This week, the European Commission presented its first report on human trafficking in the European Union covering the period from 2008 to 2010.

The European Commission will continue to provide financial support to measures combating human trafficking

In spring 2010, the Commission had made a proposal to tackle and prevent human trafficking. Following its adoption, in April 2011, member States were given a deadline to implement the directive into national law. This deadline expired on April 6. However, only six member States met the transposition deadline and fully implemented the directive. These included the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden and Hungary. In addition, three member States (Belgium, Lithuania and Slovenia) have partially adopted the legislation.

The implementation of the directive would affect national legislation in a number of areas, like national criminal law provision, the prosecution of offenders and the rights of the victims during criminal proceedings. In addition, implementing the directive would provide greater support for victims of human trafficking.

The directive also provides for the creation of a national rapporteur or reporting mechanism in each member State.

According to the Commission’s report, 23,632 people were the victims of human trafficking between 2008 and 2010. In the period under review, the number of such victims, year-on-year, increased by 18 per cent, up from 6,309 in 2008 to 9,528 in 2010.

Yet, the number of those convicted for human trafficking during this time period dropped by 13 per cent.

Many of the victims of human trafficking are people who live in poverty and in conflict and post-conflict situations where there is a lack of democracy. They may also lack access to education, employment opportunities and gender equality.

People may also be affected by human trafficking in areas where there is little social integration.

Both Eurostat and Directorate General Home Affairs have stated it is difficult to obtain reliable data despite all member States contributing statistics to the report. Therefore, the figures are seen as being only representative.

The data gathered illustrates that women are the most affected by human trafficking. Approximately 68 per cent of human trafficking victims in the EU are women and an estimated 17 per cent are men.

Children are also victims of human trafficking: roughly 12 per cent are girls and three per cent are boys.

When looking at the victims of human trafficking by nationality, the majority come from within the EU itself (61 per cent). It is believed most of the EU victims come from Romania and Bulgaria, the poorest member States.

About 14 per cent of those affected by trafficking within the EU come from Africa, six per cent from Asia and five per cent from Latin America.

Victims of human trafficking are forced into a number of different areas. The majority (61 per cent) are sexually exploited; those mostly likely forced into this area are women.

It is estimated that 25 per cent of those affected are forced into labour. In this case, it is mostly men who are affected.

Finally, 14 per cent of victims of human trafficking are forced to take part in criminal activities, the removal of organs or selling children. During this time period, 2008 to 2010, the number of suspected traffickers decreased by about 17 per cent.

It is believed that 75 per cent of suspected traffickers are men.

The International Labour Organisation had carried out a global study on the issue.

Figures from June 2012 show that an estimated 20.9 million people are forced in labour; 5.5 million of these victims are children.

It also shows that 880,000 of the victims are believed to be in forced labour in the EU.

Research by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), published in December 2012, shows that the number of children that are victims of human trafficking increased in the period between 2007 and 2010 when compared to 2003 through to 2006.

As human trafficking is an increasing problem on both an EU and global level, the European Commission will continue to provide financial support to measures combating this phenomenon.

It also proposes new measures under the EU strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings, which will be implemented before 2016.

These measures will compliment the directive on tackling human trafficking.

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP.