Action urged to combat traffic in humans

A joint report published in July 2002 by the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called for Europe-wide action to fight trafficking in humans in south east Europe. This region is the main source of the estimated 20,000 women and children smuggled into prostitution in the European Union each year. The UN and OSCE hope the Council of Europe in Strasbourg will launch negotiations in September 2002 on a Europe-wide convention intended to provide a framework for combating trafficking in humans throughout the continent.