Human trafficking is an increasingly disturbing phenomenon in Europe with terrible consequences for the victims, the majority of whom are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, forced labour, and other forms of exploitation. The European Commission estimates that several hundred thousand people are trafficked to or within the EU per year. Women and girls make up nearly 80% of the victims, and over two-thirds are trafficked for sexual exploitation. As well as devastating the lives of individuals, this crime has far-reaching implications for the social, economic and organisational fabric of every affected community in Europe.

The EU Directive 2011/36 and EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings (2012-2016) have, in recent years, served as guidance for implementing effective means of preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers. After a review of the efficacy and impact of these measures, a Post-2016 strategy is currently being formulated for adoption.

However, increased global migration has added an additional dimension to this challenge. Whilst migrant smuggling and human trafficking differ from each other, they are both lucrative, often exploitative businesses involving human beings. Indeed, more than 90% of refugees in 2015 used criminal networks to move.

The EU and EC have subsequently identified migrant smuggling as a priority issue, adopting the European Agenda on Migration in May 2015, and formulating the EU Action Plan against Migrant Smuggling 2015-2020, as a pan-European framework for action, emphasising the importance of information sharing. In addition, the EU launched the Global Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT), a four-year initiative which aims to assist 15 developing nations to implement national counter traffic and counter smuggling policies in cooperation with the IOM, Unicef and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC).

Nonetheless, despite the recognition of human trafficking and migrant smuggling as serious crimes and flagrant violations of inalienable rights outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, progress in the prosecution and conviction of human traffickers remains limited across Europe. In addition, conflicts and political instability are exacerbating the volume of requests for smuggler’s services by potential migrants, allowing abuses and exploitation to continue abound.

In view of these enormous challenges, this symposium will provide a timely and invaluable opportunity to develop integrated solutions to tackle human trafficking and migrant smuggling. It will also explore effective means of identifying victims, raising awareness and improving multilateral cooperation.