Today, in the Committee on Justice of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne announced that Mr. Klaus Vanhoutte, former director of Payoke and one of the experts of the Special Committee on Trafficking in Human Beings and People Smuggling, had been recruited and appointed as national coordinator for the fight against human trafficking and smuggling.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
The special parliamentary Commission tasked to assess the Belgian legislation and policy on trafficking in and smuggling of human beings adopted today 100 recommendations dealing with various forms of exploitation such as economic exploitation, sexual exploitation, the exploitation of begging, forced criminality, illegal adoption, and forced marriage.
During a press conference at the maritime police in Ostend, the Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, said that the strong approach towards human smugglers has led to a 90% drop in transit migrants to the UK.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: transit migrants, transit migration
The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking
The Conference allowed participants to gain insight into legal provisions against labour exploitation and to examine the role of different actors in upholding the rights of foreign workers. Good practices and lessons learnt from selected countries were presented and discussed.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: forced labour, labour exploitation
Today the English translation of the latest report on Human Trafficking and Smuggling from Myria was published. The 2018 report focuses on underage victims of trafficking and smuggling of human beings.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
On 12 December 2018, the Belgian contact point of the EMN organized its annual asylum and migration policy event in which recent national and EU developments in the field of international protection, legal migration and integration and irregular migration, human trafficking and return were discussed.
Main Theme: Integration, Reception, International Protection, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
Europol launched a new report about child trafficking. It provides a comprehensive view on who the victims are and who the criminal networks are that trafficking the children in and into the EU.
Main Theme: Vulnerable groups, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: child victim of trafficking
On the 31st of May and 1st of June, the Bulgarian Contact Point of the EMN - in the framework of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council - organized the EMN Annual Conference. The conference was dedicated to challenges and success factors in managing migration flows.
Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migration management, EMN Annual Conference
In 2018, the European Migration Network (EMN) celebrates its 10 year anniversary. On this occasion, the EMN organized a conference on 15 May in Brussels.
Main Theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: anniversary, EMN conference
Two United Nations agencies are joining forces to combat migrant smuggling. They organized an event centering on a Joint Platform on Countering Migrant Smuggling.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling
Today, the Belgian Minister of Home Affairs, the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration met with the British Home Secretary in London to discuss the issue of transit migration.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: transit migration, transit migrants, United Kingdom
Today, Frontex published its Risk Analysis for 2018, which concentrates on the scope of Frontex operational activities and, in particular, on irregular migration at the external borders of the EU and Schengen Associated Countries.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Frontex, risk analysis, border management
Today, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network organized its national conference, which focused on the main developments in the field of migration and asylum that took place in Belgium in 2017.
Main Theme: Asylum, Reception, International Protection, Migration
Keywords: EMN conference
Today the Commission adopted a new communication requiring immediate action from the EU and Member States to disrupt the modus operandi of traffickers, strengthen victims' rights and intensify EU internal and external efforts to provide a coordinated and consistent response.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Belgium has made progress in a number of areas to combat human trafficking and has managed a considerable number of convictions of perpetrators. Improvements are expected inter alia to enhance the identification of child victims and prevent the disappearances of unaccompanied children.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: GRETA
On the 26th of October 2017 the general policy note on asylum and migration of the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration was published. The policy note provides an overview of the main achievements and priorities in the field of asylum and migration.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), published data on recent arrivals in Europe. Compared with the 273,000 migrants who landed from January through Aug. 27, 2016, about 121,000 arrived during the same period this year. Furthermore, there was no evidence of any migrant dying in the Mediterranean since Aug. 9
Main Theme: Data & Statistics, International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Central Mediterranean route
A tribunal in Brussels sentenced eight persons to suspended 15-month prison sentences and a €165,000 fine for trafficking in human beings and degrading treatment.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Today, the Belgian Louise-Marie frigate departed from the port of Zeebrugge, starting its deployment in the Mediterranean sea in the framework of the EUNAVFOR MED – Sophia operation. The deployment will last until 28 July.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EUNAVFOR MED, Sophia, frégate
As from today, potential victims of trafficking are issued an annex 15 valid for 45 days during the reflection period, following modification of article 61/2 §2 of the Immigration Act.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: residence document
Ahead of the meeting of Heads of State or Government in Malta on 3 February 2017, the Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President have set out their contribution to the discussion on how to better manage migration and save lives along the Central Mediterranean route.
Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Mediterranean
Today the Commission is reporting on progress in the fight against trafficking in human beings. The report presents trends, progress and challenges in this field. Efforts must be stepped up to effectively fight this phenomenon.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: anti-trafficking, EU strategy, prevention, prosecution, protection
Today, key Belgian stakeholders in the fight against migrant smuggling discussed inter alia the use of social media in migrant smuggling at a round-table organized by the Belgian Contact Point of the EMN.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling, social media
The Council conclusions on migrant smuggling were adopted by the Council at its 3455th meeting held on 10-11 March 2016