Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on tackling human trafficking.

Alok Sharma

​Modern slavery is a crime which crosses borders and requires a co-ordinated international response. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), has regular discussions with his European counterparts on human trafficking. The UK plays a leading role in the EU Threat group on Trafficking in Human Beings (EMPACT), which brings together law enforcement experts from most EU Member States and is supported by Europol, Eurojust, the European Commission, Interpol, Frontex and CEPOL (EU Police College).The UK has also led work to secure a UN Sustainable Development Goal to end slavery and irregular migration – including trafficking – was a priority theme at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly this year. The UK led a resolution on Contemporary Forms of Slavery at the recent Human Rights Council, working with EU partners to provide a focus for practical measures and concerted international action. In these and other ways, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to support the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), in her efforts to co-ordinate global action on these issues.