Europe urged to do more to prevent trafficking

Countries of the European Union have been urged by a UN expert to prevent trafficking and protect the rights of people at risk.

An unprecedented number of people are fleeing to Europe from the Middle East and Africa to escape insecurity and persecution.

Many are being transported illegally by people smugglers.

The UN estimates that 3,100 people have died in the Mediterranean Sea trying to reach Europe in 2015.

The majority were making the hazardous journey on unseaworthy vessels operated by human traffickers.

It's not known how many have travelled by road.

Speaking ahead of European Anti-Trafficking Day, marked on Sunday, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro called on the European Union to do more to protect people at risk.
She urged the EU to ensure that anti-trafficking policies are not negatively affected by what she called "restrictive and exclusionary immigration policies."

She said those policies could further heighten risks for the trafficking and exploitation of people.


SOURCE: Daniel Dickinson, United Nations