EU anti-trafficking day: crackdown needed on slavery

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Oct 2008

Saturday 18th October marks European day against trafficking in human beings.

Liberal Democrat justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP has:

· successfully campaigned for €2 million to be budgeted for an EU wide telephone hotline for victims of and informants on trafficking,

· supported a European Parliament declaration calling on EU states to tackle child trafficking as a top priority

· recently visited Thailand and Cambodia to promote European assistance in stopping sex tourism.

Sarah Ludford said:

"The trafficking of people, mainly though not exclusively women and children, is an appalling crime, with estimates of two million children annually being trafficked into forced labour and sex slavery."

"My visit to Asia showed me how vulnerable youngsters are to being preyed on, including by European men. EU member states must prioritise bringing traffickers and paedophiles to justice."

"I look forward to the swift implementation of the anti-trafficking hotline. Once the current feasibility study is completed, EU countries must be pushed to make it a reality."