Your Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium,

Your Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour for me to be invited to take part in this
European Union Ministerial Conference on Human Trafficking. 
For the International Organization for Migration (IOM) it is
particularly significant that the Government of the Kingdom of
Sweden is the principal organizer of this distinguished event.

IOM has a long history of partnership with Sweden --- among the
first we developed with our Member States --- in the fight against
human trafficking.

IOM's relationship with Sweden has remained strong over the
years --- one that we are keen to strengthen and evolve
commensurate with the challenge of combating human trafficking.

Indeed, there has been some progress in the fight against human
trafficking; sadly, however, despite the efforts of us all, we know
that human trafficking is as widespread and prevalent today as it
was 15 years ago when we started tackling this issue.

Trafficking in human beings is a lucrative criminal enterprise
--- one whose earnings are surpassed only by the illegal trade in
drugs and arms.  It remains a global scourge that transcends
borders; feeds on inequality; and mercilessly exploits the
vulnerability of men, women, boys and girls.  Trafficking in
persons --- perhaps modern day's most widespread form of slavery
--- is one of the most heinous international crimes of the
globalization era.

Majesties, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

The theme of this conference is, "Towards Global EU Action"; and
it is from the viewpoint of an Organization currently active in
counter trafficking programmes in more than 80 countries that I
would like to share with you some brief thoughts in three related
areas of action:

1. State cooperation;
2. The current policy environment; and
3. The role of International and Non-Governmental
   Organizations.

I. State Cooperation

Just as organized crime works in a coordinated manner, so too
must countries of origin and destination.   And though
these countries may have very different migration policy goals and
objectives --- all can agree, however, that human trafficking in
all its forms is a violation of migrants' human rights; all can
perhaps also agree, that we cannot tackle trafficking without
looking at the effect of migration policies on the most vulnerable
migrants.

Within the context of an international migration framework with
its competing visions and objectives, one of the challenges facing
the "Global EU Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings," will be
to ensure that the message is loud and clear that this initiative
is about the protection of migrants' rights and not about migration
control; that this is about developing partnerships and
strengthening human security.

The European Union --- both collectively and in terms of its
individual states --- is a leader in developing innovative
approaches to combating human trafficking. 

Many states throughout the world stand to benefit from the EU's
experiences and the support it can provide.  This is
reciprocal, as the EU also stands to benefit from other countries'
experiences:  in short I expect the EU's focus on global
action will be enriching for all parties.

II. The current policy
environment

My second point concerns the current policy environment that
actually contributes to the phenomenon of human
trafficking.  

When we speak of the root causes of human trafficking we often
do so in terms of poverty, gender inequality, corruption and so
forth.  More recently, we have started to examine closely the
core issue of demand and the role of the employer and
consumer.  In short, we tend to frame the question in terms of
"them" and "us":  the source countries and the countries of
destination.

But what of the broader, global policy environment?  What,
for example, is the impact of migration policies on human
trafficking?  We often hear how stricter migration controls
may push people towards irregular migration leaving them vulnerable
to traffickers --- but let me turn this around and ask what
positive effects migration policies might have in reducing those
vulnerabilities? 

The European Union has an impressive track record of devising
innovative migration solutions.  This counter trafficking
initiative of the Swedish Presidency is yet another opportunity to
examine closely how the EU's commendable mobility partnerships
might be targeted specifically at reducing human trafficking.

And what of trade policies?  Over the last couple of years
there has been a laudable effort by a number of multinational
corporations to analyse their role in human trafficking; to take
action; to monitor; and, where necessary, make changes to their
supply chains --- all of this to ensure against the use of
trafficked labour.  Even these measures of self-regulation
will need to be complemented by stronger state-led regulatory
action.

A move toward global action might also entail consideration of
how tariffs and subsidies contribute to human trafficking by
providing an important push factor that places migrants in a
position of vulnerability to exploitation:  if, for example, a
farmer in the developing world can no longer compete with imported
agricultural produce, he or she may well feel that the best option
for making a living is to take one's chances in a part of the world
that holds more promise.  And there will always be a
trafficker ready to help make that dream come true – and
transform it into a nightmare of servitude.

In short, let us look at global action as not only reaching out
geographically, but also delving deeper into those root causes of
human trafficking --- causes that may lie in the global policy
environment that governs relations between and among states.

III. The role of international and
non-governmental organizations

My third and final point is to discuss briefly the role IOM and
its partners can play in supporting the European Union's goal of
global action against trafficking.

IOM, for example, has developed a number of counter trafficking
tools over the last 15 years, particularly in the area of
protection, and we are constantly adapting these for use in
countries all over the world:

One example is our "Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of
Trafficking", a standard setting guidance manual now translated
into ten languages.

Another is our recent manual for healthcare providers "Caring
for Trafficked Persons," which will also be out in several
languages by the end of this year.

Tools such as these, along with the many partnerships and
networks developed with governments, UN agencies and NGOs the world
over, will, I hope, be of benefit to the European Union's new
approach toward global action.  We know from experience that
the success of any counter trafficking initiative hinges on the
establishment of strong partnerships and cooperation at all
levels.

Once again, I congratulate the European Union and Swedish
Presidency on this new initiative and on choosing to strengthen the
focus on global action.

We have an impressive gathering of participants here
today.  I look forward to your insights and I wish all of you
a productive and successful conference.