further updates are available upon request from the project team
JULY UPDATE
Dear All,
Welcome to July’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
Helsinki Study Visit
The PAHT team have just returned from a one day study visit to Helsinki with a small group of parliamentarians from across Europe dedicated to fighting human trafficking.
Participating in the visit were Robert Biedron MP (Poland), Michael Connarty MP (UK), Dragutin Mate MP (Slovenia), David McIlveen MLA (Northern Ireland, Ruta Ragliauskiene (Parliament of Lithuania), together with Chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation Anthony Steen and project staff Stana Buchowska and Emma Makey.
The visit started with a meeting in the Finnish Parliament, the Eduskunta, with parliamentary members of the Human Rights Committee. Chaired by Ilkka Kantola MP, Finnish MPs shared their knowledge and experience of working on legislation relating to trafficking and described their relationship with the National Rapporteur. Mr Kantola was joined by several colleagues including Anna Kontola MP, a specialist on sex trafficking in Finland.
Participants then travelled to the Helsinki Police Headquarters where they met Inspector Timo Sundqvist, Mikko Sipila (District Prosecutor) and Natalia Ollus (European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control). The meeting looked at the work of law enforcement agencies in Finland in fighting trafficking, with Inspector Sundqvist detailing the police department’s approach to secure a conviction in a recent case involving the trafficking and pimping of a 16 year old Romanian girl.
Next, participants met with Eva Biaudet, Ombudsman for Minorities and National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings. Ms Biaudet explained that the Ombudsman sits within the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, presenting a report to the Parliament every 4 years (although not to the plenary session). She also described the challenges faced in Finland in enabling police to recognise the signs of trafficking.
The last meeting of the day was a roundtable discussion with representatives from key Finnish NGOs tackling trafficking – Pro Centre Finland, the Multicultural Women’s Association and Victim Support Finland. Jaana Kauppinen from Pro Centre described how the number of victims of trafficking in Finland are much greater than the numbers formally identified, with Russia, Thailand and Estonia being the main source countries.
The PAHT project hopes to develop the links established with the parliamentarians we met in Finland.
Lisbon Seminar
We are delighted to confirm that the rescheduled PAHT Lisbon seminar is now due to take place in the Portuguese Parliament on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September 2012. The seminar will focus upon data collection and mapping relating to human trafficking, based upon Portuguese good practice in these areas. We are grateful to Maria Paula Cardoso MP for her support in planning for the seminar. The project team will be in touch again soon with further information about the seminar.
London Conference
The dates of the London Conference have been confirmed as Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 October 2012. The Conference will be held in the Attlee Suite, Houses of Parliament, London. Further information about the Conference will be available soon from the PAHT website (www.paht.eu).
Bucharest Good Practice Exchange
Please note that the Good Practice Exchange on Child Trafficking, due to take place in Bucharest on 29 and 30 November 2012, has been postponed.
JUNE UPDATE
Dear All,
Welcome to June’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
Helsinki Study Visit
PAHT will be travelling to Finland in mid June for a one day parliamentary study visit to Helsinki. Due to take place on Thursday 21 June, the event will enable parliamentarians from across Europe (and predominantly the Baltic Sea region) to see Finnish best practice in tackling human trafficking first hand. The visit will include a meeting in the Finnish Parliament, the Eduskunta, with parliamentarians from the Human Rights Committee. There will also be visits to the police, prosecutors, research specialists on human trafficking and NGOs working in the field. Further information about the visit can be sought from the PAHT project team (details below).
Lisbon Seminar
We are delighted to confirm that the rescheduled PAHT Lisbon seminar is now due to take place in the Portuguese Parliament on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September 2012. The seminar will focus upon data collection and mapping relating to human trafficking, based upon Portuguese good practice in these areas. We are grateful to Maria Paula Cardoso MP for her support in planning for the seminar. The project team will be in touch again very soon with further information about the seminar.
London Conference
The dates of the London Conference have been confirmed as Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 October 2012. The Conference will be held in the Attlee Suite, Houses of Parliament, London. Further information about the Conference will be available soon from the PAHT website (www.paht.eu)
Project reporting
Midterm reports from the project are being prepared and will be available for partners shortly.
Next events
| Good Practice Exchange on Child Trafficking | Bucharest, Romania | Thursday 29/ Friday 30 November 2012 |
PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING – UPDATE – May 2012
Dear All,
Welcome to May’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
Warsaw Seminar
On Wednesday 18 April the Polish Parliament hosted the fourth event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) project, a one day parliamentary seminar on the National Referral Mechanism. Parliamentarians from across Europe travelled to Poland to meet with Polish experts and NGOs on trafficking, where they discussed a variety of topics relating to National Referral Mechanisms and how parliamentarians can continue to work together effectively to tackle human trafficking.
The event kicked off with a welcome address by Mr. Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Polish Minister of Justice. This was followed by contributions from Jessica Glover, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, Warsaw, and Anthony Steen, Chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation. Mariana Katzarova, Senior Advisor on Anti-Trafficking Issues at ODIHR, then delivered a keynote speech on how the National Referral Mechanism contributes to better protection and assistance of victims of trafficking. After a short press briefing, Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE (UK) chaired a session on how parliamentarians can build up groups as part of an EU parliamentary network. With contributions from Radek John MP (Czech Republic), Magdalena Vasaryova MP (Slovakia), Maria Paula Cardoso MP (Portugal), Arminas Lydeka MP (Lithuania) and Mailis Reps MP (Estonia) – as well as Robert Biedron MP and Ryszard Kalisz MP from Poland – parliamentarians from across the EU shared their contrasting experiences of developing awareness of trafficking in their parliaments.
The afternoon session focused on co-operation between NGOs and law enforcement representatives regarding referral of victims of trafficking. The session featured contributions from key Polish stakeholders in this area – including Piotr Mierecki (Ministry of Interior), Irena Dawid-Olczyk (National Consulting and Intervention Centre for Victims of Trafficking), Colonel Tomasz Semeniuk (Border Guards) and Inspector Monika Sokolowska (Anti-Trafficking Unit – Police Headquarters).
The project is very grateful to Ryszard Kalisz MP and the staff of the Justice and Human Rights Committee in the Polish Parliament for their assistance with the seminar. We would also like to thank the British Embassy for their support of the seminar.
You can read reports of the seminar and access resources on the project website now.
Lisbon Seminar
PAHT will hold its next seminar in the Portuguese Parliament, Lisbon in late June. The event is provisionally scheduled for Thursday 21 June with a welcoming reception on the evening of Wednesday 20 June. The project team will be in touch again soon with further details including confirmation of the date.
Forthcoming events
Dates for your diary:
Seminar Lisbon Thursday 21 June 2012 TBC
Conference London October 2012
PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING – UPDATE – April 2012
Dear All,
Welcome to April’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
Rome Seminar
The third event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) project was held on Thursday 22 March 2012, in the Italian Parliament, Rome. Hosted by the Italian Senate, the seminar provided a forum for parliamentarians from across Europe to meet with NGOs, law enforcement representatives and experts on human trafficking to discuss anti trafficking legislation on protection of victims.
The Rome meeting was attended by parliamentarians from across the EU – including representations from the UK (Peter Bone MP, Baroness Butler Sloss and Michael Connarty MP), Cyprus (Sofoclis Fyttis MP), Germany (Annette Groth MP), Latvia (Inara Murniece MP), Lithuania (Arminas Lydeka MP), Poland (Ryszard Kalisz MP), Romania (Valeriu Zgonea MP), Slovenia (Dragutin Mate MP and Masa Kociper MP) and Spain (Marta Gonzalez MP), together with their counterparts from Italy.
The meeting kicked off with a welcome address from Senator Filippo Berselli, Chairman of the Italian Senate Justice Commission. Senator Berselli was then joined by Anthony Steen, Chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation, who emphasised the importance of mobilising MPs across the EU to fight human trafficking. Then followed a series of keynote speeches from key figures involved in the formulation and enforcement of anti-trafficking legislation in Italy, with contributions from Corrado Lembo (Deputy Prosecutor from the Court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere), Giusto Sciacchitano (Deputy Prosecutor from the National Anti-Mafia Office) and Senator Alberto Maritati. We were delighted by the attendance of Senator Renato Schifani, Speaker of the Italian Senate, who addressed the seminar to commend the work being done across Europe to tackle human trafficking.
After a short break, Baroness Butler Sloss chaired a ‘countries overview’ session, providing parliamentarians from Cyprus, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the UK to share their experiences of tackling human trafficking and to provide an update on work done in their countries since January’s seminar in The Hague.
After lunch hosted by Senator Maritati, the afternoon session (chaired by Baerbel Uhl, EU Experts Group) provided participants with the opportunity to hear detailed case studies on victim protection by Anna Bonifazi, Senior Officer from the Carabinieri, and Maria Pia Vigilante, Chair of ‘La Giraffa’ NGO.
The project is grateful to Senator Maritati, Massimo Martinelli and the Justice Commission of the Italian Senate for their assistance in hosting the seminar in the Italian Parliament.
You can read short reports of the seminar on the project website and the ECPAT UK website now – an in depth report and photographs will be available shortly.
Resources from the seminar, including briefing papers and a list of attendees, is available from the PAHT website.
Warsaw Seminar
The next seminar of the PAHT project will be taking place in a couple of weeks time in Poland. Themed on the National Referral Mechanism, the seminar will take place in the Polish Parliament, Warsaw on Wednesday 18 April. A welcoming reception will be held for participants at the British Embassy on the evening of Tuesday 17 April.
The seminar will provide participants with the opportunity to explore how the National Referral Mechanism functions. The morning session will feature speeches on how the NRM contributes to better protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, before examining the role that MPs can play in ensuring the effective functioning of the NRM in their countries. After lunch, participants will look at how NGOs and law enforcement representatives can work together in referrals of victims of trafficking.
The seminar will also provide parliamentarians with the opportunity to update each other on progress in establishing groups committed to fighting human trafficking in their own countries.
Already confirmed are parliamentary participants from Poland, the UK, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania and Romania. We also hope to have representations from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Portugal.
Further information, including a draft programme, is available from Emma Makey.
Forthcoming events
Dates for your diary:
Seminar Lisbon Thursday 7 June 2012 TBC
Conference London Late September 2012
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PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING – UPDATE – March 2012
Dear All,
Welcome to March’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
Rome Seminar
Just three weeks to go until the next event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking project – the Rome seminar, to be held on Thursday 22 March 2012 in the Italian Senate. The seminar will focus on Italian legislation relating to victims of trafficking and is kindly hosted by Senator Alberto Maritati, Senate Justice Committee.
In addition to the keynote speeches, discussions and case study presentations on Thursday, participants are also invited to a working reception on the evening of Wednesday 21 March in the seminar hotel (Leon’s Place). During the working reception, participants will be encouraged to provide their thoughts on the future shape of the European network and to contribute to discussion on strategic planning.
A copy of the draft seminar programme is attached to this email. Parliamentarians from 8 countries – Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the UK – have already confirmed their attendance at the seminar.
More information about the Seminar is available by emailing the project team (details below). Please also check the PAHT website for updates.
Warsaw Seminar
Shortly after the Rome seminar we will be travelling to Warsaw for the fourth event of the project, hosted by the Polish Parliament in co-operation with the British Embassy in Poland. Scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 April, the seminar will examine the National Referral Mechanism, asking parliamentarians to question how they can ensure the NRM functions as effectively as possible in their countries.
Invitations are currently being sent to parliamentarians across Europe for this event. A draft programme will be available shortly.
Forthcoming events
Dates for your diary:
Seminar Rome Thursday 22 March 2012
Seminar Warsaw Wednesday 18 April 2012
Seminar Lisbon June 2012
Website
Please check the PAHT website for regular updates on the project – including resources from each event.
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PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING – UPDATE – February 2012
Dear All,
Welcome to February’s edition of the monthly Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking email update.
The Hague Good Practice Exchange
Last Thursday, 26 January, Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking held the second event of the project, a Good Practice Exchange, in The Hague, Netherlands. The event was hosted by the Eerste Kamer der Staten Generaal (the Senate), Parliament of the Netherlands and was attended by 32 participants from across the European Union. The Good Practice Exchange provided participants with the opportunity to learn about the role of the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, her work with the Dutch Parliament and how the system could work in other EU parliaments.
The event featured keynote speeches from Dutch parliamentarians Senator Willem Brocker and Ard Van Der Steur MP, as well as the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen. Discussion then focused on how parliamentarians can build up parliamentary groups as part of an EU network, with contributions from Greece, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Romania and the UK. Afternoon debate centred on co-operation between NGOs and parliamentarians.
Our especial thanks go to our project partner, the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings in the Netherlands, for their assistance in organising the Good Practice Exchange.
You can read short reports of the seminar on the project website and the ECPAT UK website now – an in depth report and photographs will be available shortly.
Resources from the seminar, including briefing papers and a list of attendees, is available from the PAHT website.
Rome Seminar
The next event of the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking project will be a seminar to be held in the Senate, Italian Parliament, on Thursday 22 March 2012. The seminar will focus on Italian legislation regarding victims of trafficking. Preparations for the seminar are now underway, including the recruitment of participants and the preparation of the draft programme. More information about the Seminar is available by emailing the project team (details below) and will appear on the project website in the next two weeks.
Warsaw Seminar
Shortly after the Rome seminar we will be travelling to Warsaw for the fourth event of the project, hosted by the Polish Parliament in co-operation with the British Embassy in Poland. Scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 April, the seminar will examine the National Referral Mechanism, asking parliamentarians to question how they can ensure the NRM functions as effectively as possible in their countries.
Forthcoming events
Dates for your diary:
Seminar Rome Thursday 22 March 2012
Seminar Warsaw Wednesday 18 April 2012
Seminar Lisbon Late May 2012
Please contact the project team if you have any questions:
Stana Buchowska s.buchowska@ecpat.org.uk
Emma Makey e.makey@ecpat.org.uk
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PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING – UPDATE – JANUARY 2012
Dear All,
Happy New Year from the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking project team!
THE HAGUE SEMINAR
We’re very much looking forward to the next PAHT event – a Good Practice Exchange – which will be held in the Dutch Parliament, The Hague, on Thursday 26 January 2012.
The Good Practice Exchange will examine the work of the National Rapporteur in the Netherlands and how it works with Dutch parliamentarians and NGOs. The seminar will then present parliamentarians the opportunity to discuss how a National Rapporteur could work in their own countries. The event will include contributions from parliamentarians and NGOs throughout Europe, as well as the Dutch Rapporteur and project partner, Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen.
We have already received confirmation of attendance from parliamentarians in Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy and the UK – as well as domestic participants from both Houses of the Dutch Parliament. There will also be attendees from NGOs from Romania, Portugal, Greece, UK and the Netherlands.
A draft programme is attached for your information. Please note that the format of this event differs slightly from that of the London seminar, with participants invited to join us for a reception and buffet on the evening of Wednesday 25 January. The Good Practice Exchange will finish by 5pm on the Thursday in order to allow participants the chance to return home the same evening.
More information on the Good Practice Exchange is available by emailing the project team (details below)
FUTURE EVENTS
2012 will be a busy year for the PAHT project. Our next events will be:
Late March 2012 (date TBC) Seminar Rome
Late April 2012 (date TBC) Seminar Warsaw
Late May 2012 (date TBC) Seminar Lisbon
June 2012 Conference Bucharest
Further information will be available in due course
Please contact the project team if you have any questions:
Stana Buchowska s.buchowska@ecpat.org.uk
Emma Makey e.makey@ecpat.org.uk