site.btaForeign Minister, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Discuss Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking

The protection of victims of human trafficking, law enforcement cooperation, the Internet as a tool often used by traffickers to attract victims were among the topics discussed at a meeting Tuesday between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel and EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Diane Schmitt, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria, Gabriel announced on Facebook.

Among the topics of their talks were the need to raise awareness among the public and specific vulnerable groups and to better inform them about the dangers in the online space, the current situation, the challenges and the actions needed to implement the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025) and Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.

The path to greater effectiveness in combating trafficking in human beings requires a coordinated approach involving law enforcement, local and national authorities and the private sector. It is important to focus our actions on prevention, prosecution of traffickers, protection of victims and support for survivors, Gabriel wrote.