 tending to grant temporary residence permits for victims of trafficking prepared to help the legal authorities.
Commenting on these proposals, Commissioner Vitorino said that "only a European solution can combat these problems effectively" and launched an appeal to the Council to assume its responsibilities and step up the fight against this violation of human rights and human dignity by rapidly approving the measures proposed. The Commissioner responsible for social policy, Anna Diamantopoulou, stressed that "the EU would like to establish a legal framework to combat these new forms of slavery". She then added that "the number of women and children who, in the world, are the subject of this trafficking is estimated at between 700,000 and 2 million a year. Within the EU alone, this figure is estimated at 500,000". Concluding, the Commissioner called for a "fight against the causes that lie at the root of this trafficking: poverty, unemployment and discrimination".