The relevant authorities began preparing the implementation of the four-year National Strategy against Trafficking in Human Beings - announced Ms Krisztina Berta, Deputy State Secretary for EU and International Relations, National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator on the press conference held on Wednesday.
The strategy mainly addresses victim identification, investigation, prosecution, prevention and providing assistance to victims - she stated.
Ms Krisztina Berta said: although the fight against human trafficking is coordinated by the Ministry of Interior, both governmental and non-governmental organisations participate in it.
The Deputy State Secretary described trafficking in human beings as the most grievous crime of the modern era. She mentioned that the International Labour Organisation estimates that 20,9 million people are victims of forced labour globally. The Hungarian Ministry of Interior participates in a project leaded by the Romanian National Agency against Trafficking in Persons to prevent labour exploitation funded by the European Commission. The project partners are: European Public Law Organisation from Greece, National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings from Bulgaria, Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism (KISA) from Cyprus and the Ministry of Interior of FYROM. The project’s general objective is to draw attention to the ever-growing number of labour exploitation. It is of great importance for every person to realize, what to do or how to escape a situation once they became exploited even if they receive a good offer of employment abroad.
She also reported that forced prostitution, a form of human trafficking is the most significant: Thousands of Hungarian prostitutes are mainly exploited in the Netherlands, in Switzerland, at the southern part of Germany, in the United Kingdom, in Austria and in Belgium. She also added: it is difficult to estimate the total number of Hungarian victims of forced labour as many of them are afraid to turn to authorities for help (mostly because of shame), the legislation was not extensive enough, and the available official statistical information does not provide a realistic picture of the situation.
According to Ms Krisztina Berta significant progress has been made in the last few months: Hungary implemented the Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims by amending the Criminal Code, which enabled the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Specific provisions of the Act on Crime Victim Support and State Compensation have been amended therefore victims of human-trafficking independently from their cooperation in criminal proceedings are entitled to services. Government applies regulation on the national victim referral system too which laid down the system of the authorities’ cooperation.
Ms Ágnes Németh, Head of Crime Prevention Department (Hungarian National Police Headquarters) informed: there are a lot of complaints about the ill-treatment of Hungarians working abroad. Consequently the Police try to reach potential victims and call their attention to the risks of working abroad without any information and preparation. She suggested checking the website of EURES – European Employment Service and downloading mobile applications for more information. People are often accepting a job offer abroad without any language knowledge or qualification where they become easier victims. „If anyone becomes a victim, should not hesitate to turn to the national police of the country”- she advised.