LSI recommendations for the future of Home Affairs
- Document number
- 3023
- Date
- 2014
- Title
- LSI recommendations for the future of Home Affairs
- Author/publisher
- La Strada International
- Availability
- View/save PDF version of this document
- Document type(s)
- EU law, Guidelines/Recommendations,
- Keywords
- human trafficking, abuse, exploitation, EU
- Summary
-
In 2014 the EU will set the agenda for the forthcoming years in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice, including Organised crime and Human Trafficking, to succeed the current Stockholm Programme.
The issue of trafficking in human beings has seen increased attention in the past decade in the European Union and globally, which resulted in a range of EU legislative measures and policies, such as Council Directive 2004/81 on the residence permit, issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, who cooperate with the competent authorities; the 2011/36/EU Directive on preventing and combatting trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA; and the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012–2016.
La Strada International has welcomed the high priority that has been given to the issue of trafficking in human beings and the increased awareness for the position of victims, which resulted in the so-called victim-centred approach.
For the process of setting the agenda for the coming years in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice, La Strada International has formulated a number of recommendations to promote the monitoring of the implementation of the current legislation, policies and measures to ensure that victims’ rights are respected and affected groups are protected from exploitation and abuse. We also strongly recommend the Commission to take on a holistic approach to human trafficking and to establish effective processes, ensuring that action in other EU policy areas reinforces the protection and assistance of trafficked persons, as required by the Directive, rather than undercutting it because priority is afforded to other policy concerns, such as migration control or labour laws.