Child trafficking on the rise in EUMay 20, 2016 - 10:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The number of children trafficked to EU countries by gangs - often for prostitution - is rising and the UK is a major destination, new data show, according to BBC News. The European Commission says child trafficking is "one of the trends that is increasing most sharply". In 2013-2014 there were 15,846 registered victims of trafficking in the EU, at least 15% of them children. Three-quarters of the victims were women, and 67% were trafficked for sex. Many other victims were not detected. According to the official Commission figures, the UK registered 1,358 victims in 2013-2014, and the Netherlands registered the most - 1,561. The Commission's research identified ever younger children becoming victims of trafficking and growing numbers of girls from Nigeria being pressed into the sex trade. The EU has also seen an increase in the number of unaccompanied child asylum-seekers at risk of criminal exploitation. Children from poor Roma (Gypsy) communities are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, the Commission says, with the UK and France the main destination countries. Once there, they are exploited for sex, begging and petty crimes. The Commission report says "there are solid grounds to believe that the actual numbers of victims of trafficking in the EU are substantially higher". Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei Ruling MP accuses opposition of “serving other countries' interests” Khachatur Sukiasyan has accused Armenia’s opposition of serving the interests of other countries Protest leader vows to achieve departure of Armenian authorities According to Archbishop Bagrat, there is only one solution to the situation in Armenia. Heads of Armenian, Ukrainian parliaments hold virtual talks Alen Simonyan and Ruslan Stefanchuk held talks via video conference on Tuesday, May 21. |