ERADICATING: social, financial and security impacts of trafficking in human beings

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is one of the EU’s priorities in the fight against serious and organised crime as part of the EU Policy Cycle EMPACT 2022 – 2025, but it remains significantly underreported. New and serious risks of trafficking have emerged linked to the war in Ukraine and worsening economic conditions, especially to vulnerable groups such as women and children. As regards to Ukraine war, as of 1 June 2022, some 4.7 million individual refugees from Ukraine were recorded across Europe, with 2.9 million registered under Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe. As regards to the economic conditions, the rising prices of energy, oil and gas since late 2021 have brought inflation up and thus made life difficult for many individuals who will be likely find low-quality jobs and thus be more vulnerable to falling victims of traffickers. The session discusses the results of the needs and risk assessment conducted in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, Romania and Slovenia with LEAs, prosecutors, labour inspectors, and first-line practitioners, in the framework of the projects ERADICATING and ERADICATING II. The session highlights the gaps, challenges, good practices and trends in trafficking for the purpose of labour and sexual exploitation. The session focuses also on practical training instruments developed for practitioners to better tackle THB.

Subtopic

• Topic 2: Types of Offending / Human Trafficking

Chair

• Radu Nicolae, ASOCIATIA PENTRU COOPERARE SI DEZVOLTARE DURABILA

Individual Presentations

• Backing into the abyss: Romania’s struggle with THB in the context of the war in Ukraine - Radu Nicolae, ASOCIATIA PENTRU COOPERARE SI DEZVOLTARE DURABILA; Andreea Gusa, ASOCIATIA PENTRU COOPERARE SI DEZVOLTARE DURABILA

• THB in Bulgaria: gaps, challenges, good practices and recommendations - Atanas Rusev, Center for the Study of Democracy

• Combatting THB in modern, democratic and inclusive societies: Εducation and systematic training of first line professionals - Antonia Pothoulaki, Center for Security Studies (KEMEA); Asimina Gkontolia, Center for Security Studies (KEMEA)

• Living Lab: ideas and innovative solutions against THB - Max Hausner, University of Applied Sciences for Public Service in Bavaria; Andreea Gusa, ASOCIATIA PENTRU COOPERARE SI DEZVOLTARE DURABILA