Brussels, 05/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the initiative of the Italian Equal Opportunities Minister, Stefania Prestigiacomo, the European Commission organised, on 6 December in Syracuse, a conference on the theme "Turning the spotlight on trafficking in women". Experts and political officials from throughout the EU took stock there of the instruments that exist to combat the trade in human beings, both at national and European level (including funds from the Community initiative, Equal). They examined preventive and assistance measures, the important role played by the networks and resources needed for preventing an increase in this trade in future.
On this occasion, Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou announced the launching of a consortium of women's organisations to help those across Europe affected by the trade in human beings. This consortium, whose coordination will be ensured by the Italian NGO, IRENE, will help NGOs of six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain) and also Norway, to provide assistance to the some 500,000 women and children who fall prey to trafficking in Europe. Welcoming this initiative as a new and powerful weapon to combat this phenomenon on the European continent, Anna Diamantopoulou recalled that women make up 70% of the 1.3 billion poor people in the world today. "it is poverty, lack of opportunities and abuse that drive them to seek a better life elsewhere", she said. "Women who fell into trafficking needed to be recognised as victims of serious crime. To break the cycle of poverty and abuse, they should not be further stigmatised or prosecuted but supported with legal advice and counselling and help from the police and immigration authorities", Ms Diamantopoulou added.