Human trafficking is a gross violation of human rights and fight to eradicate it must remain a political priority both within and beyond European borders, said European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström on the first World Day against Trafficking in Persons. She urged all citizens to take personal responsibility and be more thoughtful about lifestyle choices and consumer habits in order to avoid by all means to be involved in “this scourge.”
“Trafficking in human beings is a gross violation of human rights and knows no borders. Unscrupulous criminals target women and men, girls and boys, and exploit them for abhorrent forms of exploitation: from sexual exploitation, to forced labour and forced criminality. It happens within the EU and affects us all,” Malmström said in a statement.
“The first World Day against Trafficking in Persons is an occasion to renew our commitment to work together for eradicating human trafficking. It is a day to reflect our personal and collective responsibility towards the victims,” she said.
Pointing out that “our behaviour creates demand that fosters all forms of exploitation,” she said that “this must stop. We owe it to the victims.”
International Labour Organisation estimates that profit is up to 111 billion of euros globally for forced labour, including human trafficking.
“And unless we all feel personally responsible to ensure that we are not in any way involved or indirectly support such practices, we will never be able to eradicate this scourge to our society,” she said.
“The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the goods we use every day could be products of slavery. We need to be more thoughtful about our lifestyle choices and consumer habits,” the commissioner said, adding that “the EU has come a long way, we have strong tools in our disposal, and we must make full use of them. Addressing trafficking in human beings must remain a political priority – in Europe and beyond our borders”.
