La Strada Documentation Center

Prevention and Fight against Trafficking: Institutional Developments in Europe. Belgium Report

Document number
1657
Date
2003
Title
Prevention and Fight against Trafficking: Institutional Developments in Europe. Belgium Report
Author/publisher
Nathalie Schlenzka, Berliner Institut für Vergleichende Sozialforschung (BIVS)
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Organized crime, Prosecution, Law Enforcement, Criminal justice, Judicial cooperation; Victim-centred approach, National anti-trafficking measures; Criminalisation, Punishment, Crime prevention; Prevention, Awareness Raising, Media, Information Campaigns, Empowerment, Advocacy, Civil society, NGO, Human Rights approach, Activism, Education, Training;
Summary
Belgium is a country of transit and destination for trafficking in women and children for purposes of commercial and sexual exploitation. Brussels is now considered the European centre for child prostitution (Protection Project 2002). The subject of trafficking was first discussed in Belgium in 1993. At that time, public awareness on the issue of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) rose with the appearance of the book “Elles sont si gentilles, Monsieur” (“They are so sweet, you know”) by Chris De Stoop, which focused on the phenomenon of the trafficking in human beings. Due to this, alongside the lobbying activities of Patsy Sörensen, Belgian member of the European Parliament, the Belgian government was forced to become active on behalf of the victims. Also in 1993, the first parliamentary commission on this subject was formed. First, the penal law was changed, and trafficking in women or in human beings became a criminal offence. Second, the rights and protection of victims of trafficking were strengthened. Over the last ten years, Belgium has developed a comprehensive system of measures and strategies to fight THB, based on extensive cooperation between the actors in the field nationally.
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