Allister's Expert Conference on Trafficking Huge Success
03 March 2009
Jim Allister MEP in cooperation with the Jubilee Campaign today gathered together experts from across Europe in a European Parliament conference aimed at both exposing the different dilemmas faced by NGOs trying to tackle the issue of human trafficking and at enabling greater discussion between those working at the grassroots and those in the European institutions.
Funding for projects on the ground and for government awareness-raising campaigns and more effective cooperation between the different actors involved in the fight against trafficking were highlighted as key areas of concern amongst those present.
As Mr Allister stated:
"There must be greater coherence in EU funding. One of the EU funding criteria is innovative projects, yet common problems often have basic, well known solutions.
"The EU cannot just give money out on a whim, but needs sustainable projects. One year the EU is interested in an issue such as trafficking. The next year, however, it is interested in the in another topic and funding suddenly dries up leaving projects without the necessary means to continue.
"Within the UK there is modern legislation in order to tackle the problem of trafficking but enforcement is poor and offenders are rarely prosecuted or convicted of their crimes. Communication and awareness raising campaigns are crucial if we are to successfully make a difference with regards to human trafficking. People don't always know what signs to look out for in order to report instances of trafficking to the police."
