Progress in campaign to help victims of human trafficking

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution co-tabled by West Midlands Lib Dem MEP Liz Lynne calling for more specialist support for the victims of human trafficking gangs, including dedicated accommodation.

Currently there are only 54 beds available nationally for the victims of trafficking gangsters and none outside of London, Cardiff and Sheffield.

Liz Lynne, a longtime campaigner on the issue, said: "Governments and especially the UK government must do more to treat trafficked people as victims of a horrific crime.

"All too often they are treated as criminals or illegal immigrants. It is a disgrace that we have so few specialist shelters for the victims of trafficking in this country.

"There are only 54 specialist spaces for victims. In my region of the West Midlands, where we have seen many horrific cases of trafficking, we have none. This is in stark contrast to some European neighbours such as Sweden.

"My hope is the resolution we adopted will send a clear message that we need better facilities to help the victims and we need to do that now.

"There are credible estimates that between 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year and this is only set to increase."

LIbFrom "Lib Dem Eurofile" No. 3, March 2010.

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Published and promoted by Simon Hanson on behalf of Chris Bramall (Liberal Democrats),

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