The crime prevention department of the Hungarian Police and the Budapest representatives of Hans Seidel Foundation co organized an international conference on 12 October 2012 in the police management center entitled “ Battle against human trafficking – unprotected victims”.
The Hans Seidel Foundation has been a significant supporter of the work of Hungarian law enforcement units since 1992. Due to the cooperation several successful police-related projects and professional exchanges of experience have taken place. The cooperation started in June 1990 when the Hungarian and Bavarian prime ministers signed an agreement that was followed by establishing contact between the Hungarian and Bavarian police forces. In 2001 the Hungarian and Bavarian Ministers signed a declaration with the aim of establishing police cooperation and taking action against international organized crime with an emphasis on dealing with drugs and human trafficking. The time that has passed since establishing contact between the two police forces has brought several results to the services departments of the Hungarian Police. Due to the financial and professional contribution of Hans Seidel Foundation numerous programs in connection with crime, crime prevention, law enforcement, border protection and human management have been realized.
The Hans Seidel foundation has treated supporting crime prevention projects with a special emphasis over the past years, especially those that are connected to the prevention of becoming a victim. Due to their financial support we could focus, among others, on exploring the reasons behind school violence (2010, 2011), on developing the school crime prevention programs of the police and this year on the unprotected victims of the human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a problem that reaches over the borders of the countries, it effects the start the destination and the transit countries at the same time. Human trafficking is a highly organized and fast spreading crime; hence the battle against it is especially difficult. Human trafficking is one of the biggest infringements of human rights, so it is the duty of every country to take firm actions in order to prevent human trafficking and punish the criminals. The aim of human trafficking is mainly connected to prostitution or forced labor, exploitation, organized begging, illegal adoption, and trade of organs. Its reason can be found in poverty, marginalization, the tradition of inferiority of women and children and the lack of respecting and protecting human rights.
The problem of human trafficking needs a complex solution that needs to be founded on international cooperation and has to deal with the question of prevention, criminal investigation, and the help of victims. During the realization of these tasks strong cooperation of the governmental, non-governmental and international organizations is inevitable.