The European Parliament has approved the EU Directive against Trafficking
Just Lincolnshire, Monday, 17 January 2011
The European Parliament has now formally approved a new Directive to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation and provide victims of trafficking with more substantial rights and protection. As the European Council, composed of member states’ governments, has already expressed agreement to the text the Directive is likely to be adopted early in 2011. The UK will then have a second chance to decide whether to opt-into the Directive. In this regard, it is interesting to note how UK Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted, where 51 MEPs voted for, 3 MEPs abstained,18 10 MEPs did not vote, and only 8 MEPs voted against.
The European Commission has appointed Myria Vassiliadou, currently Secretary General for the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) as the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator whose role will be to coordinate all aspects of EU policies on trafficking. Her role will also be to improve coordination and coherence between EU institutions, EU agencies, Member States, third countries and international actors. She will help elaborate existing and new EU policies relevant to the fight against trafficking and provide overall strategic policy orientation for the EU’s external policy in this field.
Original article published at: http://www.justlincolnshire.org.uk/index.php/news/detail/the_european_parliament_has_approved_the_eu_directive_against_trafficking/
