February 2024
A large-scale operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities from Belgium, France and Germany, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of one of the most active networks involved in the smuggling of migrants across the English Channel in small boats.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling, English channel, Europol, Eurojust, joint action day
January 2024
Recent Eurostat figures show that in 2022, 10.093 victims of human trafficking were registered in the European Union. There were 8.064 suspected traffickers and 2.097 convicted traffickers. The statistics also shed light on gender distribution among traffickers and victims, as well as exploitation patterns.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, victims of human trafficking, gender, sexual exploitation, forced labour, Eurostat
January 2024
Today the Belgian presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive from 2011. The updated rules were called to better respond to developments in the forms and means of trafficking in human beings and to combat this crime more effectively.
November 2023
At a conference today, the European Commission proposed new legislation to prevent and fight migrant smuggling and also launched a call to action for a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling, criminal network, Europol
October 2023
For the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the European Commission is launching an awareness-raising campaign to inform citizens on the reality of this crime. The European Commission invites every citizen to help raise awareness by becoming part of the ‘End human trafficking. Break the invisible chain’ campaign.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: anti-trafficking day, awareness campaign
September 2023
As part of an investigation into acts of trafficking in human beings, 30 brothels in the northern district of Brussels have been placed under judicial seal. 25 people were subject to judicial arrest and 23 others were administratively deprived of their liberty.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: sexual exploitation, human trafficking
July 2023
Today, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Vincent Van Quickenborne, officially launched the campaign in Liège. On this occasion, he inaugurated the new telephone number - 078 055 800 - of the Belgian helpline for victims of human trafficking.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: blue heart campaign, victim of trafficking
July 2023
With this awareness campaign entitled "Working together in the fight against human smuggling – Help save lives!", the Police want to encourage both nautical equipment dealers and citizens to report suspicious purchases or movements on the beach to the police via 112, via the 112 app or directly via the 101.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human smuggling, awareness campaign, nautical equipment
June 2023
Today, in the Committee on Justice of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne announced that Mr. Klaus Vanhoutte, former director of Payoke and one of the experts of the Special Committee on Trafficking in Human Beings and People Smuggling, had been recruited and appointed as national coordinator for the fight against human trafficking and smuggling.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
May 2023
The special parliamentary Commission tasked to assess the Belgian legislation and policy on trafficking in and smuggling of human beings adopted today 100 recommendations dealing with various forms of exploitation such as economic exploitation, sexual exploitation, the exploitation of begging, forced criminality, illegal adoption, and forced marriage.
February 2023
During a press conference at the maritime police in Ostend, the Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, said that the strong approach towards human smugglers has led to a 90% drop in transit migrants to the UK.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: transit migrants, transit migration
January 2023
The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking
December 2022
The Conference allowed participants to gain insight into legal provisions against labour exploitation and to examine the role of different actors in upholding the rights of foreign workers. Good practices and lessons learnt from selected countries were presented and discussed.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: forced labour, labour exploitation
June 2019
Today the English translation of the latest report on Human Trafficking and Smuggling from Myria was published. The 2018 report focuses on underage victims of trafficking and smuggling of human beings.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
December 2018
On 12 December 2018, the Belgian contact point of the EMN organized its annual asylum and migration policy event in which recent national and EU developments in the field of international protection, legal migration and integration and irregular migration, human trafficking and return were discussed.
Main Theme: Integration, Reception, International Protection, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: annual EMN policy event
October 2018
Europol launched a new report about child trafficking. It provides a comprehensive view on who the victims are and who the criminal networks are that trafficking the children in and into the EU.
Main Theme: Vulnerable groups, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: child victim of trafficking
June 2018
On the 31st of May and 1st of June, the Bulgarian Contact Point of the EMN - in the framework of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council - organized the EMN Annual Conference. The conference was dedicated to challenges and success factors in managing migration flows.
Main Theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migration management, EMN Annual Conference
May 2018
In 2018, the European Migration Network (EMN) celebrates its 10 year anniversary. On this occasion, the EMN organized a conference on 15 May in Brussels.
March 2018
Two United Nations agencies are joining forces to combat migrant smuggling. They organized an event centering on a Joint Platform on Countering Migrant Smuggling.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: migrant smuggling
February 2018
Today, the Belgian Minister of Home Affairs, the Belgian State Secretary for Asylum Policy and Migration met with the British Home Secretary in London to discuss the issue of transit migration.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: transit migration, transit migrants, United Kingdom
February 2018
Today, Frontex published its Risk Analysis for 2018, which concentrates on the scope of Frontex operational activities and, in particular, on irregular migration at the external borders of the EU and Schengen Associated Countries.
Main Theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Frontex, risk analysis, border management
December 2017
Today, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network organized its national conference, which focused on the main developments in the field of migration and asylum that took place in Belgium in 2017.
Main Theme: Asylum, Reception, International Protection, Migration
Keywords: EMN conference
December 2017
Today the Commission adopted a new communication requiring immediate action from the EU and Member States to disrupt the modus operandi of traffickers, strengthen victims' rights and intensify EU internal and external efforts to provide a coordinated and consistent response.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
November 2017
Belgium has made progress in a number of areas to combat human trafficking and has managed a considerable number of convictions of perpetrators. Improvements are expected inter alia to enhance the identification of child victims and prevent the disappearances of unaccompanied children.
Main Theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: GRETA
October 2017
On the 26th of October 2017 the general policy note on asylum and migration of the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration was published. The policy note provides an overview of the main achievements and priorities in the field of asylum and migration.