Members of the European Parliament today urged national governments and the European Commission to do more to support victims of human trafficking and to prevent future exploitation.

The Parliament was debating a report about the implementation of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive which was passed five years ago. Although progress has been made, the report identifies that there is still much more to be done to implement the Directive to its full effect.

CARE particularly welcomes the report’s emphasis on the need for victims have access to support and assistance during a reflection and recovery period. For a number of years CARE has been calling on the UK Government to lengthen the current reflection and recovery period from 45 days to 90 days. We therefore especially welcome the recommendation this report that support should be provided for a longer period of time for victims who have been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation, highlighting what the report describes as “the significant and sustained harm caused by this form of violence.”

UK Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder who brought the report to the Parliament said today:

“The EU trafficking legislation is now five years old. It’s an excellent framework for the protection of victims and is a great example of how EU countries can come together to address issues that can’t be tackled alone. But many countries are slow implementing this. They and we are failing the victims across Europe. Victims experience terrible brutality and suffer many long term physical, mental and emotional effects. I’m confirming the need that victims are properly provided for with healthcare, accommodation, material assistance and legal support.

I’m also calling for an extension of the 30 day minimum recovery and reflection period, particularly for victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. The effects of this form of trafficking demand specialist support over a very long period. In the UK, we have 45 days but even this is a short time for survivors who have been repeatedly raped over many months. We owe them more than just this month of recovery.”

We are, however, concerned at the inclusion in the report of a provision promoting access to abortion as we do not consider this to be the best way to help vulnerable women who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

CARE also particularly welcomes the report’s calls for greater action to reduce the demand that fosters trafficking and exploitation. Regarding sexual exploitation the report highlights the deterrent effect of the Swedish law criminalising those who purchase sexual services and urges the European Commission and Member States to propose guidelines on the punishment of those who pay for sexual services based on the Nordic model. The report also calls on Member States to “develop specific strategies for reducing demand for trafficking for sexual exploitation, such as exit programmes and schemes to empower and protect the rights of those in prostitution and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation, and campaigns to discourage demand for the sexual services of trafficked persons.”

During the debate Swedish MEP Malin Björk who also worked on the report said:

“We have to fight those who make profits from the trafficking and we have to fight the demand – this is the key to the work and the report says that very clearly.”

“This Parliament has to put down its foot and say the sexual exploitation of women and girls and young boys isn’t ok.”

CARE urges the Home Affairs Select Committee which is currently undertaking an inquiry into laws on prostitution in England and Wales to take note of the European Parliament’s recommendations to consider seriously the impact demand for sexual services has on human trafficking and the positive effects of criminalising the purchase of sex. We also call on the Committee to respond to the European Parliament’s call for new strategies to assist people to exit prostitution.

You can read the full text of the resolution passed by the European Parliament here.