“The Smile of the Child” shared its national experience and efforts to the Meeting of EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings
20 June 2019
Brussels, 14 June 2019
“The Smile of the Child” took part in the meeting of EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings held on 13 and 13 June in Brussels.
Representatives of NGOs from across Europe, among them ‘The Smile of the Child’ and National Rapporteurs against Trafficking had the opportunity to exchange views and their experience from the field of prevention of and tackling of trafficking in children.
The meeting highlighted the need to provide better services for victims of trafficking but also provide better access to these services. EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Dr. Myria Vassiliadou, presented a new child protection guide, developed by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in close cooperation with the European Commission Office of the EU Anti-trafficking Coordinator. This child protection guide focuses on children deprived of parental care in EU Member States. It covers all children who need protection, particularly child trafficking victims. In addition, Mr Ilias Chatzis, Chief of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section gave emphasis to the need to make improvements to the existing legal framework and address the culture of impunity as well as adhere to the provisions of the Palermo Protocol.
“The Smile of the Child” presented its actions and experience in the field of prevention of and tackling of trafficking in children, whereas special emphasis was given to the need to increase the level of information and awareness about existing mechanisms and services for the protection of children at risk, including refugee and migrant children. In addition, the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator as well as participants of the meeting were informed on new innovative tools and mechanisms used by ‘The Smile of the Child’, such as the Amber Alert Hellas, the ECAAS, the GMCNgine, the FIA Missing Child Alert of the Global Missing Children’s Network (GMCN) and the CyberTipline of the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
In the course of the two-day meeting members of the Platform had the opportunity to exchange good practices implemented at national and European level. “The Smile of the Child” is active member of the EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Being since its establishment in 2013.
