Vijfde Europese Dag tegen Mensenhandel (en)

Enhanced effectiveness of EU agencies and their better cooperation in combating human trafficking was discussed in Warsaw at a conference held on the occasion of the Fifth European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The conference was opened by the Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration Jerzy Miller and Edith Bauer of the European Parliament.

The event, organised within the framework of the Polish EU Presidency, brought together senior politicians, law enforcement officials, representatives of civil society and EU agencies tasked with justice and home affairs. Their discussion focused on an array of issues connected with human trafficking.

This year's meeting highlighted the cooperation between competent EU agencies and their joint practical steps to fight this criminal activity. The debate moderator was European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Myria Vassiliadou,and the participants included representatives of seven agencies: European Police College (CEPOL), European Asylum Support Office (EASO i), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE i), EUROJUST i, EUROPOL i, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and Frontex i.

The afternoon session was devoted to workshops dealing with a three-stage approach to the problem of trafficking: prevention, victim protection and prosecution. The participants considered specific measures designed to achieve practical results in combatinghuman trafficking. The agency heads signed a joint statement on the subject.

The Fifth European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings was held under the motto of ‘Together Against Human Trafficking’.

Day was marked for the first time since the establishment earlier this year of the office of European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and the launching of the European Asylum Support Office.