EU Anti-trafficking day

The EU Anti-Trafficking Day has been established on 18 October of every year. The first Anti-Trafficking Day took place in 2007.

In a majority of EU Member States, only a small number of residence permits are issued to victims of trafficking. This is shown in a report the Commission has published today, on the EU Anti-trafficking day, on the implementation of the Directive on the residence permits issued to victims of trafficking.

"We can not accept that, while several hundred thousand victims are estimated to be trafficked every year within and into the EU, only a few thousand victims are assisted" said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs. "Trafficking in human beings, whether it is called forced labour or sexual exploitation, is a terrible crime and should be called by its right name: modern slavery. Fighting it is a top priority for me and we must mobilise all instruments of action to reinforce prevention, law enforcement and victim protection".