New Approaches in Preventing Human Trafficking: Integrating the European Knowledge

The problem of Human Trafficking is an increasingly disturbing phenomenon in Europe with terrible consequences for victims, the majority of which are forced into prostitution, street crime, domestic servitude or other forms of labour exploitation. Furthermore, 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.

Recently, several reports have highlighted the urgent need to raise public awareness of trafficking, improve training in order to better identify victims, and develop better institutional co-operation and multi-agency working – all critical in the fight against trafficking, which alarmingly includes large numbers of children. In order to tackle its multi-level and cross-border roots effectively, a multi-disciplinary and comparative approach at EU and national level is required, alongside a renewed political will to combat this problem.

With the recent announcement of the latest EU proposals to fight human trafficking, this major two-day International Symposium offers a timely opportunity for local, regional and national authorities to gather comparative knowledge, discuss the latest challenges and share examples of cross-border best practices.

Any new approach towards preventing Human Trafficking must harness the existing European knowledge and experience from both a bottom-up and top-down perspective. To that end, the Symposium will seek to explore preventive and coordination measures, NGO activities at local levels, collaboration between different operational levels and across borders, financial opportunities for capacity building and awareness raising projects, and best practices and lessons learned from numerous initiatives at regional, national and local levels in Europe.

In order to encourage greater political will, facilitate policy discussion and explore comprehensive and integrated solutions to fighting the ‘hidden’ crime of human trafficking, the Centre for Parliamentary Studies is proud to host this annual Symposium and welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and stakeholders. Throughout the two days, the Symposium will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.

Day One – Tuesday 16th November 2010

09:00 Registration and Morning Refreshments
10:00 Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

Prof. Dr. Gert Vermeulen, Professor of Criminal Law, University of Ghent (confirmed)
10:10 Panel Session One:
Fighting Human Trafficking in Europe – Applying Local and National Experience – First Round of Case Studies
  • Identifying Common Implementation Challenges at National and Local Levels
  • National Rapporteurs’ Best Practices in Fighting HT and Effective Multi–Agency Cooperation at National and Local Levels
  • Identifying Checklists/ Indicators as Flexible Instruments for Identifying Traffickers and Trafficked Persons
Panelists:
Mrs. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, Austrian Ambassador, Director General IV for Legal and Consular Affairs, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria (confirmed)
Ms. Marion Walsh, Executive Director, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Department of Justice and Law Reform, Ireland (confirmed)
11:10 Morning Coffee Break
11:30 First Round of Discussions
12:10 Networking Lunch
13:10 Panel Session Two:
Increasing Pan European Cooperation – Towards Better Synergy between International Organisations
  • Effective Channels for Cooperation with all Relevant Actors
  • Creating Thematic Debate
  • Cross-Border Referral of Victims
  • Engaging Civil Societies in the Consultation Processes
  • Towards Inclusive and Multilevel Approaches
  • Shrinking the Gap between Political Initiatives and Realities on the Ground
  • Council of Europe Convention and its Monitoring Mechanism – Cooperation with Other International Instruments and Organisations
Keynote Speeches:
Mrs. Fadela Novak-Irons, Policy Officer, UNHCR Bureau for Europe (confirmed)
Mr. Michael Carlin, Head of Sector - Trafficking in Human Beings and Cybercrime, Directorate-General Home Affairs, European Commission (confirmed)
Mrs. Carolina Lasen Diaz, Administrator, Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings, DG Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe (confirmed)
14:10 Second Round of Discussions
14:50 Afternoon Coffee Break
15:10 Panel Session Three:
Tackling the Roots Causes of Human Trafficking
  • Applying National and International Practices
  • Protection and Assistance – Towards Effective Minimum Standards for Non Punishment of Victims of Trafficking
  • Labour Market Based Measures
  • Identifying Trafficked Persons in Areas such as Labour Exploitation, Domestic Servitude, Begging and Forced Marriages
Keynote Speeches:
Ms. Edith Bauer MEP, Bureau Member, Group of European People’s Parties (Christian Democrats), European Parliament (confirmed)
Mr. Colin Carswell, Lead Officer for 'Operation Golf' the UK/Romania Joint Investigation Team (confirmed)
16:10 Third Round of Discussions
16:40 Chair’s Summary and Closing Remarks of Day One
16:50 Networking Cocktail

Day Two – Wednesday 17th November 2010

09:00 Registration and Morning Refreshments
10:00 Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

Prof. Dr. Gert Vermeulen, Professor of Criminal Law, University of Ghent (confirmed)
10:10 Panel Session One:
Fighting Human Trafficking in Europe – Applying Local and National Experience – Second Round of Case Studies
  • Identifying Common Challenges at National and Local Levels
  • National Rapporteurs’ Best Practices and Effective Multi–Agency Cooperation at National and Local Levels
  • Identifying Checklists/ Indicators as Flexible Instruments for Identifying Traffickers and Trafficked Persons
Panelists:
Mrs. Jana Menšíková, Representative of the Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic (confirmed)
Mrs. C.E. Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, The Netherlands (confirmed)
11:10 Morning Coffee Break
11:30 First Round of Discussions
12:10 Networking Lunch
13:10 Panel Session Two:
Improving the Sharing and Exchanging of Data – Creating Common Methodologies and Reliable Indicators
  • Production of Statistics and Assessments – Developing Synergies between International Organizations and Agencies
  • Uniform Statistics and Research Stocktaking
  • Developing Key Indicators on Collecting Data based on Age, Gender, Country of Origin, etc.
  • Counter-Trafficking Module Database (IOM’s Experience)
  • Data Collection for Health and Medical Care
Keynote Speeches:
Prof. Dr. Gert Vermeulen, Professor of Criminal Law, University of Ghent (confirmed)
Mr. David Reisenzein, External Relations Officer, FRONTEX (confirmed)
Mr. Jonathan Martens, Programme Specialist, International Organization for Migration (confirmed)
Ms. Cathy Zimmerman, PhD, Lecturer, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK (confirmed)

Panelists:
Edith Bauer MEP, Bureau Member, Group of European People’s Parties (Christian Democrats), European Parliament (confirmed)
14:10 Second Round of Discussions
14:50 Afternoon Break
15:10 Panel Session Three:
Tackling the Roots Causes of Human Trafficking – A Bottom Up Perspective
  • Improve the Living Conditions of Disadvantaged Children
  • Child Trafficking – Good Practices and Lesson Learned
  • Human Trafficking as Human Right Violation and Organised Crime
  • Towards a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Approach
  • Women Trafficking of Women, Slavery and Trafficking
  • Lessons Learned from Central and Eastern Europe
Panelists:
Mrs. Natacha Kazatchkine, Executive Officer on Legal Affairs in the EU, Amnesty International (confirmed)
Mrs. Suzanne Hoff, International Coordinator, La Strada International (confirmed)
The International Federation Terre des Hommes (confirmed)
Mrs. María Amor Martín Estébanez PhD, Programme Manager, Legal Research Department of Equality and Citizen’s Rights, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) (confirmed)
Ms. Claire Rouffineau, EU Anti-Trafficking Project Manager, Terre des Hommes International Federation (confirmed)
16:10 Third Round of Discussion
16:40 Chair's Summary and Closing Remarks of Day Two
17:00 End of Symposium

Who Should Attend?

  • Police Service, Police Authorities
  • Interpol
  • Missing Persons Units
  • Diplomatic Missions
  • EU Officials
  • Border Agency Staff
  • Visa & Consular Sections in National Administrations
  • Port & Airport Authorities
  • Travel & Transportation Industry
  • Licensing Enforcement Officers
  • Housing Officials
  • Children & Youth Services
  • Social Services
  • Public Health Practitioners
  • Asylum & Refugee Groups
  • Domestic Violence Co-ordinators
  • Crime Reduction Partnerships
  • Alcohol & Drug Action Teams
  • Victim Support Organisations
  • Local, Regional & National Authorities
  • Local Authority Officers & Councillors
  • Governmental Departments & Agencies
  • School Authorities & Local Education Welfare Authorities
  • Workers & Employers Confederations
  • Beer, Pub and Club Industry
  • Licensed Entertainment Industry & Private Sector Organisations
  • Media Organisations
  • Academics & Research Institutes
  • Migration Organisations
  • Criminal Justice Specialists
  • Judges & Magistrates
  • Legal Professionals
  • Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences
  • Faith Groups
  • Equality & Human Rights Practitioners
  • NGOs
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Public Policy Exchange are pleased to offer a discounted rate at the Silken Hotel Brussels for delegates attending this event. Simply book a delegate place and a we will email you a discount code alongside your confirmation.

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16th — 17th November 2010
Silken Hotel, Brussels

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“ In the 21st century, we should not have women and girls reduced to sexual slavery, children beaten and mistreated, forced to beg and to steal and young adults compelled to work in appalling conditions for hunger wages. These crimes are not acceptable under any circumstances. We must do everything possible to stop the people responsible for these acts.”
Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner in charge of Home Affairs, March 2010
“ Social vulnerability is arguably the principal root cause of trafficking in human beings. Vulnerability derives from economic and social factors such as poverty, gender discrimination, armed conflicts, domestic violence, dysfunctional families, and personal circumstances such as age or health conditions or disabilities. Such vulnerability is used by international organised crime networks to facilitate migration and subsequently severely exploit people by use of force, threat, coercion, or various forms of abuse such as debt bondage. In fact the high level of profits generated is a major underlying driver. The demand for sexual services and cheap labour is a concurrent driver. ”
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and protecting victims, March 2010
“ Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability of the giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs … ”
Article 3, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, United Nations, 2000