Intensify fight against human trafficking: National Rapporteur

More needs to be done in the fight against human trafficking, National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence Against Children Corinne Dettmeijer wrote in a letter to parliament. Her concerns about human trafficking has only grown over the past months as the capacity to fight this heinous crime is reduced, RTL Nieuws reports.

The number of reports of human trafficking victims is decreasing. But according to Dettmeijer, this is not because there are fewer victims. It is the result of reduced capacity, other priorities and expertise loss at investigating authorities, she wrote to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament.

In August last year Dettmeijer also expressed her concern about decreasing attention for human trafficking, after which the Minister of Security and Justice made extra money available for fighting this crime. But according to Dettmeijer, that's not enough. It is "necessary that the national police and Public Prosecutor makes the identification of human trafficking victims an actual priority". She calls on the Kamer to turn words into action. "It can not remain with words."

The Tweede Kamer is discussing human trafficking on Tuesday.